Metaphorical sentences in English can be generated via animalization. Human beings, plants, objects and abstracts can all take animals as their prototypes and model themselves on animals. Chinese follows the same principle, and similar metaphorical sentences are found in everyday language.

1. Human Beings Animalized

In Chinese, human beings can be metaphorized as animals, so they can adopt animal features, actions and behaviours. Look at the following examples:

(1) 我和你，我们可以飞，飞到一个真真干净、快乐的地方。

(2) 我到了自家的房外，我的母亲早已迎着出来了，接着便飞出了八岁的侄女宏儿。

(3) 我从此要在新的开阔的天空中翱翔。

(4) 他摇尾乞怜了。

In the examples above, people are considered as animals and described as such. They can fly and flutter in (1), (2) and (3) when they are modeled on birds. In (4), a person is said to wag his tail as an animal, though he does not have one.

2. Plants Animalized

Plants can also be considered as animals and expressed as such in Chinese. Here are some examples:

(5) 飞下来很多树叶。

(6) 各种兰花也飞到大树的顶上或中间。

(7) 墙上爬满了牵牛花。

Each of the examples above involves modeling plants on animals. The leaves or the orchids in (5) and (6) are modeled on birds, so they can flutter and fly. The morning glories in (7) are patterned on animals which can climb, such as monkeys.

3. Objects Animalized

Physical objects in Chinese often take animals as their prototypes and model themselves on animals. Look at the following examples:

(8) 风一刮，尘土全飞起来了。

(9) 小飞娥抬头看看他的脸，看见他的眼睛要吃人……

(10) 雨季刚刚过去，空气凝固咸腥，海寂寂寞寞爬行着。

In these examples, inanimate objects are experienced as animals. The dust in (8) is considered as birds and hence can fly. His eyes in (9) are regarded as fierce animals, so they can eat people. In (10) the sea is modeled on an animal that can crawl, such as snakes.

4. Abstracts Animalized

Abstract notions can be animalized in English, so can they in Chinese. For instance:

(11) 心中的歌儿展翅飞。

(12) 我的思想也在自由地飞翔。

(13) 一些目光蜂拥而来蛮他的脸。

In these examples, abstract notions are comprehended as animals. Songs in the heart in (11) and my ideas in (12) are experienced as birds, so that they can spread their wings and fly. In (13), the looks of people are considered as bees or wasps, so they can sting.

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