Kang, Jung JungJung JungKangCHIA-RUNG LU2024-04-012024-04-012024-01-01978981970582503029743https://scholars.lib.ntu.edu.tw/handle/123456789/641694“Zhèxià” is a lexical item with unique functions, despite its relatively low frequency. Its typical usages include phrases such as zhèxià wǒ sǐ-dìng le () and zhèxià cǎn le (), which demonstrate that it is used in specific contexts and implies the speaker’s mood. This study discusses zhèxià from both lexical-semantic and pragmatic perspectives. Firstly, the rationale behind the presence of zhèxià in modern Chinese is explored through lenses of spatial metaphor and semantic extension. This explains why zhèxià exists in modern Chinese, while the combinations of other demonstratives with other spatial morphemes do not (e.g., “zhè{shàng/qián/hòu}”). Secondly, the discourse functions of zhèxià is discussed through collocation analysis and close investigation of its role in connecting clauses.Discourse function | Modality | Semantic prosody | Spatial metaphor | Zhèxià[SDGs]SDG4conference paper10.1007/978-981-97-0583-2_72-s2.0-85187645040https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85187645040&doi=10.1007%2f978-981-97-0583-2_7&partnerID=40&md5=596603325b83788184761edcce6fb661