A Study On Adjective Grammar In Zhuangzi

The adjective is one of the three main categories of notional words in Chinese, the grammatical function of which is becoming complicated and diverse from ancient Chinese time till today. It can play the same decisive role in a Chinese sentence as the verb does, the research of which spurs on the study of exegesis of words, structures of phrases, types of sentences in ancient Chinese semantics and grammar. An exhaustive research has been made on its grammar traits based on the adjective in Zhuangzi. There are 730 adjectives in Zhuangzi. They can be divided into seven kinds which belong to four groups according to their meanings and grammar: single-valenced adjectives of quality, double-valenced adjectives of quality; single-valenced adjectives of state, double-valenced adjectives of state; single-valenced adjectives of shape, double-valenced adjectives of shape; single-valenced adjectives of color. The major feature of adjectives in Zhuangzi is to be a predicate, consisting of SPS (simple predicate sentences) and CPS (complex predicate sentences). 1057 sentences constitute 76 kinds of SAPS (sentences with adjectives to be predicates) and derived from ten basic types of SASPS (sentences with adjectives to be simple predicates) and six types of SACPS. Yet different structures and semantic dispositions appear in each pattern.. Adjectives can act as non-predicates in Zhuangzi, unmarked when adjectives of quality, shape and color function as attributes and adjectives of state as adverbs; marked when they function as other non-predicates. The abundant vocabulary, a variety of multi-syllable word formations, adjectives acting as sentence members and the diversity of sentence patterns, manifest the characteristics of Chinese during the period of Warring States. Having studied all the examples of adjectives in Zhuangzi, describing in details the traits of SAPS, comparing them with Jiaguwen and modern Chinese, we reveal their grammatical features comprehensively. Meanwhile, we make an attempt to explore adjective valence in ancient Chinese with a view to supplying some useful information for its study.