Why Do Chinese Speakers Prefer the Word ‘Shang’ (Harm)？ Exploring the Semantic Motivations Underlying Nativelike Selections

Abstract

This study challenges the assumption that nativelike selections—linguistic expressions preferred by native speakers over grammatical alternatives—are inherently arbitrary. Focusing on Chinese speakers’ preference for shang ‘harm’ in bu shang shou ‘not harm hands’ to praise dish soaps’ skin-friendliness, we reveal the semantic motivation that drives this lexical choice. This semantic motivation is rooted in shang’s pragmatic nuance, specifically its prototype of “self-care suggestions for everyday life”. The findings support the hypothesis that a concept is more readily expressed by a certain linguistic expression whose prototype aligns with that concept.