摘要
Drawing on cognitive linguistic theories, this study investigates the various meanings of the Chinese verb 吃（chi） and the types of objects that it takes. It is concluded that the many meanings of吃 are organized in a radial network, with the primary meaning at the center and extended meanings at the periphery and that extended meanings are derived from, and thus can be traced back to, the primary meaning. This study also suggests that the productivity of the 吃 ＋ object construction is affected by the meaning of 吃, the interpretation of its objects, as well as social and linguistic convention.
