Abstract
Purpose: The purpose of this study is to identify the ethnocultural features of the functioning of Chinese phraseological units with zoomorphic components by describing their lingo cultural properties. The Chinese phraseological units with a zoomorphic component from the liuchu (六畜) group — six domestic animals, whose images occupy a special place in Chinese linguoculturology — were used as linguistic material. Methodology: In order to describe the internal form of zoomorphisms, the authors used the following methods: semantic identification, providing the possibility to identify individual phraseological meaning with the lexical structure; cognitive interpretation, which is involved in the "decoding" of cultural codes enclosed in phraseological units; The etymological approach is used to determine the primary sources of zoomorphisms, which are figurative dominants of the studied phraseological units. Main Findings: The authors found that zoonyms as animal names are anthropocentrically oriented and have connotative properties, acting as a means of secondary nomination, they represent an ethnospecific worldview. The authors determined that the ethno specific features of the considered phraseological units are due to the specificity of the linguistic system of the Chinese language, as well as the specifics of the influence of animals on the life of the Chinese ethnos. Applications: The collected empirical material can be used in classes in linguoculturology and intercultural communication; it can be used while writing textbooks, methodological manuals; to create thesauri, phraseological dictionaries, as well as to clarify the national-cultural specificity and functioning of zoononyms in the linguistic worldview. Novelty/Originality: The scientific novelty of the work is due to the insufficient study Chinese phraseological units with the zoonym component. The work makes a certain contribution to solving the problem of the functioning of zoononyms in phraseological units, in particular, the study made it possible to trace the influence of extralinguistic factors, such as geographical and biological, as well as globalization processes.