“蜀葵”和“水仙”是为人所熟知的两种花。人类对这两种花在自然层面的认识是非常具体的。从基本层次范畴看,“蜀葵”和“水仙”的构词体现出了汉英两种语言的差异。蜀葵和水仙的隐喻也表现出了两种不同文化的差异。“蜀葵”和“水仙”的隐喻再次体现了隐喻是人类认知的一种方式,是语言表达的高级形式。 “Hollyhock” and “Narcissus” are two well-known flowers. Human understanding of these two flowers at the natural level is very specific. From the basic level of category, the words “hollyhock” and “narcissus” reflect the difference between Chinese and English. The metaphors of hollyhocks and narcissuses also show differences between two different cultures. The metaphor of “hollyhock” and “narcissus” again shows that metaphor is a way of human cognition and the advanced form of language expression.