The study investigates the phenomenon of corresponding Chinese characters in relation to Sino-Vietnamese elements (SVEs). Generally, each SVE corresponds to one Chinese character. However, the SVE system also contains cases in which multiple SVEs share similar or corresponding Chinese characters. Among 3,010 commonly used SVEs, 201 elements were identified as having similar corresponding Chinese characters, accounting for 6.6% of the data surveyed. The phenomenon of corresponding Chinese character similarity in SVEs is formed based on the relationship between SVEs and their corresponding Chinese characters in terms of pronunciation and meaning. This phenomenon is categorized into two groups: the first group is formed based on the adaptation of Chinese characters with multiple pronunciations; the second group is formed based on the adaptation of Chinese characters with multiple meanings. The number of SVEs in group 1 includes 129 elements、 accounting for 64%, while group 2 includes 72 elements, accounting for 36%. This reflects that the formation of SVEs tends to favor phonetic compatibility over semantic compatibility with the original Chinese characters. This phenomenon differs from the phenomenon of phonetic variation in SVEs. Though both phenomena share similarities in terms of their correlation with Chinese script and linguistic complexity, they differ in meaning and substitutability. In terms of origin, phonetic variation arises from factors such as name taboo、 phonetic distortion, and linguistic habit. In contrast, the phenomenon of corresponding Chinese character similarity in SVEs reflects the Vietnamese language’s ability to adapt Chinese script both selectively and creatively in terms of meaning. This phenomenon also demonstrates the capacity of Vietnamese to both preserve similarity and creatively modify pronunciation when assimilating Chinese script. The methods of expanding pronunciations in SVEs (five methods) reflect the diversity and also the lack of standardization in the process of forming this system of increased pronunciations. The phenomenon of corresponding Chinese character similarity in SVEs also reflects the capacity for development and the influence of Chinese characters in terms of meaning and pronunciation within a distinct linguistic environment like Vietnamese.

The system of Sino-Vietnamese elements and Chinese characters have a relationship which has developed over the two thousand years since the beginning of the Christian era. This relationship can be divided into three phases based on the status and influencing level of Chinese characters in Vietnam including: from the prehistory to the tenth century, from the eleventh century to the beginning of the twentieth century, and from the early twentieth century to the present. In the first phase, the Sino-Vietnamese element system was formed. In the second phase, it was developed together with Chinese characters in Vietnam. In the third phase, it has been developed together with Vietnamese script, moving away from Chinese characters. This paper surveys this relationship based on 500 Sino-Vietnamese elements currently existing in Vietnamese. In this relationship, the Sino-Vietnamese elements borrow the meaning of the Chinese characters including the wholly borrowing ones (accounting for 3%）and the partially borrowing ones (accounting for 97%). The Sino-Vietnamese elements borrowing the original meaning of Chinese characters account for 57% while those do not account for 43%. The independently used Sino-Vietnamese elements account for 18%, and the non-independently used account for 82%. Some elements which create new meanings account for 8% whereas those which do not account for 92%. With such borrowing and creating characteristics, the system of Sino-Vietnamese elements has evolved and developed in terms of meaning. The ability to create words of the Sino-Vietnamese element system is created by turning morphemes into one-syllable words, combining morphemes, and repeating morpheme. The repeating method has little effect on the foreign elements. The method of turning morphemes into one-syllable words forms a number of word classes, accounting for 18%. The combining method is formed when combining Sino-Vietnamese elements together or combining Sino-Vietnamese elements and non-Sino-Vietnamese elements. This method forms precedent or unprecedented words in Chinese. The characteristics of creating the meaning and the ability to form words of the Sino-Vietnamese element system have proved the vitality, adaptability, and strong development of the Sino-Vietnamese element system as a word forming element system in Vietnamese. In the context of written language development in Vietnam today, the previous parallel relationship between the system of Sino-Vietnamese elements and Chinese characters has been severely damaged. Most Vietnamese users no longer have a clear understanding of the relationship and cannot trace the origin of Sino-Vietnamese elements. Therefore, reconstructing the relationship, studying its value, and creating search tools have become critical. This contributes to helping Vietnamese users understand more deeply and use more accurately the Sino-Vietnamese element system in Vietnamese.