Countries in the Chinese character cultural sphere share the Chinese Zodiac that assigns twelve animals to each year a person is born based on the order of arrival, so-called Tti. The twelve animals reflect the psychological characteristics of human life and are regarded as more special than other animals. Thus, the animals are used in idiomatic expressions as a vehicle to more properly describe human feelings and thought. This study therefore analyzed the semantic features of the twelve animals to explore the Chinese perception about the animals. The study result can be summarized as below: The representative semantic features of the twelve animals are as follows: [Villain], [Thief], [Misdeed], [Harmful], and [Heinous] for Rat; [Big] for Ox; [Villain], [Ferocious], [Cruel], [Heinous], [Foe], [Causing Fear], [Causing Risk], [Harmful], [Aggressor], and [Predator] for Tiger; [Agile] and [Quick] for Rabbit; [Emperor], [King], [High Status], [Authority], and [General] for Dragon; [Villain], [Aggressor], [Greedy], [Cunning], [Heinous], and [Vicious] for Snake; [War] and [Military] for Horse; [Weak], [Sacrifice], and [Dangerous Situation] for Sheep; [Nominal] for Monkey; [Small], [Slight], [Trifling], and [Useless] for Rooster; [Shabby], [Vulgar], [Bad], and [Foolish] for Dog; and [Shabby], [Vulgar], and [Wicked] for Pig. The negative semantic features were dominant in all animals except the dragon, which is consistent with a tendency that the animals are generally used to emphasize the negative aspects of a person. The semantic features of the animals are also presented in various domains of action, psychology, personality, morality, size, episode, speed, status, position, geographical features, attitude, shape, living, means, situation, etc.

본 논문에서는 문법적 관용표현 속에 관형사형어미 ‘ㄴ,은,는,ㄹ,을’ 과 의존명사의 결합 양상을 고찰하였다. 그들 간의 결합 양상을 크게 세 가지로 나누어 각각 자세히 다루었고, 해당 관형사형어미 앞의 품사와 시제의 제약에 대해서도 함께 검토하였다. 이를 통해 관형사형어미‘ㄴ,은,는,ㄹ,을’과 의존명사의 결합에 대한 논리를 분석하여 그들의 결합 여부가 언어 습관에 달려 있기도 하고 해당 관용표현의 의미에 달려 있기도 하다는 점을 제시하였다. 의존명사 앞에 ‘ㄴ,은,는,ㄹ,을’이 다 나올 수 있는 관용표현은 다소 복잡한데, 이런 관용표현에 대한 의미적, 시제적 양상을 따로 분석하였다.