Abstract: In modern Chinese clothing words, the words with mao entails abundant cultural and social connotations. According to cognitive linguistics, conceptual metaphor and metonymy are two basic linguistic mechanisms and fundamental thinking patterns. Based on the present corpora, the study approaches the semantic network and extension of the words with mao from the perspective of cognitive linguistics, aiming to disclose their cultural connotations. It is found that the semantic changes of the words with mao are the result of the mechanisms of conceptual metaphor, conceptual metonymy, and conceptual blending.

Key words: the words with mao, conceptual metaphor, conceptual metonymy