VietTESOL International Convention 2026

ABSTRACT:
This study investigated the conceptualization of love through metaphorical language used by Hanoi Pedagogical University 2 (HPU2) students on social media. Drawing on Conceptual Metaphor Theory (CMT) and Critical Metaphor Analysis (CMA), the research examined love-related expressions collected from Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. Employing a mixed-method approach, the study identified the major source domains used to conceptualize the target domain LOVE and to interpret the cultural, social, and ideological meanings embedded in these metaphors. The findings reveal that love was conceptualized through a wide range of metaphorical domains. A total of 45 source domains and 135 metaphorical expressions were extracted. This metaphorical mapping demonstrates that love was understood not only as an individual emotional experience but also as a social and cultural construction (Charteris-Black, 2004). The study further shows that HPU2 students’conceptualization of love reflected the coexistence of traditional and modern values in contemporary Vietnamese society. Traditional perspectives were expressed through notions of loyalty, sacrifice, destiny, and long-term commitment, whereas modern perspectives emphasized self-worth, emotional autonomy, personal choice, humor, and digital self-expression. Therefore, the study highlights the role of metaphor as an important linguistic and cognitive tool through which Vietnamese youth construct and negotiate meanings of love in the digital era.

Keywords: Conceptual metaphor, critical metaphor analysis, love, Vietnamese youth, social media discourse.