从“鬼子”词义及其指称变化看近代中国的外来侵略者

On the Foreign Invaders in Modern China from the Change of the Meaning and Reference of Guizi

"鬼子"一词在与近代中国政治及社会的互动中,由指代外国人的偏中性词,最终成为专指日本侵略者的纯贬义词。鸦片战争前,中国人以"鬼子"泛称外国人。随着外国侵华加剧,"鬼子"演变成"洋鬼子",并与鬼魅、妖邪等负面意义紧密贴合。"洋鬼子"的生成与广泛传播体现了中国人对侵略者的贬斥和憎恨,亦为启蒙者激励国民提供了重要的语言工具。20世纪20—30年代,日本侵略者的残虐行径促使"鬼子"逐渐附着在日本上。此时,"鬼子"强化了中国人的民族意识,为中国人自我认知和抗击侵略提供了有效的思想资源,也被日本侵略者用于混淆视听、打击异己。

In the interaction with modern Chinese politics and society,the word Guizi was changed from a neutral word referring to foreigners to a derogatory word referring to Japanese aggressors.Before the Opium War,Chinese people generally called foreigners as"Guizi".With the aggravation of foreign aggression against China,"Guizi"has evolved into"YangGuizi",which was closely related to the negative meaning of ghosts and evil spirits.The generation and widespread of"YangGuizi"reflected the Chinese people's reproach and hatred of the aggres-sors,and also provided an effective language tool for the enlighteners to encourage the Chinese.In the 1920s and 1930s,the cruel acts of Japanese aggressors made-Guizi gradually attached to Japan.At this time,the"Guizi"strengthened national consciousness,provided effective ideological resources for the Chinese'self-awareness and fighting against aggression,and was also used by Japanese aggres-sors to mislead the people and attack opponents.