VNU Journal of Foreign Studies

https://jfs.ulis.vnu.edu.vn/index.php/fs/issue/feed VNU Journal of Foreign Studies 2026-05-28T00:00:00+00:00 Tạp chí Nghiên cứu nước ngoài tapchincnn@vnu.edu.vn Open Journal Systems <div class="description-journal"> <div class="description-journal"> The Journal of Science was established in 1985 for the publication of national and international research papers in all fields of natural sciences and technology, social sciences and humanities. Since then, the journal has grown in quality, size and scope and now comprises a dozen of serials spanning academic research. With the rapid expansion of the field of Economics, the VNU Journal of Science is delighted to announce the launch of the VNU Journal of Science: Foreign Studies (JS: FS) since 2002. This serial publication provides researchers with the opportunity to publish research covering aspects in these areas in the popular VNU Journal of Science series. As a fully open access publication, the journal will provide maximum exposure for published articles, making the research available to all to read and share. The journal will be published bimonthly in February, April, June, August, October and December. Scope JS: FS is an open access journal publishing double-blinded peer-reviewed research papers, discussions and reviews dealing with Linguistics, Foreign language education, International studies, Related social sciences and humanities. Peer Review Process Any manuscript followed the journal’s scope and author guideline will be assigned to the managing editors. All manuscripts have undergone editorial screening and anonymous double-blind peer-review by the at least one independent expert in the field. The managing editor makes an editorial decision, which is subject to endorsement by the Editor – in Chief. Abstracting and Indexing </div> </div> https://jfs.ulis.vnu.edu.vn/index.php/fs/article/view/5787 FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS AS REFLECTED IN KOREAN FOUR-ELEMENT IDIOMS: A COMPARATIVE STUDY WITH VIETNAMESE 2026-03-12T04:39:17+00:00 Thuy Duong Nguyen mukunghoa6884@yahoo.com

This article examines the cultural and cognitive characteristics of Korean people through a system of four-element idioms regarding family relationships, in comparison with Vietnamese. By employing statistical methods and semantic analysis, the study identified 64 typical Korean idioms related to the family theme, focusing on two primary branches: parent-child relationships (37 units) and sibling relationships (8 units). The research results reveal profound similarities between the two nations in their emphasis on filial piety, obedience to parents, and strong sibling bonds under the influence of Confucianism. However, the study also points out distinct differences in attitudes toward family members, as well as varying perspectives on hierarchy and gender. These findings not only clarify the Vietnamese - Korean linguistic - cultural landscape but also provide significant support for language teaching and translation between the two languages.

2026-05-27T00:00:00+00:00 Copyright (c) 2026 VNU Journal of Foreign Studies https://jfs.ulis.vnu.edu.vn/index.php/fs/article/view/5762 MECHANISMS OF MEANING FORMATION AND REALIZATION OF TTEOK (KOREAN RICE CAKE - 떡1): AN ANALYSIS OF DICTIONARY AND CONTEMPORARY KOREAN NEWSPAPERS DATA 2026-03-12T03:42:45+00:00 Thi Hai Bac Cao haibac86@gmail.com

This study investigates the meanings of Tteok (떡¹) based on data from the Standard Korean Language Dictionary and contemporary Korean newspapers discourse. Adopting a cognitive semantic approach, the study combines literature review, data classification, and schematic modeling to examine how different meanings of Tteok are formed and realized. The analysis shows that starting from its central meaning as a rice-based food, Tteok has developed into multiple related senses. However, these meanings are not homogeneous in terms of their formation and realization mechanisms. Some senses can be explained as direct semantic extensions, grounded in cognitive mechanisms such as perceptual metaphor and metonymy. In contrast, others are realized through lexical processes, such as compounding, or emerge as pragmatic, discourse-driven usages in contemporary communication. In addition, the study proposes a multi-layered semantic network model to capture the structural organization of these meanings and to illustrate their varying degrees of cognitive proximity to the central meaning. This model demonstrates that the development of meaning in Tteok is shaped by the interaction of multiple mechanisms rather than a single uniform process.

2026-05-27T00:00:00+00:00 Copyright (c) 2026 VNU Journal of Foreign Studies https://jfs.ulis.vnu.edu.vn/index.php/fs/article/view/5772 A STUDY ON VERB - ADJECTIVE MULTIFUNCTIONAL WORDS IN THE KOREAN LANGUAGE 2026-04-06T07:44:38+00:00 Quynh Giao Pham quynhgiao201187@gmail.com

This study analyzes the phenomenon of multifunctional words (Pumsa Tongyong) in the Korean language, focusing specifically on the Verb - Adjective category, to assist Vietnamese learners in overcoming typological language barriers. Utilizing quantitative statistics and qualitative analysis based on major Korean dictionaries, the research elucidates the morphological, semantic, and etymological characteristics of this word class. Fundamentally, these are single lexical items that maintain semantic cohesion while serving multiple syntactic roles without morphological derivation, clearly distinguishing them from homonyms. The findings indicate that the boundary between Verbs (denoting processes) and Adjectives (denoting stative conditions) is most objectively identified through their combinatorial ability with final endings, particularly present tense markers (-는다/-ㄴ다 vs -다), imperatives, and negations. Etymologically, this category encompasses native Korean single words, derivatives with -hada, and Sino-Korean roots, with statistical evidence revealing a dominant trend of shifting from process to state (Verb to Adjective). The study concludes that this is a natural cognitive linguistic phenomenon reflecting the fuzziness of categorical boundaries. A comprehensive understanding of these mechanisms will significantly contribute to lexicographical standardization and enhance the effectiveness of Korean language pedagogy.

2026-05-27T00:00:00+00:00 Copyright (c) 2026 VNU Journal of Foreign Studies https://jfs.ulis.vnu.edu.vn/index.php/fs/article/view/5733 SONIC NARRATIVE: LISTENING TO “ON EARTH WE'RE BRIEFLY GORGEOUS” BY OCEAN VUONG 2026-04-03T10:15:21+00:00 Thi Diem Hang Le ltdhang@hueuni.edu.vn

This study investigates the relationship between sound and narrative in the work by Vietnamese American writer Ocean Vuong, in order to explain how the author listens to the marginalized voice. This article focuses in particular on the semi-autobiographical novel “On earth we're briefly gorgeous” foregrounding the work offers a vibrant soundscape and how the sound functions as potential texts of memory. Drawing on an interdisciplinary approach that brings together literature, auditory anthropology and sound studies, this project positions sound as an epistemological agent capable of participating in the construction of historical and cultural discourses. Thereby, a soundscape emerges through layers of narrative – marked by states of liminality and uncompletion – yet retains the capacity to engage readers to dialogic descriptions. The paper examines gendered auditory experiences and the construction of identity. It emphasizes the power of listening to navigate colonial sonic legacies, and to support the diverse voices of the Vietnamese American community.

2026-05-27T00:00:00+00:00 Copyright (c) 2026 VNU Journal of Foreign Studies https://jfs.ulis.vnu.edu.vn/index.php/fs/article/view/5768 TRANSLATION STRATEGIES FOR KOREAN ADDRESS TERMS INTO VIETNAMESE (BASED ON THE VIETNAMESE TRANSLATION OF THE VEGETARIAN BY HAN KANG) 2026-03-12T08:39:44+00:00 Thuy Hang Do hang2009nt@gmail.com

This study employs a mixed-methods approach, integrating both quantitative and qualitative analyses within the theoretical framework of domestication and foreignization in translation, to examine the strategies used in rendering Korean address terms in the novel 채식주의자 (The Vegetarian) into Vietnamese. Specifically, the research analyzes two Vietnamese translations in order to identify the dominant translation strategies and to evaluate their impact on translation effectiveness. The findings indicate that domestication predominates in both Vietnamese versions, whereas foreignization appears only marginally, particularly in the second target text. The extensive use of domestication contributes to producing translations that are natural and accessible to target readers, while effectively conveying the characters’ attitudes and emotions. However, this strategy also results in a considerable loss of socio-cultural meanings and pragmatic implications embedded in the original address terms. In certain cases, such loss hinders readers’ ability to fully grasp the nuanced pragmatic force of the source text. Based on these findings, the study suggests that translators should adopt a wider range of translation strategies in order to more adequately convey the complex cultural and pragmatic meanings of Korean address terms.

2026-05-27T00:00:00+00:00 Copyright (c) 2026 VNU Journal of Foreign Studies https://jfs.ulis.vnu.edu.vn/index.php/fs/article/view/5779 STRUCTURAL AND SEMANTIC FEATURES OF FIXED EXPRESSIONS DENOTING HUMAN BEINGS IN THE “MẶT + X” PATTERN IN VIETNAMESE (WITH REFERENCE TO KOREAN) 2026-03-12T10:04:21+00:00 Thi Thanh Hoa Nguyen nguyenthanhhabn@gmail.com

This article investigates fixed expressions denoting human beings based on the structural pattern “mặt + X” in Vietnamese from both structural and semantic perspectives, while also relating them to corresponding expressions in Korean in order to clarify the naming characteristics and cognitive features of the two languages. The research data were primarily collected from Vietnamese Dictionary edited by Hoang Phe (2003). Based on the analysis of linguistic units following the “mặt + X” pattern, the study identifies the structural characteristics of this model and classifies the major semantic groups expressed by these fixed expressions. The findings indicate that the “mặt + X” pattern constitutes a distinctive group of fixed expressions in Vietnamese, commonly used to denote characteristics related to physical appearance, personality, psychological states, and social values of human beings. A comparison with Korean shows that both languages tend to employ body-part terms as cognitive bases for human naming. Nevertheless, certain differences remain in terms of semantic scope, expressive nuance, and the degree of conventionalization in usage. The study contributes to clarifying the lexical-semantic characteristics of Vietnamese and provides additional materials for Vietnamese - Korean contrastive studies from the perspective of naming.

2026-05-28T00:00:00+00:00 Copyright (c) 2026 VNU Journal of Foreign Studies https://jfs.ulis.vnu.edu.vn/index.php/fs/article/view/5760 A PROPOSAL FOR CRITERIA TO ASSESS TRANSLATION IN KOREAN LANGUAGE PROGRAMMES SPECIALISING IN TRANSLATION AND INTERPRETING 2026-03-12T08:48:10+00:00 Thi Thu Huong Nghiem nghiemhuong2@gmail.com

In Vietnam, research on Korean language in general, and on Korean language education, translation and interpreting training in particular, has paid limited attention to the issue of translation assessment. Although several assessment models proposed by foreign scholars have been introduced, their application in educational practice remains constrained. This article aims to: (1) examine the theoretical foundations of criteria for translation assessment; (2) investigate current assessment practices and the criteria employed in Korean language programmes specialising in translation and interpreting in Vietnam; and thereby (3) propose a set of assessment criteria appropriate to the local educational context. The findings of the study suggest a framework consisting of seven criteria: (1) content accuracy; (2) linguistic accuracy; (3) skills in synthesising and restructuring information; (4) ability to handle specialised terminology; (5) style and tone; (6) time efficiency and translation methodology; and (7) capacity for feedback and revision.

2026-05-28T00:00:00+00:00 Copyright (c) 2026 VNU Journal of Foreign Studies https://jfs.ulis.vnu.edu.vn/index.php/fs/article/view/5777 THE INFLUENCE OF THE HALLYU WAVE ON VIETNAMESE YOUTH: FOCUSING ON THE CASE OF USING KOREAN LOANWORDS 2026-03-12T04:08:04+00:00 Thu Huong Ha amychan712@gmail.com Mai Thuy Linh Nguyen

This paper analyzes the influence of the Korean Wave (Hallyu) on the linguistic behavior of Vietnamese youth, focusing on the extent and manner of using Korean loanwords in daily communication. The study employs a mixed-methods approach, combining social media corpus observation with an online survey of 306 valid responses to identify common loanwords, analyze usage frequency, and examine user attitudes. Findings reveal that loanwords belonging to expressive and address-term categories exhibit the highest frequency, suggesting that the use of Korean loanwords by Vietnamese youth primarily serves pragmatic functions — namely expressing subtle emotions, enhancing expressiveness, and strengthening social cohesion within K-culture interest groups. The results indicate a high level of recognition and usage of these terms, with the sampled group demonstrating positive or neutral attitudes toward the phenomenon. Korean television dramas and K-pop were identified as the primary transmission channels for these loanwords. These findings serve as a foundation for further research on acculturation manifested through language and the dynamic linguistic adaptation of Vietnamese youth in the current context of globalization.

2026-05-28T00:00:00+00:00 Copyright (c) 2026 VNU Journal of Foreign Studies https://jfs.ulis.vnu.edu.vn/index.php/fs/article/view/5761 AN ANALYSIS OF KOREAN WRITING SELF-EFFICACY AMONG THIRD-YEAR KOREAN LANGUAGE MAJORS 2026-03-12T03:30:49+00:00 Mai Loan Tran mailoan8992@gmail.com

This study analyzes Korean writing self-efficacy among third-year students at the University of Languages and International Studies – Vietnam National University, Hanoi, and examines the difficulties they encounter in completing writing tasks. The research adopts a mixed-methods approach, employing a questionnaire measuring three components (language conventions, ideation, and self-regulation) along with supplementary interviews. The results indicate that learners’ self-efficacy levels were moderate (2,92), with relatively higher confidence in language conventions but lower confidence in idea generation, particularly in vocabulary use and creativity. Regarding self-regulation, learners experienced difficulties in initiating writing tasks, maintaining concentration, and managing emotions during writing. Interview data further revealed that limited vocabulary, information overload, insufficient individualized feedback, and writing-related anxiety were the main contributing factors. The study proposes pedagogical directions aimed at enhancing Vietnamese learners’ writing self-efficacy.

2026-05-28T00:00:00+00:00 Copyright (c) 2026 VNU Journal of Foreign Studies https://jfs.ulis.vnu.edu.vn/index.php/fs/article/view/5757 MOTION METAPHORS IN KOREAN TECHNOLOGY JOURNALISM: AWARENESS OF NON-LITERAL MEANING AND INTERPRETATION CHALLENGES AMONG VIETNAMESE LEARNERS OF KOREAN 2026-04-09T05:28:14+00:00 Thi Tuyet Mai Nguyen lala240990@gmail.com

In Korean Information Technology (IT) journalism discourse, abstract technological phenomena are frequently conceptualized through motion conceptual metaphors, enabling readers to visualize complex processes via mappings from physical movement source domains. While motion metaphors are prevalent in media discourse, the reception and interpretation challenges among foreign language learners remain significantly under-explored. This study investigates the awareness and interpretive difficulties of Vietnamese students majoring in Korean regarding motion metaphors in Korean IT news. Grounded in Conceptual Metaphor Theory (Lakoff & Johnson, 1980), the research employs a mixed-methods approach (qualitative and descriptive quantitative) using data from questionnaires administered to junior and senior students. The findings reveal that although students generally identify the non-literal nature of these expressions, they encounter obstacles in grasping evaluative nuances and implicit meanings. Key cognitive strategies identified include: relying on contextual cues, cross-linguistic translation, and analogies based on cultural models. The study offers practical recommendations for language pedagogy and translation training to enhance learners' cognitive competence.

2026-05-28T00:00:00+00:00 Copyright (c) 2026 VNU Journal of Foreign Studies https://jfs.ulis.vnu.edu.vn/index.php/fs/article/view/5738 A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF LINGUISTIC EXPRESSIONS OF COMPLAINT CONTENTS AND COMPLAINT PURPOSES IN VIETNAMESE AND JAPANESE ONLINE REVIEWS ON E-COMMERCE PLATFORMS 2026-04-08T03:06:03+00:00 Quynh Nga Duong ngaduong8491@gmail.com

This study investigates 744 complaint utterances in Vietnamese and Japanese online reviews on e-commerce platforms, including 384 Vietnamese and 360 Japanese utterances, with a focus on household products. The study aims to identify the major complaint contents and communicative purposes, while also describing the expressions used to realize these contents and purposes in the two datasets. Based on qualitative analysis combined with descriptive statistics, the findings show that product quality is the most prominent complaint content in both datasets, while emotional release is the dominant communicative purpose. However, similarity in content and purpose does not imply similarity in linguistic realization. The Vietnamese data tend to employ direct, concise, and highly emotional expressions. In contrast, the Japanese data more often rely on expressions contrasting expectation with actual experience, indicating deviation from expected standards, and expressing disappointment in a more mitigated way. These findings contribute to clarifying the characteristics of complaint speech acts in digital communication from a Vietnamese - Japanese contrastive pragmatic perspective.

2026-05-28T00:00:00+00:00 Copyright (c) 2026 VNU Journal of Foreign Studies https://jfs.ulis.vnu.edu.vn/index.php/fs/article/view/5778 THE APPLICATION OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN TEACHING KOREAN WRITING SKILLS AT VNU UNIVERSITY OF LANGUAGES AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES 2026-03-12T09:57:22+00:00 Thi Oanh Bui oanhbt@vnu.edu.vn

In the context where artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly used by students in foreign language learning, integrating AI into writing instruction presents both pedagogical opportunities and challenges. This study aims to design and implement a controlled AI-integrated classroom model for teaching Korean writing to first-year students in the second semester of the Faculty of Korean Language and Culture, VNU University of Foreign Languages and International Studies. The research adopts a classroom-based research approach and is conducted within a Korean writing course using the textbook Get it Korean Writing 2, covering ten instructional units. The theoretical framework draws on the Process Writing approach, social learning theory, and studies on Automated Writing Evaluation (AWE). The proposed instructional model consists of three stages-pre-class, in-class, and post-class-in which AI functions as a pedagogical support tool rather than a substitute for learners’ thinking or teachers’ professional judgment. Data were collected through classroom observation, analysis of students’ draft and final written products, and a descriptive student questionnaire. The findings indicate that AI is particularly effective in supporting the correction of vocabulary choice, particle usage, and basic sentence structures, which are common difficulties for beginning learners of Korean. The integration of AI also contributes to reducing learners’ anxiety in writing and fostering greater learner autonomy. However, the study identifies limitations in AI’s ability to ensure pragmatic appropriateness in written expression. The study concludes that AI can be effectively integrated into Korean writing instruction for first-year students when guided by clear pedagogical control, thereby supporting learning while maintaining the development of independent linguistic thinking.

2026-05-28T00:00:00+00:00 Copyright (c) 2026 VNU Journal of Foreign Studies https://jfs.ulis.vnu.edu.vn/index.php/fs/article/view/5736 A CONTRASTIVE ANALYSIS OF CHINESE RHETORICAL ADVERBS AND THEIR VIETNAMESE EQUIVALENT EXPRESSIONS: THE CASE OF 难道 AND 莫非 2026-04-02T01:30:19+00:00 Thi Thu Thuy Nguyen thuy.nguyenthithu@htu.edu.vn

Rhetorical adverbs in Chinese are diverse and commonly used in rhetorical questions. They function to highlight affirmative and negative meanings, to question, and to express a rebuttal or conjectural attitude through interrogative forms, which do not require an answer or seek information in the way that interrogative sentences do. The primary purpose of those rhetorical adverbs is to emphasize the speaker’s viewpoint and to draw the listener’s attention to reflect on the core information being communicated. The article employs research methods and techniques such as statistics, analysis, comparison, and contrast to examine Chinese rhetorical adverbs 难道 and 莫非 in relation to Vietnamese equivalent expressions lẽ nào, hay là to clarify the semantic and pragmatic characteristics, their patterns of use, as well as the similarities and differences between these expressions in the two languages.