Abstract
This research analyzes the influence of Chinese students' native language on their interpretation of Japanese idiomatic expressions. A questionnaire was distributed to Chinese students at Japanese elementary level to determine how these students comprehend Japanese idiomatic expressions consisting of body part vocabularies and adjectives. From the investigation, the influence of native Chinese language was confirmed by examining replies regarding expressions for which there is a similar Chinese expression. The results revealed that, Chinese students interpret the meaning of Japanese idiomatic expressions by referencing similar Chinese expressions and the understanding of adjective initiatives a different nuance from a Chinese similar expression.
