Particles of modern Chinese: terminology and autonomy

This study aims to analyze the particles of the modern Chinese language, particularly to resolve the issue of identifying this class of words as an separate class of functional words, to pinpoint the terminology challenges and distinguish particles from other classes of functional words. The study is focused on 助词(zhùcí) as a separate class of functional words. Using structural-semantic method and the method of comparative analysis, the choice is made for the term among the existing translation variants, the principles that distinguish the elements of 助词(zhùcí) from other parts of speech are formulated. Using descriptive method, the article presented the evolution of the Chinese term characterizing this class of words, identifies its relevant features and functioning patterns. As a result, for the Chinese term 助词(zhùcí) the study uses the term «particles» and provides specific examples of differentiating the elements included in this class of words from other functional words. The obtained results might be of interest not only to researchers of Chinese grammar and Chinese as L2 learners but also to a wide range of people interested in grammatical theory and comparative linguistics. The results can also be applied in theoretical grammar and general linguistics courses as well as at practical classes of Chinese as L2 to train the skill of better differentiation of this functional words class.