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Abstract

This study examines how metaphors, where romantic partners become “fish” and dating becomes “fishing,” structure relationship discourse on Chinese social media. By analyzing the viral terms (Sea King) and (Sea Queen) in online discussions on Zhihu (a Chinese Q&A platform), we find gender asymmetries in evaluation and pursuit strategies, yet convergence on a central practice: “fish farming,” which sustains connections through minimal engagement while deferring commitment. The metaphors naturalize inequality by mapping the principle of status-matched pairing as ecological zones, where cross-class desire registers as a species mismatch rather than a legitimate ambition. Departing from metaphors that frame romance as cooperative progression, metaphors recast dating as strategic predation where partners are evaluated, captured, and maintained while commitment remains marginal. In sum, metaphors reveal how digital dating discourse enables individuals to feel strategically empowered while reproducing the social hierarchies that constrain them.

© John Benjamins Publishing Company
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2026-05-21
2026-06-07

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/content/journals/10.1075/ps.25045.wan
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Casting nets, keeping fish
John Benjamins ; https://doi.org/10.1075/ps.25045.wan
/content/journals/10.1075/ps.25045.wan
/content/journals/10.1075/ps.25045.wan
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  • Article Type: Research Article
Keywords: conceptual metaphor theory ; dating discourse ; fishing relationship ; Chinese dating culture ; fishing metaphors

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