Chen Sijie

Department of Chinese Language and Literature, Peking UniversityPh.D. Candidate in Linguistics and Applied Linguistics

Curiosity is a gift, a capacity of pleasure in knowing, which if you destroy, you make yourself cold and dull.

——John Ruskin

Chen Sijie

Education

  1. Sep 2017 – Jun 2021

    BA [with distinction]

    Zhejiang University

  2. Aug 2019 – Nov 2019

    Exchange student

    The Chinese University of Hong Kong

    International Asian Studies Programme (IASP)

  3. Sep 2021 – Jun 2024

    MA [with distinction]

    Zhejiang University

    Supervisor: Weihui Wang

  4. Sep 2024 – Present

    Doctoral student

    Peking University

    Supervisor: Xiufang Dong

  5. Aug 2026 – Present

    Visiting Scholar

    University of California at Berkeley

    Host: Hannah Sande

Research Interests

Chinese Historical Linguistics

Chinese Dialectology

Morphology

Morphology–Phonology Interface

Publications

Journal
Cite
@article{chen2026zhi,
  title={On the pronunciations and etymology of zhi in words meaning finger in the Wu Dialects},
  author={Chen, Sijie},
  journal={Essays on Linguistics},
  number={3},
  pages={84--96},
  year={2026}
}

On the pronunciations and etymology of zhi (指) in words meaning “finger” in the Wu Dialects

Sijie Chen

Essays on Linguistics, 3, pp. 84–96, 2026

Journal
Cite
@incollection{chen2026chuxi,
  title={The source and process of transitivization of chuxi, liexi and quexi},
  author={Chen, Sijie},
  editor={Chen, Zhongmin},
  booktitle={Bulletin of Linguistic Studies},
  volume={38},
  pages={316--332},
  year={2026},
  address={Shanghai},
  publisher={Shanghai Lexicographical Publishing House}
}

The source and process of transitivization of chuxi (出席), liexi (列席) and quexi (缺席)

Sijie Chen

In Chen, Zhongmin (ed). Bulletin of Linguistic Studies (vol. 38), 316–332. Shanghai: Shanghai Lexicographical Publishing House

Journal
Cite
@incollection{chen2026lanxi,
  title={The homophony syllabary of the Lanxi Dialect in Zhejiang Province},
  author={Chen, Sijie},
  editor={Xing, Xiangdong},
  booktitle={Journal of Language and Culture Studies},
  volume={13},
  pages={157--197},
  year={2026},
  address={Shanghai},
  publisher={Shanghai Lexicographical Publishing House}
}

The homophony syllabary of the Lanxi Dialect in Zhejiang Province

Sijie Chen

In Xing, Xiangdong (ed). Journal of Language and Culture Studies (vol. 13), 157–197. Shanghai: Shanghai Lexicographical Publishing House

Conference
Cite
@inproceedings{chen2026qingnian,
  title={Distinguishing Morphological Concepts: "Gouci 构词 vs. Gouxing 构形" and "Derivation vs. Inflection"},
  author={Chen, Sijie},
  booktitle={1st Youth Academic Conference of Chinese Linguistics},
  year={2026}
}

Distinguishing Morphological Concepts: "Gouci 构词 vs. Gouxing 构形" and "Derivation vs. Inflection"

Sijie Chen

1st Youth Academic Conference of Chinese Linguistics (hosted by the Institute of Linguistics, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences), 2026.6.13-6.14

Journal
Cite
@article{chenwang2025lihai,
  title={How lihai changed into lihai: From the perspective of character usage in the history of Chinese vocabulary},
  author={Chen, Sijie and Wang, Weihui},
  journal={Studies in Language and Linguistics},
  volume={45},
  number={2},
  pages={87--94},
  year={2025}
}

How lìhài(利害) changed into lìhɑi(厉害)──From the perspective of character usage in the history of Chinese vocabulary

Sijie Chen, Weihui Wang

Studies in Language and Linguistics, 45(2), pp. 87–94, 2025

Conference
Cite
@inproceedings{chen2025icccg,
  title={Can evaluative morphology change the lexical category of its base?},
  author={Chen, Sijie},
  booktitle={13th International Conference on Chinese Grammar (ICCCG-13)},
  year={2025}
}

Can evaluative morphology change the lexical category of its base?

Sijie Chen

13th International Conference on Chinese Grammar (ICCCG-13, hosted by Chongqing Normal University), 2025.10.24-10.29

Journal
Cite
@article{chen2024cha,
  title={An etymological note of the word denoting INSERT in Wu Dialects},
  author={Chen, Sijie},
  journal={Dialect},
  volume={46},
  number={1},
  pages={21--28},
  year={2024}
}

An etymological note of the word denoting INSERT in Wu Dialects

Sijie Chen

Dialect, 46(1), pp. 21–28, 2024

Journal
Cite
@incollection{chen2024zhizhu,
  title={A brief study on the synonyms of spider and their etymology in Ancient Chinese},
  author={Chen, Sijie},
  editor={Suzuki, Hiroyuki and Endo, Mitsuaki},
  booktitle={Historical Geolinguistic Studies of the Languages in China: Volume 1},
  pages={350--361},
  year={2024},
  address={Tokyo},
  publisher={Geolinguistic Society of Japan}
}

A brief study on the synonyms of ‘spider’ and their etymology in Ancient Chinese

Sijie Chen

In Suzuki, Hiroyuki and Mitsuaki Endo (eds.). Historical Geolinguistic Studies of the Languages in China (Volume 1), 350–361. Tokyo: Geolinguistic Society of Japan

Conference
Cite
@inproceedings{chen2024zhi2,
  title={The Pronunciation and Etymological Character of "Zhi" in Words for "Spider" in Chinese Dialects},
  author={Chen, Sijie},
  booktitle={Forum on Historical and Geographical Studies of Chinese Languages (2024)},
  year={2024}
}

The Pronunciation and Etymological Character of "Zhi" in Words for "Spider" in Chinese Dialects

Sijie Chen

Forum on Historical and Geographical Studies of Chinese Languages (2024) · Online, 2024.3.2-3.4

Conference
Cite
@inproceedings{chen2024shusheng,
  title={Three types of abruptization in Chinese dialects},
  author={Chen, Sijie},
  booktitle={9th Forum for Young Scholars on Phonology and Dialects},
  year={2024}
}

Three types of abruptization in Chinese dialects

Sijie Chen

9th Forum for Young Scholars on Phonology and Dialects · 1st Gulang Graduate Forum on Chinese (hosted by Xiamen University), 2024.4.13-4.14 30th Annual Meeting of the International Association of Chinese Linguistics (IACL-30, hosted by Yonsei University, South Korea), 2024.5.25-5.27

Journal
Cite
@article{wangchen2023hanzi,
  title={Two questions on the relationship between Chinese Characters and Chinese Language},
  author={Wang, Weihui and Chen, Sijie},
  journal={Journal of School of Chinese Language and Culture Nanjing Normal University},
  number={4},
  pages={1--12},
  year={2023}
}

Two questions on the relationship between Chinese Characters and Chinese Language

Weihui Wang, Sijie Chen

Journal of School of Chinese Language and Culture Nanjing Normal University, 4, pp. 1–12, 2023

JournalSelected
Cite
@incollection{chen2023bi,
  title={Source of the entering tone of Bi in Chinese revisited},
  author={Chen, Sijie},
  editor={Yang, Yonglong},
  booktitle={Historical Linguistics Studies},
  volume={20},
  pages={247--267},
  year={2023},
  address={Beijing},
  publisher={The Commercial Press}
}

Source of the entering tone of Bi (鼻) in Chinese revisited

Sijie Chen

In Yang, Yonglong (ed). Historical Linguistics Studies (vol. 20), 247–267. Beijing: The Commercial Press

Journal
Cite
@article{chen2023dongwu,
  title={A discussion on the entries for animals and plants in The Great Chinese Dictionary},
  author={Chen, Sijie},
  journal={Lexicographical Studies},
  number={253},
  pages={109--115},
  year={2023}
}

A discussion on the entries for “animals” and “plants” in The Great Chinese Dictionary

Sijie Chen

Lexicographical Studies, 253, pp. 109–115, 2023

Conference
Cite
@inproceedings{chen2023zhi2,
  title={On the pronunciations and etymology of zhi in words meaning finger in the Wu Dialects},
  author={Chen, Sijie},
  booktitle={2023 Academic Forum for Young Linguistics Students},
  year={2023}
}

On the pronunciations and etymology of zhi (指) in words meaning “finger” in the Wu Dialects

Sijie Chen

"Yanchuang Plan" 2023 Academic Forum for Young Linguistics Students (hosted by University of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences), 2023.10.28-10.29 21st Annual Meeting of the Zhejiang Linguistic Society, 2023.11.4-11.5

Conference
Cite
@inproceedings{chen2022bi,
  title={Source of the entering tone of Bi in Chinese revisited},
  author={Chen, Sijie},
  booktitle={Proceedings of the 1st "Puxue Zhiguang" Graduate Academic Forum},
  year={2022}
}

Source of the entering tone of Bi (鼻) in Chinese revisited

Sijie Chen

1st "Puxue Zhiguang" Graduate Academic Forum (co-hosted by Nanjing Normal University and Zhejiang University), 2022.8.20-8.21 High-end Academic Forum on "The Relationship between Form, Sound and Meaning of Chinese" (co-hosted by Peking University, the Chinese Society of Exegesis and Sichuan University), 2022.9.17-9.18

Conference
Cite
@inproceedings{chen2022qian,
  title={The Etymological Character of "Qian"(扦) in Wu Dialects},
  author={Chen, Sijie},
  booktitle={11th Symposium on Wu Dialects},
  year={2022}
}

The Etymological Character of "Qian"(扦) in Wu Dialects

Sijie Chen

11th Symposium on Wu Dialects (hosted by Fudan University), 2022.11.12-11.13

Research Projects

A Syntax–Semantics Interface Study of Meaning Extension in Old Chinese Verbs (2025)

Funder
National Social Science Fund Youth Project
Grant No.
25CYY023
Principal Investigator
Zhao Xin
Role
Team member

A Diachronic Study of Core Cultural Concepts in Chinese from the Perspectives of Lexicalization and Cognition (2024)

Funder
National Social Science Fund Key Project
Grant No.
24AZD043
Principal Investigator
Dong Xiufang
Role
Team member

Awards & Honors

  1. Jun 2026

    PKU President's Scholarship for Doctoral Students (2026–2027)

  2. Mar 2026

    2024 Zhejiang Provincial Outstanding Master's Thesis (for "A Study on Abruptization in the Chinese Language")

  3. Dec 2025

    National Scholarship (2024–2025)

  4. Dec 2025

    Peking University Merit Student (2024–2025)

  5. Oct 2025

    Second Prize, "Grammar Rising Star", 13th International Conference on Modern Chinese Grammar

  6. Jun 2025

    First Prize (M.A.), 16th "Ting Pang-hsin Linguistics Award", Center for Chinese Historical Linguistics, ZJU

  7. Apr 2025

    Third Place (Team), PKU "Shuobo Cup" Badminton Tournament (Materials–Chinese Joint Team)

  8. Mar 2025

    Round of 16 (Group B, Team), "PKU Cup" Badminton Tournament

  9. Dec 2024

    8th "Li Xiaofan Dialectology Award" (2024)

  10. Jun 2024

    First Prize (M.A.), 15th "Ting Pang-hsin Linguistics Award", Center for Chinese Historical Linguistics, ZJU

  11. Jun 2024

    Outstanding Graduate of Zhejiang University

  12. May 2024

    Outstanding Graduate of Regular Institutions of Higher Education in Zhejiang Province

  13. Jan 2024

    First Prize (Graduate Group), 9th ZJU Student Outstanding Achievement Award in Humanities and Social Sciences

  14. Oct 2023

    National Scholarship (2022–2023)

  15. Jun 2023

    Third Place, Mixed Small Dragon Boat 200m Sprint (Graduate Group), 2023 ZJU "Sanhao Cup" Water Sports Meet

  16. Nov 2022

    National Scholarship (2021–2022)

  17. Sep 2022

    Second Prize (2nd Place), 15th Graduate Paper Presentation, School of Humanities, ZJU

  18. Aug 2022

    Third Prize for Outstanding Paper, 1st "Puxue Zhiguang" Graduate Academic Forum

  19. Jun 2021

    Outstanding Graduate of Regular Institutions of Higher Education in Zhejiang Province

  20. Jun 2021

    Outstanding Graduate of Zhejiang University

  21. Jan 2021

    First-Class 1977 Alumni Fund Scholarship (2019–2020), Department of Chinese, ZJU

  22. Nov 2020

    First Prize, 5th Undergraduate Paper Presentation, Department of Chinese, Zhejiang University

  23. Nov 2020

    National Scholarship (2019–2020)

  24. Nov 2020

    First-Class Scholarship of Zhejiang University (2019–2020)

  25. Nov 2019

    First-Class Scholarship of Zhejiang University (2018–2019)

  26. Nov 2019

    Zhejiang Provincial Government Scholarship (2018–2019)

  27. Oct 2018

    Second-Class Scholarship of Zhejiang University (2017–2018)