Abstract：With 905 Semantic System, this research applied the metaphor interpretation analysis method raised by Fraser(1979) and aimed to investigate the novel metaphor interpretation results of 174 English majors. The results indicated: 1)English majors demonstrated some competence of interpreting novel metaphors in English, and interpretation results had obvious feature of categorization; 2) learners relied more on “cognitive experience” in metaphor interpretation than on “language proficiency”; 3) The concept acquisition level of abstract nouns in target language might have some influences on the metaphor interpretation results. The results of this research go against the commonly-held opinion that “the metaphorical competence of Chinese English learners is low”. The key to this issue is to hold a correct understanding of metaphorical competence, and which may be cognitive in nature.
