Abstract：Metaphorical spatial-relation construction (MSRC) is a kind of form-meaning pair that de‐ scribes the metaphorical spatial relations construed by man. MSRC reveals that, of man, reality and language, man is the subject, reality is the object, and language is the instrument. However, the subjectivity of man, the objectivity of reality and the instrumentality of language are all relative. Though the subject, man cannot perceive, experience and construe reality as he likes, and he cannot use language as he will to express reality, either. Though the object, reality can react to man due to its own properties, and restrict man’s experiencing and construing. Though the instrument, language as well can react to man due to its own structural properties and regularities, and constrain man’s expressing of reality. Therefore, what MSRC reveals is an interactive and inter-restrictive relation between reality, man and language.
Key words: metaphorical spatial-relation construction; construal; subjectivity; objectivity; instru‐ ment; interactivity
