Abstract: Metaphor is traditionally considered as a figure of speech, namely, a rhetorical device; while conceptual metaphor, as its name tells us, has renewed the metaphor theory into a cognitive level, which is more systematic than other cognitive metaphors. The core of this theory is that metaphor is pervasive in everyday language and thought. In fact, language is the product of human cognition in which metaphor is used as a tool. As Conceptual Metaphor Theory (CMT) is introduced in language teaching, the author reckons its benefit on college English vocabulary teaching, considering the poor condition of current English vocabulary teaching and learning in China, in which the comprehension of word meanings and cognitive factor in language teaching are often neglected.
Key words: metaphor; conceptual metaphor; college English; vocabulary teaching
摘要：隐喻通常被认为是比喻的一种，也即一种修辞方式。概念隐喻理论从认知角度出发，更新了人们对隐喻的认识，提出了比较系统的理论框架。该理论认为隐喻在日常生活中无所不在，其体现在语言中，更体现在人们的思维和行动中：隐喻从根本上来讲是人类的认知现象，是人类认知的工具。
考虑到当前大学英语词汇教学效率不高，忽视词汇教学中的认知因素的普遍情况，作者认为，概念隐喻理论对英语词汇教学的促进作用应当得到充分重视。
关键词：隐喻; 概念隐喻理论; 大学英语; 词汇教学
