本文从词的层面考察汉语空间性特质和英语时间性特质。汉字的空间性体现为构字部件的离散性和二维方位制约,汉字结构中的这种制约与句法层面句法成分之间的块状性、离散性和可逆性具有同构性质。英语构词中的时间性表现于字母或语素之间的一维线序制约,该线序是英语句法中显性时制制约的形态基础和英语时间性特质的一种隐性表征。 This article examines the spatial characteristics of Chinese language and English temporal characteristics from the word level. The spatial character of Chinese characters is manifested as the discreteness and two-dimensional orientation constraints of the word-forming components. The constraints in the Chinese character structure are congruent with the blockiness, discreteness and invertibility of syntactic components. The temporal character of English word-building is represented by the one-dimensional line-order constraints between letters or morphemes. The line order is a recessive representation of the temporal basis of the dominant temporal system in English syntax and the temporal trait of English.