从范畴化角度出发，英汉两种词汇的构词存在相似性。本文以英语和汉语构词的基本层次范畴为例，分析了英汉两种语言的构词法的异同及成因，并从认知和功能视角解释了二者差异的原因。研究认为从历史角度来看，汉语的双音化助推了种属类词汇的扩张，英语则是由于词汇量的增长使得构词方式逐渐由综合型走向分析型。从共时角度来看，就构词方式来说，汉语构词更加重注词的义类范畴，属类词构词能产性极强，而英语则更加注重词性范畴；汉语的基本词的含义的涵盖范围远超英语；汉语的音节韵律在构词中发挥着极大的作用。本研究一定程度上可对未来英汉两种语言的构词发展方向做出预测。

From the perspective of categorization, there are similarities in the formation of English and Chinese words. This paper analyzes the differences and causes of word formation between English and Chinese by taking the basic level categories of word formation in English and Chinese as examples, and explains the reasons for the differences from the cognitive and functional perspectives. From a historical point of view, the disyllization of Chinese has promoted the expansion of generic vocabulary, while the growth of English vocabulary has gradually changed the mode of word formation from comprehensive to analytical. From the synchronic point of view, in terms of word formation, Chinese word formation pays more attention to the meaning category of words, and generic words are highly productive, while English pays more attention to the category of parts of speech. The range of meanings of Chinese basic words far exceeds that of English; Chinese syllabic rhythm plays an important role in word formation. To some extent, this study can predict the future development direction of word formation in both English and Chinese.