To discuss the characteristics and the dynamic cognitive process of TCM syndrome differentiation from the perspective of cognitive psychology. To bring to light the differences and diversities of syndrome representation among individual TCM professionals, between TCM specialist and beginners. Methods: Questionnaire survey in cognitive psychology was used to conduct descriptive study on different levels of TCM professionals. 125 subjects with different levels of TCM knowledge completed questionnaires. They were grouped in order to conduct descriptive statistics and chi-square test. Use cognitive psychology and cognitive linguistics to analyze the results. Results: 1)People constantly revised their choices with the addition of the symptoms. 2)The Eight Principle Pattern Identification and the Differentiation of Six Channels were most widely used. 3)Experts paid more attention to the diagnostic symptoms. 4)Symptoms were more reference than tongue manifestation. 5)The main symptoms of one pattern are more often included in the cognitive schema. 6)The grouped samples has statistically significant differences (P<0.05) in 9 questions. Conclusion:Problem representation very subjective to individual TCM professionals, and these variations come from the accumulated knowledge and experience before. In the diagnostic process, doctors will continually amend their conclusions and assumptions with the addition of symptoms. And the more comprehensive the collection of symptoms is, the more helpful to the most accurate diagnosis. Experts draw the accurate conclusions faster, but they are still relatively cautious. Actually they need to collect more comprehensive symptoms to make a conclusion. When facing with a series of symptoms, experts also tend to be more willing to focus on the symptoms which are more helpful to the diagnosis. Prominent words or new information are paid more attention to and will have an impact on the final conclusions.