Abstract: Multimodal research has gained prominence in linguistics and related fields, yet its disciplinary status remains contested. This study traces the conceptual evolution of the core term MODE across disciplines to reveal the knowledge restructuring underlying multimodal research. It argues that the transdisciplinary nature of multimodality stems not from terminological expansion, but from shared disciplinary responses to complex meaning-making problems. Drawing on the dimensions of theoretical coherence, methodological integration, and application orientation, the paper proposes a problem-driven transdisciplinary paradigm. It further outlines future directions, including digital empowerment, multimodal data integration, and practical transformation, aiming to provide theoretical insight and methodological reference for advancing multimodal studies under the framework of China’s New Liberal Arts initiative.