Chinese Language 101 !

How is Chinese different from the other languages we’ve learned about this year?

The BasicsChinese is written in characters-- which used to look like pictures.

There are thousands of Chinese characters, and each word has to be memorized (they cannot be “sounded-out” like English words).

Some characters are ideograms, or combinations of several characters to form a new character with a different meaning.

Characters can be transliterated into Pinyin which uses romanized characters (this is how the Chinese type using standard keyboards).

Pinyin is much simpler, and has increased the literacy rate in China, since many natives do not know most Chinese characters.

Bamboo Strips from between 202 BC and 9 AD, excavated in Shandong Province

Oracle Bone from Anyang 13th Century BC,

excavated in Shandong Province

Origins of Chinese Language

Evolution of Chinese Script

Character Pronunciation Meaning

木 mù tree

林 lín forest

日 rì sun

月 yuè moon

明 míng bright

山 shān mountain

火 huǒ fire

火山 huǒshān volcano

Chinese Characters

and Ideograms

Chinese to Romanized Characters: Pronunciation

letter pronounced as... examples...

c “ts” cai “ts-eye” (vegetable)

q “ch” Qin Dynasty= “Chin” Dynasty

x “sh” Xia Dynasty= “Shia” Dynasty

zh “j” Zhou Dynasty= “Joe” Dynasty

Chinese Tones

Female Names

Chinese Pinyin English Meaning

芳 fang fragrant

英 ying flower, outstanding

珍 zhen precious

美 mei beautiful

秀 xiu elegant

兰 lan orchid

玲 ling clever, bright, fine

凤 feng phoenix

玉 yu jade

Male Names

Chinese Pinyin English Meaning

刚 gang strong, firm

伟 wei great, brilliant

虎 hu tiger

明 ming bright

龙 long dragon

兵 bing soldier

文 wen to be cultured

东 dong east

勇 yong brave, courageous

Chinese NamesFamily name, or surname, is said and written first.

Example: Fa Mulan

Given names, or first names, are written second and usually consist of two characters with a desirable meaning.

Examples:

Meihua: beautiful flower

Tianli: heavenly strength

Chinese Name-Chop SealsOriginated during the Zhou dynasty

Made of jade, stone, wood, metal, glass, porcelain or ivory.

Prove ownership and are considered more reliable than a signature.

Old paintings are often covered with seals made by name chops, showing who owned them over the centuries.

Name chops themselves are often considered works of art.

“The Tiger Behind the Fox” (Hu jia hu wei, 狐假虎威)

A 老虎 caught a 狐狸. The 狐狸 said, “You wouldn’t dare

eat me! The gods in Heaven made me the 大王 of all

animals. It would be a violation of the gods’ mandate for you to make a 餐 of me. If you doubt it, let me walk in

front, and you follow to see if any animal dares stand his ground.” The 老虎 consented and followed behind the 狐狸,

鼻子 to heels. Every animal that saw them fled. Amazed,

and agreeing that the 狐狸 was 大王 of all animals, the

老虎 went on his way.

Translation Guide: tiger 老虎

fox 狐狸

king 大王

meal 餐

nose 鼻子