I'm also fascinated by the glimpses into Chinese culture that we gain from studying Mandarin. The written characters Mandarin heavily influence the worldview of this country's citizens, and offer thrilling insight into the mindset of a substantial portion of the world's population. In fact, since Chinese is at least partially a picture-based language, it operates on a level that English simply does not. I'll offer a few examples below (in my rough translation). Hopefully you'll find them as interesting as I do! :)
Note: As you may know, most Chinese characters are comprised of parts called "radicals." Radicals are simply the building blocks of Chinese characters. Some of them convey meaning, and some convey the word's sound. When I mention "radicals," I'm simply talking about these linguistic building blocks :).
Interesting Chinese Characters:
1. The word for "to chat about" is the radical for "word" combined with two radicals for "fire," or "two fires sharing words." This makes me think about James 3:6, which says, "the tongue also is a fire."
2. The word for "bad luck" is the character "to pour" as well as a character that combines "every" and "rain." One truly has bad luck when falling victim to all the rains pouring down!
3. The word for "to teach" has a radical for "pen in hand" beside one for "child," underneath a radical for "old person." To teach is when the child holds a pen in hand, under the tutelage of an older, wiser adult.
4. The word for "hair" is two characters: "to emit" and "head." Hair is what comes out of your head!
5. The common word "to see, to look" is the hand radical over the eye radical. When we put our hand up to our forehead, we can look out into the distance!
6. The first character in "to rest" is the radical for "person" beside the one for "tree." When we lean against a tree, we rest.
7. The Chinese word for:
- America: "beautiful land."
- England: "land of heroes"
- France: "land of law" (which is interesting, since China's legal system is based on France's)
- Germany: "land of morality"
- Japan: "origin of the sun"
- computer: "electric brain"
- phone: "electric speak"
- cell phone: "hand device"
- train: "fire vehicle"
1. Just as many Westerners avoid the number 13, the Chinese do not like the number 4 (in fact, one hotel we stayed at lacked both a 4th story and any rooms with the number 4 in them!). The number 4 sounds similar for the word for "death."
2. While people in China often give each other fruit as a present, they do not give each other pears. The word for "pear" sounds like the word "to part." So giving a pear means the pair (like that rhyme? :) will part ways!
3. Men should avoid wearing green hats in the Middle Kingdom. The phrase "wear a green hat" sounds like the Chinese word for "cuckold."
4. For those seeking a little luck, try the number 8. The word for "eight" sounds like the word "to make a fortune."
5. Feeling amorous? Text your love "520," which sounds similar to "I love you" in Chinese.
Enough fire words for now! This electric brain needs to lean against a tree! :)