CHINESE CHARACTERS

Get a Grip on the Character for “Snake” This World Snake Day

Beyond the initial reactions of fear and revulsion that they often elicit, the snake’s hold on China’s natural ecosystem and the country’s language is both ancient and complex

CHINESE CHARACTERS

能: A Character Capable of Anything

How the original character for “bear” came to mean ability, power, and more

CHINESE CHARACTERS

育: The Character That Follows You From Birth

Explore the character that encompasses birth, nurture, and education

CHINESE CHARACTERS

爱: The Character Defining Love in Its Many Forms

Explore the character for romantic love, parental devotion, benevolence, and much more

CHINESE CHARACTERS

玩: The Character That Tempts Both Joy and Danger

Over the centuries, the character 玩 has evolved from encapsulating an appreciation for jade to describing a state of entertainment and even a lack of commitment

CHINESE CHARACTERS

物: The Ox, the Earth, and the Infinite

How the character for “ox” evolved to encompass everything within the cosmos

CHINESE CHARACTERS

游: Learn the Chinese Character for Journeys and Adventures

​The character 游 is for travel, imagination, and going with the flow

CHINESE CHARACTERS

How a Character That Once Referred to Barbarians Now Represents Civility

Learn how the character 文 went from being a term for the uncivilized in ancient China to referring to literature, refinement, and culture in the modern day

CHINESE CHARACTERS

On the Character: 联

Learn about a character that’s been fostering connections since ancient times

CHINESE CHARACTERS

On the Character: 里

Learn all about a Chinese character that can be both close and far