5 Ways to Enjoy

Learning Chinese
— How to make learning Chinese a fun experience
FOREWORD
Y ou might have noticed that there are two distinct forms of the Chinese written
languages: the modern simplified Chinese which was officially published in
1964 and is used mostly in mainland China and Singapore; and the traditional
Chinese used in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau and China towns all around the world,
and in mainland China before 1949. One thing I want to clarify first is: here in MC
Education, we only teach traditional Chinese. Because the traditional form has
preserved the full heritage since very ancient times in its intricate, beautiful strokes
and structures, the traditional characters are written today the exact same way they
were thousands of years ago, and carry the same culture elements and core values in
our cherished and world’s only continuous civilization.

Many people think Chinese is an extremely difficult language to learn due to its
complication. Actually, there are hundreds of dialects spoken across mainland China,
most of them unintelligible to each other, and there are even subdivisions within
every dialect. For example, in my hometown – a remote county in eastern China, each
township has its own dialect. As we may all know, the major dialect most westerners
think of as Chinese is Mandarin, although Cantonese also has a lot of speakers in
southern China, Hong Kong and Chinatowns around the world. Does it sound very
complicate? NOT NECESSARY. Why? Because from the writing or reading point
of views, classical Chinese is a single language passed on through five thousand
year’s history. Despite differences in pronunciation and grammar, traditional Chinese
language was standardized in all of China, and even spread to other East Asian
countries like Japan, Korea, Vietnam, etc. So learning Chinese is not necessary so
difficult.

Confucius once said, “Learn things often, and practice what you have learned—
is that not an enjoyable thing?” Actually, if you can find the right ways to discover
the culture behind it, the challenge of learning Chinese can be extremely rewarding
and enjoyable, and you will love it. In this document, I’m going to offer you five
suggestions to make learning Chinese a fun experience.
 1

CHAPTER
Discover
the Inner Meaning
Behind the Characters

Traditional Chinese is the oldest continuous language on the planet, just like the
5,000 year Chinese civilization. Each Chinese character has its individual subtleties
and very profound culture implications. If you can delve into it, the joy of learning
the inner meanings behind each character is tremendous. It looks challenging on the
surface but is definitely rewarding experience. That type of joy is hard to express, let's
get into a bit more details and see some examples.

What in English we call a word is usually in Chinese composed of one or multiple

characters, which often brings multiple layers of meaning together: simpler
components with basic meanings form complex combinations with greater depth, not
only on the wording level, but also with a lot of culture implications.

knowledge of cosmos
from the book of change
left hand right hand

sealing
intelligence

child

The Chinese Character for "Learn / Study"

For example, what are the different layers of meanings in the Chinese character for
“learn” or “study”, which in Chinese is 學 (xué)? As you can see from the above
picture, at the bottom of 學 is the character for child 子 (zǐ). Right on the top of 子 is
the radical 冖 (mì), which represents a child’s sealing intelligence begins to develop.
There are three parts above the radical 冖 . The parts on the left and right sides
resemble left and right hands. In the middle of the two hands is the symbol 爻（yáo),
which is derived from the prehistoric text – the Book of Change (I-Ching: 易 經 ),
and signifies the mysteries of the universe. In ancient China, people believed that
study can help one understand profound things such as cosmic phenomena, as well
as smaller individual things like one’s fate. Therefore the character 學 (xué) depicts a
child using his left and right hands to probe into the mysteries of the cosmos. Ancient
Chinese people believed that study is in fact wisdom imparted from the heavens.

Another example is the character of “medicine” – 藥 (yào). On the top it has the
character for herb; at the bottom is the character “music”. Chinese people believe
that music has healing power from the very beginning of their civilization, actually
one of music’s earliest purposes was healing. Our ancestors believed that music
could harmonize a person’s soul in ways that medicine could not. Back to the time
of the Great Yellow Emperor (2698-2598 B.C.E.), people discovered the relationship
between the pentatonic scale, the five elements, and the human body’s five internal
and fie sensory organs. There is a saying in Chinese called “ 樂 先 藥 後 ” (yuè xiān
yào hòu), which means “music before medicine”. Our ancestors believed positive
music has the power to heal one’s heart and enrich their mind. Today, many people in
the west hold similar opinions, believing that music can reduce stress, improve your
health, and even boost your brain and increase your IQ.
 2

CHAPTER
Everyone Can
Learn and Practice
The Art of Calligraphy

We often heard western designers say a picture is worth a thousand words. In the
classic Chinese language, all the characters actually are pictures, and Chinese
calligraphy is the artistic expression of these characters. It is a form of aesthetically
pleasing writing, and very enjoyable. As a tangible art form for writing, practicing
calligraphy can lead you into a contemplation and meditation status, and foster the
spirit of nobility and morality. The graceful movements of the soft brush magically
calm you down, get your heart into tranquility, then you can feel the connections with
your nature come up.

The art of Chinese calligraphy is a kit of four parts (tools): brush, inkstone, ink stick,
and xuān (rice) paper. These four writing tools are known as the Four Treasures of the
Study ( 文房四寶 wén fáng sì bǎo ). In ancient China, having these writing tools and
other supplementary gems such as brush-holders, paperweights, and seals on hand
was the symbol of educated refinement.

Four Treasures of Study ( 文房四寶 ): brush, inkstone, ink stick, paper

Some western friends asked me how Chinese people manage to memorize the writing
of thousands of characters, sounds incredible. Actually, similar to English has 26
letters to make different words. In Chinese characters, there are only eight basic
brush strokes. When combined in different ways, the strokes reveal different words
(characters) and their meanings. Generally saying, you need about 3,000 characters
to read newspapers, 5,000 to be a fluent reader, and 8,000 if you wish to be a scholar.
There are about 50,000 unique Chinese characters exist, but only a small fraction
of which are needed for daily communication. So don’t worry, it won’t be that
overwhelming.

The "Eight Principles of Yong" ( 永字八法 ) was created to teach people how
to write characters using the eight common strokes in the character 永 .

One of the most famous ancient Chinese calligraphers created the “Eight Principles of
Yong”(Chinese: 永字八法 Yǒngzì Bā Fǎ) to explain and teach how to write Chinese
characters using the eight common strokes and their writing principles (including
how to write each stroke and put them in specific order) in regular script. All these
eight common strokes are found in a single character for “forever” or “permanence”
– 永 (yǒng). The eight common strokes and corresponding writing principles are 點
diǎn( 側 cè)、 橫 héng( 勒 lè)、 彎 wān( 掠 lüè)、 豎 shù( 努 nǔ)、 提 tí( 策 cè)、
撇 piě( 啄 zhuó)、 捺 nà( 磔 zhé)、 鉤 gōu( 趯 tí). It was traditionally believed that
the frequent practice of these eight strokes as a beginning could ensure the beauty in
one’s writing. Any finely written Chinese character balances beauty with order and
structure. The fundamental order for writing Chinese characters is to move top to
bottom, left to right, and outside to inside. Following the core principle of Chinese
philosophy, harmony NOT individual is the ultimate goal for calligraphy.

Chinese people believe different elements of their culture (the traditional Chinese
culture) including clothing, medicine, agriculture, and the written words are all gifts
from heavens. In the earliest legends, the inventor of Chinese characters-Cangjie( 倉
頡 ), who lived around 2,650 B.C.E (about 5,000 years ago), had four eyes and four
pupils. When he invented the characters, the deities and ghosts cried and the sky
rained millet.

One of the most famous calligraphy masterpieces in Chinese history is "Preface to the
Poems Composed at the Orchid Pavilian" ( 蘭亭集序 lán tíng jí xù ). In the year 353,
Wang Xizhi invited a group of scholars gathered at the Orchid Pavilion on Mt. Kuaiji
in southern China to have a drinking poetic sharing and play. At the end of the day,
twenty-six literati composed thirty-seven poems in total and the Lantingji Xu, as a
preface to the collection was produced by Wang on the spot. The original preface was
long lost, but multiple copies with ink on papers or stone inscriptions remain until
today. It is considered a perfect combination of the beauty of Chinese calligraphy,
poetry and the special Guqin music.

A Tang Dynasty copy of Preface to the Poems Composed at the Orchid Pavilian.
 3
CHAPTER

Learn from
History and Stories

From the great Yellow Emperor through the Tang and Song dynasties and all the way
to 1911, Chinese history has been documented and passed down uninterrupted for
5,000 years, often in vivid details. Every period of history embodies certain traditional
Chinese values. Ideals of loyalty, filial piety, righteousness, wisdom, and veneration
for the divine are cherished and performed in different dynasties. Heroes are extolled
for their compassion, tolerance, courage and determination when facing adversity.

For example, one of the four great pillars of Chinese literature – Romance of the
Three Kingdoms (the other three are: Journey to the West, Outlaws of the Marsh,
and Dream of the Red Chamber) draws upon the history and folklore of the early
period of the third century, showcases the era’s political and social affairs. It is also
considered a guidebook to military strategy of Sun Tzu’s The Art of War, presenting
dozens of iconic characters from history, witnessing real battles of every scale.

A mural of Guan Yu's "Riding Alone for Thousands of Miles" ( 千里走單騎 )

in the Summer Palace, Beijing.
More importantly, Three Kingdoms is at the core of Chinese cultural identity,
especially the concept of righteousness ( 義 , yì). Righteousness ( 義 , yì) is the
essential glue that binds a harmonious family, society, country, and a harmonious
world. It is said that the history of the Three Kingdoms was for the interpretation of
righteousness ( 義 , yì). The novel’s Chinese title - 三 國 演 義 (sān guó yǎn yì), can
also be translated as “Three Kingdoms Performing Yi.”

The Chinese character for righteousness - ( 義 , yì), is composed of the character

sheep ( 羊 , yáng) on top and character I or myself ( 我 , wǒ) on the bottom. In
Chinese culture, sheep are symbols of prosperity because of their kind and obedient
nature. The character righteousness ( 義 , yì) literally means “I am a sheep.”
Symbolically, it signifies making sacrifices for justice.

Although 義 most exactly translates as “righteousness”, the inner meaning of 義

is much more profound and powerful. It expands to justice, honesty, benevolence,
loyalty, selflessness, brotherhood, and reliability etc. 義 explains the virtuous
relationships between rulers and subjects, fathers and sons, husbands and wives, and
among brothers and friends. In ancient China, it was a commonly accepted rule that
no matter what happens, you must observe 義 .

Chinese people think the Three Kingdom character of General Guan Yu is the
exemplification of 義 . In order to protect his lord and sworn brother Liu Bei’s family,
Guan Yu once allowed himself to be captured by the merciless enemy, Cao Cao.
Cao Cao, who had long admired Guan Yu’s abilities as a warrior, tried coaxing him
to his side with gold, distinguish titles, prized horses, and even asked Emperor Xian
conferred the title ( 漢 壽 亭 侯 ) on Guan Yu . However, Guan Yu didn’t give in at
all. When Cao Cao got Zhang Liao asked Guan Yu about his intention, Guan Yu said,
"I'm aware that Lord Cao treats me very generously. However, I've also received
many favors from General Liu and I've sworn to follow him until I die. I cannot break
my oath.” He eventually took the first chance to escape Cao Cao’s camp, . braved
great danger and overcame injury to safely return his sworn brother’s family to him.
The Chinese saying “live in the Cao camp but with one's heart in the Han camp”( 身
在曹營心在漢 shēn zài cáo yíng xīn zài hàn) –originates from this story.

On the other side, Guan Yu also never forgot the generosity that enemy Cao Cao had
shown him. Years later Cao Cao was defeated at the “Battle of Red Cliff” and was
The three sworn brothers: Liu Bei (left), Guan Yu (back), and Zhang Fei (right)

running for his life with what was left of his decimated army. Guan Yu was sent to
finish him off and intercepted Cao Cao at a narrow mountain pass. Facing the mighty
Guan Yu, the disheveled and exhausted Cao Cao did not stand a chance. But Guan Yu
let him go. Even though he’s clear that he violated the military order by doing that.
Guan Yu still had chosen to face certain execution for disobeying orders rather than
betray 義 by killing his former benefactor. Of course, Guan Yu was not executed,
because it turns out that the strategist Zhuge Liang had specifically sent him to kill
Cao Cao precisely because he knew full well Guan Yu could not get himself to do it.
The strategist did so because he knew that China still needed Cao Cao to maintain a
balance of three equal kingdoms, but that is another story.

Cao Cao, on the other hand, is an example with a poor sense of 義 . He is known for
the quote, “I’d rather wrong others than allow them to wrong me!” ( 寧我負人 , 毋
人 負 我 ! níng wǒ fù rén , wú rén fù wǒ) This personal philosophy becomes very
apparent when the pursued Cao Cao takes refuge with his father’s sworn brother.
While his friend is out on an errand, Cao Cao overhears servants sharpening knives
and discussing a kill. Cao Cao’s paranoia is piqued and he murders the entire family.
He then discovers they were only preparing to slaughter a pig for his grand welcome
dinner. When his old friend, the lord of the house returns, Cao Cao realizes he will be
held accountable. So he uses the who’s-that-behind-you trick and stabs his host.
 4

CHAPTER
Learn from
Classic Chinese Poetry

Poetry is one of the most cherished ancient cultural gems for Chinese people. Many
scholars say ancient China is a country of poetry, especially in the Tang Dynasty.
Which is the peak time of Chinese civilization, and often considered the Golden Age
of Chinese poetry.

During the Tang Dynasty, poetry was an important part of social life at all levels of
society. Scholars were required to master poetry for their civil service exams, but the
art was available and accessible to everyone, from royal court to remote townships.
Tang Poetry continues to dominate Chinese poetry study today.

Two of the most famous poets of Tang Dynasty were Li Bai and Du Fu. Li Bai is
often considered the greatest Chinese poet of all time, known as the “Immortal Poet”.
He travels across China like a wandering spirit and created lots of popular verses,
his poems are treated as the epitome of Tang Poetry. As a prolific poet and a student
of Daoism, Li Bai is famous for the fact that his inspiration for poetry emerges from
drinking. The contemporary and also famous poet Du Fu wrote of Li Bai in the poem
Song of Eight Drinking Deities (Chinese:《飲中八仙歌》yǐn zhōng bā xiān gē):

Li Bai, after drinking liters of wine, creates one hundred verses,

李白斗酒詩百篇 (Pinyin: lǐ bái dòu jiǔ shī bǎi piān)
Sleeping in a bar of Chang-an City,
長安市上酒家眠 (Pinyin: cháng ān shì shàng jiǔ jiā mián)
Even if the emperor calls him to get aboard, he doesn’t oblige,
天子呼來不上船 (Pinyin: tiān zǐ hū lái bù shàng chuán)
Calling himself the great immortal of wine.
自稱臣是酒中仙 (Pinyin: zì chēng chén shì jiǔ zhōng xiān)
Li Bai served as a court scholar during the reign of Tang emperor Xuanzong. His
drinking backfired himself on some occasions in reality. One day, he insulted one of
the emperor’s favorite eunuchs after drinking. The eunuch soon caught an opportunity
to slander him in front of the emperor, prompting the poet’s removal from the palace.
A few years later, one of his friends with a prominent position invited him back to
work for the emperor. But it didn’t last long, when the emperor’s brother revolted
against the emperor, all those who worked under him, including Li Bai, were sent
away from the capital. Luckily another acquaintance managed to rescue the poet from
banishment. Li Bai then wrote one of his most famous verses on the way back: Down
Yangtze River to Jiangling ( 下江陵 xià jiāng líng)

In the midst of clouds all glowing at dawn, I left Baidi City,

朝辭白帝彩雲間 (Pinyin: zháo cí bái dì cǎi yún jiān)
The thousand-mile journey to Jiang Ling, completed in a single day,
千里江陵一日還 (Pinyin: qiān lǐ jiāng líng yī rì huán)
While gibbons were crying ceaselessly on cliffs of the Yangtze Gorges,
兩岸猿聲啼不住 (Pinyin: liǎng àn yuán shēng tí bù zhù)
My boat has slipped by ten thousand folds of mountains!
輕舟已過萬重山 (Pinyin: qīng zhōu yǐ guò wàn zhòng shān)

According to historical records, Li Bai passed away from “excessive drinking” when
he was 62. He left behind over 900 poems. The popularity of his poems has been
dominating Chinese poetry study since then. This can be seen even in the nicknames
capture his legacy, for example, “Wine Immortal”, “Poet Transcendent”, “Immortal
Exiled from Heaven” etc.
 5

CHAPTER
Learn from
Ancient Classic Texts

Ancient classic texts here refer to the Chinese texts originated before the imperial
unification by the Qin Dynasty in 221 B.C., including the “Four Books and Five
Classics” ( 四書五經 Sìshū wǔjīng) of the Confucian tradition, Tao Te Ching ( 道德經 ,
dào dé jīng) – the fundamental text of Taoism, and other pre-Qin classic Chinese texts.

Tao Te Ching ( 道德經 , dào dé jīng) contains the essence of Taoist wisdom. The author
of this book – Laozi (also spelled as Lao-Tzu) lived around the sixth and fifth centuries
B.C.E. Laozi expounds his views on the laws of the universe, nature and man in this book,
which he calls the Tao, or the Way. The title of the book is often translated as The Book of
the Way of Virtue. Taoist thought in this book has been a wellspring of Chinese culture.
The Chinese word for “morality” - 道德 (dào dé) was derived from the book title.

The hieroglyphic form of Chinese character

道 (dào) depicts a road split into four
directions on both sides. The upper-middle
part is the character for “head” ( 首 shǒu),
means thinking, or hesitation. The bottom-
middle part is a hand ( 手 shǒu), representing
holding someone by hand. So the overall
meaning of 道 is take someone who’s lost or
hesitating back to the right middle of the Dao/
Way.

Tao Te Ching ( 道德經 , dào dé jīng) is one of

the most translated books in the world, which
implicates the influence of Daoism journeys
to the West. We can even see Daoism thoughts
in lots of the popular Hollywood movies, like
Star Wars, Kung Fu Panda, etc.