Meaning: opposite; contrary; turn over; return Origin: 骨文中，“反”字像一只手正向着崖边攀登，是“攀”的本字，后来本义消失，意思变为“相反”、“反叛”。 On ancient oracle bone inscriptions, “反” looks like a hand climbing cliff, making it the original character of “攀” (to climb). Then, its original meaning disappeared, changing to “opposite” or “rebel.” Words： Continue Reading

Meaning: common, to share with Origin: 甲骨文的“共”字是两手捧着一个方形物表示“供奉“或“共同”的意思。“共”和“供”在古代是同一个字。 On oracle bone inscriptions, “共” looked like two hands holding something square, meaning “to worship” or “common.” In ancient times, “共” and “供” were the same character. Words：    共产党  (Gòngchǎndǎng) : Communist Continue Reading

Meaning: door, family Origin: 甲骨文的“户”字像一扇门的样子，本义是“一扇门”，也引申为“住户”等。 On oracle bone inscriptions, “户” looks like a door. Its original meaning is “a door,” which extended to “household” and similar meanings. Words：    户主  (hùzhǔ) :head of the house    户外  (hùwài)  : outdoors Continue Reading

Meaning: to capture; catch; obtain; win Origin: 甲骨文中，“获”的字形像一只手抓住了鸟，本义是“捕获”，现在也有“得到”、“赢得”的意思。 On ancient oracle bone inscriptions, “获” looks likes a hand catching a bird, so its original meaning is “to capture.” Now it also has the meaning of “to get” or “to win.” Continue Reading

Meaning: to change, to correct Origin: 甲骨文中，“改”的样子是一个小孩跪着，旁边有一只手，拿着棍子打他，要他改正所犯的过错。所以字的本义是“改变”、“更正”。 On oracle bone inscriptions, “改” resembles a kneeling child being beaten by a handheld stick as a way of urging the child to correct his mistakes. The character’s original meaning is “to change” Continue Reading

Meaning: to approach, even, immediate Origin: “即”是个会意字，字形的左边是一个盛食物的器皿，右边是一个跪坐着的人，面向食物，本义是“就食”。引申为“接近”、“靠近”。 A typical associative compound, the left part of “即” resembles a utensil used to hold food, while the right part is a kneeling man facing the container. The original meaning was “to eat,” Continue Reading

Meaning: product, class, to tast Origin: “品”字的本义是“众多”，字形用三个器皿（“口”）表示类别很多。后来引申为“种类”、“品质”，再引申为“评定”等义。 The original meaning of “品” was “many.” It is composed of three utensils (“口”), which together mean “lots of categories.” That extended to “category,” “quality,” “to evaluate,” and other meanings. Words：    品质(pǐnzhì)      Continue Reading

Structure with the noun: Adjective + 的 + Noun Meaning: A very common way to modify nouns is to attach an adjective to them using 的 (de). Examples:     漂亮 的 衣服。     Piàoliɑnɡ de yīfu     beautiful clothes   Continue Reading

Meaning: to predict, divination Origin: 古人用火在龟甲上烧出裂纹，用以预测吉凶，叫做“卜”，引申为“猜测”、“估计”。 People in ancient times practiced divination according to the cracks on burnt tortoise shells. This was called “卜.” The character’s meaning extended to mean “to speculate” and “to estimate.” Words： 卜卦(bǔguà)  : divination 占卜(zhānbǔ): Continue Reading

Meaning: Blessing; happiness Origin: 甲骨文“福”字是双手捧着一个大酒坛，在祭台（“示”）前求神赐福的样子，后来省略了手形，逐渐演变成现在的字形。 On oracle bone inscriptions, the character “福” was a pair of hands holding a large jar, symbolizing someone asking for blessing and fortune from god in front of altar (“示”); and later, it gradually evolved Continue Reading