Chinese Culture & History

    Combinations with Chinese Number(2)

    7456: In Mandarin,7456(七四五六qī sì wǔ liù) sounds marginally like “氣死我了” (qì sǐ wǒ le, “to make me angry,” “to piss me off”), and is sometimes used in internet slang.9413: “九死一生” – nine die to one live, meaning 90% chance of Continue Reading

    Lucky Number(1)

    The number3(三sān) sounds similar to the character for“birth”(生shēng), and is considered a lucky number. The number 3 is significant since there are three important stages in a man’s life (birth, marriage and death). Zero The Number0(零líng) is a Continue Reading

    Lucky Number(2)

    The number 6 also represents wealth in Cantonese, this number is a homophone formoney(祿lù).6(六liù) in Mandarin is pronounced the same as“liu”(溜liù) and similar to“flow”(流liú) and is therefore considered good for business. Five The number5(五wŭ) is associated with Continue Reading

    Chinese Numerals汉语数字

    The other indigenous system is the Suzhou numerals, orhuama, a positional system, the only surviving form of the rod numerals. These were once used by Chinese mathematicians, and later in Chinese markets, such as those in Hong Kong before Continue Reading

    The 24 Solar Terms: Autumn Equinox

    Based on the principle that the Yin Qi and Yang Qi are balanced on this day, peopleshould live and eat also in a way that can balance the two inside their body. Also astemperature decreases, people should keep exercises Continue Reading

    What is the Cold Dews? 寒露

    During “Cold Dew” period, the most obvious climate feature is “dry”. When it’s dry,sweat often evaporate very quickly and people can feel skin stretched, wrinkleincreased, being thirsty, and often cough. Eating sesame, nut, tremella, radish, tomato,lotus root, milk and Continue Reading

    24 Solar Terms: Hoar-Frost Fall霜降

    This period is the peak time for chronic gastritis and gastroduodenal canker. Agedpeople can sometimes get arthritis. Eating pear, apple, ginkgo, onions and leaf mustardcan relief these symptoms. Introduction“Hoar-Frost Falls” usually happens on October 23 each year when Continue Reading

    24 Solar Terms: Winter Begins

    During this period, it’s better to eat food with more nutrition such as lamb, beef, soya-bean milk and tofu. Also grain and potato, providing a lot of carbohydrate, can helppeople defend against the cold. Introduction“Winter Begins” arrives on Continue Reading

    Chinese Imperial Dressing (皇族服饰)

    Empress dowagers, queens and high-ranked imperial concubines used cyan sheets with gold-wrapped metal trims to decorate their court costumes; images of dragons and Chinese characters Fu (blessing) and Shou (longevity) were embroidered on the clothes. Necklines of dresses of Continue Reading

    Eight八

    Similar to the common Western practice of using “9” for price points, it is common to see “8” being used in its place to achieve the same psychological effect. So for example menu prices like $58, $88 are frequently Continue Reading