象形字Xiang Xing Zi the pictographic system of Chinese characters

象形字Xiang Xing Zi the pictographic system of Chinese characters

Chinese characters in general may be referred to as ideograms, due to the fact that ideas are represented directly by characters, but they can be divided into different types, based on how they are formed or derived. Originally they consisted of pictograms (Xiàngxíng 象形), from which derived “associative compounds” (huìyì 會意), that consisted of two or more pictographs in order to form the character with the logical meaning. However, the majority originated as picto-phonic (形聲xíngshēng) which comprise  80 % of existing Chinese characters. Each Chinese character is composed of two or more picto-phonetic components that help to understand how to write and pronounce.

 
The basic components are around 200, they are known as radicals and are fundamental in the Chinese language. Therefore, once you learn these radicals, you can figure out how it was composed and the sound of a character. Make studying more effective and enjoyable! In the project “Kids Shou Bo in Chinese”, these radicals are divided into 5 sections, each section has 36 radicals accompanied by one derivation, published on the site kidshoubo.jimdo.com in the beginning of each new semester. Kids will learn 72 characters in one year. This project is completed in five years, the children will learn 500 Chinese characters, a good level for the Chinese
language.
      

 A special thanks is due to 中華文化總會THE GENERAL ASSOCIATION OF CHINESE CULTURE,GAC   http://chinese-linguipedia.org for the beautiful work they put in to Chinese culture and heritage. I trust that my work is profitable for the popularization of this interesting project. Thanking all the people who want to share my work, I wish you a happy new year 2016.    

                               

Minhua Lin  

Shou Bo Italia

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          

 


   

   

 

 

 

Baozi di Kung Fu Panda 功夫包子

Baozi di Kung Fu Panda 功夫包子

for 24 small buns o 8 big buns 

Materials for the dough

350 g of all purpose flour

200 ml of warm water 30°

1 tablespoon of yeast powder

1 teaspoon of sugar

1 tablespoon of oil ( any kind )

 

Materials for the stuff

300 ~500 g celery o any kind of vegetables

200~250 g minced pork

100 ml chicken broth

1 tablespoon sesame oil

1 tablespoon soy sauce

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon sugar

 

l   Firstly prepare the minced pork mixed with vegetables.

l   Gradually pour the chicken broth and the say sauce , oil , salt and sugar.

l   Stir them all together with the chopsticks in one direction for about ten mins until it becomes sticky.

l   Now start to prepare the dough.

l   Mix the yeast inside the warm water 30°

l   Pour the yeast water gradually inside the flour bowl and mix them up.

l   Knead the dough for about 10 mins until become smooth.

l   Cover the dough with the plastic and allowed at least 8 hours o better leave one night.

l   Roll the dough long e cut it into 8 even pieces ( big size .)

l   Roll the small piece round and flat. Sprinkle some flour to prevent the dough from sticking.

l   Start to put the stuff inside and make shape out of the dough and wrappe it up.

l   Let the buns rest inside the steamer for at least 15 mins

l   Put the cold water in the pot and turn the gas to high-medium heat.

l   When the water boiled and steam the buns for 15 mins ( Do not open the lid )

l   Turn the gas and open the lid five – eight mins later.

l   Now you can enjoy the Baozi !!!

 

 

 

象形字 Xiang Xing Zi How to learn the Chinese Character ?

Progetto “Kids Shou Bo in Chinese” anno 2015

 

“ Kids Shou Bo in Chinese “ was born in 2014, the headquarters for the lessons is in Lodi ( Lombardia, Italy ) where I first taught five children, it was a success, much appreciated both by children and parents. In this new season – 2015/- 2016, with the encouragement of Master Yuan Zumou and Master Stefano Danesi, I would like to propose to you this interesting project.

  All summer I studied and thought about how to re- introduce this valuable project, allowing more schools to get to know it, make it more acceptable and share it with everyone.

 Everyone thinks that learning to speak the Chinese language is very difficult, let alone to learn to write it. As a matter of fact, it is not so. All languages have their own system. The Chinese system is named 象形字Xiang Xing Zi, commonly known as a pictogram or ideogram system, but more specifically it is a system that based on picto-phonics.

 Chinese characters in general may be referred to as ideograms, due to the fact that ideas are represented directly by characters, but they can be divided into different types, based on how they are formed or derived. Originally they consisted of pictograms (Xiàngxíng 象形), from which derived “associative compounds” (huìyì 會意), that consisted of two or more pictographs in order to form the character with the logical meaning. However, the majority originated as picto-phonic (形聲xíngshēng) which comprise  80 % of existing Chinese characters. Each Chinese character is composed of two or more picto-phonetic components that help to understand how to write and pronounce.

 The basic components are around 200, they are known as radicals and are fundamental in the Chinese language. Therefore, once you learn these radicals, you can figure out how it was composed and the sound of a character. Make studying more effective and enjoyable!
 

  In the project “Kids Shou Bo in Chinese”, these radicals are divided into 5 sections, each section has 36 radicals accompanied by one derivation, published on the site kidshoubo.jimdo.com in the beginning of each new semester. Kids will learn 72 characters in one year. This project is completed in five years, the children will learn 500 Chinese characters, a good level for the Chinese language.
 

 The system, used in the project “ Kids Shou Bo in Chinese “ was not created by me but is an original form of written Chinese language, it was born with engravings on tortoise shells and ox bones甲骨文 Jia Gu Wen. It dates back more than 4000  during the Shang dynasty, these Jia Gu Wen were made with oracle texts and songs relating to divination rituals. More than 100.000 fragments have been found and scientists and professors are able to identify approximately 4500 different characters, including 1700 already decoded. Thanks to Taiwan the findings have been published, so the world has the opportunity to share this heritage of authentic and valuable culture.
 

 " Culture is life and life is beautiful" l would like to recite this famous line to all of you and pass it on to our children with the same goal to grow together with them!!!

  
   Minhua Lin       

   Bertonico   3 October, 2015

   

Radical 03 月yuè, the moon

Radical 03 月yuè, the moon

"Tonight will be a crescent moon, there are still a few days before the full moon! "

  

Since ancient times the Chinese have a close relationship with the moon. The Chinese use a lunar calendar named陰曆Yīnlì
which  refers to the movement of the Moon around the Earth, each loop equals about 29 ~ 30 days so 12 lunar months are 354 days a year. For this reason, the Chinese new year usually falls in February, corresponding generally to Westerners' Carnival party .

 In addition, each month when the Moon is full, the Chinese celebrate with a heavenly ceremony offering food and burning incense for their ancestors and their divinities, since they believe that all this can bring good luck.

 Therefore, the Moon is called 月亮Yuèliàng, and each lunar cycle is一個月 Yī gè yuè "monthly." In everyday life many words are composed from the character月yuè:
l  月 票 Yuèpiào monthly subscription, bus train ...
l  月 薪 Yuèxīn monthly salary

l  月 曆Yuèlì  calendar

 

 

 

Immagine originates from http://chinese-linguipedia.org/clk/index.php

Derivation 1.宵Xiāo, night

“When night comes, Ms. Moon enters silently into my house, how wonderful ! “

Dear children, have you ever been followed by the moon when you are going to the gym or cinema? Have you ever noticed the Moon followes you everywhere? With this wonderful concept Chinese ancestors created this ideogram 宵Xiāo which means "night."

On the fifteenth day of January in the lunar calendar when the full Moon enters into the new year, all Chinese celebrate. That day is called元宵節Yuánxiāo jié “ Lantern Festival. “ During the Lantern Festival, in China and Taiwan lanterns of various shapes and sizes are hung in the street, attracting  countless  visitors. Children carry the lanterns that they made by themselves around the streets. They are always extremely excited.
 
 Translated by Neil Berry

Radical 02 夕Xī, sunset

 

Radical 02-1 夕Xī, sunset


" Look! The Sun is going down below the horizon. It's the time of the sunset ... the Sun is covered by mountains, it's time for coming home and rest ! "

 

Immagine originates from

http://chinese-linguipedia.org/clk/index.php 

                        
In the original form of the character夕Xī  we can see the Sun, hidden partially by mountain, the pictogram is representing clearly the Sun in half. Along with the character Yang becomes夕陽 Xīyán "sunset" is also used in the sense of evening:1.朝夕 Zhāoxì “morning e evening” , 2.前夕Qiánxī “the evening before ”

 

 

Derivation 1. 汐Xì, tides

 

“ Watch out ! It's the time that the sea rises ... it's nice to see that Sunset is high in the sky ! “

  

Have you ever been to a beach, and watched as the water, at a certain time rises higher and after some time it goes away leaving the beach?

Every day it repeats this cycle, it never stops. This phenomenon is called潮汐 "tide." 

 

 

The rise and fall of sea levels is caused by the effect of gravity from the Moon and the Sun. The Chinese call tidal changes during the day 潮Cháo,the evening is called 汐Xì and collectively as the 潮汐CháoXì.      http://kidshoubo.jimdo.com/

 

 

 

 

    

    Translated by Neil Berry    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Radical 01 日Rì, the sun

Radical 01 日Rì, the sun

“ Look! There is a nice large sun.
Today will be a beautiful day! ”

"The radical日Rì is representing the Sun, which compound words are 日出 Rì chū " sunrise ".  日Rì is used in most of the words which means "day, daily:"

 

 1.   日常Rì cháng  daily life
 

 2.   日子Rì zi  day

  3.   日記 Rì jì  diary

 

Immagine originates from http://chinese-linguipedia.org/clk/index.php

Derivative 1. 早zǎo, morning

" The sun is just climbing up on the horizon ! In the morning, all creatures begin their activities ... " 

The character 早zǎo is derived from the radical 日Rì.It means "morning" for example 早餐Zǎocān “ breakfast”, or 早操 Zǎocāo  "gymnastics of mornings."   In China, in the morning people greet each other with the words 早安Zǎo ān "good day."

 Translated by Neil Berry