Mandarin
The Role of the “Groove” 卯 Character in Chinese Writing: 69 characters and 22 definitions
by Jennifer Ball and Xu Chao Using a Hanzi substructure-search engine designed by Xu Chao and Jennifer Ball Nov. 11, 2018 Thanks to Chinese…
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The Role of the “Youth/Essence” 青/靑 Character in Chinese Writing
byJennifer Ball and Xu ChaoUsing a Hanzi substructure-search engine designed by Xu Chao and Jennifer BallNov. 11, 2018 Thanks to Chinese Text Project, Wiktionary,…
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Chinese word for “heart” 心 comes from a penis
The website http://hanziyuan.net (originally ChineseEtymology.org) is phenomenal, and the amount of work put into it is impressive, but I think it’s pretty clear from…
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Interesting Chinese Characters #4 and #5: Cunning involves holding something in one’s mouth
刁 tricky, sly, crafty, cunning diao1 (diu1) 叼 holding in mouth diao1 (diu1) http://ctext.org/dictionary In order to be cunning, what do you suppose one…
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Tarte de la vaca
Ms Lin’s corrections: The equivalent symbol for $ (US dollars) to yuan 元 is ¥ yuan 元 is the same as ¥ ¥ Renminbi…
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Who’s up for Mandarin II?
Mandarin I Berkeley Extension Class 12 Nov. 29, 2011 425 Market StreetSan Francisco, CAProfessor: Virginia Mau Mandarin II is now available for enrollment. I…
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Grain has symbolic meaning in China
Mandarin I Berkeley Extension Class – 11 – Nov. 22, 2011 425 Market Street San Francisco, CA Professor: Virginia Mau Homework: Menu Include:Name of…
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Now we know why they have to be funny…
Clowns have breasts but no milk by Jennifer Ball 笨 笑 哭 Meaning: foolish laugh cry Characteristics crinkly eyes, funny face crinkly eyes, open…
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Interesting Chinese Characters #1: Mythical Animal that Eats Its Mother
獍 A mythical animal that eats its mother when it is born; Manchurian tiger. Pinyin: jing4. Cantonese: ging3. Very few animals eat their mothers; occasionally some insects and…
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Puyi had a wet nurse (not shown) until age 14
Mandarin I Berkeley Extension Class 7 Oct. 18, 2011 425 Market Street San Francisco, CA Professor: Virginia Mau Test 11/1 (next class): Comprehensive –…
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You say “gege,” I say “gugu”; you’re Chinese, I’m Akkadian, and we’re both talking about virgins
Mandarin I Berkeley Extension – Class 6 – Oct. 11, 2011 425 Market Street San Francisco, CA Professor: Virginia Mau “Ge ge” (guh-guh) means…
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The roots of “Please 请” are kind of messy
请 Please qing3 = please The right-hand phonetic 青 is also in the word for“semen”: 精 jing1. This makes sense: the bottom is the moon stand-in…
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Wang ba is a cuckold which is a tortoise
Mandarin I Berkeley Extension – Class 5 – Oct. 4, 2011 425 Market Street San Francisco, CA Professor: Virginia Mau Notes taken and commentary…
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Bubble Tea – Boba Nai Cha – and the biggest-breasted woman in China
Mandarin I Berkeley Extension – Class 4 – Sept. 27, 2011 425 Market Street San Francisco, CA Professor: Virginia Mau Notes taken and commentary…
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Was Chinese simplification a way to make the characters look less like pictures?
Sept. 20, 2011 Class 3 Berkeley Extension 425 Market Street San Francisco, CA Professor: Virginia Mau (pronounced “Mew”) Notes taken and commentary (marked by“Note:”)…
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It takes sharp eyes 色 to see at night 晚
Mandarin I Berkeley Extension – Class 2 – Sept. 13, 2011 425 Market Street San Francisco, CA Professor: Virginia Mau (pronounced “Mew”) Email: vmmauhk@yahoo.com…
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Mandarin Uncensored – Class 1
Mandarin I Berkeley Extension – Class 1 Sept. 6, 2011 425 Market Street San Francisco, CA Professor: Virginia Mau (pronounced “Mew”) Email: vmmauhk@yahoo.com Notes…
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