Learning Chinese: writing the characters of Unit 4

Please choose how the character breakdown is displayed:

一 yī : one

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Etymology : 一 yī is a primitive pictogram representing a single horizontal line, symbolizing the number one or the idea ofoneness. It is one of the oldest and most fundamental Chinese characters, reflecting the simplicity and universality of the concept of unity. In Chinese philosophy, 一 also embodies the absolute beginning (as in 道生一, "the Dao gives birth to the One") and original harmony.

Character evolution :

Oracle bone Bronze Seal script Clerical script Regular script
一 一 一 一 一
二 èr : two

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Etymology : 二 èr is a primitive pictogram representing two parallel horizontal lines, symbolizing the number two. This character embodies duality, balance and complementarity, fundamental concepts in Chinese thought (like Yin-Yang).

Character evolution :

Oracle bone Bronze Seal script Clerical script Regular script
二 二 二 二 二
三 sān : three

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Etymology : 三 sān is a primitive pictogram representing three parallel horizontal lines, symbolizing the number three. This character embodies the idea of plurality and triadic harmony, central to concepts such as 天地人 (Heaven, Earth, Humanity).

Character evolution :

Oracle bone Bronze Seal script Clerical script Regular script
三 三 三 三 三
四 sì : four

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Graphic components: 囗 enclosure, boundary; 儿 son.
Etymology : 四 sì is a character whose origin differs from the numbers 一, 二, and 三. Initially represented by four horizontal strokes 亖 in oracle bone script, it evolved into a form representing a mouth whistling air, echoing the pronunciation of this character.

Character evolution :

Oracle bone Bronze Seal script Clerical script Regular script
四 四 四 四 四
五 wǔ : five

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Etymology : 五 wǔ is an ancient pictogram representing a crossed structure or a cosmological symbol. Originally, it depicted two intersecting lines (㐅) inside a frame, symbolizing the four directions and the center, forming the number five.

Character evolution :

Oracle bone Bronze Seal script Clerical script Regular script
五 五 五 五 五
六 liù : six

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Graphic components: 亠 cover; 八 eight.
Etymology : 六 liù is a phonetic borrowing from a character whose origin is associated with a roof structure or a shelter. Initially, it depicted a stylized drawing of a house with a roof (宀) and supports, evolving into an abstract form symbolizing the number six.

Character evolution :

Oracle bone Bronze Seal script Clerical script Regular script
六 六 六 六 六
七 qī : seven

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Etymology : 七 qī is an ancient pictogram representing a cross-shaped mark, symbolizing the number seven. Originally, it depicted a cross-shaped incision (十), but evolved to avoid confusion with the character 十 (ten) by adding a curved stroke.

Character evolution :

Oracle bone Bronze Seal script Clerical script Regular script
七 七 七 七 七
八 bā : eight

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Etymology : 八 bā is a primitive pictogram representing two diverging strokes, originally symbolizing separation or division. This character was later associated with the number eight, probably through phonetic or symbolic extension.

Character evolution :

Oracle bone Bronze Seal script Clerical script Regular script
八 八 八 八 八
九 jiǔ : nine

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Etymology : 九 jiǔ is an ancient pictogram representing a bent elbow or a curved shape. This character originally symbolized a counting gesture with the fingers, then became associated with the number nine, considered a complete and sacred number in Chinese culture (e.g. 九天, the nine heavens; 九州, the nine mythical provinces). It embodies completion and cyclical infinity.

Character evolution :

Oracle bone Bronze Seal script Clerical script Regular script
九 九 九 九 九
十 shí : ten

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Etymology : 十 shí is a primitive pictogram representing a simple cross, symbolizing the number ten. Originally, it evoked a complete collection (like the ten fingers of the hands).

Character evolution :

Oracle bone Bronze Seal script Clerical script Regular script
十 十 十 十 十
零 líng : zero. Zero can also be written like this: 〇.

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Graphic components: 雨 rain; 令 lìng "to give an order".
Etymology : 零 líng is a phono-semantic character composed of rain 雨 yǔ and the phonetic component 令 lìng "to give an order". Originally, 零 meant dew or fine rain, evoking the idea of scattered drops. By extension, it acquired the meaning of zero (in mathematics) or fragment, symbolizing absence or the infinitely small.

Character evolution :

Bronze Seal script Clerical script Regular script
零 零 零 零
多 duō : to be many / (before an adjectival verb) how?

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Component: 夕 dusk.
Etymology : 多 duō is a character composed of two elements 夕 xī (dusk), symbolizing an accumulation of nights and thus the idea of plurality. Originally, it represented repetition or abundance, evolving toward the modern meaning of "many", "numerous" or "excessive".

Character evolution :

Oracle bone Bronze Seal script Clerical script Regular script
多 多 多 多 多
大 dà : to be big, large / to be old (in age)

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Component: 大 is a graphic component.
Etymology : 大 dà is a primitive pictogram representing a a standing person, arms and legs spread out, symbolizing the idea of greatness or superiority.

Character evolution :

Oracle bone Bronze Seal script Clerical script Regular script
大 大 大 大 大
小 xiǎo : to be small

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Graphic components: 小 is a graphic component.
Etymology : 小 xiǎo is a pictogram representing three small grains of sand or rice, symbolizing the idea of smallness.

Character evolution :

Oracle bone Bronze Seal script Clerical script Regular script
小 小 小 小 小
Vocabulary:
  • 小学 xiǎoxué : primary school
  • 小学生 xiǎoxuéshēng : pupil, primary school student
岁 suì : year (of age)

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Graphic components: 山 mountain; 夕 dusk.
Etymology : 岁 suì is the simplified form of the traditional character 歲. Originally, 歲 represented a harvest ritual or a ceremonial axe (戉), associated with the annual agricultural cycle. The simplified version 岁 partially preserves the structure of 歲 by combining 山 (mountain) and 夕 (evening), although this simplification is mainly graphic. Today this character denotes years of age.

Character evolution :

Oracle bone Bronze Seal script Clerical script Regular script Simplified
歲 岁 岁 岁 岁 岁
几 jǐ : how many?

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Component: 几 is a graphic component meaning "low table / tea table".
Etymology : 几 jī is an ancient pictogram representing a small low table with two or more legs. This character originally symbolized a functional piece of furniture, then acquired abstract meanings such as almost or a few (e.g. 幾, traditional form of 几 for "how many").

Character evolution :

Oracle bone Bronze Seal script Clerical script Regular script Simplified
几 几 几 几 几 几
中 zhōng : (middle)

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Graphic components: 口 mouth; 丨 vertical stroke.
Etymology : 中 zhōng is an ideogram representing a war banner whose center is marked by a circle 中. Later, the banners were removed, keeping only the central mark on the pole.

Character evolution :

Oracle bone Bronze Seal script Clerical script Regular script
中 中 中 中 中
Vocabulary:
  • 中学 zhōngxué : secondary school (middle and high school)
  • 中学生 zhōngxuéshēng : secondary school student
雪 xuě : snow

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Graphic components: 雨 rain; 彐 stylized hand.
Etymology : 雪 xuě is a phono-semantic compound made up of the rain radical 雨 yǔ at the top, indicating a weather phenomenon, and of 彐 at the bottom, a simplification of an ancient phonetic component. Originally, the character represented snow as a form of precipitation. This character is also the surname of the character 白雪 Bái Xuě in our course.

Character evolution :

Oracle bone Bronze Seal script Clerical script Regular script
雪 雪 雪 雪 雪
Vocabulary:
  • 大学 dàxué : university
  • 大学生 dàxuéshēng : student (at university)