Search Results
Feng Shui (风水) Posted by Stephen on Jan 13, 2012
Feng Shui or 风水 (fēng shuǐ) is an ancient Chinese system of aesthetics believed to use the laws of both Heaven (astronomy) and Earth (geography) to help improve one’s life by receiving positive “qi” (气). Also known as geomancy, this style of Feng Shui is done by reordering and moving furniture, room orientation and even wall/window/door locations to…
Top 10 Posts of 2018 Posted by sasha on Dec 19, 2018
It’s hard to believe, but another year is about to finish up. As we look forward to the New Year (新年 – xīn nián), it’s a great time to reflect on the one that’s ending. Here at the Chinese Language Blog, that means looking back on our 100 or so posts from the year and seeing…
English Words That Come from Chinese Posted by sasha on Mar 1, 2018
All languages borrow from other languages. English is full of loanwords from other languages. Most loanwords in English come from Latin, French, or Germanic languages. Did you know that there are also several English words that come from Chinese? We’re going to learn a few of them in today’s post! An Introduction to Chinese Loanwords…
A Short Visit to Chengde Posted by sasha on Jul 24, 2017
You’re probably familiar with the Summer Palace in Beijing, but did you know that the real summer palace is actually in a city called Chengde (承德 – chéng dé)? While Chinese emperors and their families definitely spent some time at the sprawling complex in the capital, the heat got so intense there during the summer…
Most Popular Posts of 2015 Posted by sasha on Jan 4, 2016
The New Year is a great time for reflection – looking back on the ups and downs of the past year – and also a good time to look forward. With each year that goes by, we want this blog to be better and better, and the only way to do that is by making…
China in SE Asia Posted by sasha on Apr 22, 2015
Recently, I wrote about celebrating the Water Splashing Festival in Yunnan province – a holiday predominantly celebrated in Southeast Asian countries like Laos, Myanmar, and Thailand. After having lived in China for many years and traveled extensively throughout SE Asia, it was interesting to see a bit of SE Asia in China. While it’s rare…
Very Superstitious Posted by sasha on Feb 18, 2012
Every culture has its own unique superstitions (迷信 – mí xìn), and China is no different. Chinese culture is rich in beliefs, customs, and superstitions that vary greatly from those in the West. Let’s take a look at some of these, and how they will bring you either good luck or bad luck. Numbers In…