China Simplified

China Simplified explores the language, history and more in quick-read, engaging formats making the country and culture super-accessible for a busy world. Untangling the noodles for you! Join the exploration at: www.chinasimplified.com Language expert Katie Lu and China-savvy entrepreneur Stewart Lee Beck lead readers on an entertaining journey through the most fascinating elements of Chinese and show how language is the key to the gates of China.

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如果你全心投入，就能完成任何事。 If you put your mind to it, you can accomplish anything.

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Complimenting Male Partners & Friends – Five Phrases Showing Cultural Awareness

When you face a moment where it would help to dish out a compliment, say to a male partner or a friend or a friend’s son, China Simplified wants you to be armed and ready!

The current trendy expressions – 小鲜肉 xiǎo xiān ròu a hot guy (lit. little fresh meat), 男神 nán shén male god, and 高富帅 gāofù shuài tall, rich and handsome – are great among friends to show you know the latest pop culture sayings. In other settings, however, you may want to reach for a more sophisticated compliment, one able to communicate a degree of respect and intellectual substance.

Styles of expression come and go. Check out this translation from one of China’s greatest novels in description of Baoyu, its popular male protagonist:

“His face resembles the mid-autumn moon. His features hover like a flower on a spring morning. Sideburns trimmed sharp, as if cut by a knife. Eyebrows as if painted in ink. His cheeks are like peach blossoms, eyes like autumn ripples. When angry he seems to smile, and when he frowns, he still endears.”

— from Dream of Red Mansions by Cao Xueqin (1715-1763)

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3 Words to Avoid in China if you want people to take you seriously

Want to put your best foot forward and create better impressions while working and living in modern China? Here are three seemingly harmless words that, when used in certain contexts, can create negative impressions:

1. “Expert”

e.g. She’s a real China expert!

Would you ever say someone is an expert on the ocean? Of course not.

Likewise, the vastness of the country and the depth of its culture should dissuade anyone of sound mind from making this dubious assertion or allowing this overused claim to be made on their behalf.

Yes, there are a select number of women and men who’ve earned the respect and admiration of their peers for their China expertise and/or scholarship. They know who they are, and we know who they are. We enjoy their writing and other content. And we share it with others.

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“Dying” to Sound More Casually Chinese

Modern Chinese have developed the habit of using the character 死 sǐ (die) to spice up their colloquial expressions. Let’s take a closer look to see what we can learn from these colorful language extremes. Often these “dying” expressions are used to express negative feelings with lighthearted charm…

饿死了è sǐ le  – extremely hungry 渴死了 kě sǐ le – extremely thirsty 吓死我了 xià sǐ wǒ le – frightened me to death 疼死了 téng sǐ le – to really hurt 热死了 rè sǐ le – unbearably hot 冷死了 lěng sǐ le – unbearably cold 累死了 lèi sǐ le – dying from overwork 堵死了 dǔ sǐ le – blocked road; plugged hole 烦死了 fán sǐ le – annoyed to death 困死了 kùn sǐ le – incredibly sleepy 气死我了 qì sǐ wǒ le – infuriating me 无聊死了 wúliáo sǐle – bored to death

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Marvel superheroes get reimagined as Chinese opera characters by artist Tik Ka

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A Daoist Master on Conflict Resolution

The Daoist/Taoist philosophers were known for their unforced approach to life, serving as a welcome relief to stultifying Confucian perfectionism. And the Daoist Master, Zhuangzi, more than perhaps any other Chinese philosopher, came to exemplify the anti-rational creative mindset so coveted by the Chinese literati of various ages.

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Complimenting Male Partners & Friends – Five Phrases Showing Cultural Awareness

When you face a moment where it would help to dish out a compliment, say to a male partner or a friend or a friend’s son, China Simplified wants you to be armed and ready!

The current trendy expressions – 小鲜肉 xiǎo xiān ròu a hot guy (lit. little fresh meat), 男神 nán shén male god, and 高富帅 gāofù shuài tall, rich and handsome – are great among friends to show you know the latest pop culture sayings. In other settings, however, you may want to reach for a more sophisticated compliment, one able to communicate a degree of respect and intellectual substance.

Continue reading

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Appreciating and Complimenting Female Beauty

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. Let us help you make a good impression with the ladies with these timeless Chinese phrases.

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HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR!

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Chinese New Year Tradition: Decorate Your Crib & Family Time 

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Chinese New Year Tradition: No sweeping on New Years Day

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Chinese New Year Tradition: No Cutting Your Hair

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The Kitchen God is one of the most important of domestic gods that protect the hearth and family.

On the 23rd/24th of the 12th month of the lunar calendar, a week before Chinese New Year, the Kitchen God returns to heaven to report on the activities of every household to the Jade Emperor. People will make offerings to the Kitchen God on this day so that he'll put in a good word for them. As a result, the Jade Emperor will not punish or may even reward the family for the coming year.

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The Lunar New Year family photo of a Chinese diaspora family, the Mei’s. Taken in 1900. The Qing court attire worn by the man in the first photo was borrowed from the studio in China town.

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"Great Cold" 大寒 dàhán is the last of the 24 solar terms, after which the weather grows slowly warmer. It usually begins around 20 January and ends around 4 February.

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The Harbin International Snow and Ice Festival, famous for its spectacular sculptures and giant replicas, is a winter wonderland!

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Ever wondered what the colors of the Beijing Opera masks mean?

The 3 primary facial paint colors in Beijing Opera. Learn what each of them mean:

Black – forthright and impartial Red – loyalty, courage and integrity White – treacherous and cunning

Read more about Beijing Opera: http://buff.ly/1JlBZYC