Chinese 03 Cross, horizontal, vertical bars mixed
Chinese 03 Cross, horizontal, vertical bars mixed
This lesson is to review the previous 2 lessons, about horizontal bars, vertical bars, and the intersections of them. We are going to learning the following characters: 士, 土, 工, 王, and 玉
士
learned, trained person
pronunciation: Shì
The first example is the Chinese symbol 士, which is a classic word in ancient China, means “learned people or noble people.”
This symbol was adopt by ancient Japanese (during Tang Dynasty 618-907) and developed as a modern word as “trained, skilled person” and you know what? It was translated (adopt) back to China in early 1900s to use as a modern word.
This symbol was adopt by ancient Japanese (during Tang Dynasty 618-907) and developed as a modern word as “trained, skilled person” and you know what? It was translated (adopt) back to China in early 1900s to use as a modern word.
The pronunciation is Shì, which is a retroflex consonant in speaking Mandarin. Again, as I did in the previous lesson, I will add a reference link for practicing all 4 tones about Shī, Shí, Shǐ, Shì on the end of this article.
Why do I keep emphasizing the “retroflex consonant” thing? Because it’s very important when you learn to speak standard Mandarin. Maybe we will start another series of lessons about the pronunciation and TALKING in standard Chinese in the future, but let’s focus on the basic handwriting strokes so far.
Why do I keep emphasizing the “retroflex consonant” thing? Because it’s very important when you learn to speak standard Mandarin. Maybe we will start another series of lessons about the pronunciation and TALKING in standard Chinese in the future, but let’s focus on the basic handwriting strokes so far.
Look at the animation of this symbol 士, there are two horizontal bars and one vertical bar. The order of writing normally is draw a 十 (cross form, as we did in last lesson), then add a short horizontal bar under the 十 cross part.
土
soil, earth
pronunciation: Tǔ
The next symbol is a very similar one with 士, it’s the Chinese symbol for 土, it also contains a 十 cross on the upper part, then adding a longer (not shorter) horizontal bar underneath.
This symbol is one of the traditional Chinese five elements 金木水火土 (metal, wood, water, fire, earth), all these five elements are the basic parts to construct lots of Chinese words. We will introduce them in our future lessons.
Now the third symbol is 工, as shown in the animation
工
work, worker
pronunciation: Gōng
There are two horizontal bars and one vertical bar, but no crossed intersection for the bars. The order of drawing the bars is shown as in the animation. This symbol is also an important element of some Chinese words, we will mention it with other complicated structure of symbols in the future lessons.
Here is a very important Chinese symbol: 王, king or Wang, maybe you have seen it all the time. It’s a very popular Chinese surname, and also means “king, ruler.”
王
king, Wang
pronunciation: Wáng
This 王 symbol is an important element within some Chinese given names, mostly related with jade products or “fair, pure, graceful” good words for names. But it’s not “jade” after all, because one little stroke is missing.
Here is the real Chinese symbol for jade, 玉
玉
jade
pronunciation: Yù
It’s the symbol 王 plus a short stroke 丶 within the lower right corner. Please look at the animation carefully and you can see the basic handwriting strokes are the same as the symbol 王, except the last stroke 丶 added in the lower right corner.
Thanks for your reading and practicing, I wish these GIF animations are helpful for your understanding and learning. Please revise my non-native English words, typos, and grammar to make this blogger much readable. I do appreciate your help and input and thank you once again.
Review and further study
士
learned, trained person
pronunciation: Shì
with pronunciation play button, calligraphic strokes animation, different calligraphic styles, related Chinese words, and more…
pronouncing all tones of Shī, Shí, Shǐ, Shì
retroflex consonant in Mandarin
土
soil, earth
pronunciation: Tǔ
with pronunciation play button, calligraphic strokes animation, different calligraphic styles, related Chinese words, and more…
工
work, worker
pronunciation: Gōng
with pronunciation play button, calligraphic strokes animation, different calligraphic styles, related Chinese words, and more…
王
king, Wang
pronunciation: Wáng
with pronunciation play button, calligraphic strokes animation, different calligraphic styles, related Chinese words, and more…
玉
jade
pronunciation: Yù
with pronunciation play button, calligraphic strokes animation, different calligraphic styles, related Chinese words, and more…
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