=—— FUN WITH = CHINESE CHARACTERS The Straits Times Collection) Cartoonist: Tan Huay Peng FEDERAL PUBLICATIONS ‘Singapore + Kuala Lumpur + Hong KongPublished for The Straits Times by Federal Publications (S) Pte Ltd © 1983 Federal Publications (S) Pee Ltd Times Jurong 2 Jurong Port Road Singapore 2261 First published 1983 Reprinted 1984, 1985, 1986 Alll rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publishers. ISBN 9971 4 60742 Printed by Chong Moh Offset Printing Pte LtdPREFACE Fun With Chinese Characters Volume 3 features another 140 characters which first appeared in the Straits Times Bilingual Page. They trace systematically the evolution of Chinese characters from pictographs and ideographs, introducing radical elements and compounds with the appreciative and discerning eye of a cartoonist, This final collection in the highly popular and successful Fun With Chinese Characters Series includes an indispensable index of all the characters found in the series for easy reference.Caran eune SRHRASHSSARSAKIRE XM PH he SHH Si CONTENTS BR wing 27 Bf jido 53% gdu 19 He xi yi 28 #R ruin 54 G die 80 ik bs gus 29 3 lian $5 9h wai 81 hai xian 30 3 lian 56 meng 82 i kE li Sl oc. fu 57 7K ye 83 ik fm i 320 mf) jin 58% ming 84 Klin zhi 33 Ai ba 59 = ming 8S Fe zhi aha. 34 iy thou 60% yuan 86 quan 35 61 KA cong 87 #& lou quan 36 62 47 xing, hang 88 fj bing mi 37 if 63 fH dé 89 FE téng fen 38 ti = mao 64 i dé 90 Fe it jing 39 HF chang 65 ft 91 ji dao. qi 40 if bang 66 if hen 92 ij mian shi 41 te yi 67 fe jie 93 Ae xia fan 42 FE ko 68 Fill 94 fife shui bio 43H bai 69 i hou 95 Rf é 44% dito 10 4% dai 96 wei guin 45 Hr pian 71 Th gong 97 BR si yin 46 DR chudng 72 Mm iia 98 iF ch 47 HH gidng 73 tp ban 99 hong 48 3% jiang 14 th xi€ 100 3 ka 49 4k zhuing 15 3 lio or lin 50 3 zhuing 76 i fan 102 jin sy x 77 He guang 103° ff zhan 52% duo 78 5G xian 104105 106 107 108 109 110 a 112 113 BR ot oe te Si an 4 us 116 47 118 119 120 121 122 ap +RR ERAS nidng mido ke bi bai xiong da lin jing 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 131 vi Jing kong chuan pin yuan & 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 SPER HH BA 5 & shi ud zhongWANG = king; ruler THREE horizontal planes (=) repre- senting heaven, man and earth, con- nected by a vertical structure (1 ), form the character for king: E — the ‘one vested with power, between heav- en and earth, to rule uprightly over was & pletograph jade beads ( £ ) which only the royalty could afford. It even- tually became the symbol for king. “le [Fle | | | jE 9 wing king SE -BY wang gong (imperial) palace EM wang chéo imperial court; dynasty | = fi wing péi trump card SEfi& wang chi crown prince SES wang shi royal family; imperial court EE wing 8 the law Efi, wing wei throne E25 GIB wang gong gui zi the nobility TE JE wang zi persons of royal lineage Example: EM a EF 1% KR E fe s Gob wing -si hou wing hing) hing wing wa When the king dies, the prince will succeed to the throne. 1yu jade; gem represents 3 pieces of jade strung together as a symbol for king: Z . ‘The dot (> ) was added to form # jade), distinguishing it from Z ). Highly valued as a symbol of excellence and purity, Jade may be found in its crude form, hidden in rough stone. Hence the saying: “Jade which is not chiselled and polished Is not an article of beauty.” ¥ | E|E vidio jade carving; jade sculpture yutuing di di the Jade Emperor (the Supreme Deity of Taoism) EGR UKM —yojié bing ging —_as pure as jade and as clean as ice he yidl jade article Ef yo sé jade green; light bluish green ERR yb shii shit maize; corn Ee yor the Jade Hare — the moon EE yi zin jade hairpin Example: A ERE Eo Te ge ye do bi iin i This jade carving is not cheap.| (Ba) GU country; nation @ is composed of Oo (eouna, and” = opens” Hi sheretore means ‘lan ple and weap- ons. within’ boundary "~ Fepresenting eyes (2 ) of man (4), means to see. So 38, means the sight of » sparkling gem, its appearance at that very moment now. Appearances may ‘be reveal ing or deceptive. According to the saying: “Fine words and appear- ance ‘are seldom associated with virtue.” Ee fe iF fH SMM, BR vid ching... scene (of an incident) BAR —_ xian xiéngke> appearance (of things); Bie xin chéng + -. ready-made phenomenon BUG xian dai modern times; the BUA xinydu.. now available; existing contemporary age BLE xian zai now; at present; today LK xin kun»: ready money; cash HYBL—chiixiin «appear BLK xin shh reality; actuality RL faxiin ¢'- discover Example: hi bn -#RA o ‘Ta ian shing xan ch yi si xido_ rong A faint smile appeared on her face.Li _ village; mile; inside originally was a village inade up of @ (fields) and (earth), The average length of one side, about 600 metres, became a measure of length: ¥ nese mile. ¥ is also the sim fied form of ¥ . al for clothes (4e) is split and lined inside with the, phonetic to suggest inside: id Wbian inside; in; within BE Wichéng mileage; course of development HLEZRR —ichéngbai_-—_—milestone BE Ui Hai the Caspian Sea an Timian inside; interior BA Wtow inside; interior Example: BY £2 ii y WIR He ° Wi 3 min ching min ying ging The house is filled with sunshine.Li polish; reason; principle iB E (gem) is the radical, and the phonetic & is made up_of @ (field) and + (land). #@ com- res the cutting of a gem to the viding of field and land, both done according to fixed rules and principles; hence the extended meaning: reason, principle. The old saying highlights the importance of a moral standard: “A man of talent without principle is inferior to a simpleton with principle.” = |= 1 [_|F fe EF Repel es 1 licdi (usually in the negative) Hit fidn theory BR bee attention to; HES shi hu council; board of directors show interest in a BET GPR Msub ding rén of course; naturally HER fa haircut; hairdressing e ae ideal 2 BE |ihu understand; comprehend are ising a Ff ij understand; comprehend Fh iyéu reason; ground; argument BERL Uke science (asa school subject) aL Ia eae eee Example: RA oy HL ra 7H fe fh GY iG > Wo you ching fin i you ling xin 18 de ha Thave every reason to believe his words.Es mats owner; master & is » pictograph of o lampstand with the flame rising above it. It symbolises » man who spreads light — 8 lord or master. To shed light, the master himself needs the en- lightening counsel: “If you suspect a man, don’t employ him; if you em- ploy’a man, dow’ suspect him.” z SEX, = thiban— direct; sponsor EA master SEFF —thiichl chair (a discussion); SEfE —thiirén director; chairman _ host (a banquet) E/E —chishi instigate; incite; abet SEs) ahiding initiative EL chit theme; subject; motif SEPA thd! home team; host team EI chix) chairman (of a meeting) SEG hid housewife; hostess [BE ahiydo. main; chief; principal EM thi'guan subjective ahiyl doctrine; ism =E%F —thi'guin person in charge thiyl idea; plan; decision Example: RM KE HK Be th Wo men ving gi thi Ging gi j@ jn We ought to take the initiative to befriend him.(man) is combined with 3 (master) to form (% , meaniny Sela ce days, the man (A) was always master ( ¥) of his dwelling; s0 the combination <&, wnggests to dwell, to stay. In modern times, however, some husbai still boss the house; others EP 2h his household; resident {£0 zha ku shut up; stop talking EF thd shou stay one’s hand; stop Ea zhi si stay ; put up; get accommodation ER zhiyuin be in hospital; be hospitalized ES zhi zhéi residence; dwelling Example: fh ABB or PY la) Ze AR LE THe Ta di bi fin shi jm i wea He stayed at the school most of the time.quan = complete; perfect THIS character was first written pleted, i.e, the components a assembled ‘and the work finished. However, the modern character, — elassified under A. (in), could be interpreted as a jade (= or =) skilfully inlaid (A), and so flaw- less and_ perfect: & : perfection is not always the crucial thing: “Better an ¢ imperfect jade than a perfect tile” S21 | | J Ir 4m quin bi. whole; complete; total; all Sah quin ja overall situation 4A quan cdi a versatile person; all-rounder 4H quanti with all one’s strength 42% —— quinchdng the whole audience; 42TH) quin min overall; comprehensive all those present | 2-46 quan ini annual; yearly Az LEIPE quan qué xing nationwide 42% quin gid the whole world A qué ji complete works; collected works | 44% quén to complete set 42% quan jing panorama; full view Example: Bape epee Se ete) WO men quin ji rén cho qu le My family had gone out.& QUAN recover from illness THE radical 7 (originally J” ) represents a sick patient lying down (= ) ona bed (A ). The phonetic 2 means finished or completed. The combination 7¥ is based on the belief of physicians. that when a disease Gp) has run its full course (4), the Patient recovers: 35 . mas em. quin yi fully recover from an illness Example: fh WW ER A SE he Ta de bing hii mB you win gion gun He has not fully recovered from his illness.ui a pictograph of a rice stalk. Its original form depicted nine grains of rice <% . This was modified to 3 and finally 3k, 2 symbolising grains (5¢) separated in the folr quarters (++) by ice threshing. Although the rice-bow! may represent an honest means of (uncooked) _ living, “rice obtained by crookedness will not boil up into good food .” ie mi bo metric wave AB imi fen rice-flour noodles; vermicelli KA mi ji rice wine RRL mill grain of rice KE mise cream-coloured Ail mid the metric system Example: EKARAR T > ae wi ti ine This rice is overcooked.i FACE powder in Ching was once made inding rice into fi sled Henge i i Powder — trom a (divide, find). The cal 3 is ao likeness of @ ri stall and the phonetic / picture of a knife severin it now stands for any- thing ground into powder. powder we fn bi chalk Ba fn acne EL fen hing pink STE fen shén sulgi have one’s body smashed to pieces; die the most cruel death phil] fn shud whitewash wee fin si vermicelli made from bean starch, etc. HE fn sul smash; shatter; crush Example: fh KB KR He ‘Ta bi mimo ching fin He grinds the rice into powder form.4h JING refined; essence; vigour AK (rice) is the radical of this character and # (green, pure) the phonetic. Rice, the only grain that grows in a padi field, ig never mixed with other grains, and so signifies something pure. A (green) is also a symbol of purity; it #3 the colour of vegetation, #} representing the al- chemist’s stove and 2 the growing plant, The two symbols of purity combine to enforce the idea of refinement, essence [= “TPRRRE ipa jing bing » picked troops; crack troops we jing cai » brilliant; splendid; wonderful 4H ifng energy; vigour RE Ing mai exquisite; elegant #FHFE-F jing ming giéng gin capable; able and efficient FAI TI 3B jing pi jie exhausted; worn out Example: ik 76 WR WY BE BU ROM Bee Be hws ping de dio ke hin jing zhi The carvings on this vase are exquisite. ¥T5 jing qido exquisite; ingenious HATH jing shén spirit; mind; vigour; drive HAUL» ingxin meticulously; elaborately HAL ing ye seminal fluid; semen FF) jing zhi made with extra care #83 jing2hi fine; exquisiterepresents curling vapours rising and forming clouds, ) whic! = (Sa) MeiSeh orens shaw the san ©) andetine Ue h cause = the vapours: § . The regular form ‘@, , however, depicts the (4) ascending from bolling rice (3) — now simpli- Qi breath; vapour; air R = to 4 , meaning air, vapour, breath, energy or anger. i = mR RU Ey 7 |* | Al a Ait FH ql chong ching furious; beside oneself MR = qihou climate with rage ST ql effort; energy; strength sql chun asthma AR digid balloon SR alten atmosphere SG qiwén_—_ air temperature Sune alin indignant; furious RE aixang tii meteorological observatory Example: SRA ERO KS AH iT Ha tin sti i Gig ySu ho de gl fin ahing jn ng The talks were held in a cordial and friendly atmosphere. 14Li sui eat; food AL, to eat, is the radical relating to food in general, Its seal form shows that it is made up of & (together) and @ (boiled grain, food). @ itself is a pictogtéph of the rice- pot (© J and its contents (— ) with a spoon or ladle (&). 4 is the signal to come together (4) teat the food (j). But food, like knowledge, needs to be properly digested. So: “Be quick over your work, but not over your food. Be ae Be FL yesh lunar eclipse #18 shisi board and lodging SEM thiishi staple food $34 shiting dining room; mess hall; canteen 0H shiligng — grain; food ft shiwi —_ food; eatables; edibles Eh shipin foodstuff; food; provisions | #8 = — stlyn go back on one’s word; break one’s promise iif ship recipes; cookbook mie sit i 48 shizhi_ index finger Example: KEEWA HE & Misi YS hu th el Rice is the staple food of Asians. 15bal Bh) rice (cooked) z. fk, the character for cooked rice, comes from the radical and the phonetic meaning return. J& represents the repeti (Z) of the hand (2), as in eating | (#@). Although hungry people are not fastidious about food, “One speck of rat's dung spoils a whole pot of rice. Tm combination, is simplified to ® (food) ¢ motion tik li liv BH fan cai ‘BUR ‘BaR fan gui ti) ‘fn tng ‘Bp fan win wes fan shud Example: ker RR TO ‘The can ting fan ch Ke kiu meal; repast restaurant pot for cooking rice; rice cooker rice bucket; big eater; good-for-nothing rice bowl; job; means of livelihood dining table > AR A RA BI « fi wi you thou dio This restaurant offers tasty food and good service. 16‘therefore means food all wrapped up in the stomach, a @ the phonetic combines with @ , the radical for food, to Ay form 4@ (satiated), The seal form of @ is >, depicting L fgefus enclosed in the body; hence the meaning wrapped. Ui fully satisfied. However, as the saying goes: “Better be hungry and pure than well-filled and corrupt.” BAO eat to the full Q pee ee bo hin filled with (eA bao hé saturation ei bo min full; plump wy bio xe learned Example: fh A) IR AY tl oA Ee MAY PAIR > Te de yin jing io hin the ng de Her eyes were filled with tears of joy. 17‘THIS character is based on the radical for food: . It literally means feed (&) me (4) — a fitting sign for hunger. Another character for hunger is #46, literally: ttle (46) food (2), simplified to FI, jew food (7g) on smail table ( JU). Although hunger is no respecter of persons, “Bven a hungry person will refuse food offered in contempt.” BS ed aie go hungry eK je hunger; starvation Eh A Bh pashi like a hungry tiger pouncing on its prey Example: fh He GL ER BR be ‘Ta hing zhé ai ji | dn shang She struggled along on the verge of death,tE(EE) THE food radical ® combines with '# to produce # , a public building. The phonetic ‘& (official) originally meant the residence of an official — the hal “suggests a pul restaurant. Hence: II (7 ) of the city ic building doing food business — inn, hotel or ‘An innkeeper never worries if your appetite is (food) together with rere] | | iis RA ETE Pate Example: 18 quan m&i sh guin tiyd guin 8 sh gun hotel art gallery gymnasium; stadium library Khe HERES - Zhe i guin debian hn ting hung The hotel's decor is very impressive.mane ER |(ER) YIN drink a BASED on the food radical , this character has a significant phonetic Re suggesting breath. % originally was pictograph of a man opening his mouth to eaten his ald ag jn drinking: 2 . ™ The priniiive form of the character drink’ shows clearly » drinking flask iB as part of the food radical. UY he eral [TI OR yin cha drink tea hot yin dan be hit by a bullet TAR yin ban nurse a grievance thet yin lido drink; beverage Sa yin gt weep in silence thee yin shi food and drink; diet TRAR AK vyin yéng shui drinking water; potable water Example: th mk Fb eR th HR + Tani hain zo shang 28) chi fu yin cha, He likes to drink tea at the teahouse in the morning. 20represents a bird's eye view of a cart, showing its body (e), the two wheels ( =) and the axle Ch). The ive forms of # are as varied as carts, carriages and chariots. But, whatever the form, where there is a cart in front there is a track behind; so “Take warning from the wrecked cart ahead of you. (EES le og JIE alehe motor vehicle; automobile | 4248 he hin wheel (of a vehicle) ER ché chung lathe ER che pito train or bus ticket ABE che fare FEAEL A ché shui mé ing heavy traffic EHR chehud road accident tei che si speed of a motor vehicle E [a] che jan workshop iG che ti tyre E4% ché lang vehicle; car Eas chi ahin station; depot; stop Example: KRHWHA ERS © ‘Ti tio ji de gl ch chin dud This street is full of vehicles. 2¥%¥ is the triple form of the nolsy cart , It serves as a fitting symbol for id or explosive sound like the rumblit me carts, In th plified form, Z (again; ditte) replaces two lower carts juce Hi. itself sw simpll the right hand; anc right hand, returning repeat mouth in eating, suggest rain”. CPR AL LTT ea hing ding cause a sensation; make a stir SRRLAUZ hong hong lig on a grand and spectacular scale; vigorous; dynamic Rit hing jt shell; bombard Re hong long rumble; roll Seng, hong ming thunder; roar eK hong zha bomb Example: mH MRA BRS th Ra eK - Ta de chéo ji =omi_ni_ qin shi quin ching hong dong gl di Her ultra-miniskirt caused a stir at the party. 2kU storehouse JUST as “7 Is a pleture of roof, representing hut, $0 J” is halt a hut — a shed x, shop with an open front, ‘wags. shed .. Bat, Bs otetns, rare “FE ERR jn bk armoury. Fee SE ng kd storehouse; warehouse FERRE Ki cing have in storage ee Ki clin stock; reserve EB ki fang storehouse Example: Kee TUAW K BK We De cig Wo ring mB lig NS wi This warehouse can accomodate a large amount of goods. 23the wheel that, moves the cart, has $M, th (cart) for radical. 4, its phonetle, is sugges- Do7 five, not only of the orderly arrangement of By eel, but also their unity fies a collection (%-) of reserved on baml fnvan orderly manner ¢ ‘spokes of and etability. Te sig anelent document slips tied together Ca). CE RR PRR | 4OHE linban in shifts; in relays #688 — inkud outline; contour; rough sketch #te — Kinchi teeth of a cogwheel SRE Min lid take turns; do something in turn $885 lin chuin steamer HG inti «tyre SORE linda ferry Sek Kinyl wheelchair OMe —lintuan rotate; take turns SHH linzhou wheel and axle HAL linji turbine RF kind wheel Example: KA Ee MBH T De ge dé in bi gd hal The wheel of this car was badly scratched. 24= oN THE seal form of this character, shows a war chariot (4) escorted by a surrounding force of , sol- diers (77) — an army: . Armies are maintained "for Years, to be used on a sin- ile day. And on that crucial day: “The conquerors. are crowned kings; the defeated are branded bandits.” I 3% jimbéi_ armament; arms jin hud E86 jini army headquarters iim 929% jincdo military drill iin rén EE jinche military vehicle jin shi S26 jindul armed forces EAI lin sh xan han Ezz ile military criminal code | 345425] jn sh yin xi ERE jtn-ging naval port ee jan ying jin quin officer Example: BAW TL fe BW A He AR HE AY iin rin de ging md shi in yu tito thin sing do The work of a soldier is full of challenges. 25 arms and ammunition military strength soldier; serviceman noncommissioned officer (NCO) military training military manoeuvre; war exercise military camp; barracksZHAN chop off $7 probably has reference to a war chariot ( $) with warriors wielding axes (J ) to cut off the enemy. It may’ alsp mean to whirl or brandish (3 ) a battle axe (Jf). But cutting off an enemy ‘does not eradicate the source of trouble; hence the saying: “When cutting the weeds, get rid of the root” 5 CEREY STEERER thin cdo chigén destroy root and branch — stamp out the source of trouble FRET LER chin ding jie 08 resolute and decisive; categorical Sri than duan chop off ee thn shou behead; decapitate Example: fh 1 FRM BT Ta de shiv ba i ahén dun le His hands were chopped off by the machine, 26aio sedan-chair sed of F (vehicle) and b ing high and stately, — gedan chair. The phonetic combines & (man leaning forwar with" contracted form of «& Gas (high). Although the travel in sedans, the chair is a man; he who carries the chair is also a man,” Aa ] RE jido che car HT jido 2 sedan chair Te hua ido bridal sedan chair Example: wh BY fe OY 4 A OAR Oe A TE BE BD Gi SMB de has ebm n ning sth md do de In the olden days, Chinese brides rode on bridal sedan chairs, aTHE mobility of the carriage ($) is used to ge effect in this character. Combined with , it produces #, meaning soft and weak or pliable and flexible, & signifying a man QU) gasping for breath (2 ), exhausted, deficient. $& may also be_written g@ , the tie §@ representing the TOR neard (35) of 4 mas CE) z RUAN soft; weak; pliable yielding; a ruén ging mild steel; soft steel RRA run g6 tou a weak-kneed person; a spineless person; a coward a ruan gi cartilage RAG run hud soften; win over by soft tactics KAD run huo gentle; kind; soft ERE rua jan software run jin put somebody under house arrest RS run 100 weak; feeble; flabby Example: we wh fh AY A a wR iA HK fk T° Te be td de tin yin mi yo ruin hae She was won over by his sweet words.cz LIAN link; join; connect CARTS (¥) on the move (1) form a connecting link (3) be- tween places, leaving @ continuous track, not broken like the track of man. Iso represents a string of carria: ) moving along (2.2 ae conneeied. By the sam token $i, the character for chai is made pp of rings of metal (¢ linked Q¥) together. 7\4/# E 345 inguin Link up; piece together; hang together; coherent; consistent 4%] iin huin hua a book (usually for children) with a story told in pictures; picture story book ER lini implicate; involve; get somebody into trouble Et ign méng_—— promptly; at once lian for days on end; day after day {ign tong together with; along with SESE ln continuous; successive SER lin’ the same night; that very night Example: NRRKA HERA Xo mii xi hain kan Xing Ging dein ad id Xiaomei likes to watch the Hongkong serialised dramas. 29LIAN lotus AF, the totas, is » prolific water plant (#) that spreads continuously (¥) like @ flowery chain. It epitomises urity because It grows ou! ut remains undefiled. From 3¥ (con- acter (ripples) based on the water radical les being @ continuous sue- + — ripj cession (19) of waves. CEP al ere Win bua lotus flower ee lién peng seedpod of the lotus EEK lién peng tou shower nozzle ey lin ai lotus seed Example: TE RE K Ok BAY e Lin hud shi shéng zhing 2 = shul li de Lotus flowers grow in water. 30NS 4 x THE Chinese proverb defines father as “a man who, in praising his son, extols. himself’. Accordingly, the seal form J depicts father as a disciplinarian — the right hand (23 ) wielding the rod of authority ( |. Eventually the ri and then. broke: SE fami father and mother; parents RH fA gin father QAI 0 quan 2h patriarchy S58 fi xing father and elder brothers; head of a family Example: KRW RL RED RBH A WS de fi gn shi ge ch oting de rin My father is a kindly person.ain mie napkin; towel; skelees handkerchief rles of ph of a small piece of cloth used for cleani ing. 7 ancient times it was worn, ‘suspended le. 17 rey nts the, two extremities of the (1) fram fhe girdle, 1 forms the radical of 9 racters relating cloth in general. rhe jin TEE jn gud ying xi6ng it cn jin Fi shou jin AM tBu jin Hap wei jin Example: i an Te yong shu jin ma kin woman a heroine napkin hand towel headdress scarf She uses the towel to wipe her face.BU fi THIS character ig based on the | radical for cloth: *P . The phonetic ‘& (father) is,discernible as Rin ig the seal form# . & is a picture of | the right hand (3 ) with the rod of authority (1), and implies disei- pline, control and order — as essen ial in weaving as in marrying. So the saying goes: “Hasty weaving produces shoddy cloth; a girl who marries In haste has @ fool for a husband.” “7 al Agiti —bidio preach AiT — biding pudding 5B) bidfing place troops on garrison duty cloth “ — bi'g’a notice; bulletin; proclamation ARES biginido cuckoo AVE bp cloth; piece goods AE bd zhi fix up; arrange; decorate; assign; make arrangements for; give instructions about Example: WL GX PO if fii Be AR + EHR 0 Yong 2h pi bam hing i viding hin doing This cloth will make a pretty dress. 33- IN the seal form A , broom is suggested by a hand (3) with an improvised broom ( ®) — double cloth (M ) attached to a handle (1 ). Although a helping hand (4) can easily turn (broom) into db (swe “no one will sweep a public hall used by everyone.” eal aa séo zhou broom FAR — storhbuxing comet Example: 6h RT iC Mi ma ni jin mé le yi bh xin so chu Mother bought a new broom recently. 3419 FU wife; married woman WOMAN (3) with broom (eg) is the symbol for wife of” married woma ; simplified to woman (3%) with helping hand (@ ). Another character for wife is — woman (4) with broom (f) in hand (2), Whatever the charac- ter, “She who is the wife of one man cannot eat the rice of two.” via shdo fi. young married woman psa fafa husband and wife fap R} fd chin ke (department of) gynaecology and obstetrics ax find woman BA fren ‘married woman 4h fayou women and children Example: KMPAR HK: AT LAP WA Be ‘The wii sho fl zhin ying gin we le zhang fo bd xi xi Shing yi gid She's a brave young woman. She sacrificed herself for the sake of her husband. 35CREATING a symbol to suit_the emperor can be a. thorny problem. The ancient forms 7 and JK represented him with long robes and designated by — CE , Superior). Two arms were later added: 7% . Then the bottom was changed to & (sk. thorns) to produce 3% and finally sg. Hence the saying: “To attend on the emperor is like sleeping with a tiger.” Example: Rt Ab BA BH - Gin shi huing shi Zhing Gud Wi huéng di emperor shang di God di qu empire digué zhi yi imperialism i wing emperor; monarch iti autocratic monarchy; monarchy oe hing Qinshihuang was the first emperor of China. 36a DAI girdle; bring > is a pictograph of the ancient girdle, embellished with trinkets hanging from it: We. At the bottom of the character are, the robes, represented by "A — two tly , one over the other. AB also means to bring or takealong, as articles are often carried, tucked in or worn atthe girdle. RF — Wyindai recording tape TE the tropics we dai i implicate; involve eo ailing lead; guide ait show the way; act asa guide itu take the lead; be the first Example: % Ui i WL — ARE A ME Uo shi i ling Vi gin a8 sting qh pb shin The teacher led a group of students for a climb in the mountain. 37a acti eyes ( B) covered (1), fates a Cover (17) for,something (—), viz., the head ( —). '@ combines with the radical ‘cloth) to produce #@ (hat, cap). A cap does not always fit the head of the wearer because “many a good man can be found under a shabby hat.” PF are RARApR | RT n’chudn mo safety helmet WAR mao hui insignia on a cap vat mao zi headgear; hat; cap; label; tag; brand Example: HET MH > REL SH- Ding shing ging oi shh ging i dB dit hing in quin- mio Please remember to put on the safety helmet when you are at the work site. 38* CHANG always; constantly ‘His made up of the radical rh (cloth) and phonetic i& (elevated), id]. is a picture of the upper part of A house with a roof, 7), a smoke ole (@) and a ridge (1) whic divides (5) wind. and rain. fl “Be represents the banner raised as a yt signal in front of the general's head- quarters | jj and which flies con- stantly:gr « iv \* ‘4 Zhang bai jin standing army Hei chang shi general or elementary knowledge ‘ching ching frequently; generally | ‘#f2S ching tai normal behaviour or conditions ching hul regular meeting “% — chingwi day-to-day business; ching jin common routine ching rién throughout the year; | 7" Efi2L ching yan ddo as the saying goes perennial EFA chéng yéng in common use chéngrén man in the street. ‘HSE chéngzhd resident; permanent Example: we RR ER eo Ta ching ching qu ting yin yu had She goes to the concerts very often. 396 | (Ml) BANG help; assist IN feudal times the emperor relied on the support of his nobles. The seal form of the eharacter for sugh ald com- bines #2 with - £3 de- notes the crops (WY) and land (+) under the noble’s rule (3). signifies the silk or wealth donated. In the modern form the phonetic #7 means state or country represented by woods (# ) and city ( f ). “FEF RP ae He ‘bang mang help; give a hand; do a favour iF bing shou helper; assistant A bing xiong accomplice; accessary ABD bing zhi help; assist Example: KOMIK AK RM FMB > fe HH Re WO ing bi thé wiing shui gud ben dio ond ni onéng bing wi ma Can you help me to carry the carton of fruits there? 40YI clothes AK delineates the outlines of clothing: on the top, the outer garmente with sleeves; at the bot- m, the flowing robes. This picto- graph serves as a radical for charactors relating to Apparently, clothes do_n¢ ‘the man, according to the sayin; “You can change e clothes; cannot change the man.” z Kil yicha wardrobe ACHR yifu clothing; clothes ARSEIERE yl quin chi chi be immaculately dressed KES yiguinginshdu a beast in human attire; brute AR via coat hanger; clothes-rack AR EL(EAT —yishi zhi xing food, clothing, shelter and transportation ~ basic necessities of life Ke viva silverfish; fish moth; bookworm Example: ik fb KAR BR A he jin yi fu shi xin mii de This dress is newly bought! 41Kt trousers meaning trousers, is based on the radical (clothing). The ample storage space of loose Chi- nese trousgrs is suggested by the phonetic Jf. (store). AM may also be written: #§ , the phonetic meaning big (%) talk or excla- mation ( $)- . or robe, the other basic arti- cle of clothing (4), is likened to feathers (g) that warm th body. ae kK ew Ree BLE dun kd shorts WF kai trousers; pants Example: RAMS KRM T > WK fee Te tio kl oo oH dun bi nng chung This pair of pants is too short. 42KK, vedclothes or blankets, are regarded as cloth (e) skin (A). The phonetic A or 5K, represents the skin ( 3) flayed by hand CA) with knife (> 5. faemay also mean to saffer, a sign of the passive, However, 4 diterally, cloth dk wrap @ ) refers to the long robe or outer garment wrapped round the body to keep it warm and active. [ ik ere i bai bd Be bai dn Bal bi dng BF bai fa BS bai gao BEAK bind rén Bue bei po BE bara Example: RAR ho ng be arrested; be under arrest (bed) sheet Passive be captured; be taken prisoner defendant; the accused the injured party; the victim be compelled; be forced; be constrained bedding; bedclothes i tt & Ro eg ai It’s cold. Remember to pull up your blanket, 43K combining 4 with & , means to show or mak dlothes — the manifestation or outer appearance which may be a false front. It is said that when a boy is smail you can see the man, but “A man cannot be known by his looks, nor can the sea be measured with a bushel basket.” IZ —bidocéng surface layer PK ido dé express; convey; voice FA —bidogé —form; table FAR —bidojué decide by vote; vote 2% bidold show; reveal zi bidomian surface; face; outside; appearance Example: MY Xk [o] Gh RA RW Wh Du che win th toma yu bid ming ching He did not express his stand on this matter. 84 Rit ts za bigo ming bio gin bio ging bigo shi bido xian make known; make clear cousin; cousinship express one’s feelings; expression show; express; indicate manifestation; display; manifestMan cannot wait to saw a tree (AC) vertically into two halves: 4 and H. serves as a strong plank for his bed and }4 gs a symbol for a slice or piece. With ‘A and 4 he forms a tripod for an urn fe uses A and its components 4 and as radicals, And so the saying goes: “He planis a tree in the morning ahd wants to saw planks from it in the evenit PIAN slice; piece ay D Dele WE pian duan part; passage; extract; fragment Hal pian ke a short while; an instant; a moment pian shi a short while; a moment pian wa wi cin not a single tile remains — be razed to the ground pin yin a few words; a phrase or two pian zi flat, thin piece; slice; flake; scrap Example: A HE a@ oT wwe To ai ome of du fu be pin ee He was here for a short while. 45the left half of a tree (4), represents a thick, strong plank Bis fe hf adding + * We (bed) — y you . plank ¢W) ‘ of wood (Ak). ‘inother way way ip es, placing (we ‘As ‘you make your bed, you must. tie on it, so “if you can't sleepr don't complain about your bed.” BAAGR — danrén chudng RAPE shuding rén chung Rae cchudng dan RAR cchuang ian PRAY cchuang wai RE chuéing zhao Example: fi Eh i ER Ta wa bing a chung He is sick in bed. Fram LTITTITI single bed double bed bedsheet mattress berth; bunk; bed bedspread 46wine wall al form of the phonetic ignifies grain (ge) stored (A) a double-walled gra- nary (@). The idea of wall is reinforced by the radical symbol of strength. Since are made of clay or earth ( the character may also be wri fen: ff Walls may fortiy a city, but “men, not walls, make a city. wit EEE He dng bi wall cor Giang jo a corner formed by two walls Hae Giang jo the foot of a wall; foundation Example hE HSK Me Gling. bi sheng you vi ge Bing There is a big hole on the wall. 47many seal forms and varied meanings: a meatblock ( 4 ) with meat (Al). represents the imentbiock (9 wih meat (2) at signifies the hand (=) placing meat (2 ) upon JIANG _ take; hold; handle; shall; will Hence the extended 5) |S) ie es CT i AC Cc df <) even used to’ mean leader or general. a reba | | Tt AGEL jing cud jit cud leave a mistake uncorrected and make the best of it Bt turn somebody’s trick against him; beat somebody at his own game ABE close to; nearly; almost GE jing jin general HR jiang tai future Example: RG Wh KR RK Wo jing gig BK owe fo Jam inviting him over to my house 48HUANG HE literally means a strong and impressive ( 1 ) person- ) or one who professes to be so; by extension, strong; strong and able-bodied. eminent, _,,,n.andlogons character ip AX (adorn, disguise) — an Fe impressive (H) woman (46), ie., one who adorns herselt yy CBimpressive with make-up. thuang din embolden; boost somebody’s courage ahuang it majestic; magnificent; glorious huang lid heroic; brave huang sh hero; warrior huang shi sturdy; robust aang zh gteat aspiration; lofty ideal Example: fh 4 Hl dt Fl Pi HE ° Ta wa 98 thang ishing He sacrificed heroically for his country. 49TAUANG pack; fill; pretend He, the phonetic, it. It was orl CPP TU i ele dress up; disguise ABIES thulng ging behave affectedly; BE aang bei equip; equipment; outfit be artifical SEHR thusng hit pretend not to know AS‘ chudng shi decorate; adorn; Ee Gie huang bd loading (cargo) : _omament; deck 4EHi%E — auang ich armoured car BER thing sh dress; attire AEBE(EA aang mind yang. be affected; put on an act BAS ting xt fit up (a house, ete.) 3282 ahudng pai assemble: fit together 2 thuingzhl instal; fit; installation Example: eR EK MAR > Ta thing Léo Blog. zhang She acted like an old lady. 50g xI evening sk, evening. To man, the rising moon presents oppor- tunities but the proverb laments: “How seldom in life is the moon * directly overhead!” —H—2 yizhdoyixi overnight a8 xian evening mist IA xi yéng the setting sun oR x zhio the glow of the setting sun; evening glow Example: xe el GRR - HY fe we HR MY - The we win th bi shi yi tho yi ning git je ub de These problems cannot be solved overnight. 51From morning to evening man toiled in the field, and evening (¥ ) after evening (4 ) he noted the fruitage of his labour, “Many evenings” ( % ) soon ‘came to mean “many”. His hard work bore much ( ¥ ) fruit ( ), producing many; a new word: ¥% (fruitful) and demonstrating the principle: “Sow much, much reap much; sow little, reap little.” BE dud ban the greater part; most rly dud shio. amount; somewhat; ZAGE duc diy versatile; gifted in many ways how many SHE wei make an unnecessary move BAY dubstl along time 47TH dud fang min‘ many-sided; in many ways Silt abxh thanks lot E21] a qb gingst multinational corporation Bay Co xn oversensitive; suspicious SHR anne SF dubyi unnecessary; superfluous % "5 dud ai speak out of turn we 6 ji multinational country Example: te Ho eB RY Ni de din in shi dio yi de Your worries are unnecessary| ou enough 41 is to hook (7 ) with the mouth Ca): tg entice; % means much, many. $4] therefore signifies to en-, tice many, i. enough, But enough (Ay i ‘enough, according togede the proverb: “To complete a thinj a hundred years is not sufficient is more than‘ du bin break even gu péng you bea friend indeed ‘gou shou de quite an ordeal gou yisi really something; terrific ; generous; really kind Example: RHR ET Ae Rw ‘The ching gu sé ke then ghy st That was really a terrific game 53DIE _It,takes three desperate characters to represent father: & is raised hand (22) wielding a rod (1). ¥ incorporates $ — much raising of hand with rod. father; @ includes & — poised like a snake, ready to strike. daddy’ All of them exemplify the saying, “It is easier to rule a nation than a son.” FF |3 BE ba ba papa; dad; father bE ig father; dad; papa St dig rigng parents RE fl ldo elders (of a country or district) OB fami father and mother; parents QR fd gin father FEB fUcinshi relatives on the paternal side Example: QHPBK RREE-MLD: Fi gn ie od tan sing Mei yw On Father’s Day, I gave my father a present. 54»| 9 WAI outside Stis composed of ¥ (evening) and t (divine). Divination ( f ), by interpreting’ the vertical (! ) and horizontal ( - ) cracks of a heated tortoise-shell, was deemed effective only before (or outside of) evening. Hence the meaning: outside or foreign. And for such outside or foreign. help, many will pay handsomely — those: who place trust in the saying: money moves the gods.” 7 Pe eA hii waibl foreign currency YbBE wii jido diplomacy; foreign affairs Yhih waibian outside; out git waikudi extra income Yh waibiso outward appearance; exterior | p9% waimo foreign trade Yh$E waibin foreign guest YbSt_waimdo appearance; looks yh waging (maternal) grandfather yRA. wairén stranger; outsider wai gud foreign country YhJ waisin daughter’s son; grandson 9h wai hing layman; nonprofessional Jh4S waitio overcoat Yb wail foreign nationality Example. ROM RK Rb T° WO divin yin bin wai hing Tam a layman in music. 55The seal forms of dream are horrifying enough to evoke a nightmare. No wonder the original character; = means bad sight ( g ) with covered (7 ) Dreams being evening visions, # replaces @ in the new form: (evening trees) — a pleasant dream. Unfor- tiful dream is soon ended. Sis meng hua words uttered in one’s sleep; somniloquy EG) ‘mang huan illusion; dream; reverie 35, mang jing dreamland; dreamworld; dream eH mang xidng dream of; vainly hope SRE méng you zhéng somnambulism; sleepwalking Example: We WR AR OT UL tn BLO th > 26 win WS Sng fini hid ming. al Theard you talk in your sleep last night. 56‘The seal character J@ depicts man ( X ) sleeping on his side ( / ) in the evening ( 9 ). The modern form #@ shows man (4 ) under cover (=) lying on his other side (\ ) also in the evening ( ¥ ). If night can be suggested by sleep, as in both these forms, then day can be transformed into night, as demonstrated by our sleepy characters shown here. FRR baiyb che TE ye bin BE ya ban RAYS ye ching mang dud «I. ve ging ae ye mang mi yeain Pei, yewan PEUHRA ye yijie Example: LeRE t & Um Ging ching zing zB ye work deep into the night; burn the midnight oil night shift midnight a long night is fraught with dreams — a long delay means many hitches night job night blindness night duty night day and night; round the clock A dh wt 47 > ide jin ng Work is going on day and night at the construction site. 874,7RHEAG ming bi xi chuén live up to one’s reputation At ming 08 register a ming chan famous product Bie ming chéng name (of a thing or organization) Ze ming din ‘name list A ming gui famous and precious; rare Example: hAMW e- He eT Ta yong de shi yi ling ming péi de che ai The car he is using is of a famous brand. 58 BE Bite Hie Ar je Ale ming jo ming fi ming pai ming pian ming shéng ming shéng the Confucian ethical code distinguished personages famous brand visiting card; calling card reputation; repute; renown a place famous for its scenery or historical relicsf ‘Name (4) on metal or gold (4) means to carve, ae inseribe or engrave: Z&. Because a good name is worth more than gold, itis durable, unllke the rotten J inscribe; one reterred to In the proverb: “Decayed wood engrave ‘cannot be carved.” oo. ae s ee ming zhi f€i fl ~~ engrave on one’s mind (memory); bear firmly in mind ming gin be deeply grateful ining j engrave on one’s mind; always remember ming Ke inscription; always remember ming wen inscription; epigraph Example: ea hie Blo Ta bb md an de flo i oming anf 4 He a his mother’s teachings firmly in mind. 3950 YUAN 7s | natrea; resentment ‘This character is based on “Cs (heart), the seat of feelings. The phonetic indicates a turning away (@) from ‘someone hateful, acting as if it were night (9) and calling It » day. If such hatred or resentment leads to ‘violence, remember the counsel: “An angry fist cannot strike a smiling face.” ye RRA yin bude cannot blame PEAKE ‘yuan fn discontent and indignation et yuan hn have a grudge against somebody; hate; resentment yuan ql grievance; complaint; resentment yuan tin yurén blame god and man — blame everyone and everything but oneself yuan yan complaint; grumble Example: Btw > & ®t fh 1 iB Bi > Bios hl yun bu demon chlo The bus broke down. No wonder they were late. 60M CONG follow; from 4 represents two men (AA) palking ae (4) and stopping (4+). In the seal form, 4 and 3: are united into # (going). The simplified form is 44, — a> man following another man — a simple fash, in view of the saying: “To know the truth is easy; but, ah, how difficult it is to follow it? VIA WIA JAF cong rng calm; unhurried; leisurely JA% cong shi go in for; be engaged in SAME cong el from this time on; henceforth MJ cing shi subordinate MM{8i céng jn conform to the principle of simplicity | 3 cingsd as soon as possible MAE céngiin join the army; enlist AKA cong tu from the beginning; anew MK cing isi always; at all times; all along Muss cing xigo from childhood; as a child AAAI céng gin before; formerly; in the past KAP. cng zhdng out of; from among Example: RM RR A WM at fh - We cig mB you jd gio Thave never seen him before. 6147 XING walk; go HANG shop; trade TR hang jia expert ATH hing lid ranks te hang ing quotations (on the market); prices Fk hang yé trade; profession; industry Ae hing zhing —president (of a bank) 4T7RiiH xing bu ting won't do or work; get nowhere TEA xing rén pedestrian FI xing zheng administration Example: i le] ie EM AR HE A TF Me BY? Ging win ni shi céng shi shén me hing ye de May I know your profession?sheep gees 7H FF DE get; obtain 4 , the radical, means step. The phonetic § — to lay hands ( + ) ‘on what one has in view (or 2 ) — signifies to obtain. Hoy ever, laying hands on money not easy: “Money comes like eart! picked up with a pin, but goes like sand washed away by water.” “bE Knee FETHER — dé cin jin chi give him an inch and he” Il take an ell; be insatiable get; obtain; gain; receive win or be awarded a prize win a victory; triumph gain and loss; success and failure 4B) dé dao oy dé fen score BR 06 jing TBE dé shéng eR 4 shi Example: Kt hike HBR ing ahing ban fg yu dh Each of the two methods has its advantages and disadvantages. 63 be in power; get the upper hand hear of; learn about benefit; profit achieve one’s ambition offend; displeasevo DE virtue; goodness sass oe & means straight ( ~ ) as tested by _ fen (+) eyes (8). & is the heart, So the phonetic :€ denotes a straight heart. Clarified by the radical for step ( 4) to mean the way to virtue is defined by the 7 i (EAB HE 06 gio wang zhing —_be of noble character and high prestige Dé Gub Germany 6 xing moral integrity; moral conduct ya moral education ping 68 moral character Example: KRRPREE ERR HT ER e Tring fii iin ai thing aif ng yD The government is at present actively promoting moral education. 64i RS s = ws 28 ia i ee eae mae "8 = R-=g eet a: “wad gout Seis : £ gage ge 65i ‘The phonetic (or ans stubborn — to turn around ( \ and eye ee ae Lr rr ‘stubbornness; henee intensive, very. Am analogous character in 4. — obstinate ( ) very; and beastly (4). quite EE RPE HETR ho de hn very good RAE hin you do fi contain much truth; be quite correct Example: fe WY BA fh BY fe de BL Re SI i WH Rs Ta de shing si cuit © de gong md ido xidn gin déohén min yi His boss is very pleased with his work performance. 664%, the radical, represents footpri s; it means to go, walk or travel. The phonetic £ (soil + doubled) suggests road, street or ground for walking. ‘Travelling on a road can be trying, hence: “Long roads test the horse; long dealings test the friend.” 7B ee ee ie be eve TT ii dio street; residential district; neighbourhood ji fang neighbour i shi downtown streets iié tu street corner; street ji tou xiang wéi streets and lanes Example: 7B BM RW A He og wh io chi Gu SHH hun Bde cin gin we tu There are happy crowds in all the streets and lanes. 67Lv ‘The phonetic % signifies written regulations — hand (+ ) with pen (L) writing lines (- ) on tablet (—). The radical 4 (step) suggests steps taken to enforce them as law to protect the citizens. However, Jaw; rule “Going to the law is losing a cow for the sake of a cal discipline a Ou bamboo pitch-pipes used in ancient China; temperament ei 1 shi lawyer; barrister; solicitor Wi shi a poem of eight lines, each containing five or seven characters, with a strict tonal pattern and rhyme scheme Example: we i A BG MP in fing Wb shi wb lo iin ‘The lawyer speaks in defence of the accused. 68HOU 5 : : ; ‘ This character combines three signs: 4 (step with left foot), & (the EB after; behind finest thread, least or last) and % (hindered at the feet from behind). All three factors contribute to the sense: behind, after or future. 4 is ied to % (empress) probably because the queen goes after i 2a : Cow ea 3 ji = NC eereks ae AY a 7 Ja — hduban latter half;second half | J hu hun future trouble Ji @% —houbéijin reserves; reserve force | Fez HE hu hui regret; repent Ja32 — houbai. ~—-yyounger generation; JA 27TH hou hul ySuqi we'll meet again some day ' posterity ae hu jing background Fet® hud later periods (in history) | fe hou afterwards; later aij houfing rear iar hu tidn day after tomorrow; JE —-hdugén heel (of a shoe or sock) postnatal; acquired FESR hugs consequence; aftermath Example: MRR RARE RR ERR AI - Bi shi shi hu tin Bde bi son tan a ydu de Knowledge is acquired, not innate. 69vee FF or dai ming await orders 48 ASK dairénjiéwi the way one gets along with people f daixd to be continued Fea sai yl treatment; remuneration Example: 3X fe] i) AY IM ot ie AR th i We ‘The jan ging si dul thi yun ibn thdo gu gh de dai ye hn ho. This company treats its employees well, and also offers attractive remuneration 70GONG TH | achievement Stength (7 ) is here symbolized by muscles, and work (X) by a carpenter's square, Strength exerted in work produces 22 — merit or achievement. On the other hand, little (7) strength ( #1 ) results in %. meaning bad or inferior. FAVE — gGng bai chui chéng Tht gong dé Dyk ging ke TNF —B ging kui yi kul NH ‘g6ng lao She ‘gGng néng DK ng xido Example: fail in a great undertaking on the verge of success merits and virtues schoolwork; homework fall short of success for lack of a final effort contribution; meritorious service; credit function efficacy; effect Re AY Dy OF AT AS 7s Ay Ta de ging eo ke bo She has certainly made no small contribution!aA ‘This ideograph means to add to or increase. It adds strength ( # ) to mouth (2 ) by applying force to words. Adding violence to persua- add; sion cannot always be justified. Although might is never right, right increase _ is always might. IMBHE ome Imé Ime me An 38, me jiajin (8 kuan jalin Example: Me A wo A MM ih Guan zhong wei yin dong yusn men ji you The spectators cheered the players on. work overtime double; redouble addition injure; do harm to step up; speed up; intensify broaden; widen gallon nd Im, IMs mA Ti Ine, meh i mign id gang ian iat jayl jib you coronation strengthen; enhance add; mix; join; accede to accelerate; expedite with special care; with close attention refuel; make an extra effortBAN a superior (+ or ). handling often’ leads to man.’ handle; manage # is one who has offended ( #) to handle or manage; literally, to interpose force ( #7) between two offenders ($$). Such man- Better to heed the proverb: scales and full measure injure no means ban an ban dio ban f8 ‘ban gong ban i ban shi ban wl Example: handle a case get something done; accomplish way; means; measure handle official business; work (usually in an office) handle; conduct; transact, handle affairs; work punish Kee wi TU em De me The ie shi ging di then thud bin You may handle these matters as you see fit. 3taps | (ta) ‘Triple-strength (4%), signifying the multiple efforts of ten (+) persons in unity, indicates wholehearted cooperation: t74. Without cooperation, shared responsibility leads to neglect. “If two men feed a horse, it will be thin, if two men mend a boat, it will leak.” TRG We ding agreement; accord pled vig tong work in coordination FH sight association; society with; cooperate with }DA) xii unite efforts; join ina pHit xié yi agree on; agreement common effort (BH xi6 2hd assist ; help; give assistance {dhe v8 shéng consult; talk things over phZedh — xibziuqi concerto {isi We tio coordinate; concert;harmonize | fjyf7#_—«xi8md_—=S«e0operation; coordination; combined Example: tk HR GB a) bl 0 ah fF th Un TE OR > Ti Bo yin dang yuin de dong 70 ne tio yOu me The gymnast’s movements are harmonious and graceful 74BF | (55) LAO — work; labour 3B is to toil (7) indoors (7) by ¥ the light of many fires (OK). Burning the midnight oil or the candle at both ends is a waste of effort. “It is labour lost, trying to | catch the moon in the water or Polishing brick to make a mirror.” ead cab | 1 | J RA ao dong work; labour GH ‘80 shén be a tax on (one’s mind); FFM FCN lo ér wi gong work hard but to no avail bother; trouble FL 40 gong labourer; worker Hay lo xin work with one’s mind HR to lai tired; run-down ; or brains BH lao labour; labour force BF BRAY lho yan fon fi part; separate HR léo ld work hard; toil GR lio zi labour and capital Example: te LES KO BS Bt FOF Me Ni xin aii shin th ba hio bi yao gud yi ldo shin You're in poor health; so don’t overtax yourself. hyA) yg FAN _ troubled; irritated i refers to the head ( @) upon a body (iu). %, the radical, repre- sents fire or fever. When you are grieved or irritated, with fire in the head, remember: “Though starving to death, do not steal; though an- noyed to death, do not file a lawsuit.” Ny fénmén be unhappy; be worried finnéo be vexed; be worried fanrio feel disturbed fan ring (of one's affairs) diverse and complicated; (of speech or writing) lengthy and tedious fanzio be fidgety; be agitated Example: KE Hh Hy MH MA TY HE th A AT MY HL IK Miy x6 ding wi fan rdo bin AB ning shi) ahi lin chin iin de) thio Agitated activity by certain animals may be a sign of an impending earthquake. 16The ancient form % means twenty (# ) fires ( .). The modern form # portrays a man (14) bearing a torch (X). Whatever the form, 4 means brightness and glory which, unfortunately, never lasts. Hence: “A bright dawn does not always make a fine day.” ays | GUANG 510 light; glory HGRZ — quang cdi —_tustre; splendour; radiance; | 345% ‘gudng jing scene; circumstances honourable; glorious HET TT KE guang mang wan shining with boundless SEHEAT quing fi sh8 ray radiation zhang radiance FEM = gquinggi -—patronize guang ming light; bright; promising JEATEJL guing gin er unmarried man; bachelor | 3E3£ — quingréng honour; glory; credit radiance; brilliance SEHE —guang hui Example: 3% AA AD TL me Om GB] Ging ci mén de bi dio yin. ed SEF AG HL guing tién hua broad daylight cit SMR hun hing The brilliant lustre of the shell attracted many visitors,XIAN The top part 4 is a small plant ( ) issuing from the ground ( —); thus indicating progress. The lower part is a picture of marching legs. first; Accordingly, #, means to advance (4) on one’s feet (20) — to be before first. And to progress with people, remember: “Courtesy first, force mak later” (4 #U ve # )- FER xian bai elder generation; ancestors Ee vin dio guide; forerunner Sea xian hou early or late; priority; one after another Fest xian jin advanced FREI xin i hou dio first come, first served Fete xidn sheng teacher; mister SEK F2AGR vin vid shéu weiqiing he who strikes first gains the advantage FER vin ahi person of foresight; prophet Example: RHR KA THAAD HEE - Te x8 shi dou gai ban ive oi yu ghd how All these matters should be tackled, but they should be taken up in order of priority. 78The radical is 2 (water) and the phonetic #, (first). This fhat you must have water ( ‘to wash or clean: 34. And what cleanse a dish.” Ss |S Zane a HE xi chén give a dinner of welcome (to a visitor from afar) KR adi wash; cleanse BER H xf) shampoo. ea xdjié loot; sack BiH xi shud wash and brush; scrub BELT xixingé man turn over a new leaf eED xiyin developing and printing; processing BR xizio have a bath; bathe Example: EMT ARCH MRT we Xin niin d8o le ji ming the xi sw wil fhe fing jin Everybody is busy washing and cleaning the house in preparation for the coming new year. ai)——— > BO ‘The saying goes: “When there is wind in the clouds, there are waves . Such waves (3) appear on the surface and are likened a rod Ui) of water (3). When waves (JE) of wrinkles appear Hipples on the skin of a woman (3¢), we have 2 — an old woman. STs [s) [rips pPelsele PS bir bebe | | | | bd chang wavelength RE bd tio great waves; billows b6 dang heave: surge fas bd wen ripple; corrugation 6 duan wave band beat 6 ahé twists and turns Bo Lan Poland Pn thrikech wi jid 6 ding price fluctuation bd ling wave Example: BW RR T We it SH gng PB shing le 65 hb Events took an unexpected turn. 80ocean . HAI isa picture of a woman with breasts for suckling child, signily- A ig mother (#4). sea 4% compares‘ mother (4) with a sprout (4), always reproducing: f sea, hence meaning every, always. 34 represents the sea, where there is always (4 ) plenty of water (5) hai an coast; seashore wen: hai bio seal hai bin seaside hii chan marine products hai dao Pirate; sea rover Ht hai ging seaport;harbour | iilbk h&i qudn jin ché customs inspection | {2% ijn navy HED Example: ie fi A RE as ARO Hi id shi nin bitin i ksh kin hai shang ai wai hai wan al xii hi xién hai yudn (even if) the seas run dry and the rocks crumble at sea; on the sea overseas; abroad bay; gulf strait; channel seafood seaman; sailor; mariner The sea may run dry and the rocks may crumble, but our hearts will alway remain loyal 8!a KE thirsty The phonetic % is to ask; a beggar (é7) who speaks (2), 47 itself means a wanderer (47) who seeks to enter (A) a refuge (), & is a mouth (a) with word (- ). When you ask (5) for water (3) you must be thirst “When you are thirsty, a drop of water can be likened to a sweet dew.” STs ]s0 [sy getseiisa ls 3 3H sB yi 5 Pale 5A PAY 2Al 7 Az ee ké wang thirst for; long for; yearn for Be ké nian miss very much She ké shul a cat nap; to doze; sleepy eed ké yang adore; admire Example: wee RAS M EE: XG dud ing ign wing cn ji King jin ‘Many young people long to join the Air Force. 82Water is essential to life and benefits everybody. Laws are s. also meant to benefit every citizen. Just as water (; ) removes s (4) dirt, so the law (4) smoothens morals by removing vices. ¢ However, never resort to law; if you win, you lose; anc law; statute lose, you're lost. faan proposed law; bill Hef 810 law; statute RE £3 bao a magic weapon iene 5 tin court; tribunal a 0 he fading << legal; statutory Em fawing the net of justice; the TERE AK FB ding rénshd quorum . arm of the law we f8 quan judge; justice FEA faxisi fascist eM fi gui laws and regulations wy fii + way; method Se falling ‘cs. laws and decrees Example: Rit BAR F MRA * BG > WS men dé sing 98 f2 if pe Theoge win i ‘We'll have to think of a way to solve the problem. 83“A single fibre does not make a thread; a single tree does not make a forest,” so goes the saying. The character for tree is a pictograph: . Two trees form a company — a grove or forest: #&. Three trees make a crowd, signifying dense or overgrown: J - Stk yilin art circles 4k ahi in bamboo grove #RPE HH —linchan pin forest products thi lin dai forest belt HS int stand in great numbers (like trees in a forest) HAS lin ma. forest; woods RAGE {in yin dio boulevard; avenue Example: ve 0 4 th Hoar Ging Ku ing wii fin There is a forest of masts in the harbour. 844%, is a branch ( ) of a tree (A). & itself is a picture of the right hand ( ) holding’a twig (+ ) and means branch. Because branches form an integral part of a tree, “One branch moves, a hundred branches shake.” 44 means withered, like an old (& ) tree (4) — one that has passed through ten (+ ) generations or mouths (@ ). aT i LES po e « BER atcha branch; twig Ro thij® scion grafting HET aij branches and knots — minor matters; complication; unexpected difficulty RMF Ahly branches and leaves; non-essentials HEE ahi branch; twig Example: AB it S the Mw AE MK HT Bi yao gio dui de zh) yi md chi ch fie Don’t pay too much attention to the minor issues. 85People used to sitting on the floor once looked upon the chair (4%) as a strange, unusual (% ) thing of wood (4). The comfort of the ir i tations of approval (1 ); hence jowever, was a status symbol, rides in a chair will not visit ; meaning unusual. The sedan chi as noted in the saying: “The doctor the poor.” HF ya chair HFT —yisiding balancing on a pyramid of chairs Example: tha RAH BMF RAS Ta id hin pin ing in viii He was so very poor that he had no chairs in his house. 86te The phonetic £ refers to the part of a palace where women (ge) are enclosed (*?) and con- Fined (4). The addition of the tree radical () suggests a tower high as a tree and one with several floors: 4. AK fou ban floor; floorslab EB lou fang a building of two or more storeys PE lou shang upstairs Ga (ou tai a high building; tower; balcony Pe (ou th stairs; staircase EF (ou xia downstairs ‘Example: BREW — 1 BRK SIA e Lou shing zhi de shh yi wa tla io gong ren A retired worker lives upstairs. 87BING sickness The radical for disease #* (37) is made up of a horizontal line (— ) — the position of a sick person — and the bed (3 ). The idea of sickness is reinforced by the phonetic # (AV) — fire (Ys) in the house (71), referring to high feve also means defect or fault, and it is said: “A wise doctor never treats himself.” Perr rsa Td BATA lu xing bing epidemic disease JET xin zing bing heart trouble; heart disease JAMAL A bing congkiuri illness finds its way in by the mouth 5) bing dio be down with an illness; be laid up Wate bing ja sick leave THR bing kuing state of an illness; patient’s condition WS bing tai morbid state FT bing tong slight illness; indisposition; ailment Example: fh 22 HRY RT OM Ta fin od wi de bg gin i yi His error stems from selfishness.TENG _ pain; ache Just as fire or fever suggests sickness, winter (22) or intense cold is here combined, with the radical for sickness (7) to sig- nify pain: Y¥ . However, young and old do not feel pain alike. In youth, the absence of pleasure is pain; in old age, the absence of pain is pleasure. aa FEE téng ai be very fond of; love dearly il téng tong pain; ache; soreness Example: Be Ay th Fe Popo ai ting no sin Granny dotes on her little grandson. 89im ea aR Disease strikes suddenly and unexpectedly like an arrow. Hence # , meaning disease, made up of the radical for sick: ness (7) and arrow (% According to the prover! “Diseases enter by the mouth; misfortunes issue from it.” Fa vanji eye trouble ji'bing disease; illness jifing strong wind; gale iti sufferings; hardships Ilyan iiss harsh words and stern looks Example: fh A A i Al (MAR AG & © Ta di rin hin he cig bo ff yn ht He is affable and is never brusque with people. 90Combined with or ‘ombined with or produces be iB — the way of virtue. Tao (3), of which the Tao is difficult.” a pictograph of a hairy (7 ) ) and means head or chief. (go), it Head (@ ) and feet (4) advancing gn the same path symbolizes the is said: “To believe in the Tao is easy; to keep iH diodé morals; morality; ethics iE dao ld 3EL 9 ~dioh@ congratulate JEDI do qian GFK Dao digo | Taoism WHE dio shi SHEL diojd stage property; prop SHEE Gaon 582% dol principle; truth; hows and ee whys; reason; sense SHIN do x8 Example: fs 1 i& 1 A i Be Ni de ha hin you dio i What you said is quite reasonable, a1 road; way; path apologize; make an apology Taoist priest congratulate somebody on a happy occasion express one’s thanks; thanka eee ns - 2 ae ate canteen be ical incorporates [1 , an outline of the face, the eyes ( E] ) as its most prominent part. Bec ied by his face, we know a man’s face, not his mind. theless, “Be able to say in his face what you say behind his back.” mix ‘min dul face; confront iL Ti Xt ridn dul min facing each other; mise face-to-face iia ie min fn wheat flour; flour iat TALL; min hong &r chi be flushed. Wek mie min ji area Wk it 8 min jid cheek my Example: RAH MAST RHR. Zhin lin bul mién wei sin gién ping fang mi The exhibition covers a floor space of 3000 square metres. 92 min jd mmiin mao min mi min gin mia shi min tio iin i mask face; features face; features; look; aspect in front of; before look familiar noodles reputation; prestige; facei XIA blind 98 stands for injured (& ) eyes ( 8). The phonetic (harm) represents injury from a stick ( | ) with notches (2) or injury by mouth (@ ) under cover (7). Another ideograph for blind is or lost () eyes ( @ ). Despite their handicap, “The blind are quick at hearing; the deaf are quick at sight.” 1 | (A |A (2 |e Aik vid ché talk irresponsibly; talk rubbish ie ia hud untruth; lie Ae xi no act senselessly; mess about; fool around; be mischievous REDE xia shud talk irresponsibly; talk rubbish fey xia zi a blind person Example: aE th fi TE dk > BAB He Gin hui mb wd be io Do your homework quickly and don’t fool around. 938F is to have the eyes or eyelids ( B) hanging down (# )—to sleep. ‘The phonetic # or depicts a bough loaded with leaves (ft ) hang- ing down towards the earth (+). Sleep, even if your eyes are closed, is not always a peaceful affai to the Emper« According to the saying, “Attending like sleeping with a tiger.” rene, aM AS Fie 3° BiG HEE Hee Re ie Example: - ME RE TT SF AR fA Bie oT ‘cing. sh_mingzhing_jng xing be He was roused from sleep by a heavy pounding on the door Yi thin gio min sting. be shu ido shui ign shul ming shui min shul xing shul yi shul yi sleep water lily sleep; slumber sleep wake up night clothes: pyjamas sleepiness; drowsiness 94‘The seal form of the radie: S. It depicts long hair (5) with a band ( —) and pinned a brooch ( X ). Three strokes are added to emphasize. the locks (Z ). The phonetic AL or dog led by a leash — an allusion to the practice of leading under- dogs by the hair. Bo is rene “TF BBR AR i BAL 8 xing fabiao fica fa chou fi fading BAY fadou Example: haircut fafn hair style; hairdo ‘huang publish; issue fine get rich; make a fortune {8 ming worry; be anxious ‘sheng developed; flourishing fa shou start; launch; mobilize fa yan quin shiver; shake; tremble fazhin Bh Bw HT Gh 2h th Ee Ni 1 shingle aiéng I dl akin A violent earthquake ovcurred there. 95 make a firm resolution feel nervous; get flustered find; detect; discover invent. happen; occur; take place sell; put on sale right to speak develop; expand; grow[==] B WEI stomach This ideograph combines pictographs. The upper one pouch filled with ree: stomach — a fleshy pouch filled with rice. Although a full sto- mach begets a contented mind, “Better be hungry and pure well-filled and corrupt.” \ Ia ae ela |\ ala | J IAAL Aa wei bing stomach trouble; gastric disease fo wai ku appetite; liking FEW = waikulyang gastric ulcer AM wai sun hydrochloric acid in gastric juice ait wei ting gastralgia AK wai ye gastric juice Example: hm Ho Ra > 1 TRE e ‘Ta de wei kéu hin hio chile hin dub She was eating a lot because she had a very good appetite. 96SI think This ideograph combines, the skull (&) with theheart (42) to produce thought: & . The facul- ties of reasoning and feeling are here exercised to ereate abalanced mind, And, according to the say- ing, “If you wish to know the mind of a man, listen to his words. idea we \ ea wie fKo Ooo cue) si chéo trend of thought; ideological trend; thoughts Be si kio think deeply ; ponder over; reflect on BS si ni think of; long for; miss BR si suo think deeply; ponder Be si xiang thought; thinking; idea; ideology Example: R-KRRI BS KRRRRR*A OB - W6 yi yeméi shu zhéo fin f0 si sui ch ge win th I lay awake all night, turing the problem over and over in my mind. 97QING ie feeling; affection Fis green — the colour (#4) of nature and growing plants ( 4). With the addition of the radical for heart (‘f) the character stands for those feelings which are pure or natural to the heart of man: 't§. Lamenting the lack of depth and substance in such feel- ings, the saying goes: “Human feelings are as thin as sheets of paper.” 1 Ir t “it 1? A th fF] Al |_| SHR ing bao intelligence; information 189 ing {HAR ESS ging bitaijin be seized with a sudden TAEUL cing kang impulse to HEF ing WHR ingco sentiment HIE cng ‘tific ging di rival in love $B ing gt ‘ai ging dido sentiment; emotional appeal BEE ang HESEWIFF aing dou cha (of a young girl) first ai awakening of love ER lng dn fae ging gin emotion; feeling Example: A EAR TT B® De ge i bin Ging je hin The play has a very complicated plot. 98 plot; circumstances circumstances; situation reason; sense sweethearts; lovers temperament and interest morale; feeling; mood; sentiments be willing to; would ratherBAI #¥, to pay respects to man or god, was first written as #¥, depicting two hands (¥¥) hanging salutation or worship. Eid With respect to worship, who lives near the aes temple ridicules the gods. it is to be respectful at respect; home than to burn incense in a far place.’ Fral) bai bié take leave of Fr bai déo prostrate oneself; fall on one’s knees FD; bai fing pay a visit FL bai jian pay a formal visit; call to pay respects AE bai nién pay a New Year call FRR bai shou congratulate an elderly person on his birthday FE bai ms request somebody to do something Example: > RB wR HE Rm Gm women géi nin ba nin ia Auntie, we've come to wish you a Happy New Year. 9FANG 7K means to release — to drive out (4) into an open space or Pasture (3). The radical & ( 5) is a hand with stick; the phonetic % is a square or open space. Horses or cattle released for grazing can always be rounded up, but “Words once released release cannot be recaptured by the swiftest steeds.” es JEUIH fang chi give out; let out; emit HF fing gi abandon; give up; renounce TA fang da enlarge; magnify; amplify HP fing xia lay down; put down TCH. fang din act boldly and with confidence | }i{-Ls fing xin set one’s mind at rest HGH fangdang dissolute; dissipated WEF fang xe classes are over HL. fang ging (of workers) knock off TCHR fang ying show; project FLA fang hud set fire to; set on fire HCH fangzhi lay up; lay aside TBR fang jia have a vacation; have a day off HGH fang zhi-—send into exile; banish HEBEL fingkuin relax restrictions; relax Example: Beh Os Cee ap Cal G Ni fing in Wooé Su ino oe You can rest assured that everything will be all right. 100ZHENG ‘The radical X represents the right hand wielding the rod of author- ity. The phonetic JE signifies a foot (1+) walking the straight way government Hence which means government, an upright (JE) ad- ration (&) — an enforcement for good. No wonder the -HTEite wv yeikK ] | zheng bian coup @etat FR thang jie political circles; government circles zhingc8—_policy Qk} zheng jd -—_—political situation; political scene thing ding political party Re politician théng di political opponent AL political power; regime thing f politics and law Bis politics; political affairs thing fi government Example: we OSF eee BB TT fF e ge wh ching fib) min ging md My elder brother works in the civil service. 101x %&.. the character for vege- bles, is made up of +7 and 3. The radical for grass (+) Suggests a small plant. % , the phonetic, shows the right hand (4) reaching down to pluck the fruit of a plant or tree (A), How often we have plucked such fruit, thinking nothing of the tree that bore it and the One who made it grow! CAL vegetable RH RE RR a Rei Rial Example: BM Ria hi A Jami de cai chang cai din cai ua cai ning cai shi cai shi cai yuan food market menu cauliflower vegetable grower food market vegetables vegetable garden; vegetable farm ee This is a lovable child, 107SHON the seal character for spring (4), signifies the growth and out- ¢ jurst (<& ) of vegetation (WY) iitsctine afhacsec ot fre aun oS as unpredictable and changeable as the weather, spring comes either early or late each year. Hence the proverb: “Spring has astepmother’s spring face.” FR TAUWSTEL chin féng min min beaming with satisfaction; radiant with happiness ® ‘chiin gung sights and sounds of spring RE chin ji spring; springtime tHE chin jun spring roll R cin ln Spring Festival couplets (pasted on gateposts or door panels); New Year scrolls HK chin gi spring and autumn; year; the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 B.C.) HR chin tin spring; springtime Example: Be AWM > —-EA BWA GS RIN Kin t& chin féng_ min min yi ding you ho xo) glo su women. His face is beaming with happiness; he must have some good news for us. 108ne CHANG © sing & is composed of (sun) and & Gpeak). Gis the mouth (7) that exhales a breath; by extension, exha- lation and emanation. So &% means Prosperous or splendid, just as the sun sends forth rays and the mouth puts forth words. © therefore refers to singing which produces a more refined quality of the voice than an ordinary conversation. hfe fo fot foto" oe nal ching of libretto; words of a ballad nea chang 9 sing (a song) He chang ging art of singing; singing og Ae ‘chang pin gramophone record BA VBE chang shi ban choir HEIEAIL dian ching ji record player Example: gh R&A HK © TE hin hd ching 9B She is a good singer. 109@] is an exclamation of approval (TI) from the mouth (1) and means canormay. 5 is @ doubled, suggesting singing, now used for addressing elder brother by sound loan. ‘§Radds breath ( ) to singing ( ¥) to produce a song. rane ae) = [hb a BR g@ bin songbook | aah sai song ia) ci words of a song ak 6 shdu singer; vocalist 8 ging sing dé eulogize somebody's virtues | HKAI —gsdng-—_sing the praises of and achievements ad cewi song and dance oi hou (singer’s) voice Mik gayéo ballad; folk song; opera nursery rhyme music of a song OK LEE 98 ying bisdi_ singing contest Example: ie KR OY ok HR ay A © De shu gi eg oh hin ding én The words of this song are most touching. 110Ci) MING ery of bird, animal or insect Because a bird (4) chirps orsings with its mouth ( 2 we have the character applied to the ery of birds, animals or insects. Some- times even man crows —like the rooster that thinks the sun rises to hear him crow. Cte (oa |ad jd | a8, jiming the crow of a cock on igh ming xié express one’s thanks formally 1 i ming fang airing of views 14% FFE ming lub ki dio. = “beat gongs to clear the way (for officials in feudal times); prepare the public for a coming event 1 5 ming gin songbird; singing bird W014 Jie ming yuan ji. qu complain and call for redress; voice grievances Example: phos = Fs Zhing ming sina The clock struck three. iBE fae sou TU vomit The ideograph 5, literally from mouth ( 7 )'to earth (+), means to spit or vomit. Figuratively. it means to disclose or reveal the truth — like spilling the beans or letting the cat out of the bag. In this sense, beware: “A very big secret can be vomit- ed out of a little mouth.” v |e fa foot] k | nae 1810 reveal; tell eae tigi feel elated after unburdening oneself of resentment mie timo saliva; spittle; spit Hi th nie spitting blood; haematemesis nhs thé vomitting and diarrhoea Example: fh FB OR tk we tH Te bo yun vith chin aing He was reluctant to reveal the truth.Ideographically, 40 is to speak ( 0) like or as a woman (>), that is, appropriately to the circumstances and the disposition of the man she desires to influence. Testifying to such persuasive, womanly skill is the saying: “The walls of a ety are raised by men's w Wy women’s wiles.” riching as usual Oe raci 80; such: ne ‘iyi as one wishes ;in this way AOE rayisuin pan wishful thinking SOs that’s what it all adds up to | hfs #37 rd yi dé shui feel just like fish in WR rigud if in case; in the event of water; be in one’s element ‘Ante rhe how; what 4 rij nowadays; now ‘AIR LAE ri yuan yi chang have one’s wish fulfilled; achieve what one wishes HOH) rGqi_-—_ as scheduled; on schedule Example: eve mw uF Hi vi fing ri thio Ha The conference will be convened as scheduled. 113NIANG oR mother; young mother ‘The modern form #8 signifies woman (4¢) who is virtuous and respeetable ( 2) —a good woman, a mother or a young woman. ‘The old form 4 stands for ‘a homely and helpful (3) 46), Of such awortan The homely woman isprecious in the home, but at a feast the beautiful one is preferred. L \k ik ek a idm inning bride Ring ia a married woman’s parents’ home ‘Lh ning ang empress or imperial concubine of the first rank; goddess ARIE ning tai mother’s womb Example: Me mM Ree T Sao sao hui iéng ja que My sister-in-low has gone to visit her parents. 4MIAO ALIT oF 18 there are no ugly girls. So the characters “Y” (young) and ily de (woman) together form the ideograph £9 , an adjective of admira- t wonderful __tion meaning wonderful, excellent and beautiful. Notwithstanding this, “Ugly wives and stupid servant girls are treasures above price.” pene “ld ie ale ated RYAN AY A mido bit ke yan too wonderful for words; most intriguing wit mio ji excellent plan; brilliant scheme Wik mio ju a clever way of doing something; knack WDB: mido qi héng shéng full of wit and humour; very witty WIG milo shu huichin (of a doctor) effect a miraculous cure and bring the dying back to life AY mio yong magical effect Di mito yur witty remark; witticism Example: ft, TE A 19 fk wb - Te hi ohn mio He made a clever answer. usKE guest; visitor & represents a man fc extension, each or every. is a guest — one who has his way under anoth¢ wonder “the host is happy when the guest is gone.” ‘ing his own way. 4 signifies his going his way ( 4) without heeding advice (7); by 's roof (*7). No 7 FAG ke chun passenger ship yh amin FEHB ke chuin be a guest performer FEB kdl (sports) BR kegi %% befong guest room BA kerén AML ke quan objective BE ketio BAL aii passenger plane; airliner Example: fh tA BR > Ta i tin bin 2 He is very polite to people, 4a 116 (of theatre tickets, etc.) sold out; full house polite; courteous; dest visitor; guest polite formula; civilitiesBI ‘The seal form of && reveals this character as an inverted form of AA EE (follow). It represents two men standing as if to compare height: “When compared with those above,” so goes the saying, “there is something lacking; but compared with those below, there is some- compare thing to spare.” eal bi fang analogy; instance tar bi fén score te ff bij price relations; parity; rate of exchange HERE bi jiao compare; contrast; fairly; comparatively; quite; rather bese bid ratio; rate Heat bird for example; for instance Hee bisdi match; competition ay biya metaphor; analogy Example: RR — AD te MD HR we i shh i ge ti de She fa This is just a figure of speech. 17BEL A person sitting facing the south (as is the custom) and back to back back; oppose —_with another suggests north: :#%. Turning one’s back on another signifies opposition. Hence #f , referring to the back (It) of the body BEL CAI), may mean to oppose or to carry on the back. carry on tne back Peng it backache ioe behind somebody's back; privately; on the sly Wea behind; at the back; in the rear We the back of the human body BHES leave one’s native place (especially against one’s will) we background; backdrop SR bai pan betray; forsake Wik bai sng recite; repeat from memory Example: me WW ON ke ie AD HE OE WE pd OB bi gi ying deb rin I'm afraid I can’t shoulder such a responsibility 118XIONG W means unfortunate, symbolized by aman falling upside down ( * ) into apit (U1). Calamities do not always come by accident. According to the proverb, “Calamity comes by means of the mouth.” unfortunate; ‘ominous Pa Wea Pe wa Ph fit pags wR wy Example: ving cn fierce and cruel; savage and cruel xi6ng dud jishdo bode ill rather than well; be fraught with grim possibilities ving @ fierce, ferocious; fiendish xi6ng fan one who has committed homicide; murderer xing ming violent; ferocious xi6ng gf tool or weapon for criminal purposes; lethal weapon xidng sha homicide; murder xiOng shdu murderer; assassin; assailant KSA FAM eo De ge rin ying 22 ing This chap looks really fierce. 119DA reply; answer and harmo (44) is us ed come in Because of its beauty, design (4), the bamboo here’as a perfect example of an answer or reply: Pe However, like bamboo, answers lengths. Many a short question is evaded by a long answer. various 7 |F |E lA7 ar @S4E/T lO] dB feisuswén an irrelevent answer SR dé an answer; solution; key SHR da bian reply (to a charge, query or an argument) Bia) daci thank-you speech; answering speech; reply BE oa fo answer; reply Silt da nib express appreciation; acknowledge SM da ying answer; respond; agree; promise; comply with Example: te EAR OS G8 Non me bb dS hud Why don’t you answer? 2 120(2) LAN _ basket is to bend over (BA) a full Vase (da) to examine its con- fens: by extension, to ov those who are confined i pie ale os rete radical 4% is added, we have a bamboo container to confine goods for safe transportation —abasket: 8% , now simplified F NK [KI KF [KK AARK FE tou lén ea fan quan BY lan i basket Example: SRR TTT Jin én wb 80 ji tng eying. in A basketball match was held in the school today. (basketball) shoot a basket SER lan git basketball (basketball) ring; hoop - Mm ME BR tk HE wo 121# JING — well Originally the seal form #€ represented fields divided among eight families, with the well in the middle plot to serve the public. The well also serves to expose man’s inclination to faultfinding: “One does not blame the shortness of the but the deepness of the “ERAT I we kung jing pit; mine ast you jing oil well; neat; orderly Hh jing hang well site SENG ZH jing di zhi wa a frog in a well — a person with a very limited outlook HR ing jb derrick FIAT jing jing yu tiéo in perfect order; shipshape; methodical FEAKARAL IA 7x jing shui bifan hé shui well water does not intrude into river water -. T'll mind my own business, you mind yours Example: SHRB- CLARBHHAR > Ge thing vi ging fH doing mg) you tho All the instruments and tools are kept in perfect order. 122sui 4 stone @ feep rock ( %) or cliff that looks like a hill (us ). ‘The rock, being strong, sym- bolizes integrity. Hence: “Slan- der cannot destroy an honest man; when the flood recedes the rock appears.” Pane, “i lAle FARE = shibin yi grouper FIR shihul lime Fee shih iff; precipice FAR shiv pomegranate FAVA IB shi chén da héi like a stone dropped into | Z 3 shltoy stone; rock the sea — disappear forever | £7) shiyin lithographic printing; Ale shi dio stone carving; carved stone lithography ae shi gio gypsum; plaster stone FR shiying quartz AL shigdng masonry; stonemason; Frith shlyou petroleum; oil mason Fi-f- shizi cobblestone; cobble; pebble Example: KR AA HM i bh Hl OR A Be hai shi tow shi cong shin sting shi hu bide This stone was picked up from the mountain. 123XIAN fairy: tM aig VAT, See {f € climbing with hishead (@ )and after the manner of a monkey. An official seal (2 ) is added to denote | promotion, The modern form 4d: associates person (4) with mountain (us), suggesting recluse and fairy. J four hands ($%, probably fu fi a fl AE xian dn elixir of life fi kei xiang gi female immortal; sorceress es xian he red-crowned crane (le, xian jing fairyland; wonderland; paradise fe xian nd female celestial; fairy maiden {i ASE sian rn zhing cactus Example: OR iL A EH RS HY De 18 ein én ce vou bin dl This cactus is covered with prickles. 4aGAO =~ = rey high; tall is a pictograph of a high tower or pavilion (2) on a lofty sub-structure (17) equip- ped with a hall ( ). It stands for high. When it comes to position, no person stoops so low as the one most eager to rise high in the world. But ‘are: “He who climbs too high will have a heavy fall.” “T= [e ele yak gio a0 supercilious; arrogant BA Goji senior; high-ranking THEA TTI gao chao yin si hypersonic speed BR giojian your brilliant idea mia ‘gio cho high tide; upsurge; climax me gio ji hold high; hold aloft ma gio da tall and big; tall FANE —gioshio high fever mE gio dd altitude; height 354 gioxing glad: happy; cheerful well ‘gio féng peak; summit; height FH IMLHE go ya hypertension if a0 gui noble; high; elitist iJ g@oyuin plateau; highland Example: (KR MM HET Ni bi gio ing i 0 bing gi You needn’t go if you don't feel like it 125pres | JING: mR capital city Zh is derived from % contraction of lower part replaced by 7 ‘a pivot, conveying the idea of lofti- ness and centrality. So lofty the capital city that it is sai “One who can speak, speaks of the city; one who cannot, talks merely of household affairs.” Pens = === oT |e |r 7 RR jing chéng the capital of a country RE jing jo Beijing opera Example: BUR EK AR Ae Mime ni 8 fun Kin jing My mother especially likes to watch Beijing opera 126The radical is 142 (cave) — a space (27) obtaine by the removal or separation (7*) of rock or: When a cave (72 ) is exeavated by labour ( have the character for empty: 2 . 2 also means at leisure or free from work. empty spare time ing ding cavity; empty king fing air defence king hu empty talk; idle talk ing ku King gin ub hdu unprecedented ‘kong tui pido dud cheque cious king huin xi__rejoice too soon ong xing idle dream; fantasy kingjin space King yin air transport; airlift king jn air force 3g zhng in the sky; aerial; overhead Example: al 2s BT > REM HK PR RMB 8 ng ibng be hi shi cig sf kd te Stop daydreaming. Be realistic. 127a ‘As a memory aid, could refer to a boat (#f) with eight (7S) sug- coe yivors or mouths (13 )—an allusion to Noah's Ark. The radical is a picture of a boat. The phonetic “probably means a coast; $0 is a coastal (24) vessel (4 ). No matter how useful such a vessel boat; ship is, “Like a thread without a needle, a boat is useless without water.” ” Wr (fh IA | Asti cchuan bit wharf; quay Aas chun ké hull A cchuén wai stern Ay cchudn wi dock; shipyard anil chun yun (ship’s) crew atk ‘chun zhang captain; skipper iad chun 2h shipping; vessels Example: KAS A ATT BB AF ‘Th sou chuin de chun yuin men dou én gin’ lao. The sailors on this ship are hardworking, 128R |(@) PIN poor The radical A, a picture of cowrie, shells once used as money, represents wealth. ‘Fis to divide or seatter. So @ isto squander (47) one's Health (HL) — to be poor. Even the poor cannot afford to ignore the warning: the poor associates with the rich, he will soon have no trousers to wear.” ene 7 IANA ATA |? a 4RIPEILIEL— pin bing jiéo pS suffering from both poverty and sickness RE pin f poor; short; lacking RIE pin han poor; poverty-stricken RA pin kin poor; impoverished; in straitened circumstances RIC pin min poor people; pauper RA pin giong poor; needy; impoverished at piu’ anaemia Example: 4 fh Kw eH AYE A ROB OA the Ti pin ting 50 ps de sh how jh dou bing ming Everybody helped him out when he was sick and in poverty. 129fl | ( (Bl) YUAN round; dollar This character for round or dollar has undergone many changes since iy original form: © The ideograph + meaning round (0) like a cowrie ( §), soon replaced it. Then it was altered to [ff], being reclari- fied and surrounded by [] . Although G., the dollar is ble; it's easier to into goods than A yun gui compasses yun hua smooth and evasive; slick and sly yuinmén satisfactory yuin quin circle; ring yuén wi gi waltz yuén circular; round yudn2hdu circumference Yuin zhi bi bali-point pen; ball-pen Example: fa] 3 Pl ii th RR T Wén ti yun min de jf pee The problem has been solved satisfactorily. 130Ju is a pictograph of the growing child — from. the crawling infant with open fontanels ( ¥ ) to the little toddler ( $2.) with wobbly legs, a how simpli resent form:/U, The loving care shown in the deline: i ‘acter calls to mind the saying: “To understand ER_ infant; child JURK ge children’s song; nursery rhymes JURE or ke (department of) paediatrics Le ér ni sons and daughters; children ILE é sin children and grandchildren; descendants JL ér tong children. Example: thf -IL—-&- Tu ww i ob He has a son and a daughter. 131According to this ideograph, a scholar or learned man (+ )is a rari one ( ~ ) out of ten (+ ). He is also acquainted from one to ten, with all things. Scholars are a country's treasure, and with good reason: “It takes a tree ten years to grow up; it takes a century to 7 2 educate man.” AR i bing rank-and-file soldiers; privates 1m shi nis young men and women al shi gi morale fe shi shén gentry 16 shit soldiers; privates Example: RELA HH: Wa jn shi gl glo ang Our army's morale is high. 132Zuo 4bk sets forth man (1) with a cause (84) to produce an effect. Hence the meaning: to make or produce. It also suggests man (4 ) toiling Bl CE) until he gets old (4), sometimes for a fruitless case. In the make; words of the proverb: “The hard work of a hundred years may be produce destroyed in an hour.” the AS play the host (a way of doing or making a thing file 1 08 gong do manual work; work {BOK 2d gui play tricks; play an underhand game thee nud Ke bea guest {LA 26 i bai go to church; be at church fhe mud meng have a dream; dream {HOMME aud 28i xin xd have a guilty conscience Example: RW A BY -- A EW ROR MD fh He WS mb tin dio vi ge Bo ping you 8 Foi mb Ow Twas a guest at an old friend’s yesterday. 133' f a Q R | (R) mn ZHONG crowd; many : : The seal formaR shows three or many persons QW) as viewed by the eye (a>). Modified to %, it was again altered to 2 — three persons, Fepresentine a crowd. It's easier to follow the crowd than to get the crowd to follow you. In the words of the proverb: “An army of a 1000 is easy to find; but, ah, how difficult to find a general!” AA Ea a 7 KIARDE hing dud multitudinous; numerous hing kéu nn tio _ it is difficult to cater for all tastes ahdng kéu yi cf with one voice; unanimously thing mi kuikui the eyes of the masses are fixed on somebody or something zhang rén everybody zhong wang people’s expectations Example: fh Th mM > BB EE - Te bi AG ahing wing dio guin jin He had come up to the people's expectations when he won the championship. 134tt | (48) JA price; value ‘The ideograph for price GF) is derived by putting 4 nf the 7 Waa | te ot 9 ia estimate the value of; evaluate UG jing jia bargain Ot iid g6 price whe jama marked price Mit iidaht value; worth {MHZEHR id zhi lién chéng —_ worth several cities — invaluable; priceless Example: KE RH HM RMR A Hh iw The ie io dul WO omen hin you ahh This data is of great value to us 13518 | (34) HUA speech; words 28, meaning words or speech, js signified by words (¥ ) of the tongue ('% ). 2H. meaning to speak or explain, is suggested by words ( J ) set in order ( being a graphic representation ‘or te framework of a building. 8 to Y#, Sense is often linked with speech: “The full teapot makes no sound; the half- empty teapot makes much noise. vend vit taal) hua bié say a few parting words; say good-bye i hua bing subject for ridicule ifla hua ji talk over old times; reminisce ie hua jo modern drama; stage play i447 i hud liyouhui the words mean more than they say ial hua th subject of a talk; topic of conversation ish fa hua tng microphone; telephone transmitter; megaphone ia ‘hua tou thread of discourse Example: th Ok HK ww A TR Bl > Ta nd hen kan WS yin ded She likes the plays that I perform in 136¥ . or five 5.) mouths ( 7 ), stands for we, I, our ormy. So our ( sn or my (-#) words ( ) become language (38). Language is used an in many ways. Some people use it to express thought, some to YC language conceal thought, but most use it to replace thought. tién yén mi yi honeyed words voci words and phrases vido intonation yf grammar vi bul vocabulary yaa sentence Example: fh A) ib a oF Te yi yin No She has good pronunciation, iA volo recorded utterance; quotation isa yagi tone; manner of speaking iBFC{EU yiwiiliinci speak incoherently yiyin language ibe ya yin speech sounds; pronunciation 137& isa pictograph of an empty vessel (4 ) and its cover (). The Qu meaning “go” comes from the removal of the cover and contents ofthe vessel. w “come”, is a pictograph of growing wheat or false tefully acknowledged as having come from the BR qichd place to go; whereabouts SALIH qichahjing discard the dross and select the essential ESE giuil detergent 3M ala the way along which one is going; outlet HAE qinién Jast year Hitt ashi (of grown-up people) die; pass away ZTG#} — qdwifén —_household cleanser; cleanser Ey ai xiang the direction in which somebody or something has gone example: Aik MH fh oy Ht You shi aN do deg) hd Who knows his where abouts? 138nut © represents an eddy, like the curling clouds of smoke or whirl pools in water; or probably an (a ste hui bi evade; dodge (alae huibé refute [mi —tuiching (of music, poems, etc.) soulstirring; & dangq! —_heartrending lle hui chéng return trip [gl —tui'dé-——_answer; reply; response [BIRR =— ugh look back; review Example: th Sb i HR > Tomé sting hi bi He'll be back in a minute, 139 lal (ale mee BI x (ays bul Hui ido hutind hua hui tou hu xing return fire; counterattack Islam decline, refuse return; be back turn round; repent; later think back; recollecta TO convex; protruding <4, to protrude, is graphically represented by the shape of this character. £4. ahollow or dent, is another primitive character clear- ly indicated by its shape. v fe fe ioe |ee FYRREDA tiban yinshud letterpress; relief THIFSGEILEI Go ban yin shud intaglio or gravure or typographic printing printing eat bay window Mii gomianjing concave mirror eute cam MGS Zo tbujing concave lens Pen convex mirror MILER AB dot yin stud embossing; die ee convex lens stamping MR Go xian hollow; depressed Example: RAM RH. 28 to i bh ping This road is full of bumps and holes. 140bén bi bido bié bing bing bing bs EB MASRRR SSH SRES HORS ‘Hee = 171 14 3:140 1:62 3:54 1:28 3:99 3:73 1154 1155 3:40 231 317 1:86 3118 3:43 1162 3117 1:138 344 2:38 2:21 1:93 3:88 3:80 cai cio cha chang chang chio ché chén chi chong, chou chou chdu chi chuan chuan chudng chuding chin cong cong INDEX ff & AR 2:100 Ai 3:33 7 3:102 1131 1135 3:39 3:109 1:166 32 2m 1:73 2124 1143 2:48 2:53 1:83 1102 3:128 3:46 2:70 3:108 1:176 2: MK 361 TE He BO a oe RSHaRES 141 TRARKE DRE PRE UR OAR R We ma ct s 2:84 3:120 hia 3:37 3:70 1:29 2:30 2:35 1105 3:91 3:63 3:64 3:36 1:130 1:99 3:54 2:127 214 2:33 1:34 1:63 3:52 23 318 cc fan fang fang fang fei fei EPSPS ARPA RAAKH HH x Sat a 24 313 1:58 3:83 3:95 3:76 2:60 3:16 2:16 2:17 3:100 1:107 2:51 2:41 2:36 3:12 2031 2:126 2:98 116 2:40 2:55 3:31 3:35 2:30gan 1:149 & 25 jim 21 kai FF 229 gio 1116 fl oisla7 ‘hie 3121 kan & 149 mH 3125 he R128 jan W148, ke i 3:82 gio 4e 1156 hén R261 1 12152 ke 3116 ee we 142 4B 3:66 1:87 1165 HK 3:110 hong #g3:22 He 3:48 kong 28 3:127 a 2:97 hong 40 2:136 i 3:136 kdu oO bso gei 4 2137 | hou | HR 2:50. FE 2:20 ka fi 3:85 gong 1:53 hou FR 3:69 & 291 254 5B 239 hit Re 2:75 fi 2109 ka Me 3:23 4 2132 ha Fr odAS mY 3104 e342 3H RT hua TE 1:34 SR 3:27 kuai R175 edu fy 249 hua | 78 1:57 3:67 kudng 4: 295 edu 3:53 iB 2152 jié 8 2138 ait 3119 hut FR 1:124 jie ML 1:170 Wai NL i 1:66 hui =] 3:139 WE 2:110 lan 3:12 guint 3.19 hui HD jin 3:32 Nang 4 2:62 euang E377 hud KL FF 28 ldo EB LIS3 gui #3, 2:105 3:52 ou S375 gui He 1:88 @ 210 lio eel LES aus] 3:3 ii MS 2:95 jin 2222 2146 gud SR 1164 ii FR 3:90 it 2:89 iB 1100 BR 2:86 jing 2% 2142 Ki wm 294 hai i 3:81 ii it 167 3:126 ui Foul hai H 2:32 jam 3:72 ah 1:30 B 35 hang {7 3:62 RM 343 6 hao jie 3d jing FF 33122 Wi A 1:23 orhio 2:76 {2121 jit W245 ava) hao RF 1:3 iia ff 3:135 jin F305 AR 274 he A as KB 18 A) 2:37 142FRSA RH RS SH BH 3 Fe ate dh Bot OH ee 3:29 3:30 371 3:84 2:108 3:106 3:87 1:96 13 271 368 3:24 22145 2:68 2:69 2:65 1:89 1:90 3:93 2:64 21 3:38 3:81 17 1:169 2:25 2:26 3:56 3d mian mido milo ming SOSH SS SRE RE Swe m@ WRT RS 9 Bas 3:92 1132 3115 3:58 127 3:11 3:59 1:67 1129 1:10 147 11357 315 2:92 1:44 1148, 28 3 L104 LISI 1:39 1:69 1 22115 1:70 1159 3:43 2:120 143 ruin Rk DH RS SRR SH OS ee Se #ezu> 1:76 3:45 2114 3:129 3:80 19 12 2:66 314 2:6 2:12 3:47 3:98 2:73 1142 1:59 1:60 3:138 39 1:94 3:10 2:85 13 1:25 1158 30113 3:28 sin sio sén shan shan shang sho shio orshio shé shén sheng shi shi shi shou shou ne OR A AE AH RO Pt RRS RP EKER 101 3:34 3:84 1:103 3:42 1:126 1110 1:36 1127 1:20 1:56 2:129 171 1:84 2:63 2:63 1:65 3:123 35 2:43 16 1132 179 2:104 2:153 Lal 2:118 2:90 2:57sha 8 shi fil shuang shui AK shui Bi fe shus iff si Ea AL AB si suan suit a te. aK Gn te in i téng uc tk 8 mi tin tiin «Y att ting OF tou K ic) roy ss ® GE 2151 2:83 2:88 1:91 1144 3:94 1:64 2:134 2:133 3:97 1146 1139 2:19 1:46 iT 29 1123 3:89 1163 2:42 1s 1:22 3:103 3:105 2:123 3:140 1145 2:56 3:65 xi xi xi eRe ct Bh ot at > gi = Meet hh e+ WX BREURS 181 3112 2:80 2101 3:58 2:34 2:106 ca 2140 1174 2144 2:16 2:12 1:168 3:96 2:28 227 1:43 1:106 2:103 3:51 135 1109 3:79 3:107 2141 xia xia xian xian xiang xiting xing xidio xido xié xig xin xin xing xing xiong xidng xi xi xué xué xan 144 GSRSHPFSMEREREE ARS USSR EMR AE AS = 2:128 3:93 137 31124 3:78 bus 2:135 1120 3:4 1:150 172 2:77 2:78 19 1:140 3:74 2:149 169 2:24 ts2 3:62 185 bel 3119 2:79 1:33 23122 2:148 1:98 2:67 yin yin yin yin ying yong you you 2:96 23 1st 1122 3:123 2:99 14 1119 2147 bas 1133 3:57 3:4 247 2:125 3:86 118. 1173 2:107 2:82 1173 24 2 2:39 3:20 2:150 1:136 1:92 2:58 1:160BOS i eR oF Rt i Been 3 & 140 yu 2146 A287 zi fE 38 1:55 yin 197 HE 8S zhuang 4k 3:49 ni zhi dk 1:74 3 3:50 1112 a Ae 2:93 AG 2:139 zhuang tf 3:49 1:108 wai HR 1NDS zhi % 2102 zi F 12 1:95 Bo 1:32 MR 2:23 a Fs 3:137 zhin Hf 3:26 zhong 1:38 8 oh72 32 zhio MK 215 % 2143 25u 7E 1:80 2:52 zhén FE 2:13 zhong fR 3:134 zo Bons 2:81 zheng $2117 zhou fF 3:34 ui BE 2:46 3:130 zhéng JE 1:78 zhi i 16 Zuo Fe 1:54 3:60 He 3101 za E1137 ud AB 1:82 1:26 zhi 2:44 Boy ES ey fi 31133 145