Chineasy - The new way to read Chinese (by Shaolan)

to blow to cook

sequence Eu ro p e

This character is a This character is a This character is a This character is a
combination of 'mouth' and combination of 'fire' and 'to combination of 'ice' and 'to combination of 'area'
'to owe'. In this case. 'to owe'. In this case. 'to owe' owe'. It is used to refer to
owe' means 'to yawn'. means 'to blow', and refers the number of times that ~and ' to owe'. This
to blowing the embers to something happens. For character's pronunciation
cook your food. sounds similar to the
example. the phrase =lj:.: English pronunciation of
'Europe'. The simplified
means 'twice'. form is~.

......... ....... ...... ... ·-····· .................................,. ~··························-············· .........' .......................................................................... ' .....................................-....................... ···-··· .................................

TO OWE COMPOUNDS 149



to compare to transform

f inger f lower

t t to compare (bi3) {lj to transform This character is a n fl ower (hua1)
combination of 'hand' and
This character comprises ( hua4 ) 'purpose' ~ , which is a The character is a
two 'dagger' building combination of 'dagger' combination of 'grass' and
bloeks, and symbolizes two This character is a and 'sun'. Fingers are what 'to transform '. Flowers
people wa lking in unison, combination of 'person' make your hands useful. might look a b it li ke
shou lder to shou lder. It and 'dagger'. It is often The character also means transformed grass.
now means 'to compare'. seen in words relating to 'point' when used as a verb.
chemistry, especially when
referring to elements and
substances. It also means
'to melt' or 'to convert'.

......... ....... ...... ... ·-····· .................................,. ~··························-············· .........' .......................................................................... ' .....................................-....................... ···-··· .................................

DAGGER COMPOUNDS 151

Advanced Sentences

..

•••························ · ····· · ··~···· · ····· · ···· · ···················································~·······································~········· · ······· · ···································•••

Such a beautiful princess

0 .3:."Pf~ B'5J (pages 97, 41, 137,

141)

:• :•t

················································· · ····························································· ·····~··············~····················································· · ··········

Such a long sentence

T-~r-& 8'51 1:!1 (pages 97, ss,

137)

.• .
•• .4. ••• • • •.• • • • 0 0 0 • 0 . . . . . . . . . 0 . . . . . . . ... . 0 ....... 0 • • 0 • • ._• • • 0 0
0 0 • '"""" 0 . . . . . . . . . . . 0 • • • 0 0 • • • • • • • • • 0 .._._._. 0 . . . . . . 0 0 • • • • 0 . 0 0 0 0 • • 0 • • • • • • 0 • 0 • • • • •.._• • 0 • 0 . . . 0 . . . . . . . . . . ... . 0 . . . . . . 0 ._. . . . 0 . . . . . . . 0 . . . . . . . . 0 • 0- A- 0 0 0- 0 0 • 0 • 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 • • 0 0 0 • • 0 0 • 0 0 0 0 . . .

Sweat stinks

"Pf )f~ ~ (pages 97, 99, 137,

145)

.• ••..

.••
··················································································································~··························~···········•••ooooooottt•••······················••o•

The instruction from God

fEI3 B'5J t~ ~ (pages 143, 137, 151,

142)

ooo o o u o o o o-oo oo o oo o "'! oo o o oo oo o oooo ooo o o o 0-0 oo o o ooo o o o oo o0 oo o o o oo-o o o o o•• ooo o•ooo oo •• 0-00 ooo oo o oo o oo o o oo o oo oo o o •o ooo o o-oo oo o.oo·o 0-0• ooo ooo-oo o o oo ooo •••• oO..o oo o •• ooo •• oo oo--o oo o oo oo o •• o oo o o ooo oo oo o o o.o ooo o •<t• oo o oo~ o.o o oo o o oo o..o o oo oo o '! oo o o o-o-ooo o oo o o' oo o o o o o•• 00-0 o •o oo o o 0-0 o.oo o o o oo

152 ADVANCED SENTENCES

.• .•
Blessed woman from Shandong Province•••·····•···•···••···•·················•····••···•···•····••···•····•· · • · · · · • · · · · ·· · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · • • · · · · • · · · · ·•••

811 U.J~fi *~A (pages 145,143,137, s4)

I

..

•••·········~·············~···························································································~· · ···········································································•••

Everybody be careful

*"ft:.. J\{,\1 (pages 93,

87)

L..-.----·---------·--·--·_.._..._.-·-·---·-·-.t-·---·- --· - - - - - -. - ·- -·-·-·-·J

Beautiful teenage girl

~j) "!;{ (pages 41, 133,

46)

~

·" ''

.• •
. ..1...........•...,....•.....•.•..•....•....•.•.......•....•.........•....•.........•............................••...............•

The fish is so fresh

~,-p:ffl (pages 25, 97,

41)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 • • • • 0 • • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .-. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • •• • • • • • • 0 f• . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +1"• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • ~· • • • • ~·· • • • • • • ~· . . . . . . . . . . . . ... . . . . . . . . . . . .- • • • • • • • • • • ._. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

ADVANCED SENTENCES 153

.. Ice-cold lad y

•••
•• •••• •• • • 0 ••••••••••••••••••

UJJ7.J< ~A (pages 147, 42, 41, 16)

I

...••.....................................................................................................................................................••

The lamb is going home

J\ *$@]I (pages 13 2, 40, 23,

93)

...•·····•••'"-""···........................................................................... ··- ' .. ········· ...........................--. ..•

..........................••

Everyone is safe

A A 3fZ- ~ (pages 21,

14 5)

'',',' '',,','',',''_,,,'''' •

.' ' ' ' '.. ...• •

••........................•....................................•.....•..••••••••••••••••••••..•......•........................•................

It rains too much

fr..j§ij 7.}< ~ (pages 95. 19,

107)

0 • ooooooooOOoooo• oOOOOOOOOOOOOO• •000000000000000000 oOOOOOOOOOOOOO•o••••oo••oooooo4oO••ooooooooooo4ooooooooooooooOoo•ooooOOOOOOOOOIOIIO•oo000000000000000000000.0000000oOeOOOOOOOOeo•oe••oooo~4oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo~oooooooOOOOOOOOI0000.000000I00000000000

154 ADVANCED SENTENCES



.: The younger sister is going to Japan .•

••·~· · ·············· · ········· · · · ············· •••

· ····· · ········t· ·· · · · ··~·

P*:P* f3~ 7-1-' (pages 48, 141, 55)

•

•. .•.

•• ••. . . . ._. 0 ............... . . 0 ..... 0 • • 0 ' . . . . ... . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 • • • • • 0 . . . . . . . . . . 0 ....... 0 • • 0 0 • 0 . . . . . . . . . . . 0 • • • • 0 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 . . . ... . . . . . 0 . 0 0 . . . . . 0 0 . . . . 0 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 . . . . . ... . 0 0 . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 . . . . . . . . ··~ 0 0- . . . . . . . . . . . .. . 0 • 0 • 0 . . . . . . . . . ._.._• • 0 • • • 0 0 0 • 0 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 0 • • • • 0-0 . . . . . . . . ....._• .._. 0 • • 0 0 0 0 • 0-0 . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 ........ 0 • • .._....._. . . . . . . . . . . 0 • • • •..._. 0 0

How much does this flower cost?

tb 9/?~1t (pages 113, 139, 1s1, 131, 101, 133)

•

•. .•

••...........................~· .··· ....................................................................................................................................................... .................................................................... ••~~··································

*Grandfather returned from the forest

i}i}f~~~* §1 (traditional Chinese); 00M~*f\@H~ (simplified Chinese)

(pages 141, 17, 33, 37)

1i ••

.•.• ..••

..········~······· ·······~· · ·········· · ··············~··························~·····~·· ···········~~············· ···················~· ·····················································•J••••••·································,······························· ··

Madam Lin is returning in May

:i;:Ji**~A .F.J §1 (pages 33, 18, 82, 56, 23, 141)

•••• • oo~oooo~oooooo o ooooooo~oooooooo•••oooooooooooooooooooo o o~ooooo~oooooooooooooooooooooooooooo o oooo o ooooooooooooo•o ooooooooooooooooooooooo o ooooooooooo o oooooooooooooooooooooo o oo~oooooo o oooooooooooooo~oooooooooooooo•••••••••••••oooo • • o •ooooooooooooooooooo o a o oooo•

156 ADVANCED SENTENCES

. Mama is pregnant ...•

••••........•...•.....•••.• ,...........•....•..••...••.........• · · ~··· ······ ···· · ··············•

J\ T~~ ~~ ~± (pages 77, 115)

•• ••

•l...............................~............................................................................................................:•
The brat is clapping his hands

J\ T tB =f.1 (pages 132, 96, 101)

•

fE

'"'

i • ._. . . . 0 · - · . . . . . . ..._. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 • • • • 0 . . . . . . . . . . . . · ·-· . . . . . . 0 0 · ·-· .••

•• ••
• • 0 • • 0 • • • • • • ..._• • • •.._. . . 0 . 0 .._. 0 • . . . . . 0 .......... 0 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 • • • • 0 . ... . . . . . . 0 0 . . . . 0 . . . . . . ... . 0 0 . ... . 0 • • • • • • . . . . . . . . . . 0 4 • • • 0 • • . . . . . . . ... . 0 . . . . . . . . 0 0-0 • • • • •. . _ . 0 • • • • • • • • 0 • • • 0 0 • • • • 0 • • • 0 • • • • 0 ._._. . . . . .._._• • 0 • • • • 0 . 0 · -·
•••••••••• 0 ....... 0 ••

The mermaid princess burst into tears

/\l.. 'f"a' I'./4\ .:'E /-+\.- 0.1;1 (pages 24, 141, 27)

7<::

\ n-

I II

...••• .

l

'•••••,.••••••••••••••••••• ••••••••••••••-••••U••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••u••••••••••••••oo,ooo•••••••••••••••••••,.••••••••••oo•••••••••U••••••••••"

The rich girl stinks

'i'~~ *~ (pages 121, 19, 99)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .-. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . , ••••••• f . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

ADVANCED SENTENCES 157



•••••

.,

The Story of Peter and the Wolf

IJil

'wolf'

Once upon a time, on the edge of a forest
clearing, there lived a boy named Peter.
Early one morning, Peter left his home to
go for a walk in the dark forest, leaving the
gate to his house open.

162

••••• •••••

A nearby duck, noticing that the gate
w as open, d ecided t o go for a qu ick
swim in Peter's yard.

164

While t he duck was swimming, a bird flew
down beside it and mocked, 'What kind of
bird are you, if you can't fly?' To which the
duck indignantly replied, 'What kind of bird
are you, if you can't swim?'

,,,

165

While the duck and the bird were arguing,
a sly cat crept slowly towards them. The
cat thought to itself, 'I wi II catch that Iittle
bird while it's arguing with the duck!' But,
before the cat could pounce, Peter warned
the bird, who flew to safety.

•

,,,,

16 7



Hearing Peter's call , his grandfather, who
hadn't realized that Peter had left the
safety of the house, scolded him: 'Suppose
a wolf came out of the forest!' he chided.

straight towards them.

169



Hearing Peter's ca ll, his grandfather, who
hadn't realized that Peter had left the
safety of the house, scolded him : 'Suppose
a wolf came out of t he forest!' he c hided.

Peter scoffed, 'Boys like me are not afraid
of wolves!' But at that very moment,
unbeknown to them, a big, hungry grey
wolf w as stalking through the forest
straight towards them.

169



II --

••

When Peter had returned to the safety of his

home, the hungry wolf slunk out of the forest. In a

flash, the bird flew up into the tallest tree, but the

duck, who could not fly, was no match for the

speed of the wolf. With one huge gulp, the wolf

caught the duck and swallowed it whole!

Seeing that his friends were in trouble,
Peter fetched a rope and climbed into
a nearby tree. As the bird distracted the
animal, Peter lowered a noose and caught

the wolf by its ta iI.





While the wolf struggled, the noose
became tighter and tighter until, at last,
the wolf could struggle no more. A nearby
hunter, who had been trying to track the
wolf, spied Peter in the tree and offered to
shoot the wolf, but Peter had another idea.

l

•

176

With the wolf safely tied up, Peter led the
hunter to a zoo in a nearby village, where
the wolf stayed for the rest of its days.





= three (san1)

One plus two is three.

REFERENCE

Building Block Plates
Index of Characters and Phrases

Building Block Plates

A person (ren2) 16 ~

"''

22

~/\. dog (quan3) 26 t'r32 bamboo (zhu2) 39

Ill40 mountain (shan1) 42 j{_ woman (m/) 46 ~~ bird (niao3 ) 50

~ feather (yu3) 51 ~ moon (yue4 ) 56 I work (gong1) 60

182 BUI LDING BLOCK PLATES

•

•

a white (bai2) m62 tiger (h u3) 64 r~ door (men2) 66 l}< water (sh ui3) 70

.tt=- cow (n iu2) 74 ,~ horse ( ma3) 76 .3S. jade (y u4) JII78 river (chuanl) 80

fit boat (zhoul) 81 -one (yi1) 82-83 .$.bug (chong 2) 84 ~tall/length (chan g2)

85

n86 knife (dao l) 88 ~pig (sh i3) ........., roof (mian2) 92

91

BUILDING BLOCK PLATES 183

,''' ,''' ,''',''',''',''',''',''',''' § eye (mu') 98 100

''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''- ''''''''''''''''''''''''

94

F103 household ( hu4) 104 105 106

=i:i to talk (yan2) 108 110 • '•

lll L' walking (c huo4)
112

±114 soldier ( sh i4 ) ±116 scholar (sh i4 ) 83 field ( t ia n 2 118
117 )

184 BUI LDING BLOCK PLATES

122 gj wine vessel ( y o u 3 123 ~ weapon (g e1) 124 125
)
-Xi

128 130 132 j l ghost ( g u i3) 135

'l to wrap up x ( b ao 1 JL how many Ci) 140 i-J' to reveal (sh 4
) 138
i)

136 142

!R.144 146 to owe ( q ian4 ) 150
148

BUILDING BLOCK PLATES 185

Index of Characters and Phrases

Chineasy teaches mainly traditional Chinese (see p. 11). Where the traditional and simplified forms of a

character are different, the traditional form is given first, followed by the simplified form. Where no distinction
between forms is noted, the traditional and simplified forms of the character are the same.

~ID!K account/bill (zhang4) 85 :J$T boat (zhoul ) 81
27 38
*~ achievement/generosity Hl'f* body ( ti 3 87
90 ) 122
:bD 18 ~~~~~ 57
(da4 qi4) 47 bored (menI) 129
:*:A. 31 i:S 75
to add ( j ia 1 36 bow (gongI) 84, 127
Ji ) 47 a~ 29
61 131
** adult (da4 ren2) 58 m bright ( m i n g 2 131
67 ) 131
~ 101 71<4 109
adultery (jian1) 115 bud ( m iao 2 90
tk 143 AI$. ) 134
39 63
AI angry (huo3 da4) 104 ~ buffalo (shui3 n i u 2 23
27 ) 97
~a~ 27 'Jti!R:.
rc~ ll)j] apricot (xing4) 71 'Jt ~I!*:.~ bug (chong2) 77
87
~ argument (nuan2)· 41 ~ 1#.1'!*:. 1#. burning hot (yan2) 101
11 5 53
1± artificial (ren2 g ong 1 109 ~tltt to buy (mai3) 101
) 115 89
t~ 17 :bDtN 33
to ascertain (cha2 m i n g 2 31 to buy back (mai3 h u i 2 37
'rT ) 50 m~~~ ) 44
129 131
~FID!KF to ask (wen4) SA buyer (mai3 jia1) 151
77 113
lljt to assist ( f u 2 ~ to calculate (ji4) 131
) 30 ~ 90
:;1\:lljt 41 1111/1~ 87
at (zai4 ) 143 California (jia1 z h ou 1 149
)if\ 149 ,J,r.P ) 79

'J' 'G' auspicious ( x i an g 2 ~ cat (mao1)
)
~ ta-¥
bamboo (zhu2) Caucasian (bai2 ren2)
1iA. :JJ' a,ij
bank account (zhang2 huA) to cause (yin1)
*t:J1s *I*
to bark (fei4) character (zi4)
Jtt *~*~~*
to bark loudly (da4 fei4) to charge in (chuang3)
* l:lj *I l:lj
** to bathe (mu4) cheat sheet (xiao3 chao1)
'ltRI!R:.~
~~~ be carefuI (x iao3 xin 1 to check (cha2)
) tt
*I .E:r,~CICI 1:11:1
beautiful (mei3) 1313. to clap hands (pai1 shou3)
*:X1.JJt.$l..
~ beautiful lady (jia1 ren2) -~~ cleqrly (fen1 m ing 2
)
1& M
to believe (xiang1 xin4) to come (lai 2
ox 3C'G' )
iX
belly (du4) to come back (hu/ lai2)
Ill~
big (da4 ) to come out (chu1 lai2)

big fire (da4 huo3) commerce (mai3 mai4 )

bird (niao3) to compare (bi3)

bitter (ku3) to compel (po4)

to blame (ma4) to congratu late (he4)

blazing (yan2 y a n 2 to construct (jia4)
)

bleating of sheep (mie1) contented (an1 xin1)

blessing (fu2) to cook (c hui 1
)

to blow ( ch ui 1 country (guo2)
)

186 INDEX

4- crater (huo3 shan1 kou3) 74 I\ eldest younger sister 83
45 49
XJ.llr:l crowd (zhang4) *P* (da4 mei4)
1111-J:A 17 134
to cry (ku1) 27 ~It~rti: Elvis Presley (mao1 wang2)
~ 27 36
to cry out (da4 ku 1) * end (mo4)
*~ 43 65
to cry out in anger (duo1) 72 A to enter (ru4) 149
Dlij 131
crystal (s hui3 j ing1) 150 ~~~ Europe (ou1) 137
71<~ ~ 21
~3::/~3:: customer (mai3 zhu3) 73 even ( j u n 1
~ ~* ) 93
48
7J<r,t7J<n dagger (bi3) *~ every day (tian1 t i an 1 21
97 )
fKI A.A. 44
dam (shu/ men2) 63 everybody (da4 jia1) 113
f:f-T 125 ~r:l 119
daughter (nan1) everY,one (ren2 ren2)
8~ 109 ).jJls.J.... 21
day (ri4 zi) 116 exit (chu1 kou3)
ft 93 $ 98
daytime (bai2 t i a n 1 110 expert (da2 ren 2)
~li¥ ) ~* 49
89
lill deer (lu4) 137 § to explain (shen1) 102

**- detailed (xiang2) 89 {ili~ extremely big (tian1 da4) 145

!).';!I IA.l determination (zhi4) 19 tD eye (mu4) 87
67
7C disaster (zai1) ~ fairy ( xi an 1 nu 3 51
r,;n 26 ) 139
t8 61
r, ;nr:~ r:~ dish (min3) 66 to fasten (kou4)
68 ~ 118
1*XJ.ll to distract (fen1 xi n1) ~I fate (xing4 ) 58
45
+mt+JL to distribute evenly EE fear (pa4) 115
139
~~~ ( J. Un1 yun 2) ~~ feather (yu3) 151
107 28
:t?J to divide ( fe n 1 {i female phoenix ( huan g 2
) 101 ) 93
5f* m
doctor (dai4 fu) 71 female worker (nu3 gong1) 25
iU~ * 82
to dodge (shan3) 90 field (tian2)
·~~~·~ 134 :kJJJ.IX 7k. 29
dog (quan3) 2 ,.
9 106 SfL 30
to find out (cha chu) 145
~~~ 133 ~~~
door (men2) ~ fine (jia1) 126
53
doorway (men2 kou3) 71<JJJ.I71<7k. finger' (zhi3) 56
29 93
dormant volcano :(t fire (huo3 ) 151
(xiu1 huo3 shan1) 103
a dozen or so (shi2 ji1) mrt fire disaster (huo3 zai 1
dream (meng4) )
to dress up (ban4)
to drip (lin2) fish (yu2)
to drive (jia4)
duck (ya1) five (wu3)
dusk (xi1)
dust (chen2) flames (yan4)
east (dong1)
to eat (dan4) flames of fire (yan4 yan4)

flat (ping2)

to flee (ben1)

flesh (rou4)

flood (shui3 z a i 1
)

flower (hua1)

to fly ( fe i 1
)

INDEX 187

2* foam (mo4) 71 ~ helmet (jia3) 119
30 93
*1* folks (da4 huo3) 17 ~ home ( j i a 1 76
33 ) 127
~/M. 87 104
~ to follow (cong2) 33 ~~~ horse (ma3) 138
~ 71 horses running (biao1) 139
forest. (sen1) 82 • household (hu4) 107
* 41 24
to forgive (shu4) 72 P IF 38
jft_ 57 35
foundation (b en 3 119 m;JL how many (ji3)
gg ) 68 146
147 147
f!¥.1~¥: fountain ( qu a n 2 37 m~?IJLJZ? how many days? (ji3 ti a n 1 36
) 57 ) 69
~7}<. 147 89
four (si4) 121 :fbj> how much (duo1 shao3) 43
Jill 135
fresh (xian1) 43 @]A_ Hui people (hui2 ren2) 38
fE 135 58
fresh water (dan4 shui3) 121 A.RIA..f* human body (ren2 ti3) 63
*-P~/J\:fl 150
friend (peng2) 141 *A.** I am furious 78
'*/)* 143 55
**/** from/due (you2) 97 (ben3 ren 2 huo3 da4) 109
97 ice (bing1)
mill~. front gate (da4 men2) 133 \ ice (bing1) 55
133 idiot (dai1)
~~~~~ frozen (dong4) 133 I idler (xian2 ren2) 55
128 to illuminate (zhao4)
5~P~ I5~fl future (wei4 lai 2 129 '* immortal (xian1) 79
) 48 imp (xiao3 g ui3) 79
:±1 29 ~ in general (da"' ti3) 79
gall bladder (dan3) 100 ~jA./I*JA. in the coming days (lai2 ri4 ) 134
* 101 in vain (bai2 bai2 ) 88
to gallop (feng2) 145 1m it (ta1) 41
~~~ 86 jade (yu4) 109
gas pedal/accelerator 21 1ili Japan (ri4 ben3) 63
~ (you2 men2)
to get out (chu1) 'J'.5a Japanese language
fl1i ghost (gui3) *-R!J\:1:* ( n.4 b·en3 yu3)

P:1- girl from a rich family *J3/* f3 Japanese person

P:J'L' (fu4 j ia1 nu3) as

~/1/J\ to go (qu4) ~

~~/~J\~ god (shen2) 3i
~=fi~J\=f
good Chao3) B*
-t+
good intention (hao3 xin1) B*~/
1.!
grandch ild (sun1) B*itt
~ B*A.

1* granddaughter (sun1 nu3) B*~A. ( n.4 b en3 ren2)

-¥ grandson (sun1 zi) Japanese woman

~-¥ grass (cao3 ) 1113:/~ 3: (n.4 ben3 nu3 ren2 )
~~ 3:
grass (cao3) king (guo2 w an g 2
'L' )

~A. greed (lan2) 3:~/3:~ king (wang2)

group (huo3) IJ\11/IJ\~~ kingdom (wang 2 guo2)

hand (shou3) ]] kitten (xiao3 ma o 1
)
~
handrail (fu2 shou3) knife (dao1)
'"'
happiness (xing4 fu2) lamb (gao1)
$Rl=.lfi31=1i
heart ( xin 1 language (yu3)
) ~131

heaven (tian1 ren2) to learn/practise (xi2)

*·•·••• " " ••• .-,. ,. -~ " " " ,... ~ ••, ...-... ,.,. ., ,., ,. .,, ,. • o• •• , ,.,.., f'01 .- n •• • ,. , .,. " " " f' 01 .., -. r • • .-.• •,. , ., ~- " "" •• • • ooo • •• • • •,. • .,. ,. , ., ,...,. ,., -. • • • • • •,. n ~-- " ' " ,..,.,. .--o o ,. ,-,. , • • ,., ,..,,, " " " -~ • • • • " " 0 0 1 .-. .. ..-oo " oo o ••• ..._, ,.-,., • • • ,.., , ..-. ,. ...,., " " " • " " " "" .-,.., " " " " " " • • • l'oo •• • •O "' • ·•·• ••• o n • • • " """ " " " " ' " .., -. r oo • •• • Oo• ..-. • ••" h 1 f'O • o

188 INDEX

tr. left (zuo3) 60 ~ odour (chou4) 99
leisure (xian2) B'5J
~,/~/1*1 67 ~~IOOi.if of (de) 137
4
1~ 109 T-"9:. official language (guo2 yu 3 109
letter/trust (xin ) ) 97
I.DU\/1-D~l Iittle (shao3) 133 )fij 120
longhorn beetle (tian1 niu2) offspring (zi3 nu3) 121
8/fJL lucky (ji2) 75 )fij 83
lynx (shan1 mao1) 117 oil ( y ou 2 82
H~ machine (ji1) 134 - )
~A. mad dog (guang4 quan3) 138 34
madam (fu1 ren 2) 113 ~ oil field (you2 tia n 2 99
*~,Q/ 18 ) 139
68 'f!fi A.!A A. 34
:*:fll=l A. one (y i 1 148
120 )
~ 1-D*-AI 101
~ 139 one's self (ben3 ren2)
1-D*A. 93
~ 17 on·eself (zi4 ) 18
~I:*X
A.-¥ 101 ordinary (fan2) 16
-~
~ main entrance 107 originally (ben3 lai2) 54
79 ttl~
:3:: (da4 men2 kou3) 124 it.?I~F to owe (qian4) 91
37 141
~ male (nan2) 24 A.l=l to pat (pai1) 101
34 71
~** male phoenix (feng4) 120 }J peaceful (an1) 141
89 97
A.i!!A.~ man (fuT) :*:11±-T people (zhong4 ren2) 141
56 .I:T-
*A.I*A. manpower (ren2 shou3) person (ren2) 141
24 0:3:: 131
~ 11'1any (duo1) person frol1'1 Shandong
77 $ 104
~' master (zhu3) Province (shan 1 dong1 ren 2) 24
42 .b. 90
*H me/1 (wo3) pig (shi3 )
22 :*:JJJ.I:*:i:J:. 115
~a medical industry (xing4 lin2) pine ( so ng 1
~ 19 0 ) 97
~JJJ.I~'!k. 87 141
~~~ mermaid (ren2 yu2) tB&! to plagiarize (chao1)
99 93
11 messenger (lai2 ren 2 CJ plain (dan4)
) 111 140
* 107 llll
mile (li3) 93 platform ( t a i 2 18
~[] 105 ) 141
83
molecule (fen1 zi3) plum (li3) 44
36
moon (yue4) police (China) (gong1 an 1 23
48 )

morality (ren2 pin3) police (Taiwan) (jing3 cha2)

mother (11'1a1) poor (pin2)
poor household (pin2 hu4)
mountain ( s han 1
)

mouth (kou3) population (reh2 kou3)

Mrs (tai4 tai4) power (li4)

must (bi4) pregnant (da4 du4 zi)

11'1utual (xiang1) pn.nce ( wang2 z1.3).
princess (gong1 zhu3)
myself (zi4 j i 3
)

name (ming2) prison (liao2)

natural disaster (tian1 zai 1 private (d)
)

net (wang3) public (da4 zhong4)

nine (jiu3) public ( g o n g 1
)

not yet (wei4) to publish (chu1 p i n 3
)

to obey (ru2) quality (pin3)

INDEX 189

~ quantity of flowers (duo3) 139 m~Jll~ several days (j i3 ti an 1 139
~I 79 ) 54
77 *I *Ill Ill
D,~/0~ queen (nu3 wang2) Shandong Province 133
72 ~ 40
5JJ.i~ question indicator (m a 2 ~ (shan1 dong1) 130
) 94 ~!.!n 144
~ 95 23
quiet month for business 95 *IT sharp (jian1) 143
*~ 95 115
(dan4 yue4) 127 QQ sheep ( ya ng 2 115
~** 113 ) 82
121 fltlt± 133
~7]< rain (y u 3 38 shell (bei4) 57
) 23 ~ 20
• 142 ~a 132
/Jls rain shower (da4 yu3) 120 shield ( gan 1 69
104 ...J- ) 143
:IJD )fil 60 114
1* rainforest (yu3 lin 2 80 /'\ shout (xuan1) 116
) 71 96
@] 92 l\.IJ'\ 67
rainwater (yu3 shui3) 126 shrine (shen2 she4) 53
71' 37 Jlfffjc 73
rank odour (shan1) 89 tO sit (ZUO4) 73
=c=:t- 145 ~ 80
to reach (da2) to sit at (zuo4 zai4) 102
l3ia 72 IJ'\ 113
to refuel ( ji a 1 y ou 2 six (liu4 ) 39
:l\:J51:l\:F ) 64 ~A.!~ A. 52
73 53
~ rest (x iu 1 117 t± st0 ze ( d a4 xt0 ao3) 22
) 102 145
JII ± 108
to return (hui2) lll skin (fu1) 89
)I ± 85
to reveal (shi4) 109 sky ( tia n 1 129
......... 131 =f ) 99
1.37 83
*@]/*@] rich (fu4) 137 ra~/IEl small (xiao3)
149 aEa3
~IJ rich household (da4 hu4) 143 to sneak out (shan3 ren2)
SJL~ 83 05*
07]< right (y o u 4 1.39 society (sh e 4
) ~7]< )
Dffl
river (chuan~) 1N soil (tu3)
Ill 7]<
river ( j i a n g 1 tJ\ soldier (shi4)
± ) 3R/

t1t roof (mian'2) *s son (zi3)

a rough (cu1) 13. space/room (jian1)

El1~ round trip (lai2 hui2) 0 sparkles (jing1)

-~~ to row Chua2) )f spit (kou3 mo4)

1:!1 safe (ping2 an1) =-~ spring water (quan2 shui3)
Jq]=f
saliva (kou3 shui3) ll)J state (zhouI)
IX
to scare (hu3) ftliE: to steal (pa2)
~~
1::; scenery (shan1 shu i3) ~ to stroll (guang4)

PT m1tff1 l scholar (shi4) Jru5§ stupid (beh4)

to seek (zhao3) + sun (ri4 )

self (j i3) sunrise (dan4)

self-confidence (zi4 xin4) to surround (wei2)

to sell (mai4) sweat (han4)

sentence ( j u 4 to talk (yan2)
)

sentence (ju4 zi) talkative ( d ao 1
)

sequence (ci4) tall/length (chang2)

serene (an1 xi an g 2 tea (cha2)
)

seven (qi 1 tear (l e i 4
) )

several (han3 ji3) ten (shi2)

*·•·••• " " ••• .-,. ,. -~ " " " ,... ~ ••, ...-... ,.,. ., ,., ,. .,,,. • o• •• , ,.,.., f'01 .- n •• • ,. , .,. " " " f'01 .., -. r •• .-.• •,. ,., ~- " "" • •• • ooo • •• • • •,. • .,. ,. , ., ,...,. ,., -. • • • • • •,. n ~-- " ' " ,..,.,. .--oo ,. ,-,. , • • ,.,,..,, , " " " -~ ••• • " " 0 0 1 .-. .. ..-o o " oo o ••• ..._, ,.-,., • • • ,.., , ..-. ,. ...,., """ • " " " " " .-,.., """ " " " • • • l'o o •• • •O "' • ·•·• ••• o n ••• " """ " " " " ' " .., -. roo • •• • Oo • ..-. • ••" h1 f'O • o

190 INDEX

/~ this (zhe4) 113 ~ woods (lin2) 33
this month (ben3 yue4) 59 work (gongl) 60
*-.F.l three (sanl) 82 I worker (gongl ren2) 61
world (ren2 jianl) 69
e!§ thunder (lei2) 119 I .A. to wrap up (baol) 136
to tie together (kun3) 102 .A.rs~/.A.Il3J year (nian2) 145
I=El tiger (hu3) 64 years (sui4) 107
today (ben3 ri4) 59 ~ yes (hao3 de) 137
ml tomorrow (ming2 ri4) 59 you (ru3) 71
too big (tai4 da4) 19 1¥ younger sister (mei4) 48
m too much (tai4) 19
to transform (hua4) 151 IJ.!~
*s tree (mu4) 32
twins (zil) 97 :tlfa'g
B~ S
Yk
**
* ~

1t Peter and the Wolf

*

H-

!lull two (er4) 82 ~~ to argue (chao3 jia3) 164-65
two mountains (shenl) 43 J.ttl~ bird (niao3) 160
~1± unrestrained (zi4 zai4) 115 button (kou4) 163
~~~/~@! USA (mei3 guo2) 79 tD cat (maol) 161
utensil (qi4) 27 chirp (zil zil ) 167
s villain (xiao3 ren2) 133 frai~Ni duck (yal) 160
volcano (huo3 shanl) 45 the end (zhongl) 179
IJ\A walking (chuo4) 112 qtct grandfather (zu3 fu4) 160
water (shui3) 70 horse (ma3) 177
X Ill weak (ruo4) 122 ,, , ,~ hunter (lie4 ren2) 161
weapon (gel) 124 miaow (miao3 miao3) 166
L' well distributed (yun2) 137 ~ quqck (gua3 gua3) 167
whirlwind (biaol) 126 son/boy (zi3) 160
7.}< white (bai2) 62 m~ weapon (gel) 174
whole (quan2) 79 ,~/."9.1 wolf (lang2) 161
~ Whole-heartedly (quan2 xinl) 87
~ wide expqnse of Wqter 71 B.A.!~ A.
~ a+!ft!Jl
~
nJll nJll
8
lit T-

'G'/it.'G' ~
~R
~

)g3 (miao3)

~ wine (jiu3) 123
~ wine vessel (you3) 123
147
& winter (dongl) 60
46
"9:. wizard (wul) 49
54
P:..A. woman (nu3)

lll*P:..A./ woman (nu3 ren2)

lll*"tl:..A. woman from Shandong

Province (shanl dongl nu3 ren2)

INDEX 191

Acknowledgments

The entire Chineasy project started out of a desire to teach my own children, MuLan
(~.ll) and MuAn (~~)to read and appreciate the Chinese language and culture and
a personal curiosity to see if I could tackle the enormous task of deciphering the Chinese
language of my childhood.

Thanks to Bruno Giussani and Chris Ande.rson I was given the opportunity to share my
private project on the global TED stage with a much larger audience than I ever intended,
and I wish to thank Gary Sheinwald, Daria Pescador and Robert Leslie for their endless
encouragement, constructive criticism and support during the four-month preparation
leading up to my T ED talk.

To execute the project I enlisted the help of Crispin Jameson and his Brave New World
team, who have done a beautiful job. Throughout this process I also had the great
pleasure of working with Noma Bar, whose fascinating illustrations have made my
Chinese characters come to life. Isabella Schoepfer's assistance as project manager
has been vital. I also want to thank Dimple Nathwani who has be.en looking after me
for the past six years!

I very quickly realized that Chineasy was taking on a life of its own, and as more people
have come on board the project has grown even bigger. The endless discussions with
Crispin and Noma, designers Darren Perry and Carissa Chan and my research assistant,
Vanessa Lu ( 81~1Ji!). about each illustration and every single design detail have become
my daily routine and I still bring my 'homework' back to MuLan and MuAn for their
'approval '. It sometimes feels like standing in front of a pair of critical judges!

I would also like to thank Judith Greenbury, who is the reason why I first chose to write
a Chineasy book. She is turning 90 years old in February 2014 and I want to make sure
that I wish her a happy birthday here.

Throughout the whole project a number of people have continued to help and support
me: Myron Scholes, Susan Bird, Lulu Wang, Bi ll Gross, Chase Jarvis, Tim Ferriss, Stefan
Sagmeister, Phi lip Rowley and the Woo family- to all of you, thank you.

And last but not least, Lucas Dietrich of Thames & Hudson gave me the opportunity
to serve those who are willing to go on this incredible journey with me.

I left home at the age of 14, and have run around the world to try to understand myself,
and my place in the world, ever since. I have looked for meaning and answers while
walking barefoot through the Colombian Amazon, while sleeping in the Botswana desert
listening to lions and hyenas, and while pushing myself to the limits of my endurance in
some of the harshest, and coldest, climates in the world. After all the searching and fuss
I finally realized that the answer to my question could be found where Istarted- home.
I hope my calligrapher mothe.r Lin FangZi C~*~T-) and ceramic artist father Hsueh
RuiFang ( liflliij]5=) can finally stop worrying about me, their rebellious daughter, now that
I have found my place, and as I raise my own rebellious children.

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