"My Stories of Chinese Characters" is hosted by Uncle Hanzi, an American who has studied Chinese characters for 30 years. He will tell the stories behind Chinese characters in this series, which will show how the Chinese live their daily lives and how they have preserved the culture for centuries.
What do foreigners feel about learning Chinese language?
The Chinese language is considered one of the most difficult languages, attracting millions of new learners every year. Uncle Hanzi will speak with foreign students, talk about the difficulties they face and share some tips.
2/17/2021 • 6 minutes, 40 seconds
How did the Chinese practice divination?
Humans have always been curious about the future. The Chinese word 占卜 vividly reflects how the ancient Chinese practiced it. Uncle Hanzi will explore the origin of Chinese divination and discuss with an expert the philosophy behind it.
2/15/2021 • 5 minutes, 20 seconds
Chinese characters in ancient Chinese musical instruments
Do you enjoy hip-hop and its drumbeats? The drumbeat is the lifeblood of music as it controls the rhythm and expresses the emotion. Drum has always been an important instrument in China. Drums dictate the rhythm of battle and motivate soldiers. Uncle Hanzi will play drums and explore its charm.
2/13/2021 • 5 minutes, 6 seconds
What do Chinese people eat?
Different people prefer different things. The choice of food comes from the climate and environment and reflects lifestyles and traditions. Uncle Hanzi will share his experience of food in China and Chinese food culture.
2/11/2021 • 5 minutes, 18 seconds
How do Chinese people celebrate the New Year?
Happy Chinese New Year and best wishes for the Year of the Ox! Chinese people celebrate the Spring Festival, the most important festival in China, through various means. They often worship their ancestors, decorate their house and cook a big dinner for the New Year's Eve. This year, Uncle Hanzi will celebrate it with Aunt Wu and her family, sending New Year wishes to you. He will also share some interesting stories.
2/9/2021 • 8 minutes, 7 seconds
What does marriage mean to Chinese people?
As we all know, the concept of marriage in China is quite different from that in the West. For Chinese people, marriage is an important event and people need to do a lot of preparation. In this episode, Uncle Hanzi will tell you something about the pictograph of "marriage" and discuss the unique concepts and culture of marriage in China.
2/8/2021 • 5 minutes, 55 seconds
What is the answer to this riddle?
"A small room with walls and windows, always runs in the middle of the road, with pedestrians walking on both sides." Guess what it is? It's a car. Chinese characters are considered to be pictograms, but why can't we find any wheels on the character for car?
2/6/2021 • 6 minutes, 39 seconds
Why there's no "circle" in Chinese characters?
Many people wonder why there's no "circle" in Chinese characters. In fact, it did exist in ancient Chinese characters, just disappeared over time. Uncle Hanzi will unveil the mystery of the disappearance of the circle.
2/4/2021 • 9 minutes, 48 seconds
How many Chinese characters do you need to know to live in China?
Do you know how many Chinese characters you need to know to live in China? 2,000? 3,000? Or 5,000? Unfortunately, we can't give you an exact figure. It all depends on scenarios.
2/2/2021 • 3 minutes, 54 seconds
Who am I?
You may wonder why one American is called “Uncle Hanzi”? Why is he so interested in Chinese characters? Did he settle in China and have a Chinese wife? All these questions will be answered in this episode.
1/31/2021 • 6 minutes, 59 seconds
Trailer
What is the hardest thing about learning Chinese and how can one conquer the challenges? How many Chinese characters do you need to know to get by in China? Why are all the characters drawn the way they are and what are the meanings behind all of them?......Subscribe to "My Stories of Chinese Characters" as Uncle Hanzi (Chinese characters) shares the background behind these Chinese symbols, to be released in February.
