Hanzi Alive!(15)

Tuesday, June 3, 2025

Chinese characters are the cradle of life - '子' (zǐ) is a baby waving its arms, '孕' (yùn) is the expectation of new life in the womb (子 + 乃), '字' (zì) is teaching children to read under the roof (宀 + 子). These three characters embody the gentle expression of inheritance in Chinese culture.

子 (zǐ)/(zi)

Explanation:

  • Just like the character "好" introduced before, "子" means "baby." It visually resembles a baby wrapped in a blanket, representing warmth and safety.

Example:

  • The child is playing in the park.  
    孩子在公园里玩耍。  
    hái zi zài gōng yuán lǐ wán shuǎ.
  • This chair is very comfortable.  
    这把椅子很舒服。  
    zhè bǎ yǐ zi hěn shū fu.

Find and circle "子" in the image:

孕(yùn)

Explanation:

  • The character "孕" portrays a woman with a big belly, symbolizing pregnancy and the anticipation of new life.

Example:

  • She is five months pregnant.  
    她怀孕五个月了。  
    tā huái yùn wǔ gè yuè le.
  • Pregnant women need more rest.  
    孕妇需要多休息。  
    yùn fù xū yào duō xiū xi.

Find and circle  "孕" in the image:

字(zì)

Explanation:

  • A baby is born in a house, represented by the character "字". Originally meaning "to give birth," it now signifies "a word," symbolizing the act of learning to write words at home.

Example:

  • This Chinese character is easy to write.  
    这个字很容易写。  
    zhè ge zì hěn róng yì xiě.
  • Please write your name here.  
    请在这里写下你的名字。  
    qǐng zài zhè lǐ xiě xià nǐ de míng zì.

Find and circle  "字" in the image:

Now you've touched the heartbeat of Chinese characters: from the birth of '子,' the expectation of '孕,' to the heritage of '字,' each stroke tells an endless story. This is why - what we write is not mere symbols, but the life's cycle.

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