Hanzi Alive!(18)

Thursday, June 5, 2025

Chinese characters are the philosophy in the soil - the tender sprout breaking through the soil is '生' (shēng), while the embryo hidden underground is '不' (bù). These two characters share the same land, telling the story of life with two different attitudes: saying 'YES' and 'NO'.

生(shēng)

Explanation

  • A few blades of grass growing from the ground become "生," which means "to be born," "to grow," "to live," or "getting something where there was nothing before."

Example

  • Life is full of surprises.  
    生活充满惊喜。  
    shēng huó chōng mǎn jīng xǐ.
  • This plant grows very fast.  
    这种植物生长很快。  
    zhè zhǒng zhí wù shēng zhǎng hěn kuài.

Find and circle "生" in the image

不(bù)

Explanation

  • Underground, there is a seed with roots but has not sprouted yet, symbolizing an embryo, something not yet mature. Over time, this character evolved to become "不," which simply means "not." When you disagree with someone or say that something is "not good," you can write "不好."

Example 

  • I don't like spicy food.  
    我不喜欢辣的食物。  
    wǒ bù xǐ huān là de shí wù.
  • Don't run in the hallway.  
    不要在走廊里跑。  
    bú yào zài zǒu láng lǐ pǎo.

Find and circle "不" in the image

Now you understand this natural debate: as '生' stretches upwards with hope, '不' gathers strength in the soil. The Chinese rejection actually conceals the gentleness that has not yet broken through - just like a seed saying to spring: saying 'NO' now is for a better 'YES' later on.

Sign up for a free trial now!

FAQ / Tips

Our instructors are highly skilled and experienced experts in Chinese language teaching, with proficiency in multiple languages. They hold at least a bachelor's degree in teaching Chinese as a foreign language, and possess extensive teaching experience and knowledge. Through a rigorous selection process and ongoing training, our instructors are equipped to provide students with authentic pronunciation, accurate language usage, and cultural background knowledge, all of which are essential for achieving mastery of the Chinese language.
As a first - time student, if you are not completely satisfied with our service, we offer a cancellation policy that allows you to cancel your subscription before the first month. In such cases, we only charge a one - month fee and refund the remaining balance to you as soon as possible.We strive to ensure that our customers are fully satisfied with our service and are committed to providing a hassle - free refund process.
We offer a 30-day money-back guarantee for all new students.If you are not satisfied with our services within the first month, you may cancel your lessons and receive a refund for any unused lessons.We will only charge you for the first month of lessons, and refund the remaining balance to you promptly.Our goal is to ensure your satisfaction with our services, and we strive to provide the highest quality of instruction and support to all of our students.
Our learning is different from traditional language learning in a number of ways. Firstly, we use technology to enhance the learning experience and provide personalized learning paths for each student. Secondly, our focus is not just on language proficiency, but also on cultural understanding and practical application of the language.Thirdly, we place a strong emphasis on developing speaking and listening skills, as well as reading and writing.Additionally, we incorporate modern teaching methods and materials, such as multimedia resources and interactive exercises.Finally, our courses are designed to be flexible and adaptable, allowing students to learn at their own pace and according to their own schedule.
Yes, our website offers courses in both traditional and simplified Chinese characters. You can choose the character set that you want to learn based on your personal preference or learning goals.Our courses are designed to accommodate learners of all levels and backgrounds, so whether you are a beginner or an advanced learner, we have resources that can help you improve your Chinese language skills.
We offer secure and convenient payment options, including PayPal. PayPal is a widely recognized and trusted online payment platform that provides a secure way to make transactions. We also follow industry-standard security protocols to ensure the safety of your personal and financial information.