Hanzi Alive!(23)

Tuesday, June 24, 2025

Chinese characters are the social contract of the East - '共' (gòng) is two hands sharing a pot of food, '平' (píng) is a stable balance, and '和' (hé) is wheat bending towards a smiling mouth (禾+口). With these three characters, using the simplest strokes, the Chinese people's millennium-old imagination of a fair society is vividly portrayed.

共(gòng)

Explanation

  • A pot (or some other object) in the center with a hand reaching towards it from either side shows two people sharing. This word is very common in Chinese.

Example

  • They work together.  
    他们共同工作。  
    tā men gòng tóng gōng zuò.  
  • This park is open to all.  
    这个公园是公共的。  
    zhè ge gōng yuán shì gōng gòng de.  

Find and circle  "共" in the picture

平(píng)

Explanation

  • "平" means steady, it does not shake or tip over. Therefore, the character looks like a scale, symmetrical and standard. The modern character is actually even more "balanced" and "level" than the ancient version. Adding “a woman in a house" forms “平安,” meaning safe and sound; the phrase is often also used as a greeting.

Example

  • Everyone should be treated fairly.  
    人人应当得到公平对待。  
    rén rén yīng dāng dé dào gōng píng duì dài.  
  • Life is calm and peaceful here.  
    这里的生活很平静。  
    zhè lǐ de shēng huó hěn píng jìng.  

Find and circle  "平" in the picture

和(hé)

Explanation

  • The grain is ready to be harvested and the wheat plant dips. Next to it is a mouth because there is food to eat! This word is often used in combination. For example, “和平”means peace, while “和好”means "to make peace between people."

Example

  • I go with you.  
    我和你一起去。  
    wǒ hé nǐ yì qǐ qù.  
  • Grandma is mixing dough.  
    奶奶在和面。  
    nǎi nai zài huó miàn.

Find and circle "和" in the picture

Now you have deciphered this set of civilized codes: from the warmth of '共' sharing, the justice of '平' balance, to the harvest of '和' harmony - when they meet, they form humanity's most cherished desire: peace (和平).

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