Once November arrives in Beijing,the landscape changes.Beautiful golden秋叶(qiū yè),autumn leaves fringe the streets.It is秋天(qiū tiān),autumn,the season of burning straw in the fields after the harvest.This ...Once November arrives in Beijing,the landscape changes.Beautiful golden秋叶(qiū yè),autumn leaves fringe the streets.It is秋天(qiū tiān),autumn,the season of burning straw in the fields after the harvest.This explains why秋has two parts–禾(hé),standing grain,and火(hu),i re.In northwestern Beijing香山(Xiāng shān),literally Fragrant Hill,is robed in flam-展开更多
China certainly has四季(sìjì),four seasons.Another way of expressing"four seasons"in Chinese is春夏秋冬(chūn xiàqiūdōng),spring,summer,autumn and winter.In addition,the Chinese use the time...China certainly has四季(sìjì),four seasons.Another way of expressing"four seasons"in Chinese is春夏秋冬(chūn xiàqiūdōng),spring,summer,autumn and winter.In addition,the Chinese use the time-honored二十四节气(èr shísìjiéqì),24 solar terms,in farming.The 24 solar terms can be regarded as subdivided seasons that include立春(lìchūn),Start of Spring,立夏(lìxià),Start of Summer,立秋(lìqiū),Start of Autumn,立冬(lìdōng),Start of Winter。展开更多
Sometimes,our first impression of Chinese cities is one of grey concrete.However,in spring we find streets lined with abundant flowerbeds and trees.Gardening is truly an art form in China,which would never be denied b...Sometimes,our first impression of Chinese cities is one of grey concrete.However,in spring we find streets lined with abundant flowerbeds and trees.Gardening is truly an art form in China,which would never be denied by professional garden designers and amateur botanists.The gardens of southern China are well known,especially the famous gardens of Suzhou.There are many ways to say"garden"in Chinese.园林(yuan lin)is one of them.展开更多
Feeling peaky?Let’s learn some words on medicine in Chinese.Compared to西医(xī yī),Western medicine,中医(zhōng yī),traditional Chinese medicine(TCM),and Chinese herbs seem a little bit mysterious.The character fo...Feeling peaky?Let’s learn some words on medicine in Chinese.Compared to西医(xī yī),Western medicine,中医(zhōng yī),traditional Chinese medicine(TCM),and Chinese herbs seem a little bit mysterious.The character for"medicine"in Chinese has a radical展开更多
WORDS for colors often have social and cultural implica- tions. In France blue is reserved for the king, but travel abroad to other cultures and this is not the case. We have an expression in French "I am turning...WORDS for colors often have social and cultural implica- tions. In France blue is reserved for the king, but travel abroad to other cultures and this is not the case. We have an expression in French "I am turning black," an equivalence of "seeing red" in English. In Japan inexperience is described as having a "blue butt"展开更多
ENVIRONEMENT S.A.(ESA)is a French company specializing in continuous environmental monitoring.Founded in 1978 by company CEO Fran?ois Gourdon,and listed in 2006,ESA has established branches in65 countries,and is thriv...ENVIRONEMENT S.A.(ESA)is a French company specializing in continuous environmental monitoring.Founded in 1978 by company CEO Fran?ois Gourdon,and listed in 2006,ESA has established branches in65 countries,and is thriving."China’s huge growth potential prompted us to set up a branch here,Environement China Ltd.,at the end of 2009,although we launched our China operations in the late 1990s,with the展开更多
Let’s go through the keyhole!You step into a房地产公司(fáng dìchǎn gōng sī),a real estate company,or meet with a中介(zhōng jiè),a housing agent,because you plan to买房子(mǎi fáng zi),purchase...Let’s go through the keyhole!You step into a房地产公司(fáng dìchǎn gōng sī),a real estate company,or meet with a中介(zhōng jiè),a housing agent,because you plan to买房子(mǎi fáng zi),purchase a house.Before arriving,you looked up some房屋信息(fáng wūxìn xī),housing information,hoping to find the ideal自己的家(zìjǐde jiā),house of your own.However,the massive amounts of infor-展开更多
The集市(jíshì),bazaar,is a customary weekly event in rural China,when locals go to buy蔬菜(sh cài),vegetables,水果(shu gu),fruits,肉(ròu),meat,and household equipment.The term热闹(rènao),loud ...The集市(jíshì),bazaar,is a customary weekly event in rural China,when locals go to buy蔬菜(sh cài),vegetables,水果(shu gu),fruits,肉(ròu),meat,and household equipment.The term热闹(rènao),loud and lively,best describes this heaving scenario where vendors叫卖(jiào mài),shout their wares amid throngs展开更多
RECALLING his decision in the 1970s to learn Chinese,considered perhaps unusual at that time,Jo l Bellassen,now Inspector-General of Chinese Language Teaching at France’s Ministrof Education(Inspecteur géné...RECALLING his decision in the 1970s to learn Chinese,considered perhaps unusual at that time,Jo l Bellassen,now Inspector-General of Chinese Language Teaching at France’s Ministrof Education(Inspecteur général de chinois),remarks that many people were astonished by his choice,since it was not out of selfinterest but out of conviction.Jo l Bellassen’s legendary life parallels the progress in bilateral relations between China and France.He was among the first batch of students sent to China after the establishment of diplomatic relations.展开更多
LAST issue we explored the rich fabric of meaning behind th numbers one through five in traditional Chinese culture. Thi issue we look at six through 10, and find them popping up in Chinese idioms and expressions no l...LAST issue we explored the rich fabric of meaning behind th numbers one through five in traditional Chinese culture. Thi issue we look at six through 10, and find them popping up in Chinese idioms and expressions no less frequently than thei five smaller siblings. 六 (liù), six, in Mandarin is pronounced similar to 流 (liú), fluid Swift, running water and fluidity connote business success. In China six also symbolizes luck, health and the family.展开更多
茶(chá)is a drink worthy of appreciation;tea drinking,therefore,is an art.In France,the pastime is known as tea ceremony茶仪式(cháyíshì).In China it is known both as tea ceremony茶道(chádà...茶(chá)is a drink worthy of appreciation;tea drinking,therefore,is an art.In France,the pastime is known as tea ceremony茶仪式(cháyíshì).In China it is known both as tea ceremony茶道(chádào)and tea art,茶艺(cháyì).Despite these formal appellations,Chinese tea drinkers treat both tea art茶艺(cháyì)and tea ceremony茶道(chádào)simply as modes of tea appreciation.展开更多
DOES the French word ＂chiner＂ （antiqu- ing） come from the Chinese love for flea markets and antiques？ Perhaps not. But it is certain that the Chinese are serious collectors and this love didn＇t come from nowhere!
This is what happens when you decide to find a job. You see a 招聘广告（zhāo pin guǎ.ng gào）, job advertisement, on the Inter- net or in a publication, and send your 简历（jiǎn 1ì）, CV. Someone replies,...This is what happens when you decide to find a job. You see a 招聘广告（zhāo pin guǎ.ng gào）, job advertisement, on the Inter- net or in a publication, and send your 简历（jiǎn 1ì）, CV. Someone replies, and invites you to an 面试 （miàn shì））, interview, or more literally, ＂face to face test.＂ If you pass it, you 入职（rù zhí）, ＂enter the job＂ and start work.展开更多
Since its introduction to China 20-plus years ago,the Internet has flourished like mushrooms after a spring rain.Its users now top 600million and there are around three million Chinese websites.The Chinese word for In...Since its introduction to China 20-plus years ago,the Internet has flourished like mushrooms after a spring rain.Its users now top 600million and there are around three million Chinese websites.The Chinese word for Internet is互联网(hùlián w ng)–interconnected network–very close to its English equivalent.展开更多
New arrivals in China often get the impression that Chinese are工作狂(gōng zuòkuáng),workaholics.Yet,there is quite a bit of空闲(kòng xián),leisure,in China.Surprisingly,the Chinese love to休闲(xi...New arrivals in China often get the impression that Chinese are工作狂(gōng zuòkuáng),workaholics.Yet,there is quite a bit of空闲(kòng xián),leisure,in China.Surprisingly,the Chinese love to休闲(xiūxián),relax,perhaps even more than we do.They love to spend their time养花(y ng huā),tending l owers,养鸟(y ng ni o),raising birds,or even养蛐蛐儿(y ng qūqur),keeping crickets.Chinese people are also fond of休闲活动(xiūxián huódòng),leisure games,notably麻将(májiàng),mahjong,whose pronunciation comes directly from the Chinese.The Chinese展开更多
The image of a scholar raising a glass of wine to the moon features in many Chinese paintings.In ancient times alcohol was lauded as the fountain of inspiration for men of letters,and is credited for many immortal wor...The image of a scholar raising a glass of wine to the moon features in many Chinese paintings.In ancient times alcohol was lauded as the fountain of inspiration for men of letters,and is credited for many immortal works by some of the greatest names in China’s history of literature,such as Li Bai and Li Qingzhao.The character酒(jiǔ),alcohol,is composed of two parts。展开更多
Chinese书法(shu fa),calligraphy,is the ancient art of Chinese handwriting.No publication on Chinese culture could ever omit mention of Chinese characters and calligraphy.For foreigners,汉字(han zi),Chinese characters,...Chinese书法(shu fa),calligraphy,is the ancient art of Chinese handwriting.No publication on Chinese culture could ever omit mention of Chinese characters and calligraphy.For foreigners,汉字(han zi),Chinese characters,are hard to master,and calligraphy is even more difficult.Calligraphy in France refers to writing with a quill pen,but it has a different connotation in Chinese.书(shu)means写字(xie zi),writing,and its original complex form書refers to holding展开更多
MY French fellowmen often marvel at the Chinese people’s aptitude for mathematics. Certainly, I have friends from China who love numbers with the kind of passion usually reserved for the sacred. Numbers and the Chine...MY French fellowmen often marvel at the Chinese people’s aptitude for mathematics. Certainly, I have friends from China who love numbers with the kind of passion usually reserved for the sacred. Numbers and the Chinese characters that represent them occupy a unique place in Chinese culture. Numbers have rich linguistic connotations, and their展开更多
In China,金钱(jīn qián),money,made from the characters金(jīn),gold,and钱(qián),coins,is not a taboo.To the contrary,it is a symbol of社会地位(shèhuìdìwèi),social status,and成功(ché...In China,金钱(jīn qián),money,made from the characters金(jīn),gold,and钱(qián),coins,is not a taboo.To the contrary,it is a symbol of社会地位(shèhuìdìwèi),social status,and成功(chéng gōng),success.Throughout history,财富(cái fù),wealth,has always been an important part of Chinese culture.物质生活(wùzhìshēng huó),material well-展开更多
文摘Once November arrives in Beijing,the landscape changes.Beautiful golden秋叶(qiū yè),autumn leaves fringe the streets.It is秋天(qiū tiān),autumn,the season of burning straw in the fields after the harvest.This explains why秋has two parts–禾(hé),standing grain,and火(hu),i re.In northwestern Beijing香山(Xiāng shān),literally Fragrant Hill,is robed in flam-
文摘China certainly has四季(sìjì),four seasons.Another way of expressing"four seasons"in Chinese is春夏秋冬(chūn xiàqiūdōng),spring,summer,autumn and winter.In addition,the Chinese use the time-honored二十四节气(èr shísìjiéqì),24 solar terms,in farming.The 24 solar terms can be regarded as subdivided seasons that include立春(lìchūn),Start of Spring,立夏(lìxià),Start of Summer,立秋(lìqiū),Start of Autumn,立冬(lìdōng),Start of Winter。
文摘Sometimes,our first impression of Chinese cities is one of grey concrete.However,in spring we find streets lined with abundant flowerbeds and trees.Gardening is truly an art form in China,which would never be denied by professional garden designers and amateur botanists.The gardens of southern China are well known,especially the famous gardens of Suzhou.There are many ways to say"garden"in Chinese.园林(yuan lin)is one of them.
文摘Feeling peaky?Let’s learn some words on medicine in Chinese.Compared to西医(xī yī),Western medicine,中医(zhōng yī),traditional Chinese medicine(TCM),and Chinese herbs seem a little bit mysterious.The character for"medicine"in Chinese has a radical
文摘WORDS for colors often have social and cultural implica- tions. In France blue is reserved for the king, but travel abroad to other cultures and this is not the case. We have an expression in French "I am turning black," an equivalence of "seeing red" in English. In Japan inexperience is described as having a "blue butt"
文摘ENVIRONEMENT S.A.(ESA)is a French company specializing in continuous environmental monitoring.Founded in 1978 by company CEO Fran?ois Gourdon,and listed in 2006,ESA has established branches in65 countries,and is thriving."China’s huge growth potential prompted us to set up a branch here,Environement China Ltd.,at the end of 2009,although we launched our China operations in the late 1990s,with the
文摘Let’s go through the keyhole!You step into a房地产公司(fáng dìchǎn gōng sī),a real estate company,or meet with a中介(zhōng jiè),a housing agent,because you plan to买房子(mǎi fáng zi),purchase a house.Before arriving,you looked up some房屋信息(fáng wūxìn xī),housing information,hoping to find the ideal自己的家(zìjǐde jiā),house of your own.However,the massive amounts of infor-
文摘The集市(jíshì),bazaar,is a customary weekly event in rural China,when locals go to buy蔬菜(sh cài),vegetables,水果(shu gu),fruits,肉(ròu),meat,and household equipment.The term热闹(rènao),loud and lively,best describes this heaving scenario where vendors叫卖(jiào mài),shout their wares amid throngs
文摘RECALLING his decision in the 1970s to learn Chinese,considered perhaps unusual at that time,Jo l Bellassen,now Inspector-General of Chinese Language Teaching at France’s Ministrof Education(Inspecteur général de chinois),remarks that many people were astonished by his choice,since it was not out of selfinterest but out of conviction.Jo l Bellassen’s legendary life parallels the progress in bilateral relations between China and France.He was among the first batch of students sent to China after the establishment of diplomatic relations.
文摘LAST issue we explored the rich fabric of meaning behind th numbers one through five in traditional Chinese culture. Thi issue we look at six through 10, and find them popping up in Chinese idioms and expressions no less frequently than thei five smaller siblings. 六 (liù), six, in Mandarin is pronounced similar to 流 (liú), fluid Swift, running water and fluidity connote business success. In China six also symbolizes luck, health and the family.
文摘茶(chá)is a drink worthy of appreciation;tea drinking,therefore,is an art.In France,the pastime is known as tea ceremony茶仪式(cháyíshì).In China it is known both as tea ceremony茶道(chádào)and tea art,茶艺(cháyì).Despite these formal appellations,Chinese tea drinkers treat both tea art茶艺(cháyì)and tea ceremony茶道(chádào)simply as modes of tea appreciation.
文摘DOES the French word ＂chiner＂ （antiqu- ing） come from the Chinese love for flea markets and antiques？ Perhaps not. But it is certain that the Chinese are serious collectors and this love didn＇t come from nowhere!
文摘This is what happens when you decide to find a job. You see a 招聘广告（zhāo pin guǎ.ng gào）, job advertisement, on the Inter- net or in a publication, and send your 简历（jiǎn 1ì）, CV. Someone replies, and invites you to an 面试 （miàn shì））, interview, or more literally, ＂face to face test.＂ If you pass it, you 入职（rù zhí）, ＂enter the job＂ and start work.
文摘Since its introduction to China 20-plus years ago,the Internet has flourished like mushrooms after a spring rain.Its users now top 600million and there are around three million Chinese websites.The Chinese word for Internet is互联网(hùlián w ng)–interconnected network–very close to its English equivalent.
文摘New arrivals in China often get the impression that Chinese are工作狂(gōng zuòkuáng),workaholics.Yet,there is quite a bit of空闲(kòng xián),leisure,in China.Surprisingly,the Chinese love to休闲(xiūxián),relax,perhaps even more than we do.They love to spend their time养花(y ng huā),tending l owers,养鸟(y ng ni o),raising birds,or even养蛐蛐儿(y ng qūqur),keeping crickets.Chinese people are also fond of休闲活动(xiūxián huódòng),leisure games,notably麻将(májiàng),mahjong,whose pronunciation comes directly from the Chinese.The Chinese
文摘The image of a scholar raising a glass of wine to the moon features in many Chinese paintings.In ancient times alcohol was lauded as the fountain of inspiration for men of letters,and is credited for many immortal works by some of the greatest names in China’s history of literature,such as Li Bai and Li Qingzhao.The character酒(jiǔ),alcohol,is composed of two parts。
文摘Chinese书法(shu fa),calligraphy,is the ancient art of Chinese handwriting.No publication on Chinese culture could ever omit mention of Chinese characters and calligraphy.For foreigners,汉字(han zi),Chinese characters,are hard to master,and calligraphy is even more difficult.Calligraphy in France refers to writing with a quill pen,but it has a different connotation in Chinese.书(shu)means写字(xie zi),writing,and its original complex form書refers to holding
文摘MY French fellowmen often marvel at the Chinese people’s aptitude for mathematics. Certainly, I have friends from China who love numbers with the kind of passion usually reserved for the sacred. Numbers and the Chinese characters that represent them occupy a unique place in Chinese culture. Numbers have rich linguistic connotations, and their
文摘In China,金钱(jīn qián),money,made from the characters金(jīn),gold,and钱(qián),coins,is not a taboo.To the contrary,it is a symbol of社会地位(shèhuìdìwèi),social status,and成功(chéng gōng),success.Throughout history,财富(cái fù),wealth,has always been an important part of Chinese culture.物质生活(wùzhìshēng huó),material well-
