Guest

賓

Guest

Pronunciation:

bin ( Putonghua, 1st tone ),
ban ( Cantonese 1st tone)

Meaning: guest.

賓客 (bin Ke ) guest visitor = guest.
賓主 ( bin zhu ) guest host = guest and host,
賓館 ( bin guan ) guest house means hotal.
西賓 ( xi bin ) west guest means a private teacher / assistant lodging with the host family.

迎賓 ( ying bin ) welcome guests are receptionists at a party.
貴賓 ( gui bin ) elevated status guest means honored guest.
主賓 ( zhu bin ) main guest = principal guest.
陪客 ( pei ke ) accompanying guests are additional guests invited to enliven conversation, atmosphere etc.
賓至如歸 ( bin zhi ru gui ) guests arrive like returning home describes a successful reception which makes guests feel very much at home.

相敬如賓 ( xiang jing ru bin ) mutually respect like guests describes a model couple's loving respect for eash other.

By: Raymond Mok 莫坤雄

East, Host

東

East

Pronunciation:

dong ( Putonghua, 1st tone ),

dung ( Cantonese 1st tone )

Meaning: east, host

東方 ( dong fang ) east side = the East / Orient.
東洋 ( dong yang ) east ocean means Japan.
東南亞 ( dong nan ya ) east south asia = southeast Asia.

Traditionally, the host family occupied the east wing of the family residence, and guests occupied the west wing.

東家 ( dong jia ) thus, east family means employer,
做東 ( zuo dong ) act east means playing host, paying for the expenses.

東方紅 ( dong fang hong ) The East is Red, a songs and dances performance glorifying China.
西風東漸 ( xi feng dong jian ) west wind east gradual means western practices are coming to the East.
東風壓倒西風( dong feng ya dao xi feng ) Mao's statement = east wind press fall west wind means the East will eventually overtake the West in progress.

By: Raymond Mok莫坤雄

Banquest, Formal meal, Throw a banquet,

宴

Banquet

Pronunciation:

yan ( Putonghua, 4th tone ),
yin ( Cantonese 3rd tone )

meaning: Banquest, Formal meal, Throw a banquet,

宴會 ( yan hui ) banguet meeting = banquet.
國宴 ( quo yan ) state banquet.
家宴 ( jia yan ) family banquet.
設宴 ( she yan ) arrange banquet = means play host and throwing a dinner party.

婚宴 ( hun yan ) wedding banquet.
公宴 ( gong yan ) colleagues / office banquet = means a company dinner, not a private dineer.
慶功宴 ( qing gong yan ) winning teans hold = celebrate success banquets.
齊宴 ( zhai yan ) Buddhist followers hold = vegetarian banquets = diners without meat dishes.
羅漢請觀音 ( luo han qing guan yin ) Lohans treat Guanyin = means friends jointly invite a single guest to dinner.

鴻門宴 ( hong men yan ) Hong Gate Banquet is a banquet given in honor of a guest with a conspiracy to arrest / kill him.

By: Raymond Mok 莫坤雄

Rejoice, Celebrate

慶

Rejoice

Pronunciation:

qing ( Putonghua, 4th ),

hing ( Cantonese 3nd tone ).

Meaning: rejoice, celebrate.

慶幸 ( qing xing ) rejoice fortune / fortunate = feeling thankful about something.
(e.g. passing an exam, narrowly missing a plane crash ).
慶祝 ( qing zhu ) rejoice congratulate = celebrate.
慶豐收 ( qing feng shou ) peasants celebratete abundant gather = celabrate the harvest.
慶捷 (qing jie ) Armies celebratete victory.
慶典 (qing dian ) rejoice ceremony = means celebration ceremony.
畢業典禮 ( bi ye qing dian ) end studiescelebration ceremony = graduation ceremony.
普天同慶 ( pu tian tong qing ) all heavens together rejoice = describes something universally celebrated, e.g. new year's Day.

積善之家, 必有餘慶 ( ji shan zhi jia, bi you yu qing ) accumulate goodness-'s family, definitely has extra celebrations, means a philanthropic family will overflow with blessings.

By: Raymond Mok 莫坤雄

Reside, stay, sleep, dormant, residence

宿

Reside

Pronunciation:
su ( Putonghua, 1st tone ),
suk ( Cantonese 1st tone )

Meaning: Reside, stay, sleep, dormant, residence

留宿 ( liu su ) = stay sleep = staying the night somewhere.
酒店 ( jiu dian ) = wine shops = hotels.
汽車旅館 ( qi che lu guan ) = steam car travel house = motels.
旅舍 ( lu she) = travel lodge = hostels.
民宿 ( min su ) = people sleep = English " bed and breakfast" = Japanese " minshuku".
宿費 ( su fei ) = sleep fees means staying rates.

寄宿 ( ji su ) = attach sleep = live in dormitories / hostels.
露宿街頭 ( lu su jie tou ) = exposed sleep street head / surface = sleep / live without shelter.

宿敵 (su di ) = long term enemy.
宿疾 ( su ji ) = dormant / long term illness.
星宿 ( xing xiu ) = star residence / mansion are stars in their constellations.
宿名論 ( su ming lun ) = star life / fate theory means belief in pedestined fate.

By: Raymond Mok 莫坤雄

Boat, Ship

船

Boat, Ship.

Pronunciation:
chuan ( Putonghua, 2nd tone).
suen ( Cantonese 4th tone).

Meaning: boat, ship

船 ( radical zhou = boat).
艇 ( ting ) = rowboats.
艦 ( jian )= warships.
帆船 ( fan chuan ) = sailing ships.
貨船 ( huo chuan ) = cargo ships = container vessels.
郵 船 (you ting ) = cruise boats = yachts.
舢舨 ( shan ban ) = sampans ) Hongkong postcards show.
龍舟 ( long zhou ) = dragon boats.

航行 ( hang xing ) = sail move.
船長 ( chuan zhang ) = ship leader = captain.
舵手 (duo shou ) = helm hand = helmsman.
船員 ( chuan yuan ) = ship members = crew.
水手 ( shui shou ) = water hands = sailors.
船王 ( chuan wang ) = ship kings shipping magnates.

船堅炮利 ( chuan jian pao li ) = ships strong canons sharp describes japanese / western navies threatening china in the 1800's

By: Raymond Mok 莫坤雄

Road

路

Road

Pronunciation:
lu
( Putonghua, 4th tone )
lo ( Cantonese 6th tone )

Meaning: Road.


路 (radical)
足 zhu = foot.
道路( dao lu ) way / path road. in chinese philosophy.
道 (dao ) = way/path = "Tao" ( "the way") in "Taoism".
路線 ( lu xian ) road thread/line means route or political line.
路程 ( lu cheng ) road duration = length of journey.
走路 ( zou lu ) word road means travelling or going on foot.
鐵路 (tie lu ) iron road means railway.
公路綱(gong lu wang ) public road net = hightway network.
馬路 ( ma lu ) horse road ) autoway.
行人路 ( xing ren dao ) walk persons road = pavement.

絲綢之路 ( si chou zhi lu ) silk satin road= The Silk Road.
路遙知馬力( lu yau zhi ma li ) road far know horse strength = praises someone who can bear prolonged hardship.

By: Raymond Mok 莫坤雄

Car

車

Car

Pronunciation:
che ( Putonghua, 1st tone )
che ( Cantonese 1st tone )

Meaning: cart, car, machine means wheeled vehicles / machines.
人力車( ren li che ) human strength cart = rickshaw.
馬車(ma che ) horse carriage.
風車(feng che ) wind machine = windmill.
坦克車(tan ke che ) tank.
十字車(shi zi che ) cross shaped word car = ambulance.

坐車(zuo che ) sit car means travel by train / car.
火車(huo che) train.
汽車(qi che ) steam car = automobile = car.
地車(di che ) land car = undergound / metro.
計程車( ji cheng che ) Taxi.
車站( che zhan ) car stand = Bus/train terminal/stop.

車去醫院( che qu yi yuan ) car transport to doctor institute =drive someone to hospital. ( che yi ) machine clother = using sewing machine to make garments.

By: Raymond Mok 莫坤雄

Fly

飛

Fly

Pronunciation:
fei ( Putonghua, 4th tone )
fei ( Cantonese 1st tone )

Meaning: fly

飛機 ( fei ji ) fly machine = airplanes.
客機 ( ke ji ) guests plane = passenger plane.
貨機 ( huo ji ) cargo plane.
戰機 ( zhan ji ) war plane = fighter.
機師 ( ji shi ) plane master = pilot.
機場 ( ji chang ) plane field = airfield / airport.
坐機 ( zuo ji ) sit plane = travelling by plane requires.
機票 ( ji piao ) plane tickets.

航天工業 ( hang tian gong ye ) sail sky engineering business = airplane industry.
波音 ( bo yin ) boeing Airbus.
空中巴士 ( kong zhong ba shi ) air middle bus.

起飛 ( qi fei ) Flight depature begin fly.
硬著陸 ( ying zhao lu ) Hard landing.
軟著陸 ( ran zhao lu ) Soft landing.

By: Raymond Mok莫坤雄

Gamble

賭

Gamble

Pronunciation:
du ( Putonghua, 3 rd tone )
do ( Cantonese 2nd tone )


Meaning: Risk, bet, gamble

賭博 ( du bo ) gamble risk.
賭錢 ( du gian ) gamble money.
賭馬 ( du ma ) racecourse betting is gamble horse.
賭徒 ( du tu ) Players / gamblers
開賭禁 ( kai du jin ) open / lift gambling ban.
賭業 ( du ye ) gambling businesses.
賭場 ( du chang ) casions flourish.
豪賭 ( hao du ) play ruthlessly with huge stakes.
莊家 ( zhuang jia ) bank is always in control.
老千 ( lao qian ) means con-man.
出老千 ( chu lao qian ) means swindling.
十賭九輸 ( shi du jiu pian ) ten gamble nine cheat, tells how common cheating is in gambling.
願賭服輸 ( yuan du fu shu ) willing gamble accept loss.

By: Raymond Mok 莫坤雄

Drama

戲

Drama

Pronunciation:

xi ( Putonghua, 4th tone )
hei ( Cantonese 3rd tone )

Meaning: drama, pretense, play, game

戲劇 ( xi ju ) drama
戲弄 ( xi nong playing / fingering with ) means fooling someone.
戲法 ( xi fa = drama / pretense magic / power ) means stage magic.
君子無戲言 ( jun zi wu xi yan = gentleman no joking words ) is asserting "I'm a man of integrity, my statement/promise is no joke".

遊戲 ( you xi = roaming playing ) means games.
兒童遊戲 ( er tong you xi = children's games
下棋 ( xia qi = placing chess pieces = chess game )
綱上遊戲 ( wang shang you xi = internet online game )
牌戲 ( pai xi = cards / tiles games ) covers bridge, mahjong etc.

遊戲人間 ( you xi ren jian = playing human world ) means taking life as a game, non seriously.

By: Raymond Mok 莫坤雄

Wisdom

智

Wisdom

Pronunciation:
zhi ( Putonghua, 4th tone )
ji ( Cantonese 3rd tone )

Meaning: intelligence, wit, wisdom


智慧 ( zhi hui ) wisdom, wit and talent
才智 ( cai zhi ) wit and talent
智能 ( zhi neng ) intelligence
智商 ( zhi shang ) IQ is translated from intelligence quotient.
智者 ( zhi zne = wise person ) means guru.
智囊團 ( zhi lang tuan = ideas bag team ) means think tank.

人急智生 ( ren ji zhi sheng = person desperate good idea emerge ) means pressure forces out a brilliant idea.
智取 ( zhi qu = cleveness take/conquer = take/win by using brains ) is the opposite tactic of
力敵 ( li di = strength resist/oppose = headlong confrontation ).

智力 ( zhi li = thinking + power/strength ).
圍棋 ( wei qi = siege chess )
鬥智 ( dou zhi = combat of intelligence )

by: Raymond Mok 莫坤雄

Snake

蛇

Snake

Pronuciaion:
she ( Putonghua, 2nd tone )
se ( Cantonese, 4th tone )

Meaning: Snake



蛇 are 爬蟲類動物 ( pa chong lei dong wu = crawl worm type animal = reptiles )
涼血 ( liang xue = cool blood = cold blooded )
冬眠 ( dong mian = winter sleep = hibernate )
眼鏡蛇 ( yan jing she = eye mirror [ spectacles ] snake = cobras.
蛇羹 ( she geng = snake soup / broth )
蛇宴 ( she yan = snake banquet = dinners using snake meat as ingredient ) are autumn specialties in southern China.

蛇 symbolizes 魔鬼 ( mo gui = evil devil ghost = the Devil ) or evil/cruel/sly people.
蛇蠍心腸 ( she xie xin chang = snake scorpion heart intestines ) describes evil hearted people.
蛇蠍美人 (she xie mei ren = snake scorpion beautiful person ) are attractive women with evil motives / plans.
蛇鼠一窩 ( she shu yi wo = snake rat one nest ) describes bad people teaming / colluding together.

by: Raymond Mok 莫坤雄

Swallow

燕

Swallow

Pronunciaion:
yan ( Putonghua, 4th tone )
yin ( Cantonese 3rd tone )

Meaning: swallow

燕 ( yan zi = swallow )
鶯歌燕舞 ( ying ge yan wu = orioles sing swallows dance ) describes birdsong and springtime or performance of singing and dancing girls.
燕好 ( yan hao = swallows copulate ) means couple having sex.

侯鳥 ( hou niao = season birds = migratory birds ).
燕歸來 ( yau gui lai = swallows return come ), sentimentalize passing of time.
勞燕分飛 ( lao yan fen fei = shrikes swallows separate fly ) means couple separated / divorced.

馬踏飛燕 ( ma ta fei yan = [ galloping] horse stepping on flying swallow ) is a marvelous bronze statue from ancient China.
燕窩 ( yan wo = swallow nest ) is swallows' coagulated saliva extracted from the birds' nests, cooked in soup.
燕尾服 ( yan wei fu = swallow tails coat / dress ) is western men's tailcoat.

Pig

豬

Pig

Pronunciaion:

zhu ( Putonghua, 1st tone )
jue ( Cantonese, 1st tone )

Meaning: pig

豬農 ( zhu nong = pig famers ) rear pigs
豬圈 ( zhu quan = ping ring ) = pig sty.

殺豬般叫 ( zha zhu ban jiao = kill pig same as yell / scream ) means screaming loudly / desperately like pigs being slaughtered.

豬肉 ( zhu roi = pig meat ) = pork.
火腿 ( huo tui = fire leg ) is ham.
燒肉 ( shao rou = burn meat = roast pork ) Chinatown restaurants sell HongkKong style.
叉燒 ( cha shao = [ Cantonese ] cha siu = skewer burn = barbecue pork ).

豬狗不如 ( zhu gou bu ru = pig dog not good as = worse than dogs and pigs).
蠢豬 ( chun zhu = stupid pig ).
肥豬王 ( fei zhu wang = fat pig king ) is the Chinese title of Orwell's Animal Farm.

Dog

狗

Dog

Pronunciaion:
gou ( Putonghua, 3nd tone )
gau ( Cantonese 2 nd tone )

Meaning: dog

狗 ( 犬 quan = dog ) symbolizes
畫虎不成反類犬 ( hua hu bu cheng fan lei quan = draw tiger unsuccessful however resemble dog ) means launching grand plans but result are no where near the aim.

狗屁不通 ( gou pi bu tong = dog fart not reasonable )
狗娘養的 ( gou niang yang de = dog mother born raised )

獵犬 ( lie quan ) Hunters use = hunting hounds.
走狗 ( zou gou ) Politicians use = running dog = lackeys.

狡兔死, 走狗烹 ( jiao tu si, zou gou peng = tricky hare dead { so } running dog cooked ) is a cruel truth: abettors no longer useful are destroyed / eliminated.

狗肉 ( gou rou = dog meat ) is called 香肉 ( xiang rou = fragrant meat smells / tastes delicious )

by: Raymond Mok 莫坤雄

Black

黑

Black

Pronunciation:
hai ( Putonghua, 1st tone )
hak ( Cantonese 1 st tone )

Meaning: black
黑種人 ( hei zhong ren = black species people = negroes )
墨黑 ( mo hei = ink black )
漆黑 ( qi hei = tar / jet black ) mean total blackness / darkness.
黑夜 ( he ye = black night ) = dark / deep night.
黑暗 ( hei an = black dark / unlit ) describes corrupt / evil environments.

Chinese 三合會 ( san he hui = three joined society = triad societies ) are 黑社會 ( hei she hui = black community society = illegal / underground gangster groups ).
黑着臉 ( hei zhuo lian = blacking face ) describes a harsh / ominous facial expression.
頭頭碰着黑 ( tou tou peng zhuo hei = head head clash with black ) means having ill luck everywhere.
厚黑學 (hou hei xue = thick black ism ), a selfish philosophy, advocates unblushing ( thick face skin ) cruel ( black hearted ) behaviour to others.

by Raymond Mok 莫坤雄

Purple

紫

Purple

Pronunciation:
zi ( Putonghua, 3rd tone )
ji ( Cantonese 2nd tone )

Basic meaning : Purple

紫 禁城 ( zi jin cheng = purple forbid city ) Beijing's Forbidden City.
紫氣東來 ( zi qi dong lai = purple air/ mist from east come ) means a fairy / guru's auspicious visit.

紫晶 ( zi jing = purple crystal ) = amethyst.
紫貂 ( zi diao = purple sable ) = sable fur.
紫檀 ( zi tan = purple sandalwood ) furniture is expensive / rare.
紫河車 ( zi he che = purple river cart ) is dried human placenta, used in chinese medicine.

紫外線 Ultra violet rays ( zi wai xian = purple external lines / rays ).
紅得發紫 ( hong de fa zi = so red it looks purple ) describes stars / singers' stunning popularity.

by: Raymond Mok莫坤雄

Yellow

黃

Yellow

Pronunciations:
huang ( Putonghua, 2nd tone ), Wong ( Cantonese 4th tone )

Meaning: Yellow

嫩黃 ( nen huang = soft yellow )
金黃 ( jin huang = golden / glittering-ywllow)
黃河 ( Huang He = yellow River )

泥黃 ( ni huang = muddy yellow )
黃蜂 ( huang feng = yellow bee ) = wasp.
蛋黃 ( dan huang = egg yellow ) = egg yolk.

黃金 ( huang jin = yellow gold ) is gold.
黃燈 ( huang deng = yellow light ) = amber / wait signal.
面如黃臘 ( mian ru huang la = face like yellow wax ) means dried up, sickly countenance.
人約黃昏後 ( ren yue huang hun hou = people gating yellow dark after, 黃昏 = evening ) = lovers' sevening rendezvous.

On one occasion in chinese history, a general was 黃袍加身 ( huang pao jia shen = yellow robe put on body, 黃袍: imperial robe ), i.e. coerced by supporters to become Emperor.

by: Raymond Mok 莫坤雄

Red

紅

Red

Pronunciation:
hong ( Putonghua, 2nd tone ).
hung ( Cantonese 4th tone)

meaning: Red

紅日 ( hong re = red sun )
紅酒 ( hong jiu = red wine )
臉紅 ( lian hong = face red ) = blush.
紅樹林 ( hong shu lin = red tree grove ) = mangrove forests.
紅燈 (hong deng = red light ) red/stop/danger signal.

紅包 Cash gifts/bribes are ( hong bao = red packets).
紅白二事 ( hong bai er shi = red white two things/events) means weddings/brithdays and funerals.

紅 alos symbolizes socialist/communist China :
紅軍 ( hong jun = Red Army )
紅衛兵 ( hong wei bing = red guard soldier = Red Guards )
又紅又專 ( you hong you zhuan = also red also specialized ) means politically correct and professionally sound.

看破紅塵 ( kan po hong chen = see break/through red dust, 紅塵: world's vanities ) means disillusioned about life and desiring to become hermit/monk/nun.

by Raymond Mok 莫坤雄

Color

色

Color

Pronunciation:
se ( Putongua, 1st tone ),
sik ( Cantonese 1st tone )

Meaning : Color

顏色 = ( yan se = coutenance color )
膚色 = ( fu se = skin color )
音色 = ( yin se = musical note colour = timbre )
色盲 = ( se mang = color blind )
特色 Unique people have ( te se = special color = special character )
神色 = ( shen se = spirit colour = expression )
拋眼色 = ( pao yan se = throw eye expression ) means passing someone a knowing glance.

色 = 美色 ( mei se = beauty color = women's beauty / charms )
好美色 Womanizers ( hao nu se = like female beauty )
好男色 Men who ( hao nan se = like male beauty ) like to sleep with men.
色迷迷 ( se mi mi = color charmed charmed ) means lascivious looking.
戒色 ( jie se = abstain from sex )

色即是空 Buddhists preach ( se zhi shi kong = color / appearance equal is empty ) All existence is emptiness.

by: Raymond Mok 莫坤雄

Basis

本

Basic

Pronunciation:
ben ( Putonghua, 1st tone )
boon ( Cantonese 2nd tone )

meaning: Original, basis, foundation, capital, principal.

基本 Basic ( ji ben = foundation basic )
本人 Fundamental ( ben ren = original person ) himself/herself, in person.
資本 Capital ( zi ben = money foundation )
資本主義 Capitalism ( zi ben zhu yi = capital main meaning = capital ideology )
打本 Investors ( da ben = mount/provide capital ) supply/lend capital to businesses
本金 Bank loans include ( ben jin = basic gold/money = principal )
利息 ( li xi = gain/earnings interest = interest )
本錢 ( ben qian = basic money ) in negotiations means bargaining power and job seekers personal talent/qualifications.
賭本 ( du ben = betting capital )
翻本 ( fan ben = return/turn around capital = win back losses)
按本子辦事 Uncreative executives slavishly ( an ben zi ban shi = follow book diminutive handle things = follow the book )

by: Raymond Mok 莫坤雄

Writing

文

Writing

Pronunciation:
wen ( Putonghua, 2nd tone),
man ( Cantonese 4th tone )

meaning: language, writing


語文 ( yu wen ) = speech writing = language.
漢語 ( han yu ) = Han Speech/language = language of the Han race .
中文 ( zhong wen ) = Chinese language .
外語 ( wai yu ) = outside speech .
外文 ( wai wen ) = outside language )foreign languages.
英語 English ( ying yu ) = England transliterated language .
西語 Spanish ( xi yu ) = Spain transliterated language .
阿拉伯語 Arabic ( a la bo yu ) = Arabia transliterated language .

外語系 Students of ( wai yu xi ) = foreign languages department .
文化 study ( wen hua ) = language transform = culture .
文學 ( wen xue ) = writing study = literature .
文明 ( wen ming ) = langauge enlightenment = civilizations .
翻譯 ( fan yi ) = overturn translate = translation .
傳譯 ( chuan yi ) = transmit translate = oral interpretation .

by: raymond Mok 莫坤雄