Learning Chinese is not an easy task, but in this modern age it can be a little easier with many online resources, mobile phone applications and language CDs.

Of course there are no short cuts. To be fluent in another language requires dedication and hard work. But that journey can be made a little easier.

Online resources

There are many websites which offer free language resources. The BBC in particular has a vast selection of pages on its website. As well as basic introductions to Mandarin Chinese, there are simple language lessons aimed at all ages.

The website also contains links to many external resources such as China Central Television which has online language lessons.

YouTube has a wide variety of videos which can familiarise you with the language. The quality of such uploads vary, but there are some professional and well constructed videos that will certainly help anyone trying to learn Chinese.

One great site is YoYoChinese which, in addition to its YouTube channel also has Facebook and Google+ pages with frequent lessons and updates.

Indeed there are many helpful streams on all these social networks. Searching for a few keywords like “learning Chinese” on Google+ brings up many great pages. Facebook is less easy to navigate or search but there are still some useful communities such as Learning Mandarin Chinese. 

Beyond learning websites there are a great number of helpful tools available online.

Online translation

Perhaps one of the most useful is Google Translate. For those who can recognise some Chinese characters the inbuilt Pinyin input method is particularly useful. The site also provides audio so that you can listen to the translated phrase or word.

For typing Chinese on a computer, Google’s Pinyin input tool can be installed, though it only works on Microsoft Windows 7, Vista & XP. Apple Macs also have Pinyin support buried away in the settings.

Of course machine translation is not perfect. While single words may be correctly translated, sentences can often return some very strange results.

Offline translation

Nonetheless Google Translate can be a life saver, especially if installed on your phone or tablet whilst travelling.

Anyone stuck in a country with only a small grasp of the language will feel somewhat lost without some form of translation aid or a phrase book. And for those with an Android device, translation is made so much easier with Google’s offline language packs. Sadly, Apple devices do not support offline translation, so you will need a data or WiFi connection if you use an iPhone or iPad.

There are a few pitfalls with either platform however. The first is that with non Romanised alphabet based languages there is no help with pronunciation if using offline. Thus an English to Chinese translation will only give Chinese characters. This needs to be shown to the person with whom one is conversing rather than being read to them.

Furthermore, for good two way translation one really needs a Chinese character recognition App. Google’s Pinyin input method for Android is satisfactory, but many Chinese prefer to write characters rather than type. One good input method is the SCUT gPen App, a handwriting input method released by SCUT-HCII Laboratory of South China University of Technology.

There are some Chinese input methods in the Apple store for those using iPhones or iPads.

It can be a little slow and cumbersome to flip between input methods and swap between languages, but a conversation can be achieved with a little patience. Swapping between input methods is a little more tricky with iOS devices, and you will have to enable the ability to use these inputs in the settings as well as checking the box to show the input method in the menu bar.

More apps

For single word translation, Pleco Chinese Dictionary is perhaps the best free example. The app is available for both Apple devices at the iTunes store and for Android at Google Play or via the developers own website [The only drawbacks concerning Google’s offline language packs and Pleco’s database are that they’re quite large, so they could eat a large chunk of your device’s memory].

Just like Google Translate, Pleco can be used to translate English into Chinese, or vice versa. It can also be used offline. However Pleco can only do single words or short sentences. Nonetheless it can prove extremely useful especially where some words have different meanings depending upon context. The app also provides character input, so it may prove useful in helping learn some of the 50,000 characters in the Chinese language. Of course you really only need to memorize about two or three thousand characters to read a newspaper, though University-educated Chinese will normally know up to 8,000 characters!

Learning the characters is certainly fun, and should you manage to commit enough to memory in order to read a restaurant menu, you’ll certainly impress many Chinese people. But it’s more important to learn the spoken language before becoming bogged down with Chinese characters.

Even with all these tools, there’s no substitute for actually being able to speak the language and for learning with a professional teacher. However, these websites, online resources and apps will certainly help, whether you’re a beginner or intermediate level student.

You may well think that learning Chinese is difficult and you would not be wrong. However, there are a number of key phrases and words that even a novice might find useful without becoming overwhelmed and feeling like they have to swallow a dictionary in order to get by.

Phrasebooks are all very well and they can certainly prove useful at times. But the vast majority of words will not serve you well on a fleeting visit to the Middle Kingdom.

Crash course

So here is a crash course of useful words and phrases for someone travelling to China.

Don’t bother with the words for passport and phrases related to air travel. Customs and immigration will often speak a little English, and anyway most travellers should realise what is required of them, be it the removal of glasses, hats etc.

After exiting the airport, however, few will speak English and this is where you will need to use some basic Chinese.

Getting places

Hopefully you’ll have the address of your hotel. But try to prepare a written version in Chinese characters and even a good map showing its location. Unlike London, and other cities in the West, few taxi drivers will have the ‘knowledge’, so just giving a road name will be of little use unless it's a big well-known street.

But first off, you’ll need to acquire a taxi. To determine if a waiting taxi is free, the phrase “Zǒu ma?” [走吗] will gain an immediate response. Literally it means “are you going?” and is used to determine availability.

The driver will likely respond with a Zǒu [going] or Bù zǒu [not going], but may also jump out to assist if he or she sees you with baggage thus dispensing with any verbal response.

Then comes the tricky bit of conveying your travel plans. Given you can pronounce the location where you want to go. Thus you might say “Wǒ yào qu …” [我要去...], meaning “I want to go to …”, followed by the name of the hotel or road. It is at this point you might resort to handing the driver the hotel card or other written details.

Note that many hotels will have a Chinese name. Saying the English name will often receive a blank look so you’ll need to say the Chinese name. So for example the Grand Hyatt, Beijing will need to be described as “Běijīng dōngfāng jūn yuè dà jiǔdiàn” [北京东方君悦大酒店].

Be aware too that many maps fail to write the pinyin equivalent for the words road, avenue etc. Thus you might see Chang’an Avenue instead of Chang’an Jie.

So here are a few useful translations; Avenue [Jiē 街 or Dàjiē, 大街], Road [Lù, 路], Hutong [Hútòng, 胡同]. Of course showing a business card to the taxi driver with the address in Chinese will help much more so don’t forget to ask for a “Míngpiàn” [名片] when dropping into a restaurant or hotel.

How much?

If you’ve managed to convey your destination correctly, upon arriving you might want to say “thank you” [Xièxiè, 谢谢] and ask how much you need to pay.

The easiest phrase is “Duōshǎo qián” [多少钱], lit. “How much money?” You may not be able to understand the reply but the driver will also point to the display on his meter. Want a receipt? Then just say “Fāpiào” [发票], or more politely “Qǐng gěi wǒ fāpiào” [发请给我票], lit. “please give me receipt”.

Often however the Chinese dispense with the word for please [Qǐng, 发], which might seem impolite but is common practice. While things aren’t tremendously expensive in China, should you find yourself haggling at a market, one useful phrase is “Tài guìle” [太贵了] or too expensive.

Requests & demands

“Gěi wǒ” is perhaps one of the most useful phrases to learn, plus enough nouns to complete your request.  The other similarly used phrase might be “Nǐ yǒu … ma?” meaning “do you have … ?”

For example “Nǐ yǒu yānhuī gāng ma?” [你有烟灰缸吗] “Do you have an ashtray?”. The ma [吗] here is used to make something a question.

Thus one might say “Wǒ kěyǐ chōuyān ma?” [我可以抽烟吗], “Can I smoke?”, generally a silly question in China since people seem to smoke almost everywhere, though rules are tightening.

But you may want to take a picture of someone, and the first part of this phrase can be used again. “Wǒ kěyǐ zhàoxiàng ma?” [我可以照相吗], “Can I take a photo?” And of course its always nice to follow up with a Xièxiè or thank you.

Key phrases

So here are a few must have phrases: In day to day greetings you will need to say “Nǐ hǎo” [你好] - hello, and “Zàijiàn” [再见] - goodbye.

In any transaction “Duōshǎo qián?” [多少钱] - “How much money?”, will prove useful, and if wanting to keep an account of expenditure you might want to keep receipts. So might want to remember “Qǐng gěi wǒ fāpiào” [发请给我票] - “Please give me receipt”.

“Gěi wǒ …” [给我..] - “Give me … ” will help in so many situations. Whether you want a beer, a packet of cigarettes or a bowl of rice, this is a must have phrase.

Here are a few examples:
“Gěi wǒ píjiǔ” [给我啤酒] - “Give me a beer”
“Gěi wǒ yī píng píjiǔ” [给我一瓶啤酒] - “Give me a bottle of beer”
“Gěi wǒ yī píng bīng de píjiǔ” [给我一瓶冰的啤酒] - “Give me a cold bottle of beer”

Want another beer? Then you’ll need the word Zài [再] which means again or more. Thus, “Zàilái yī píng píjiǔ” [再来一瓶啤酒] - “Another bottle of beer”.

Smoking

If a smoker, you’ll feel very much at home as more than 60% of Chinese men smoke. But you might need a few useful words such as Xiāngyān [香烟] the Chinese word for cigarettes, though it is often abbreviated to just Yān [烟].

Most Western cigarette brands are not readily available, but Marlboro are generally sold across much of the country. Whilst the English pronunciation is generally understood, the brand is transliterated to (HóngSè) Wànbǎolù [(红色) 万宝路] or (Red) Marlboro. Need a light? then you might need a Dǎhuǒjī [打火机] or lighter, which literally translates as “beat fire machine”!

More phrases

Whether in a store, restaurant or hotel you will need to ask for things. “Nǐ yǒu ... ma?” [你有...吗] “Do you have … ?” and “Wǒ yào …” [我要...] - “I want …” are perhaps the most useful of phrases for such situations.

And as previously explained, you will need to ask taxi drivers to take you places. So may sure you remember “Wǒ yào qu …” [我要去...] “I want to go to …”

An example of its use might be, “Wǒ yào qu Běijīng dōngfāng jūn yuè dà jiǔdiàn” [我要去北京东方君悦大酒店] - “I want to go to the Beijing Grand Hyatt hotel”

As in any city you’ll likely be accosted by street vendors wanting to sell you things you’re not interested in. To rebuff such individuals just utter the words “Bù yào” [不要] - “Don’t want”. They may well be astonished a westerner knows such a phrase.

If meeting with Chinese friends they may well ask “Nǐ chīle ma?” [你吃了吗] - “Have you eaten?” Often this may just be small talk, just as we English talk about the weather. But anyone who’s lived in China for any considerable time will find that much of life revolves around the subject of food, cooking food and of course eating food. However that’s a subject for another time.

The Pig is the twelfth and last animal sign in the Chinese zodiac after the Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster and Dog.





Character

The youngest pigs are those born between 18th February 2007 and 6th February 2008. The Pig is kind, caring, and good natured. They love to socialize and enjoy being around people. But just like the animal those born in the year of the pig are considered lazy, clumsy and greedy.

Whilst quick tempered and impulsive they hate to argue. Loyal to those they know, they may have only a few friends. They may also be too trusting and naïve.

Famous pigs

Several well known pig leaders include the 16th century English king Henry VIII, the 40th President of the United States Ronald Reagan, and Chiang Kai-shek, the Nationalist Party leader of China until his government and army retreated to Taiwan in 1949.

Writer Stephen King, and film director Alfred Hitchcock were also born under the sign of the pig as were the actors Woody Allen, Arnold Schwartzenegger and Julie Andrews.

Idioms

The pig or zhū (猪) features in only a few Chinese idioms. Once again they are not always looked upon favourably. For example zhū gǒu bù rú (猪狗不如) which translates as “worse than pigs and dogs” is used to describe individuals who behave badly.

Ní zhū wǎ gǒu (泥猪瓦狗) or “mud pig, earth dog” also makes reference to both the dog and pig and is used to describe completely useless people or things.

Yī lóng yì zhū (一龙一猪), one dragon one swine, once again looks disparagingly at the pig and suggests one individual might be very capable, whilst another is extremely incompetent.

Rén pà chū míng zhū pà zhuàng (人怕出名猪怕壮) which translates as “A man dreads fame as a pig dreads being fat” concerns itself with the risks faced by those that seek to be famous.

One idiom that has its roots set in stone is ban zhū chī lǎohǔ (扮猪吃老虎) which translates as “pretend to be a pig in order to eat the tiger” or more simply put “play dumb”.

It is one of "The Thirty-Six Strategies" a Chinese collection of 36 proverbs cited as militaristic tactics and often attributed to Sun Tzu, though many scholars believe they were written by Zhuge Liang of the Three Kingdoms period.

Whoever first penned the phrase, it means to hide behind the mask of a fool, a drunk, or a madman to create confusion about one’s intentions or motivations.

By “playing dumb” or “pretending to be a pig” one would thus lure an opponent into a false sense of security, encouraging them to drop their guard, thus enabling one to go in for the kill and “eat the tiger”.

The pig features in a few stories too. One of the best known and widely loved characters in Chinese literature is Zhu Bajie (猪八戒), often translated as "Pigsy", and who features in the novel Journey to the West (Xī Yóu Jì, 西游记), a story widely known in the West as “Monkey. Pigsy is portrayed as a symbol for man's appetites and lack of restraint. Perhaps even more disparagingly, in the original Chinese novel “Pigsy” is often called dāizi (呆子), meaning "idiot".

And there we leave the poor little pig and come to the end of our journey exploring the Chinese Zodiac, the twelve animal signs, associated stories, phrases and idioms.

We’ll be back though, to explore more words through China’s food and culture. Until then, wishing you all a happy new year of the horse. Xīn nián kuài lè (新年快乐) - Happy New Year.

Widely referred to as man’s best friend, the Dog (狗, gǒu) is the eleventh animal sign in the Chinese zodiac, preceded by the Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, and Rooster.


The Chinese regard the dog as an auspicious animal and for many it symbolizes the coming of fortune. Poodles, especially black poodles, are said to bring more luck.

Unlike in the west however the dog can itself be unlucky and end up on the table, though the eating of dog meat is becoming less popular.

Character

The youngest dogs were born between 29th January 2006 and 17th February 2007. Those born under this sign are believed to be faithful and courageous in their career and love.

They inspire confidence in others and are said to be able to keep a secret. They are also believed to make good leaders.

Like the animal itself dog people are honest, faithful and sincere. Furthermore they are often righteous and may be the first to speak out against injustice.

Dog people may be agreeable companions when in a good mood. They can turn nasty and just like their namesake bark until they are tired. Indeed they can go a little crazy at times and may be worriers.

Usually very generous and loyal they may still have romantic problems throughout their life, leading to possible emotional instability and anxiety.

Famous names

There are several well known leaders born under the sign of the dog. Amongst them are Winston Churchill, Benjamin Franklin, Bill Clinton, Sun Quan (King of Wu in China’s Three Kingdoms Period 220 - 280), Li Yuan (the first emperor of the Tang Dynasty 618 - 907), and Zhou Enlai (the first Premier of People’s Republic of China). Prince William, set to be the future King of England, was also born under the sign of the dog.

The French writer, historian and philosopher François-Marie Arouet, more often known by his nom de plume Voltaire, was a dog as was Confucius, the Chinese teacher, editor, politician, and philosopher. Socrates, the classical Greek philosopher, and credited as one of the founders of Western philosophy, was also a dog.

Less philosophically inclined other famous dogs include the singers Michael Jackson and Madonna, the actress Jennifer Lopez, and George Gershwin, the American composer and pianist.

Idioms

Many dog idioms are rather disparaging referring to dumb dogs, sly dogs and cold-blooded animals.

For instance láng xīn gǒu fèi (狼心狗肺), literally wolf heart dog lung, is used to describe someone as brutal and cold-blooded.

Another idiom which perhaps puts down the dog is huà hǔ lèi gǒu (画虎类狗) which translates as “draw tiger like dog”. In an attempt to draw a tiger one ends up with the likeness of a dog, thus it is used to describe something as a poor imitation.

Gǒu zuǐ lǐ tǔ bù chū xiàng yá (狗口里吐不出象牙) is yet another idiom which paints a rather bad image of the dog. Translating as “dog mouth not emit ivory” it suggests that a filthy mouth cannot  speak decently. It could perhaps be likened to the English idiom “a cracked bell can never sound well”.

Indeed if someone is talking rubbish, someone might say they are uttering “dog farts” or gǒu pì (狗屁).

Zhū gǒu bù rú (豬狗不如), to be lower than a pig or dog, again looks down on our canine friend and is used to describe someone who is inferior.

Dǎ luò shuǐ gǒu (打落水狗) meanwhile is the Chinese equivalent of “to kick someone when they’re down.” The Chinese phrase translates as “To beat a dog that’s fallen in the water” however.Not every idiom is entirely disparaging however. Lǎo gǒu wán bù chū xīn bǎxì (老狗玩不出新把戏) translates almost identically, and means the same as the English idiom “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks.”

One thing the dog should apparently never be doing is catching mice. Gǒu ná hàozi duō guǎn xiánshì (狗拿耗子多管闲事) suggests that a mouse-catching dog steps on the cats' paws and is used to refer to someone who is too inquisitive and sticking their nose into affairs that don’t concern them.

In the West we often say every dog has his day, though in most Chinese idioms the dog fares badly and if cornered may, in desperation jump over wall, or as they might say in China gǒu jí tiào qiáng (狗急跳墙).  

Indeed “a dog that’s lost its home” or sàng jiā zhī gǒu (丧家之狗), used to describe a hopeless situation, may feel just such desperation and jump over the wall.

And with that rather sad note we leave the dog. Next time we look at the pig.

The tenth animal sign in the Chinese zodiac after the Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat and Monkey, the Rooster is the epitome of fidelity and punctuality.



Character

The youngest roosters were born between 9th February 2005 and 28th January 2006. In China people born under this sign are considered to be deep thinkers. Roosters are also said to be honest, bright, communicative, ambitious, capable and warm-hearted.

On the negative side roosters may have a hot temper. Whilst they are positive, roosters may be selfish, caustic and outspoken. They can also be narrow-minded and vain. Indeed, rather than listening to advice and suggestions, they are more likely to lecture others. However, should they overcome such arrogance they are likely to progress in their business and other pursuits.

Famous roosters

There are several well known roosters. Amongst them are the singers Britney Spears and singer songwriter Elton John. Russian tennis player Anna Kournikova is a rooster as is Amelia Earhart, the American aviation pioneer and first female aviator to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean.

Famous rooster actors include Jennifer Aniston, Cate Blanchett, Matt Damon and Peter Ustinov.

World leaders have included Yekaterina Alexeevna or Catherine II, also known as Catherine the Great, Li Longji (Emperor Xuanzong of China’s Tang Dynasty 618 - 907), and Zhuge Liang (Premier of Shu in China’s Three Kingdoms Period 220 - 280).

Idioms

The simplified character for rooster is 鸡, pronounced Jī, and may apply to a chicken or other fowl. The more ornate traditional character is 雞 or 鷄.

The Rooster is not so highly prized in Western culture. But in China roosters are considered emblems of high rank and well wishes. Roosters are thought to ward off evil as their crow marks the daybreak, ending the night and chasing away its shadows and evil spirits.

The image of the rooster also features in much Chinese art, from ornate paper cuttings to paintings and ceramics.

The rooster also features in many popular sayings, idioms or phrases. One well known idiom in China is jī máo suàn pí (鸡毛蒜皮) which translates as “chicken feather, garlic skin” but is used to describe something as unimportant or trivial.

Should one wish to describe something as a dead loss one might say jī fēi dàn dǎ (鸡飞蛋打) which roughly translates as “the chicken has flown away and the eggs are all broken.” It can also infer that one has come out of a situation empty handed.

Another idiom referring to eggs is shā jī qǔ luǎn (杀鸡取卵) which translates as “kill the chicken to get all its eggs.” It is used to describe someone seeking only immediate gain, but with the risk of losing everything.

Sometimes it is translated as “kill the chicken to get all the golden eggs” though the word for gold is not part of the phrase. Indeed the breakdown is as follows.

Shā (杀) means to kill, jī (鸡) means chicken, qǔ (取) means to get and luǎn (卵) means ovum, but in this phrase is used to mean egg. The phrase also features in a popular Chinese children’s story in which a couple acquire a hen that lays a golden egg every day. They become rich but believing the hen must contain many golden eggs they kill the chicken in order to remove all the eggs. But alas, on killing and cutting open the chicken no eggs were to be found. The English term for the same phrase refers to the goose that lays golden eggs and again is used to describe an unprofitable action motivated by greed. It is believed to originate from one of Aesop's Fables which were written between 620 and 560 BC. The origins of the Chinese phrase are unclear.

The husband and wife in this story must have found themselves surprised to the point of being  dumbstruck. Indeed one could apply the phrase dāi ruò mù jī (呆若木鸡) which literally translates as “dumb as a wooden chicken”.

Individuals who are narrow-minded or display extreme pettiness in their character could meanwhile be said to have a “little belly chicken intestine” or xiǎo dù jī cháng (小肚鸡肠).

Those of greater importance might on the other hand be referred to as a crane standing among chickens or hè lì jī qún (鹤立鸡群). More simply put, it describes someone who stands head and shoulders above others or stands out in a crowd.

Back on the subject of dispatching chickens is the phrase shā jī yān yòng niú dāo (杀鸡焉用牛刀). Literally it means “Why use an ox cleaver to kill a chicken?” and questions why one might make a big effort for a small job. An English equivalent might be the idiom “to use a musket to shoot butterflies,” or “using a sledgehammer to crack a nut.”

On a final note, be careful how you use the word Jī (鸡). Repeating the word twice doesn’t mean “chicken, chicken”, as it would in English. Saying it twice in Chinese, jī jī (鸡鸡), is in fact a casual term, often used by children, to mean penis or ‘willy’!

That’s it for today. Next time we discuss the dog…

The ninth animal sign in the Chinese zodiac after the Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse and Goat, the Monkey is considered to be lively and clever but also selfish and arrogant. The last to be born under the monkey sign were those born between 22nd January 2004 and 8th February 2005.

Character

Monkeys are believed to be flexible, quick-witted and versatile with a love of sport and other active pursuits. Talented problem solvers, they are self-assured, sociable and innovative. They have a strong desire for knowledge and have excellent memories. When communicating, they hate to be controlled and may appear somewhat arrogant, impatient and mouthy.

Other faults may include jealousy and suspiciousness. Furthermore they may tend to look down upon others.

Famous monkeys include singer songwriters Christina Aguilera, Diana Ross, Celine Dion and Miley Cyrus. There are several monkey actors amongst them Tom Hanks, Will Smith, Daniel Craig and Michael Douglas while Empress Wu Zetian of China’s Tang Dynasty is amongst several monkey rulers.

Idioms & phrases

The Monkey, Hóu (猴), occurs in many Chinese tales and idioms. One well known idiom refers to the killing of a chicken to scare the monkey (杀鸡儆猴, shā jī jìng hóu). Its means to punish an individual as an example to others, or perhaps more simply used as a warning to others.

Another idiom to do with wrong-doers is the phrase lóng niǎo kǎn yuán (笼鸟槛猿) literally translating as “bird in a basket, monkey in a cage” it describes someone who is a prisoner or person with limited freedom. Note however that the character for monkey (猴) is replaced by 猿 (yuán) which can be used for ape or monkey.

Shù dǎo húsūn sàn (树倒猢狲散) is another phrase used in Chinese which translates as “when the tree falls, the monkeys scatter” and has the same meaning as the English idiom describing “rats deserting a sinking ship”. In China it may also be used to describe fair-weather friends.

Another idiom which also refers to a monkey is dà nào tiān gōng (大闹天宫). Once again the character for monkey is omitted but it refers to a monkey wreaking havoc in heaven and is drawn from a story about the Monkey King Sun Wukong from the novel Journey to the West. The phrase can be used to simply describe “havoc” or “chaos”. [Pictured above is the Monkey King, as portrayed in China's famous Beijing Opera]

Reflecting a similar meaning is xīn yuán yì mǎ (心猿意马). Literally “heart like a frisky monkey, mind like a cantering horse” it may be transliterated to mean to have ants in one’s pants, or perhaps more simply hyperactive, adventurous or uncontrollable.

One phrase that describes the monkey character is mù hóu ér guān (沐猴而冠) which literally translates as “a monkey wearing a crown” but is used to describe a worthless person dressed in imposing attire.

Another idiom that perhaps reflects a monkey’s arrogance is shān zhōng wú lǎo hǔ, hóuzi chēng dà wáng (山中无老虎，猴子称大王) which translates as “when the tigers are not in the mountains, the monkey becomes king”. Its English equivalent might be “when the cat’s away, the mice play”.

Unsure how long something might last? Then the Chinese idiom hóu nián mǎ yuè (猴年马月) might help which literally translates as “monkey year, horse month” but is used to mean “god knows how long”.

What we can be sure of is that we'll be back soon to talk about the rooster.... 

Following this year’s Horse sign is the Goat, the eighth animal sign after the Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake and Horse.

Those born between 1st February 2003 and 21st January 2004 were the last to have been born under the goat animal sign.

Yáng, the character for which is 羊, is often used synonymously for goat or sheep. Indeed this can cause some confusion for those learning Chinese who might believe they have ordered a dish made with lamb, whilst in fact the meal contains goat meat.

Of course some restaurants will likely make a differentiation by using prefixes. Miányáng (绵羊) is sheep whilst shānyáng (山羊) is goat. However at a ròu chuàn (肉串) stall, a popular street food where pieces of meat are barbecued and sold on skewers, such a differentiation may not be made.

Character

As for the character of the animal sign, the goat is considered soft and gentle. People under the sign of the goat or sheep are said to be tender, polite, clever, and kind-hearted.

They may have a special sensitivity to art and beauty, faith in a certain religion and a special fondness for quiet living. They also are considered wise, gentle and compassionate. In daily life, goats try to be economical.

On the less positive side, goats are often worriers who are shy, pessimistic, moody, indecisive, over-sensitive and weak-willed. They may be deeply religious and have interests in strange theories.

Famous names

There are several well known people born under the sign of the goat. Amongst them are the actors Nicole Kidman, Julia Roberts, Bruce Willis, and Zhang Ziyi (章子怡), famous for her role in Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon (卧虎藏龙, Wò Hǔ Cáng Lóng) and House of Flying Daggers (十面埋伏, Shí Miàn Mái Fú). China’s last female Empress Dowager Cixi (慈禧太后) was also born under the sign of the goat.

Idioms

Reflecting the general character of the sheep or goat is the idiom yáng zhì hǔ pí (羊质虎皮, lit. sheep nature tiger skin) which describes someone who might appear to be strong but is actually timid.

Seemingly to do with the subject of eating is the phrase guà yáng tóu, mài gǒu ròu ( 挂羊头, 卖狗肉) which literally translates as “hanging goat head, but selling dog meat”.

This is used to describe misadvertising, shabby or bad-quality commodities. It could perhaps be likened to the English phrase “mutton dressed as lamb” however this is usually used to describe an ageing woman who is dressed or made up in an attempt to appear much younger. There is no direct Chinese equivalent for this idiom however.

A scapegoat does exist in both languages. In Chinese it is tì zuì yáng (替罪羊) which could literally be translated as “replace blame goat”. In both English and Chinese it means the same, that of an individual, group, or country singled out for unmerited negative treatment or blame.

Another idiom similar to one in common usage in the English language is wáng yáng bǔ láo (亡羊补牢). Literally translating as “lose sheep, repair the pen” it is the Chinese equivalent to “lock the stable door after the horse has bolted.” Again the inferred meaning is the same in both languages; to try to prevent something that has already happened.

And on that note we must gallop away ourselves. Next time we shall explore the monkey...

2014 is the Year of the Horse, the seventh animal sign in the Chinese Zodiac, following the Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon and Snake.


This year the Chinese new year falls on the 31st of January. The date changes annually since the Chinese follow the lunar calendar.

The Chinese word for horse is Mǎ and the character is 马, though one may often see the traditional character 馬 used.

People born in the year of the horse are said to be energetic, good with money and fond of travel. Good with communicating they may sometimes talk too much, but they are cheerful, perceptive, and talented. Somewhat extroverted they like entertainment and large crowds. They are popular among friends and active at work.

On the downside they cannot bear too much constraint. Their interests may also be somewhat superficial and lack real substance. Horse people are usually impatient and hot blooded about everything other than their daily work.

Seeking independence they rarely listen to advice. Meanwhile failure may result in pessimism. They usually have strong endurance but a bad temper. They are often flamboyant by nature, but they are wasteful since they are not good with matters of finance.

As for famous horses there are many. Chopin and Paul McCartney are both well known horse composers while Denzel Washington, Harrison Ford, Jackie Chan and John Travolta are just a few of some famous horse actors. There are even a few well known leaders including Genghis Khan, Emperor Kangxi and Yongzheng of China’s Qing Dynasty (1644 - 1911) and more recently the 26th President of the United States Theodore Roosevelt.

Horses often feature in Chinese idioms and everyday phrases. Their association with strength is reflected in several idioms such as hàn mǎ gōng láo (汗马功劳) is used to talk about a war exploit or contribution, such as in work.

Tiān mǎ xíng kōng (天马行空 lit. a heavenly steed soaring across the skies) is used to describe something as powerful and unconstrained in style.

Given horse people’s association with having a rather superficial interest in things, this is reflected in the idiom zǒu mǎ guān huā (走马观花) which means to “gain a superficial understanding through cursory observation.”

Meanwhile, a horse’s innocence and playfulness is perhaps reflected in the phrase qīng méi zhú mǎ (青梅竹马) which transliterates as males and females play innocently together during childhood or more simply “childhood”. The idiom in Chinese literally translates as green plum bamboo (or hobby) horse. The roots of the story have been lost in time but green plums and hobby horse do nonetheless reflect items from a child’s past.

Another idiom with ambiguous roots is lǘ chún mǎ zī (驴唇马觜). While it literally translates as “donkey’s lip, horse's mouth” it is used figuratively describe someone as being a chatterbox, who blathers or talks nonsense.

Tuō jiāng zhī mǎ (脱缰之马) is perhaps less ambiguous. Literally translating as “a horse that has thrown off the reins” it may be used to describe either a real “runaway horse” or anything which is “out of control”.

One horse that is perhaps best avoided in this modern era is the so-called Trojan Horse, a virus that could play havoc with your computer. In Chinese the term mù mǎ (木马) is used though it literally translates as wooden horse. The same term is also used to describe the ‘horse’ used in gymnastics.

In the west we often refer to an odd or disreputable member of a group, especially within a family, as the “black sheep”. However in Chinese they refer to a horse in the phrase hài qún zhī mǎ (害群之马) which talks of one horse damaging the whole herd.

Our final idiom for the day is zhǐ lù wéi mǎ (指鹿为马) which literally means to call a stag a horse, but is used to describe when someone is obviously lying and twisting facts. The phrase is said to have originated in the Qin Dynasty when a Supreme Eunuch called Zhàogāo commanded obedience from everyone including the Emperor. One day he called a stag a horse to test the loyalty of those around him.

The Snake (shé 蛇) is the sixth animal sign in the Chinese Zodiac, after the Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, and Dragon.

The Chinese sometimes refer to the snake as the little dragon, perhaps because of the similarities between the snake and the mythical beast.

In fact, Chinese people have a mixed and complicated view about the snake. This is reflected in many legends, myths and worshipping practices.

On one hand, the snake is regarded as evil, representing malevolence and cattiness. On the other hand, it is seen as a mysterious creature, symbolising acumen, divination, auspiciousness, honour, wisdom and strength.

The youngest snake people are those born in the year of 2013. People born under this sign are believed to have a good temper and a skill at communicating but say little. They possess gracious morality and great wisdom. They are usually financially secure and do not have to worry about money. They have tremendous sympathy for others and often take action to help their fellow human beings.

In life they are determined to accomplished their goals and hate to fail. Although they look calm on the surface, they are intense and passionate. They have a rich source of inspiration and understand themselves well. They are also said to be people of great perception.

Meanwhile, they are likely to be jealous and suspicious. They should be cautious about what they discuss with others, as it might cause them to lose friendship and opportunities. They tend to overdo things. They prefer to rely on themselves and have doubts about other people's judgement. They are courteous with polite manners, but they can be headstrong. They are fickle and often have problems in relationships or marriage.

There are many famous individuals born in the Year of the Snake. Amongst them are Elizabeth I, Abraham Lincoln, Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Charles Darwin, Picasso, and Mao Zedong.

Idioms & phrases

There are many Chinese phrases containing the snake character (蛇). However a great number have somewhat negative and even derogatory meanings.

In western culture the snake may be seen as something that can’t be trusted as in the phrase “a snake in the grass”. In Chinese they talk about dǎ cǎo jīng shé (打草惊蛇, lit. beat grass scare snake) a metaphor which means to act rashly and alert the enemy.

While there are some connections to the dragon, the snake is seen as somewhat inferior to the mythical beast. This is reflected in the idiom lóng shé hùn zá (龙蛇混杂, lit. dragons and snakes jumble together), and describes a mixture of good and bad people.

However, the dragon cannot uphold its favourable position all the time, especially when, as an outsider, it has to face local bullies and villains. In Chinese they may say dì tóu shé (地头蛇, lit. local head snake). Thus comes the popular phrase qiáng lóng bù yā dì tóu shé (强龙不压地头蛇, lit. strong dragon not suppress local head snake). This long idiom means a dragon from outside finds it hard to control a snake in its old haunt, suggesting powerful outsiders can hardly afford to neglect local bullies.

There are many phrases which blatantly describe the snake as evil. One such phrase is fó kǒu shé xīn (佛口蛇心, lit. having the mouth of the Buddha, but the heart of a snake) which means to disguise evil intention with pretty words.

Shé xiē xīn cháng (蛇蝎心肠, lit. snake scorpion heart intestine) refers to evil as having the state of mind of snakes and scorpions. Niú guǐ shé shén ( 牛鬼蛇神, lit. ghosts with an ox’s head and gods with a snake’s body) refers to all kinds of evil people.

Shé kǒu fēng zhēn (蛇口蜂针, lit. snake mouth bee needle) could be used to describe evil words or methods while shé méi shǔ yǎn (蛇眉鼠眼, lit. snake eyebrows, rat eyes) might be uttered to describe individuals with an evil appearance.

This is perhaps reflected by the popular gambling term “snake eyes”, much used in the west. It refers to the outcome of rolling the dice in a game and getting only one pip on each die. The pair of pips resembles a pair of eyes, which is appended to the term “snake” because of the long-standing association of this word with treachery and betrayal.

“Three snakes and seven rats”, or sān shé qī shǔ (三蛇七鼠) in Chinese, refers to a great number of people or things which cause harm or damage.

Another often used idiom is huà shé tiān zú (画蛇添足, lit. draw snake, add feet) which means to improve something which is already perfect but end up spoiling it. Its English equivalent might be to gild the lily.

To end is another idiom rén xīn bù zú shé tūn xiàng (人心不足蛇吞象) which likens people who are greedy to a snake which wants to eat an elephant.

The Dragon (lóng, 龙) is the fifth animal sign in the Chinese Zodiac, following the Rat, Ox, Tiger and Rabbit. A mythical creature, the dragon represents ultimate abundance, prosperity and good fortune. It also symbolises power and excellence, valiancy and boldness, heroism, perseverance, nobility and divinity. Dragons are also considered to be symbols of the natural world, adaptability and transformation.

The youngest dragon people are those born in the year 2012. Those born under this sign are believed to be lively, intellectual, energetic and excitable. They have the potential to become leaders and often go for perfection. When they meet with difficulties, they are not discouraged. They are also said to be magnanimous, romantic and sensitive about their reputation. However, dragon people can be arrogant, impatient and over-confident.

Famous names

There are many well known dragons, amongst them Sigmund Freud, Joan of Arc, Bruce Lee, Florence Nightingale, Robin Williams, John Lennon, Nicholas Cage, Salvador Dali, Frank Sinatra, and former Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping.

The dragon plays an important part in Chinese culture and some believe themselves to be "descendants of the dragon." Indeed, emperors in ancient China placed much importance on this mythical beast and immortalised dragons on beds, ceremonial robes and upon decorative features around their imperial palaces.

Wherever one travels in China there are dragons displayed everywhere; at temples, in parks and even restaurants. In fact many parks and restaurants use the dragon in their name, though the character used is often the traditional version (龍) rather than the simplified character (龙). The reason is mainly due to the aesthetics of the traditional form.

Use in language

There are hundreds of Chinese idioms carrying the 龙 character, the majority of them have to do with the authority, dignity, honour, success, luck, and capacity of this animal sign.

Wàng zǐ chéng lóng (望子成龙, lit. “expect offspring to be dragons”) is used to describe those who have high expectations for their children whether in their study or career.

Interestingly, in Chinese culture, a good son-in-law is also compared to the dragon. Thus is born the phrase dé xù rú lóng (得婿如龙, lit. to have a son-in-law like a dragon) and  chéng lóng kuài xù (乘龙快婿) used for a talented and good-looking son-in-law.

Dragons, phoenix and tigers

Many idioms also incorporate the phoenix (fèng 凤) and often infer auspiciousness and excellence. For example Lóng yuè fèng míng (龙跃凤鸣 lit. dragon jump, phoenix sound) is used to describe people who are exceptionally gifted, whilst Lóng fèng chéng xiáng (龙凤呈祥, lit. Dragon & Phoenix presents auspiciousness) is used to described prosperity.

The dragon and phoenix are often used in ancient imperial symbolism, the dragon symbolising male power while the phoenix reflects femininity. In more recent times, however, the two are commonly associated with marriage and are seen on wedding garments, gifts, cards and other items.

Other animals, especially the tiger and the horse, are also used in idioms along with the dragon. Having the spirit of a dragon horse, or  lóng mǎ jīng shén (龙马精神), and acting doughty like a dragon and lively like a tiger, shēng lóng huó hǔ (生龙活虎), are used to vividly describe people full of vigour or full of beans.

Meanwhile, lóng zhēng hǔ dòu (龙争虎斗, dragon contest, tiger fight) is often used to describe a fierce struggle between two evenly-matched opponents.

Similarly rén zhōng lóng hǔ (人中龙虎, lit. dragon tiger amongst people) is a phrase used to identify one or more individuals who are exceptionally gifted and stand out from the crowd.

Tradition

It is believed that a dragon will be given life and bestowed with divinity when its eyes are dotted, a custom often acted out during Chinese new year festivities.

A phrase drawn from this is huà lóng diǎn jīng (画龙点睛, lit. to dot and paint the dragon, but translates as “the finishing touch”) which the Chinese use to describe the few words that summarize an idea or describe something succinctly. The phrase may also be used to refer to the final touches applied to a physical object such as a painting, book or sculpture.

Nowadays there are few people who see the dragon as anything more than a mythical creature, though the worship of the Dragon Kings as rulers of water and weather continues in some areas of China. Nonetheless the dragon, the character and its symbolism is deeply ingrained in many Chinese cultural traditions and especially the Chinese New Year celebrations.

On that note we must leave the dragon. Next time we shall talk about the snake, the next animal sign in the Chinese Zodiac.