| Yueguangzu - The face of a bitter-sweet modern reality |
03-11-2011 |
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| It's hard to feel sorry for them since they clearly have money to spend, but the modern consumerism pressures experienced by them shouldn't be easily discounted. Meet the 'yueguangzu', Chinese that cannot keep their income safe in the bank.
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| Anquangan 安全感 – What women want, and other people as well... |
16-09-2011 |
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| Anquangan (安全感 'sense of security') is a term that spans across physical security and well being to economic stability, as well as a broader sense of direction and prospect. Although its linguistic meaning is quite identical to the English counterpart ('sense of security'), in the socioeconomic reality of rapidly changing China, anquangan has a deeper and more emotionally-charged significance.
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| Chinese Internet Language – The Creative Netizen Mind |
30-08-2011 |
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Much more impressively than the abbreviations used in English (or most languages) online chats, Chinese internet language (wangluo yuyan) has generated a new form of slang. The spreading of new terms through the internet, the games conducted upon Chinese characters and their phonetics, and the motivation to avoid censorship, have all created a new dimension of language and a unique phenomenon.
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| 裸婚, Naked Marriage - Surrendering to romantic love, not anticipating a pink future |
22-07-2011 |
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| 裸= nude, 婚=marry; 'marrying naked', without money, an apartment or whatever necessities a new family requires... The 裸婚 luohun couples manage to promote romantic love, oppose some traditional concepts, while still avoid much of the criticism directed at the Chinese post-80s generation, as it is acknowledged that the conditions of 21st century China often do not provide them with better alternatives.
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| 表面上 - The nice surface-face of China |
29-06-2011 |
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| 'On the surface', '表面上' biaomianshang, is a term that in recent years is strongly associated a phenomena that takes place in many domains in China, from government policies, to construction works and fast food dishes. When something has a nice appearance, is intended to be eye catching and give the false illusion that the inside is also valuable, then 表面上 can be used in a negative way.
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| Peixun 培训 - Extracurricular training, modern self-cultivation |
12-05-2011 |
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Filling up numerous commercial ads or bulletin boards, the word '培训', (peixun - training, teaching, cultivating) has become more abundant than street snacks, indicating that in contemporary China people continuously assess their own capabilities, getting in shape for present-future career and personal challenges.
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| 老吾老 – 'Caring for the Old' Vocabulary |
05-11-2010 |
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| Here are some of the terms that appear frequently in the media and public discussions when it comes supporting China's elder population. Traditional virtues and modern limitations are often in an intense clash.
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| Chinese Singletons - Basic ‘Spoiled’ Related Vocabulary |
25-07-2010 |
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| There are many interesting topic related to the new generations of China's single children 独生子女 (dúshēng zǐnǔ). Leaving a side the emotional pressure they experience and China's demographic concerns, here are some basic terms that describe the 'spoiled' character of Chinese singletons.
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| 堂 and 表 – Same 'Clan' Cousins Vs. Superficial Cousins |
22-07-2010 |
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Among the numerous formal and informal ways to address relatives, cousins are an interesting choice to show the very different way to express cousins of the same or a different surname, through the difference between the characters 堂 (táng) and 表 (biǎo).
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| 年年有“鱼”May There be Fish Every Year |
16-07-2010 |
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| The symbolic meanings of 'fish' throughout Chinese tradition are endless. The identical sound of the words 'fish' (yú) 鱼 and the word 余 (yú), meaning 'extra', 'surplus' have made fish an indispensable component in the Chinese New Year's dinner celebration.
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