All About Chinese
There are thousands of languages in the world. More people speak Mandarin than any other. Mandarin is a form of Chinese. Read on to learn more about the Chinese language.
Characters Count
JOHN TLUMACKI—THE BOSTON GLOBE/GETTY IMAGESThe Chinese language does not use letters. It uses characters, or symbols. Each symbol has its own meaning.
Painting Pictures
GOLERO/GETTY IMAGESChinese characters can be a form of art. Calligraphers calligrapher a person who uses fancy penmanship (noun) The calligrapher addressed the wedding invitations. use ink and brushes to make the writing look beautiful.
An Ancient Language
DEAGOSTINI/GETTY IMAGESChinese has been around for thousands of years. This artifact artifact an object made by humans in the past (noun) The archaeologist uncovered an ancient artifact. shows early Chinese writing.
Practice Makes Perfect
BTRENKEL—GETTY IMAGESAll around the world, kids are learning Mandarin. Do you want to learn a new language? It is helpful to practice by speaking, reading, and writing in that language.
Try It!
Want to practice Chinese? Here are some Chinese characters, how to say them, and what they mean. Try saying these words aloud. Then practice writing the characters.
BLACK BRUSHSTROKE: HUDIEMM—GETTY IMAGES