Proverbs in Chinese and English

1.A bad thing never dies. 好人不长寿，祸害遗千年。
2.A bad workman always blames his tools.
笨工匠总是怪工具差。
3.A baited cat may grow as fierce as a lion.
人急悬梁，狗急跳墙。
4.A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
两鸟在林不如一鸟在手。
5.A bully is always a coward.
欺负弱小者永远是懦夫。
6.A burnt child dreads the fire.
一朝被蛇咬，十年怕井绳。
7.A cat has nine lives.
猫有九条命；吉人自有天相。
8.A cat may look at a king. 小人物也有些权利。
9.A clear conscience can bear any trouble.
平时不做亏心事，夜半敲门心不惊。
10.A cook is bold on his own dunghill. 狗仗人势。
11.A constant guest is never welcome.
常客难受欢迎。
12.A contented mind is a perpetual feast.
知足常乐。
13.A cracked bell can never sound well.
狗嘴里长不出象牙来。
14.A crooked stick will have a crooked shadow.
上梁不正下梁歪。
15.A deceitful peace is more hurtful than an open war. 明枪易躲，暗箭难防。
16.A door must be either shut or open.
门非关即开；二者择其一。
17.A drowning man will clutch at a straw.
溺水之人不放过一根稻草；病急乱投医。
18.A dwarf on a giant's shoulders sees the farther of the two.
巨人肩上的侏儒看得远；借重他人的经验好处多。
19.A fault confessed is half redressed.
知错能改，善莫大焉。
20.A fool and his money are soon parted.
笨人难聚财。
21.A fool's mouth is his destruction. 祸从口出。
22.A forced kindness deserves no thanks.
勉强的善行不值得感谢。
23.A fox may grow grey but never good.
江山易改，本性难移。
24.A friend in need is a friend indeed.
患难见真情。
25.A full purse never lacks friend.
有钱有酒，必有朋友。
26.A golden key opens every door. 钱能通神。
27.A good husband makes a good wife. 夫善则妻贤。
28.A good medicine tastes bitter. 良药苦口。
29.A good name is sooner lost than won.
美誉易失难得。
30.A good tale is none the worse for being told twice. 动人的故事令人百听不厌。
31.A hedge between keeps friendship green.
君子之交淡如水。
32.A honey tongue, a heart of gall.
嘴甜如蜜，心黑如漆。
33.A house divided against itself cannot stand. 不和之家难长存。
34.A Jack of all trades is master of none.
样样皆通者样样不精。
35.A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. 万丈高楼平地起。
36.A lazy youth, a lousy age.
少壮不努力，老大徒伤悲。
37.A leopard cannot change his spots.
江山易改，本性难移。
38.A liar is not believed when he tells the truth. 常说谎话的人就算是说真话也没人信。
39.A lion may come to be beholden to a mouse.
强者亦有求助于弱者的时候。
40.A little fire burns up a great deal of corn. 星星之火可以燎原。
41.A little gall spoils a great deal of honey. 一粒老鼠屎，坏了一锅粥。
42.A little leak will sink a great ship.
牵一发而动全身。
43.A little learning is a dangerous thing.
一知半解最危险。
44.A little neglect may breed great mischief.
一失足成千古恨，再回首已百年身。
45.A man apt to promise is apt to forget.
轻诺者，信必寡。
46.A man cannot spin and reel at the same time. 一心不可二用。
47.A man without a smiling face must not open a shop. 和气生财。
48.A miss is as good as a mile.
失之毫厘，谬之千里。
49.A near neighbor is better than a distant cousin. 远亲不如近邻。
50.A new broom sweeps clean. 新官上任三把火。
51.A rolling stone gathers no moss. 滚石不生苔。
52.A slow fire makes sweet malt. 慢工出细活。
53.A sound mind in a sound body.
有健全的身体，才有健全的心智。
54.A still tongue makes a wise head. 寡言为智。
55.A stitch in time saves nine.
及时行事，事半功倍。
56.A thing of beauty is a joy for ever.
美的事物是永恒的喜悦。
57.A word is enough to the wise. 聪明人一点就通。
58.A word spoken is past recalling.
一言既出，四马难追。
59.A young idler, an old beggar.
少壮不努力，老大徒伤悲。
60.A-day-old puppy doesn't know to be afraid of the tiger. 初生之犊不畏虎。
61.Able men are always busy. 能者多劳。
62.Absence makes the heart grow fonder.
小别塍新婚。
63.Accidents will happen in the best-regulated families. 家规再严也难免会出问题。
64.According to your purse govern your mouth.
量入为出。
65.Actions speak louder than words.
行动胜于空谈。
66.Advice when most needed is least heeded.
忠言逆耳。
67.After a storm comes a calm.
雨过天晴；否极泰来；苦尽甘来。
68.All are not thieves that dogs bark at.
狗所吠之人未必皆为贼；勿以貌取人。
69.All cats are grey in the dark.
所有的猫在黑暗中皆为灰色；美貌是不重要的。
70.All good things come to an end.
天下无不散的筵席。
71.All is vanity. 四大皆空。
72.All lay loads on a willing horse.
良驹负重担；马善被人骑。
73.All roads lead to Rome.
条条大路通罗马；行行出壮元。
74.All that glitters is not gold.
闪闪发光者未必都是金。
75.All the winning is in the first buying.
先下手为强。
76.All things are difficult before they are easy. 凡事必先难而后易。
77.All things are easy that are done willingly. 天下无难事，只怕有心人。
78.All things in their being are good for something. 天生我才必有用。
79.All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.
只工作而不玩乐，会使人变得迟钝。
80.All's fair in love and war.
情场如战场，任何手段皆可行。
81.All's fish that comes to the net.
进网的无不是鱼；来者不拒。
82.All's well that ends well. 结局好的就算好。
83.An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.
以眼还眼，以牙还牙。
84.An old man's sayings are seldom untrue.
不听老人言，吃亏在眼前。
85.Any port is a good port in a storm.
暴风雨中，任何港口皆是好的避难所。
86.Anybody can make mistakes.
人非圣贤，熟能无过。
87.Appearances are deceptive.
外表欺人；勿以貌取人。
88.Art is long, life is short.
人生短暂，而学问无穹。
89.As well be hanged for a sheep as a lamb.
偷小羊与偷大羊同为绞刑；一不做，二不休。
90.As you brew, so you must drink. 自作自受。
As you make your bed, so you must lie on it.
自己做事，自己当。
91.As you sow, so shall you reap.
种瓜得瓜，种豆得豆。
92.Ask no questions and be told no lies.
不问问题就听不到假话；小孩有耳无嘴。
93.Avoid a questioner, for he is also a tattler. 避免与好探人隐私，搬弄是非之人在一起。
94.Bad news travels fast.
好事不出门，坏事传千里。
95.Barking dogs seldom bite. 会叫的狗不会咬人。
96.Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
情人眼里出西施。
97.Beauty is only skin deep.
美只是表面的；不可以貌取人。
98.Beggars can't be choosers.
乞丐绝无挑选的权利；有求于人者无权挑剔。
99.Best is cheapest. 最好的即是最划算的。
100.Better an egg today than a hen tomorrow.
今日一只鸡蛋胜过明日一支母鸡；把握现在。
101.Better be a fool than a knave.
宁为傻瓜，不做无赖。
102.Better be an old man's darling than a young man's slave. 宁为老头的爱人，也不愿成为小伙子的奴隶。
103.Better be sure than sorry.
宁求安全亦不做可能会陷于险境之事。
104.Better be the head of a dog than the tail of a lion. 宁为鸡首，不为牛后。
105.Better bend than break.
宁曲勿折；大丈夫能屈能伸。
106.Better late than never.
晚做总比不做好；亡羊捕牢，未为晚也。
107.Better master one than engage with ten.
学多不如学精。
108.Better one eye witness than two hearsay witnesses. 耳闻不如目见。
109.Better the devil you know than the devil you don't know. 明枪易躲，暗箭难防。
110.Better to ask the way than go astray.
问道于人总比迷失于途要强。
111.Between two stools you fall to the ground.
脚踏两条船，迟早会落水。
112.Birds in their little nests agree.
同巢之鸟相处好；家和万事兴。
113.Birds of a feather flock together. 物以类聚。
114.Blessed is he who expects nothing, for he shall @never be disappointed. 一无所求者无失望之虞。
115.Blood is thicker than water. 血浓于水。
116.Books and friends should be few but good.
书与朋友，贵精而不贵多。
117.Bread is the staff of life. 民以食为天。
118.Burn not your house to fright the mouse away.
莫为灭鼠而焚屋；勿小题大作。
119.Business is business. 公事公办。
120.Call a spade a spade. 称黑桃为黑桃；有话直说。
121.Care killed a cat. 烦恼能杀九命猫。
122.Cast never a clout till May is out.
五月前莫收冬衣；勿操之过急。
123.Cast not the first stone.
莫丢第一块石头；责人之前先自省。
124.Catch not at the shadow and lose the substance. 勿舍本逐末。
125.Catch your bear before you sell its skin.
卖熊皮前先捉熊；凡事宜按部就班，不要过于乐观。
126.Charity begins at home. 仁爱始于家。
127.Children should be seen and not heard.
大人说话，小孩别插嘴。
128.Christmas comes but once a year.
圣诞节一年才一次；好日子不能天天过。
130.Circumstances alter cases. 此一时，彼一时。
131.Clothes do not make the man.
衣冠楚楚者，未必就是正人君子。
132.Coming events cast their shadows before.
即来之事必有先兆。
133.Comparisons are odious. 人比人，气死人。
134.Conscience does make cowards of us all.
良心令人不敢为所欲为。
135.Constant dripping wears away the stone.
滴水可穿石。
136.Courtesy costs nothing. 礼多人不怪。
137Cross the stream where it is shallowest.
渡溪当自浅处过。
138.Custom makes all things easy.
习惯成自然；熟能生巧。
139.Custom reconciles us to everything.
习惯使人适应一切。
140.Cut your coat according to your cloth.量入为出。

141.  Dead men tell no tales. 死人不会泄秘。

142.  Death is the great leveler. 死亡使一切平等。

143.  Deeds, not words. 行动胜于空谈。

144.  Desert and reward seldom keep company.
功与赏绝少结伴而行；赏罚不明乃司空见惯。

145.  Desires are nourished by delays.
渴望越久的就越希望得到。

146.  Desperate diseases must have desperate remedies. 绝症须用烈药医。、

147.  Diamond cuts diamond. 势均力敌。

148.  Discontent is the first step in progress.
不满意是进步的开端。

149.  Discretion is the better part of valour.
勇敢贵乎审慎。

150.  Distance lends enchantment to the view.
距离让景色增添魅力。

151.  Do as I say, not as I do.
照我所说的做，别照我所做的来做。

152.  Do as most men do, then most men will speak well of you. 随俗而行，众人称颂。

153.  Do as you would be done by. 己所欲施于人。

154.  Do in Rome as the Romans do. 入乡随俗。

155.  Do not cast your pearls before swine.
莫把珍珠丢猪前；莫对牛弹琴。

156.  Do not halloo till you are out of the wood.
未真正脱离险境前，勿作脱险之庆。

157.  Do not kick against the pricks.
勿踢刺棍；勿以卵击石。

158.  Do not put new wine into old bottles.
莫用旧瓶装新酒。

159.  Do not wear out your welcome.
作客不久留；不要使人厌倦对你的欢迎。

160.  Dog does not eat dog. 同类不相残。

161.  Don't change horses in mid-stream.
河中勿换骑；临阵换将非上策。

162.  Don't count your chickens before they are hatched. 小鸡未孵出前，数也没用；别打如意算盘。

163.  Don't cross a bridge till you come to it.
勿杞人忧天；船到桥头自然直。

164.  Don't cry before you are hurt.
受伤前先别哭；祸未临头，别先屈服。

165.  Don't cry stinking fish.
不要叫卖臭鱼；别拆自己的台；不要自贬身价。

166.  Don't cut off your nose to spite your face.
不要因意气用事而伤害自己。

167.  Don't cut the bough you are standing on.
勿轻举妄动，自断生路。

168.  Don't empty the baby out with the bath water.
做事勿掉以轻心，把婴儿与洗澡水一起给倒了。

169.  Don't have too many irons in the fire.
勿操之过急。

170.  Don't make a mountain out of a molehill.
勿小题大作。

171.  Don't make a rod for your own back. 勿自讨苦吃。

172.  Don't make yourself a mouse, or the cat will eat you. 勿自贬身价；自辱者，人皆辱之。

173.  Don't meet trouble half-way. 别自找麻烦。

174.  Don't put all your eggs in one basket.
不要把蛋全放在一个篮子里；勿孤注一掷。

175.  Don't put the cart before the horse.
勿本末倒置。

176.  Don't quarrel with your bread and butter.
别跟自己的饭碗过不去。

177.  Don't ride the high horse.
不要摆臭架子；莫趾高气扬。

178.  Don't speak ill of others behind their backs.
不要在背后说人坏话。

179.  Don't take your harp to the party.
别旧调重弹；别对一事喋喋不休。

180.  Don't teach your grandmother to suck eggs.
勿班门弄斧。

181.  Don't tell tales out of school.
莫搬弄是非，揭人隐私。

182.  Don't wash your dirty linen in public.
家丑不可外扬。

183.  Dying is as natural as living.
生死由命，富贵在天。

184.  Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise. 早睡早起使人健康，富裕与聪明。

185.  Easier said than done. 说比做容易。

186.  East or west, home is best.
金窝银窝，不如自己的狗窝。

187.  Easy come, easy go. 来得容易去得快。

188.  Empty vessels make the most sound.
满瓶不会响，半瓶响叮当。

189.  Enough is as good as a feast.
知所节制，适可而止。

190.  Even a worm will turn. 人急悬梁，狗急跳墙。

191.  Even Homer sometimes nods. 智者千虑，必有一失。

192.  Every ass likes to hear himself bray.
马不知脸长，蠢人总是自鸣得意。

193.  Every bullet has its billet.
生死有命，富贵在天。

194.  Every cloud has a silver lining.
黑暗中总有一线光明。

195.  Every cock crows on his own dunghill.
公鸡总在自己草堆上称雄；在家一条龙，出外一条虫。

196.  Every dog has his day. 任何人都有风光的时候。

197.  Every family has a skeleton in the cupboard.
家家有本难念的经。

198.  Every flow must have its ebb.
潮水有涨有退；人生变幻无常。

199.  Every horse thinks its own pack heaviest.
人皆自认工作负担最重。

200.  Every law has a loophole. 每种法律皆有漏洞。

201.  Everything comes to him who waits.
耐心等待之人，必能如愿以偿。

202.  Everything must have a beginning. 凡事必有开端。

203.  Evil be to him who evil thinks.
存恶念者必遭恶报。

204.  Example is better than precept. 身教重于言教。

205.  Exchange is no robbery. 不公的交换并不算抢劫。

206.  Expectation is better than realization.
期待总比现实美。

207.  Experience is the mother of wisdom.
经验为智慧之母。

208.  Experience is the teacher of fools.
愚人自经验中获取教训。

209.  Extremes meet. 相对的事情通常是可互通的。

210.  Faint heart never won fair lady.
懦夫难得美人心。

Chinese Dumplings

China has been perfecting the art of dumpling making since the Sung dynasty. Chinese dumplings may be round or crescent-shaped, boiled or pan-fried. The filling may be sweet or savory; vegetarian or filled with meat and vegetables. Of course, all this variety can be confusing. Recreating homemade versions of dim sum favorites can be a challenge when you’re faced with recipes for “Jiaozi,” Har Gow,” and “Siu Mai,” with no pictures. Here is a description of different types of Chinese dumplings:

Jiaozi
These crescent shaped dumplings with pleated edges are normally filled with meat or vegetables, although you’ll occasionally find recipes calling for more unusual ingredients such as shrimp and even winter melon. The filling ingredients are enclosed in a flour and water dough that is thicker than a wonton wrapper. The dumplings are frequently boiled, although they may also be pan-fried. Serve with Ginger Dipping Sauce.

Potstickers (Guotie, Peking Ravioli)
The difference between jiaozi and potstickers comes down to how the dumpling is cooked. Potsticker dumplings are pan-fried on the bottom and then steamed. It’s traditional to flip them over before serving so that the browned, pan-fried side is on top.

Gow Gees
The words Gow gee and jiaozi mean one and the same: Gow gee is simply the Cantonese romanization (representation) of the Mandarin jiaozi. However, gow gee recipes normally call for the dumplings to be cooked by steaming or deep-frying instead of boiling. Wonton wrappers are an acceptable substitute for dumpling skins in most gow gee recipes.

Har Gow (Har Gau)
These plump snacks filled with shrimp and bamboo shoots are famous for a smooth, shiny skin that is nearly translucent. The secret to the dough is wheat starch, available in Asian markets – you won’t get the same result using a flour and water dough or wonton wrappers.

Siu Mai (pronounced “Shu My,” also called Cook and Sell Dumplings)
Mild tasting steamed dumplings recognizable by their cup or basket shape, with the filling sticking out at the top. One food writer compared eating Siu Mai to biting into a soufflé, because the dumpling is so soft and puffy. Traditionally they are filled with pork, although shrimp or prawns are also used. Siu Mai are normally made with round skins: use round (gyoza) wrappers or square wonton wrappers cut into circles.

Shanghai Steamed Buns
Not buns at all, but meat or seafood-filled dumplings famous for being very juicy and flavorful. Shanghai Steamed buns are recognizable for their unique design, as the filled wrapper is gather up into several folds prior to steaming.

Did You Know? In northern China, it is customary for families to spend New Year’s Eve preparing batches of Jiaozi dumplings. Families start eating the dumplings after midnight. And, just as nineteenth-century English cooks hid a silver thruppence inside each batch of Christmas pudding, one lucky family member may bite into something hard and discover a gold coin inside their dumpling.

China Cheongsam

The cheongsam is a body-hugging (modified in Shanghai) one-piece Chinese dress for women; the male version is the changshan. It is known in Mandarin Chinese as the qípáo (旗袍) Wade-Giles ch'i-p'ao, and is also known in English as a mandarin gown. The stylish and often tight-fitting cheongsam or qipao (chipao) that is most often associated with today was created in the 1920s in Shanghai and was made fashionable by socialites and upperclass women.

The English loanword cheongsam comes from chèuhngsàam, the Cantonese pronunciation of the Shanghainese term zǎnze or zansae (長衫, 'long shirt/dress'), by which the original tight-fitting form was first known. The Shanghainese name was somewhat in contrast with usage in Mandarin and other Chinese dialects, where chángshān (the Mandarin pronunciation of 長衫) refers to an exclusively male dress (see changshan) and the female version is known as a qipao.

 

In Hong Kong, where many Shanghai tailors fled to after the Communist takeover of the Mainland, the word chèuhngsàam may refer to either male or female garments. The word keipo (qipao) is either a more formal term for the female chèuhngsàam, or is used for the two-piece cheongsam variant that is popular in China. Traditionally, usage in Western countries mostly followed the original Shanghainese usage and applies the Cantonese-language name cheongsam to a garment worn by women.

When the Manchu ruled China during the Qing Dynasty, certain social strata emerged. Among them were the Banners (qí), mostly Manchu, who as a group were called Banner People (旗人 pinyin: qí rén). Manchu women typically wore a one-piece dress that retrospectively came to be known as the qípáo (旗袍 or banner gown). The generic term for both the male and the female forms of Manchu dress, essentially similar garments, was chángpáo (長袍). The qipao fitted loosely and hung straight down the body, or flared slightly in an A-line. Under the dynastic laws after 1636, all Han Chinese in the banner system were forced to wear a queue and dress in Manchurian qipao instead of traditional Han Chinese clothing (剃发易服), under penalty of death (along with the July 1645 edict (the "haircutting order") that forced all adult Han Chinese men to shave the front of their heads and comb the remaining hair into a queue, on pain of death). Until 1911, the changpao was required clothing for Chinese men of a certain class, but Han Chinese women continued to wear loose jacket and trousers, with an overskirt for formal occasions. The qipao was a new fashion item for Han Chinese women when they started wearing it around 1925.

A woman in the traditional loose fitting baggy qipao worn with an over jacketThe original qipao was wide and loose. It covered most of the woman's body, revealing only the head, hands, and the tips of the toes. The baggy nature of the clothing also served to conceal the figure of the wearer regardless of age. With time, though, the qipao were tailored to become more form fitting and revealing. The modern version, which is now recognized popularly in China as the "standard" qipao, was first developed in Shanghai in the 1920s, partly under the influence of Beijing styles. People eagerly sought a more modernized style of dress and transformed the old qipao to suit their tastes. Slender and form fitting with a high cut, it had great differences from the traditional qipao. However, it was high-class courtesans and celebrities in the city that would make these redesigned tight fitting qipao popular at that time.[2] In Shanghai it was first known as zansae or "long dress" (長衫 - Mandarin Chinese: chángshān, Shanghainese: zansae, Cantonese: chèuhngsàam), and it is this name that survives in English as the "cheongsam".

The modernized version is noted for accentuating the figures of women, and as such was popular as a dress for high society. As Western fashions changed, the basic cheongsam design changed too, introducing high-necked sleeveless dresses, bell-like sleeves, and the black lace frothing at the hem of a ball gown. By the 1940s, cheongsam came in a wide variety of fabrics with an equal variety of accessories.

The 1949 Communist Revolution curtailed the popularity of the cheongsam and other fashions in Shanghai, but the Shanghainese emigrants and refugees brought the fashion to Hong Kong where it has remained popular. Recently there has been a revival of the Shanghainese cheongsam in Shanghai and elsewhere in Mainland China; the Shanghainese style functions now mostly as a stylish party dress.

China Cloth - Tangzhuang

Tangzhuang (Chinese: 唐装; pinyin: tángzhuāng; literally "Chinese suit") refers to the Chinese jacket that originated at the end of the Qing Dynasty (1644–1911). Tangzhuang evolved from Magua (马褂), a Manchu clothing, which was in turn adopted by the Han Chinese during Qing Dynasty. At that time, only noblemen, aristocracy and government officials were wearing it, however, in modern times it was eventually adopted by common people. This kind of clothing is often seen as a national costume for men, although women wear it as well.

At the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Shanghai, China in November 2001, the host presented its silk-embroided tangzhuang jackets as the Chinese traditional national costume.

Now in Chinese communities, the Mao suit, the western suit, and the Tang suit are main formal dressing for men in many occasions. Tangzhuang is made in different colors, most commonly red, dark blue, gold and black. One common design is the usage of Chinese characters (Hanzi, 汉字) as monogram such as Fu (福,'happiness' in Chinese) , Shou (寿, 'longevity' in Chinese) to spread good luck and wishes.

Chinese Name

Personal names in Chinese culture follow a number of conventions different from those of personal names in Western cultures. Most noticeably, a Chinese name is written with the family name first and the given name next, therefore "John-Paul Smith" as a Chinese name would be "Smith John-Paul". Chinese people commonly address each other with full names instead of given names (especially for names consisting of two characters in total). Family names are never used alone without any salutation. For instance, the basketball player Yao Ming should be formally addressed as "Mr. Yao", not "Mr. Ming", and informally addressed as "Yao Ming" instead of "Yao" or "Ming".

Some Chinese people who emigrate to, or do business with, Western countries sometimes adopt a Westernized name by simply reversing the "surname–given-name" order to "given-name–surname" ("Ming Yao", to follow the previous example), or with a Western first name together with their surname, which is then written in the usual Western order with the surname last ("Fred Yao"). Some Chinese people sometimes take a combined name. There are two main variations: Western name, surname, and Chinese given name, in that order ("Fred Yao Ming") or surname, Chinese given name, followed by Western name ("Yao Ming Fred").

Traditional naming schemes often followed a pattern of using generation names as part of a two-character given name. This is by no means the norm, however. An alternative tradition, stemming from a Han Dynasty law that forbade two-character given names, is to have a single character given name. Some contemporary given names do not follow either tradition, and may in some cases extend to three or more characters.

When generation names are used as part of a two-character given name, it is highly inappropriate and confusing to refer to someone by the first part of their given name only, which will generally be their generation name. Instead, the entire given name should be used. This should be the case regardless of whether the surname is used. For instance, referring to Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong as Hsien or Hsien Lee would be confusing as this could just as easily refer to his brother. However, this does commonly occur in Western societies where the first part of the given name is frequently mistakenly used as the first name when the given name is not hyphenated or adjoined.

A majority of countries in Eastern Asia adopted the Chinese naming system. Today, there are over 700 different Chinese family names, but as few as twenty cover a majority of Chinese people. The variety in Chinese names therefore depends greatly on given names rather than family names. The great majority of Chinese family names have only one character, but there are a few with two; see Chinese compound surname for more information.

Chinese family names are written first, something which often causes confusion among those from cultures where the family name usually comes last. Thus, the family name of Mao Zedong is Mao (毛), and his given name is Zedong (traditional: 澤東, simplified: 泽东).

Traditionally, Chinese women usually retain their maiden names as their family name, rather than adopting their husband's. Children usually inherit the father's family name. However, some married women add the husband's surname to their full-name (this is popular in Hong Kong but rare in Mainland China), but rarely do they drop the maiden name altogether.

Historically, it was considered taboo to marry someone with the same family name — even if there is no direct relationship between those concerned — though in recent decades this has no longer been frowned upon.

Generally speaking, Chinese given names have one or two characters, and are written after the family name. When a baby is born, parents often give him or her a "milk name" (奶名) or "little name" (小名), such as Little Gem (小寶 / 小宝) or two characters that repeat "Ming Ming" (明明). The given name is then usually chosen later and is often chosen with consultation of the grandparents. In China, parents have a month before having to register the child. The parents may continue to use the nickname.

With a limited repertoire of family names, Chinese depend on using given names to introduce variety in naming. Almost any character with any meaning can be used. However, it is not considered appropriate to name a child after a famous figure and highly offensive to name one after an older member among the family, or even distant relatives.

Given names resonant of qualities which are perceived to be either masculine or feminine are frequently given, with males being linked with strength and firmness, and females with beauty and flowers. Females sometimes have names which repeat a character, for example Xiuxiu (秀秀) or Lili (麗麗, 丽丽). This is less common in males, although Yo-Yo Ma (馬友友 Mǎ Yǒuyǒu, 马友友) is a well-known exception.

In some families, one of the two characters in the personal name is shared by all members of a generation and these generational names are worked out long in advance, historically in a generation poem (banci lian 班次聯 or paizi ge 派字歌 in Chinese) listing the names.[1] Also, siblings' names are frequently related, for example, a boy may be named pine (松 Sōng, considered masculine) while his sister may be named plum (梅 Méi, considered feminine), both being primary elements of the traditional Chinese system of naturally symbolizing moral imperatives. Depending on region and family, female children may not be entered into the family tree, and thus will not be given a generation name. A frequent naming pattern for female offspring in this case could share the same last character in the given name while varying the first character (in place of the generation name). A well known example of such system can be found from the names of the main four sisters in the novel A Dream of Red Mansions, where they were named 元春 (yuan chun), 迎春 (ying chun), 探春 (tan chun), and 惜春 (xi chun).

Chinese personal names also may reflect periods of history. For example, many Chinese born after 1949 and during the Cultural Revolution have "revolutionary names" such as strong country (強國, 强国) or eastern wind (東風, 东风). In Taiwan, it used to be common to incorporate one of the four characters of the name "Republic of China" (中華民國) into masculine names.

People from the countryside may have names that reflect rural life, for example, large ox (大牛) and big pillar (大柱), but these names are becoming less common.

Also, some decades ago, due to the traditional Confucianism, when a family gives birth to a female baby, the parents may name her comes a little brother (來弟), invites a little brother (招弟) or hopes for a little brother (盼弟). Some other female names of this sort includes: 望弟 (hopes for a little brother), 牽弟 (brings along a little brother), 帶弟 (brings a little brother), 引弟 (attracts or leads along a little brother), 領弟 (receives a little brother), and even 也好 (it's all right, too (to have a girl first then a boy later)). The parents may feminize the character '弟' (younger brother) to '娣' with the same pronunciation, but different in meaning (it literally means "wife of a younger brother," but more recently it is used to transliterate western female names). These names show the traditional sexism or male chauvinism in the older Chinese society where having a boy (who can inherit the family name and continue the family line, which is an honour to the ancestors) is better than having a girl (who can only be another family's daughter-in-law, carrying on the family name of others).

A recent trend has swept through greater China to let fortune tellers change people's names years after they have been given. These fortune tellers claim that the name leads to a better future in the child according to principles such as Five elements (五行 wǔ xíng).

Chinese Zodiac

The Shēngxiào (Chinese: 生肖), better known in English as the Chinese Zodiac, is a scheme that relates each year to an animal and its reputed attributes, according to a 12-year cycle. It has wide currency in several East Asian countries such as Korea and Japan.

Identifying this scheme using the term "zodiac" reflects several similarities to the Western zodiac: both have time cycles divided into 12 parts, each labels at least the majority of those parts with names of animals, and each is widely associated with a culture of attributing influence of a person's relationship to the cycle upon their personality and/or events in their life. Nevertheless, there are major differences: the "Chinese" 12-part cycle is divided into years rather than months; contrary to the association with animals implied in the Greek etymology of "zodiac", actually four of the Western "signs" or "houses" are represented by humans (one such sign being the twins "Gemini") and one is the inanimate balance scale "Libra"; the animals of the Chinese zodiac are not associated with constellations, let alone those spanned by the ecliptic plane.

The zodiac traditionally begins with the sign of the Rat, and there are many stories about the origins of the Chinese Zodiac which explain why this is so (see below). The following are the twelve zodiac signs (each with its associated Earthly branch) in order and their characteristics.[1]

   1. Rat – 鼠 (子) (Yang, 1st Trine, Fixed Element Water): Forthright, tenacious, intense, meticulous, charismatic, sensitive, intellectual, industrious, charming, eloquent, sociable, artistic, and shrewd. Can be manipulative, vindictive, self-destructive, envious, mendacious, venal, obstinate, critical, over-ambitious, ruthless, intolerant, and scheming.
   2. Ox  – 牛 (丑) (Water buffalo  in Vietnam) (Yin, 2nd Trine, Fixed Element Water): Dependable, ambitious, calm, methodical, born leader, patient, hardworking, conventional, steady, modest, logical, resolute, tenacious. Can be stubborn, dogmatic, hot-tempered, narrow-minded, materialistic, rigid, demanding.
   3. Tiger  – 虎 (寅) (Yang, 3rd Trine, Fixed Element Wood): Unpredictable, rebellious, colorful, powerful, passionate, daring, impulsive, vigorous, stimulating, sincere, affectionate, humanitarian, generous. Can be restless, reckless, impatient, quick-tempered, obstinate, selfish, aggressive, moody.
   4. Rabbit  – 兔 or 兎 (卯) (Cat  in Vietnam) (Yin, 4th Trine, Fixed Element Wood): Gracious, good friend, kind, sensitive, soft-spoken, amiable, elegant, reserved, cautious, artistic, thorough, tender, self-assured, shy, astute, compassionate, lucky, flexible. Can be moody, detached, superficial, self-indulgent, opportunistic, stubborn.
   5. Dragon – 龍 / 龙 (辰) (Yang, 1st Trine, Fixed Element Wood): Magnanimous, stately, vigorous, strong, self-assured, proud, noble, direct, dignified, eccentric, intellectual, fiery, passionate, decisive, pioneering, artistic, generous, loyal. Can be tactless, arrogant, imperious, tyrannical, demanding, intolerant, dogmatic, violent, impetuous, brash.
   6. Snake – 蛇 (巳) (Yin, 2nd Trine, Fixed Element Fire): Deep thinker, wise, mystic, graceful, soft-spoken, sensual, creative, prudent, shrewd, elegant, cautious, responsible, calm, strong, constant, purposeful. Can be loner, bad communicator, possessive, hedonistic, self-doubting, distrustful, mendacious, suffocating, cold.
   7. Horse – 馬 / 马 (午) (Yang, 3rd Trine, Fixed Element Fire): Cheerful, popular, quick-witted, changeable, earthy, perceptive, talkative, agile, magnetic, intelligent, astute, flexible, open-minded. Can be fickle, arrogant, childish, anxious, rude, gullible, stubborn.
   8. Goat – 羊 (未) (Yin, 4th Trine, Fixed Element Fire): Righteous, sincere, sympathetic, mild-mannered, shy, artistic, creative, gentle, compassionate, understanding, mothering, peaceful, generous, seeks security. Can be moody, indecisive, over-passive, worrier, pessimistic, over-sensitive, complainer, weak-willed.
   9. Monkey – 猴 (申) (Yang, 1st Trine, Fixed Element Metal): Inventor, motivator, improviser, quick-witted, inquisitive, flexible, innovative, problem solver, self-assured, sociable, artistic, polite, dignified, competitive, objective, factual, intellectual. Can be egotistical, vain, arrogant, selfish, reckless, snobbish, deceptive, manipulative, cunning, jealous, suspicious.
  10. Rooster  – 雞 / 鸡 (酉) (Yin, 2nd Trine, Fixed Element Metal): Acute, neat, meticulous, organized, self-assured, decisive, conservative, critical, perfectionist, alert, zealous, practical, scientific, responsible. Can be over zealous and critical, puritanical, egotistical, abrasive, proud, opinionated, given to empty bravado.
  11. Dog – 狗 / 犬 (戌) (Yang, 3rd Trine, Fixed Element Metal): Honest, intelligent, straightforward, loyal, sense of justice and fair play, attractive, amicable, unpretentious, sociable, open-minded, idealistic, moralistic, practical, affectionate, sensitive, easy going. Can be cynical, lazy, cold, judgmental, pessimistic, worrier, stubborn, quarrelsome.
  12. Pig  – 豬 / 猪 (亥) (Boar in Japan and Elephant  in Northern Thailand) (Yin, 4th Trine, Fixed Element Water): Honest, gallant, sturdy, sociable, peace-loving, patient, loyal, hard-working, trusting, sincere, calm, understanding, thoughtful, scrupulous, passionate, intelligent. Can be naïve, over-reliant, self-indulgent, gullible, fatalistic, materialistic.

In Chinese astrology the animal signs assigned by year represent what others perceive you as being or how you present yourself. It is a common misconception that the animals assigned by year are the only signs, and many western descriptions of Chinese astrology draw solely on this system. In fact, there are also animal signs assigned by month (called inner animals) and hours of the day (called secret animals).

To sum it up, while a person might appear to be a Dragon because they were born in the year of the Dragon, they might also be a Snake internally and an Ox secretively. In total, this makes for 8,640 possible combinations (60 year cycle (5 elements × 12 animals) × 12 months × 12 times of the day) that a person might be. These are all considered critical for the proper use of Chinese astrology.

Due to confusion with synonyms during translation, some of the animals depicted by the English words did not exist in ancient China. For example, 羊 can mean Ram, Goat or Sheep. Similarly, 鼠 (Rat) can also be translated as Mouse, as there are no distinctive words for the two genera in Chinese. Further, 豬 (Pig) is sometimes translated to Boar after its Japanese name, and 牛 plainly means Cow or Ox, and not Water Buffalo. Water Buffalo is 水牛。

Within the Four Pillars, the year is the pillar representing information about the person's family background and society or relationship with their grandparents. The person's age can also be easily deducted by comparing the sign of the person, the current sign of the year and the person's perceived age (teens,mid 20's, 40's and so on). For example, a person under the Tiger is either 12, 24, 36 or 48 years old in 2010 Tiger year, in 2011 Rabbit year, that person is one year older.

The following table shows the 60-year cycle matched up to the Western calendar for the years 1924–2043 (see Sexagenary cycle article for years 1804–2043). The sexagenary cycle begins at lichun 'about February 4' according to some astrological sources.

Top Ten Foreigners’ Favorite Chinese Dishes

Among all palatable Chinese dishes, there are ten being appraised as the favorite dishes of foreigners.

Top 1 Sweet and Sour Chicken

There is no wonder that Sweet and Sour Chicken ranks first among the favorites dishes for its sweet and sour taste as well as bright color any one couldn’t resist.

Top 2 Kung Pao Chicken

Kung Pao Chicken is an authentic Chinese local dish and popular among foreigners. It is mentioned by all many people from different countries. In China, it is also a must-order dish on menu.

Top 3 Spring Roll

Spring Roll is also called spring pancake and thin pancake, popular in all parts of China, especially in South China. Apart from being eaten by the folk households as daily food, the Spring Roll is also for receiving guests. Be means of delicious taste and dainty appearance, Spring Roll is listed as foreigners’ favorable food.

Top 4 Fry Rice

It was said that in a state visit, Li Hongzhang who was a major official during the late Qing Dynasty ordered his chef to cook a food catering to Chinese and the foreigners. The clever chef chose to cook the fry rice. This dish suiting both refined and popular tastes was praised by all diplomats.

Top 5 Mapo Beancurd

In China, no other cuisine could compare with Sichuan Cuisine in the use of pepper. As mentioning Sichuan Cuisine, people might think of the word “Spicy”. Among all typical spicy dishes of Sichuan Cuisine, Mapo Beancurd has to be referred. It is popular among Chinese and foreigners.

Top 6 Dumpling

In the eyes of Chinese people, dumping is a rather tasty dish and plays an important role in Chinese food. The fillings for dumpling range differently and nearly reflect the essence of Chinese culture. When visiting China, the foreign visitors are always offered with dumpling. Gradually, dumpling becomes a food able to represent China. Similar to dumpling, fried dumpling is also welcomed in other countries.

Top 7 Dumpling Soup

From the name of Dumpling soup, we know that the dish is closely related to dumpling. The difference between them is the appearance. The dumpling that has less fillings and more wrapper and is placed in soup is called dumpling soup.

Top 8 Roast Duck

Roast Duck has outstanding reputation and long history. Nearly each foreign visitor to Beijing might taste the Roast Duck. In China, the Quanjude Roast Duck may be the most popular. The visitors could eat it in travelling Beijing.

Top 9 Chow Mein

Comparing to other foods mentioned above, Chow Mein is less known by the foreigners. Nevertheless, under the influence of Cantonese in China, lots of foreigners know Chow Mein and begin to love this kind of local Chinese food. The Cantonese makes great contribution to changing the traditional food to cater to the foreigners’ tastes.

Top 10 Fried Shrimps with Cashew Nuts

Shrimps have rich nutrition and soft meat as well as are easily to be digested. Fried with cashew nuts, shrimps are helpful for protecting people’s cardiovascular system and prevent angiocardiopathy. Thus, the fried shrimps with cashew nuts become the hot choices of the foreign travelers.