Chinese Culture & Customs
104 words · page 1 of 2
- 瑞ruì(bound form) auspicious (used in literary compounds)HSK 7-9
- 葬礼zàng lǐfuneral; burialHSK 7-9
- 礼lǐ(bound form) ritual, ceremony; (bound form) courtesy, etiquette, manners; (bound form) gift, presentHSK 7-9
- 功夫gōng futime and effort (spent on something); kung fu, Chinese martial arts; skill, art, craftHSK 4
- 八卦bā guà(noun) the eight trigrams of the I Ching; (noun) gossip, juicy talk; (adjective) gossipy, fond of gossipingHSK 7-9
- 份子fèn zia monetary gift (one's share) given collectively for a wedding, funeral, or other major social occasionHSK 7-9
- 老子lǎo ziLaozi (the ancient philosopher, founder of Daoism); (colloquial, self-address) I, me (used to show arrogance or authority)HSK 7-9
- 国画guó huàtraditional Chinese paintingHSK 5
- 年夜饭nián yè fànNew Year's Eve family reunion dinner (traditional Chinese custom celebrated on Lunar New Year's Eve)HSK 5
- 玉yùjade (a precious stone, often culturally symbolic in Chinese contexts)HSK 7-9
- 大脚dà jiǎo(historical) unbound feet; a woman with natural-sized feet (as opposed to bound feet)HSK 7-9
- 武术wǔ shùChinese martial arts; kung fuHSK 5
- 吉祥物jí xiáng wùmascotHSK 7-9
- 风情fēng qínglocal customs and conditions (of a place); regional charm; amorous or flirtatious charm (especially of a woman); captivating graceHSK 7-9
- 吉利jí lìauspicious, luckyHSK 7-9
- 仁rén(Confucian philosophy) benevolence, humanity; kernel (of a nut), nut meatHSK 7-9
- 江湖Jiāng hú(figurative) the world of martial arts wanderers and outlaws; the alternative society or 'underworld'; (literary) rivers and lakes; (by extension) the far corners of the countryHSK 7-9
- 中餐zhōng cānChinese food; Chinese cuisineHSK 4
- 君子jūn zǐ(noun) a person of noble character and moral integrity (Confucian ideal)HSK 7-9
- 如意rú yì(verb) as one wishes, according to one's desires; used in blessings and expressions of good fortune; (noun) ruyi scepter, an ornamental object symbolizing good luck and authorityHSK 7-9
- 圭guī(historical) jade tablet carried by nobles and rulers as a symbol of authority in ceremonial contexts; (archaeology) a burial object, often made of jadeHSK 7-9
- 甲子jiǎ zǐfirst year of the Sexagenary Cycle; a sixty-year cycleHSK 7-9
- 乾gānheaven, the male principle; the Qian trigram (☰) and hexagram (䷀) of the YijingHSK 7-9
- 缘分yuán fènpredestined relationship or connection; fate that binds people togetherHSK 7-9
- 武林wǔ línthe martial arts world; the community of martial artists (in Chinese culture and fiction)HSK 7-9
- 寿星shòu xīnggod of longevity (a Chinese mythological figure); birthday person (the one being honored on their birthday)HSK 7-9
- 除夕Chú xīlunar New Year's EveHSK 5
- 风俗fēng súsocial custom; customHSK 5
- 申shēnthe ninth Earthly Branch (used in the Chinese zodiac and traditional timekeeping); abbreviation for Shanghai (e.g., in postal codes or company names); a Chinese surnameHSK 7-9
- 艮gěnname of the Gen trigram (☶) in the Eight Trigrams of the I Ching; name of the Gen hexagram (䷳) in the Sixty-four HexagramsHSK 7-9
- 敬酒jìng jiǔto toast (someone); to propose a toast and drinkHSK 7-9
- 祥xiángauspicious (used in compounds)HSK 7-9
- 守灵shǒu língto keep vigil over the deceased (before burial); to attend a wakeHSK 7-9
- 风水fēng shuǐfeng shui (the Chinese practice of harmonizing people with their environment)HSK 7-9
- 拱手gǒng shǒu(verb-object) to make a traditional Chinese gesture of respect by cupping one hand in the other in front of the chest; (figurative) to yield submissively; to give up without a fightHSK 7-9
- 孝xiàofilial piety (the Confucian virtue of respect and care for parents); mourning (the observance of filial mourning rites for a deceased parent)HSK 7-9
- 玺xǐimperial seal (used by Chinese emperors)HSK 7-9
- 斯文sī wénthe refined culture of the literati; scholarly refinementHSK 7-9
- 阴阳yīn yáng(noun) yin and yang, the two complementary forces in Chinese cosmology; (noun) balance of opposites; interplay of forcesHSK 7-9
- 闺房guī fáng(noun) a woman's private chamber in traditional Chinese residences; boudoirHSK 7-9
- 天命tiān mìng(noun) the mandate of heaven (political theory justifying a ruler's authority); (noun) destiny, fate; (noun) one's natural lifespanHSK 7-9
- 灯笼dēng longlanternHSK 6
- 传承chuán chéngto pass on (cultural heritage, skills, traditions); to inherit and transmitHSK 6
- 吊唁diào yànto condole; to offer condolencesHSK 7-9
- 太极Tài jí(philosophy) the Supreme Ultimate, the ultimate source of all things; (martial arts) Tai Chi (short for 太极拳)HSK 7-9
- 仁爱rén àibenevolence, humanity, love for one's fellow humansHSK 7-9
- 万福mò(interjection, archaic) a polite female greeting expressing good luck, often paired with a curtsyHSK 7-9
- 书法shū fǎChinese calligraphy (as an art form and cultural practice)HSK 5
- 徵zhēng(music) the fourth note of the ancient Chinese pentatonic scaleHSK 7-9
- 忌jìto be jealous of; to avoid or abstain from (sth); to have a taboo aboutHSK 7-9
- 爆竹bào zhúfirecrackerHSK 7-9
- 长命百岁chánga wish for longevity (may you live a hundred years); traditional blessing for long lifeHSK 7-9
- 非礼fēi lǐ(formal) to sexually assault or molest (someone); (literary) to be impolite, to violate etiquetteHSK 7-9
- 鞭炮biān pàofirecrackers; a string of small firecrackersHSK 7-9
- 亥hàithe twelfth Earthly Branch (connected to the pig, the hour 9–11 PM, and the month of November)HSK 7-9
- 时辰shí chenone of the 12 two-hour periods of the day in traditional Chinese timekeeping; (literary) time, moment, hourHSK 7-9
- 丧礼sāng lǐfuneral rites, funeralHSK 7-9
- 忌讳jì huì(noun) taboo; (verb) to avoid as taboo, to abstain from (out of cultural sensitivity or superstition)HSK 7-9
- 卯mǎofourth Earthly Branch (in traditional cyclic calendar); period from 5:00 to 7:00 AM in ancient timekeepingHSK 7-9
- 吉祥jí xiánglucky, auspiciousHSK 6