#mandarin

mandarinportal@pluspora.com

Today I think I finally came up with a way really remember how to write the #ChineseCharacter 立 [li4] which means to stand. It's also used as a component in some other characters such as 章 [zhang1] and 童 [tong2].
I can recognize it, but previously would often forget how to write it. The original character from thousands of years ago looks like a man standing. But the current current form of the character is harder for me to visualize. So I came up with a story: it's a man's head, him stretching his arms out, his torso, and him doing the full splits which is his strange way of standing. It's not etymologically accurate, but it's a #mnemonic that works for me. I think using #mnemonics is a much more efficient way to #memorize characters than rote #memorization #memory #Chinese #ChineseCharacters #Mandarin #LearnChinese #etymology #ChineseEtymology #langtwt #language #languages

carstenraddatz_fca@nerdica.net

A concert night to remember: 大象體操 12 hour live concert

Das 12 Stunden Live-Konzert von Elephant Gym 大象體操 läuft noch, it started last night. (Damn you combination of timezones, languages and brilliance gets me all mixed up.) They are absolutely fantastic, and when backed up by guests can add a ton of bombast, pathos and what have you. So glad they are.

Hier das 1. Set von vielen https://youtu.be/p-ATHLMQorI

2nd set https://youtu.be/ueghAoGr-KM

Check yuotbe for the other sessions, it's a different stream for every session.

#german #english #mandarin #japanese

carstenraddatz@pluspora.com

In a Mandarin word-chain chat today the innocuous 論壇 for “forum” showed up.

I was having both a fun and hard time to find anything starting with 壇 in my printed dictionaries, to continue the game with. Or even identify one that had the character at all. 壇 tán on its own has strong religious connotation, as in temple or ceremonious arrangement something something.

But. Searched four volumes, no dice. Online, no compound expression (maybe I stopped looking early because felt lightly discouraged). So had to dig into the old 1943 Mathew’s Dictionary that falls apart at the spine to find the one single compound noun 壇場 for “arena”. This family owned volume has proven useful at times.

Phew. I love it to have very reliable resources at hand when I need to. Digging that word up gave me a few happy moments of mild euphoria this morning while searching for and then posting my contribution. So you get to read this, too. :o)

Tiny 1943 Mathew’s Dictionary excerpt, p. 870

#mandarin #learningchinese #cjk #chineselesson #dictionary #languages