Brings China closer

Language with character

by Floor Perquin

In this column, we explore various aspects of the Chinese language. This time, it’s all about food. Floor Perquin is a Chinese interpreter, translator, and language teacher.

甜酸苦辣 Tián suān kǔ là: The Flavours of Life

Sweet, sour, bitter, and spicy, life passes by at the Chinese dinner table! Anyone who has ever been to China can confirm the country’s deeply rooted food culture. And anyone lucky enough to attend a full Chinese banquet will have discovered a wide variety of flavours. Flavours that touch on an important element of Chinese culture, and one I’ve discussed in an earlier column: balance.

Take another look at the characters above, and you’ll notice that this saying is balanced as well, consisting of four characters in total: 甜酸苦辣 = tián suān kǔ là (pronounced: tyan, swan, koo, la). A common variation is: 酸甜苦辣 = suān tián kǔ là.

The literal meaning is sweet, sour, bitter, and spicy, and it’s used metaphorically to express the highs and lows of life.

These are the same characters, written in a different style, but still maintaining visual balance.

And “bon appétit”? Even that expression reflects calmness and balance in Chinese:

慢慢吃 = màn màn chī, which literally means “eat slowly.” Enjoy it!

Want to practise writing Chinese characters? Here are some tips:

  • Balance. Chinese culture is all about balance. We all know the concept of yin and yang—complementary opposites that contain a part of each other. The same principle applies to Chinese character writing: balance is key. When practising, it’s recommended to use grid paper and aim to fill each square—or a set of four squares—symmetrically.
  • From top to bottom. Chinese characters were traditionally written on bamboo sticks, which were then placed side by side. Later, the well-known Chinese ink was used. With both the bamboo sticks and the use of ink, it is important to start at the top, because otherwise smudges can be caused with the ink.
  • From left to right. Starting at the top of the left section, finish the left part of a character first (i.e., in the case of 秋, 禾) and then continue at the top of the right section.

 

If you’d like to learn more about Chinese food culture, you’re warmly invited to join the VNC China Dining Club, which will next meet in Amsterdam on 31 August.