This document provides 20 basic Chinese terms with their English translations and origins. It explores the etymology and pictographic components of characters like 请坐 (please sit), 男生 (boys, men), and 名字 (name). For each term, the original Chinese characters are given along with a breakdown of the individual components and their associated meanings. This sheds light on how some characters depicted ancient concepts like men working in fields or enjoying rest under trees.

1. Lesson 1 The Basic terms (Part 1)
1. 请坐 Q ǐ ng zuò
In English: Please sit down
Word origin: The character 坐 can be deciphered as 人 (person) and 土
(ground), representing two people sitting on the ground.
2. 男生 Nán sh ē n
In English: Boys, men
Word origin: The character 男 can be deciphered as 田 (field) and 力 (labor),
showing in ancient China, men worked hard for agricultural work.
3. 请问 Q ǐ ng wèn
In English: May I ask…
Word origin: The character 问 can be deciphered as 门(door) and 口 (mouth),
representing “to walk into a door and ask questions.”
4. 休息 Xi ū xí

2. In English: rest
Word origin: The character 休 can be deciphered as 人(person) and 木 (tree),
showing in ancient China, the Chinese enjoyed resting under trees.
5. 你好 N ǐ h ǎ o
In English: hello
Word origin: The character 好 can be deciphered as 女(woman) and 子 (son),
showing in ancient China, the Chinese believed women bore boys was good
(好 literally means good).
6. 位子 Wèi zi
In English: seat
Word origin: The character 位 can be deciphered as 人 (person) and 立
(standing), meaning people standing in assigned positions.
7. 美丽 M ě i lì
In English: Beauty, beautiful

3. Word origin: The character 美 can be deciphered as 羊 (sheep) and 大 (big),
meaning the Chinese believed a larger amount is considered beautiful.
8. 信息 Xìn xí
In English: information
Word origin: The character 信 can be deciphered as 人 (person) and 言
(word), meaning if someone is reliable, then his/her words are to be trusted.
信 literally means “to trust, believe” as a verb.
9. 名字 Míng zi
In English: name
Word origin: The character 字 can be deciphered as 子 (son, phonetic), and 宀
(roof), meaning a name given to a young man. 字 literally means “letter,
character, and name.”
10. 爸爸 bà ba
In English: father

4. Word origin: The character 爸 can be deciphered as 父 (father) and 巴
(phonetic), meaning “father.”
11. 妈妈 M ā ma
In English: mother
Word origin: The character 妈 can be deciphered as 女 (women) and 马
(phonetic), meaning “mother.”
12. 公交车 ch ē
In English: bus
Word origin: The traditional form of character 车 is a pictograph (車) of chariot
viewed from above with wheels at top and bottom. 车 means cars in general.
13. 中国 Zh ō ng kuó
In English: China

5. Word origin: The character 国 can be deciphered as 囗 (encompass) and 玉
(jade), meaning “country, nation.” China was believed to be the central nation
of the world.
14. 看见 Kàn jiàn
In English: To see
Word origin: The character 见 can be deciphered as 目 (eye) and ㄦ (standing
person), meaning “to see.”
15. 小姐 Xi ǎ o ji ě
In English: Young lady
Word origin: The character 姐 can be deciphered as 女 (woman) and 且
(phonetic), meaning “sister or young woman.”
16. 米饭 M ǐ fàn
In English: rice
Word origin: The character 米 is a pictograph of grains of rice.

6. 17. 是的 Shì de
In English: correct, right, and yes
Word origin: The character 是 can be deciphered as 正 (right) and 日 (the light
of the day), meaning “correct, right, and yes.”
18. 牛肉 Niú ròu
In English: beaf
Word origin: The character 肉 is a pictograph of a carcass cut open, meaning
“meat, flesh.”
19. 明天 Míng ti ā n
In English: tomorrow
Word origin: The character 明 can be deciphered as 日 (sun) and 月 (moon),
meaning “bright.”
20. 饭馆 Fàn gu ǎ n
In English: restaurant

7. Word origin: The character 馆 can be deciphered as 食 (food) and 官 (officials,
phonetic), meaning “restaurant.”