Asian Languages

The Sailor Who Mistook a Word for an Island

Explore the strange case of "I-da-no", a phantom island that appeared on Japanese maps for decades. This wasn't a sailor's…

1 week ago

Japan’s ‘Hentaigana’: The Lost Characters

Before Japanese script was standardized in 1900, writers used a vast and beautiful array of variant cursive characters known as…

1 week ago

The Japanese Crossword Puzzle

How do you build a crossword in a language with three writing systems and no spaces? This piece explores the…

1 week ago

Why Mandarin Will (or Won’t) Become the Next Global Language

With China's economic might and over a billion native speakers, is Mandarin destined to replace English as the world's lingua…

2 weeks ago

The Secret Meaning of Colors in Chinese Culture

Ever wondered why red is the color of luck in China or why a gift wrapped in white is a…

2 weeks ago

Why Your Chinese Friend Has an ‘English’ Name

Ever wondered why your friend from Beijing introduces herself as 'Cynthia' instead of 'Xinyi'? This phenomenon is more than just…

2 weeks ago

What Countries Speak Mandarin? The Answer May Surprise You

When you think of Mandarin, you probably think of China. But the world's most spoken language is also an official…

2 weeks ago

From Pinyin to Characters: Your First Steps to Writing

Seeing a block of Chinese text can be intimidating, but there's a logical system behind those beautiful characters. This guide…

2 weeks ago

How to Type in Mandarin on Your Phone & PC (It’s Easy!)

Ready to chat with friends or write an email in Chinese? Setting up and using a Pinyin keyboard is far…

2 weeks ago

The ‘Cheat Code’ to Learning Chinese Characters

Trying to learn thousands of Chinese characters one-by-one is a path to burnout. The secret 'cheat code' lies in understanding…

2 weeks ago

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