Mandarin Chinese Alphabet

Yī (one) is the simplest character – a single horizontal stroke. It forms the base of many number-related characters.

Èr (two) uses two strokes. Chinese numbers are built logically: one, two, three are stacking horizontal lines.

Sān (three) completes the pattern. After three, Chinese switches to more complex character forms.

Sì (four) depicts a nose breathing – an early pictographic representation of breath divided four ways.

Wǔ (five) evolved from a character showing five elements crossing. Its X shape represents intersection.

Liù (six) resembles a roof or shelter. The sound 'liu' relates to 'flow' in classical associations.

Qī (seven) looks like a cutting motion. It originally depicted a knife cutting something in half.

Bā (eight) shows two strokes separating. It originally meant 'to divide' and still carries that meaning.

Jiǔ (nine) resembles an arm flexing. Nine is considered extremely lucky in Chinese culture.

Shí (ten) is a simple cross, representing completeness. Ten fingers, ten perfection.

Rén (person) is one of the most basic characters – a simple figure with two legs walking.

Rì (sun/day) was originally a circle with a dot. It evolved into the rectangular form.

Yuè (moon/month) shows the crescent moon shape, also used for 'month' in the calendar.

Shuǐ (water) depicts flowing water with a central stream and side splashes.

Huǒ (fire) shows flames rising with a person (人) beneath – fire lifting upward.

Mù (tree/wood) shows a tree with roots below and branches above.

Jīn (gold/metal) originally showed gold nuggets buried in the earth.

Tǔ (earth/soil) depicts a mound of earth with a seedling growing from it.

Shān (mountain) is a simple pictograph of three peaks, the tallest in the center.

Tiān (sky/heaven) shows a person (大) with the highest point marked above.

Dì (earth/ground) combines earth radical (土) with 'also' (也) – the ground beneath.

Dà (big) shows a person with arms spread wide. Size is expressed through human gesture.

Xiǎo (small) depicts something being divided into smaller parts with vertical strokes.

Zhōng (middle) shows a line through the center. China is called 中国 – the Middle Kingdom.

Guó (country) shows a territory (囗) with a jade (玉) inside – a precious defended space.

Shēng (life/birth) depicts a plant sprouting from the ground – new life emerging.

Hǎo (good) combines woman (女) and child (子) – a mother with child represents goodness.

Wǒ (I/me) depicts a hand holding a weapon – the self defended and asserted.

Tā (he) combines person (亻) with 'also' (也) – another person, him.

Tā (she) is a modern creation, combining woman (女) with 'also' (也).

Shì (is/yes) shows the sun (日) at its correct position – truth, correctness.

Bù (not/no) depicts a bird trying to fly up but blocked – negation, inability.

Yǒu (have/exist) shows a hand (又) grasping meat (月) – to have is to hold food.

Zài (at/in) shows a seedling (才) in the earth – being present in a place.

Lái (come) originally showed wheat growing – things coming to fruition.

Qù (go) shows a person (大) moving away from a point (厶) – departure.

Chū (exit/out) shows a plant breaking through the ground – emergence.

Nián (year) originally showed a person carrying grain – the harvest marking a year's cycle.

Shí (time) combines sun (日) with temple (寺) – time measured by the sun at the temple.