N.B. -This site is designed for educators and students. Here you will find numerous links that can be helpful in learning chinese and about the culture. Many sites link to others. If you know of usefu laddresses for this site, I ask that you send them to me at the bottom of this page. Xiexie!
Languages: Standard Chinese or Mandarin (Putonghua, based on the Beijing dialect), Yue (Cantonese), Wu (Shanghaiese), Minbei (Fuzhou), Minnan (Hokkien-Taiwanese), Xiang, Gan, Hakka dialects and other minority languages.
Webmaster / Professor Emeritus University of Northern Iowa
5 May, 2008
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China Orbit This web portal offers China newcomers and experts alike the
opportunity to become informed and exchange information about
the People's Republic of China, Chinese culture, Chinese politics
and philosophy, Chinese history, as well as current events and
developments in and about China.
Chinese Software for Mobile Units "HNHSoft Talking English-Chinese dictionary is by far the best
Chinese learning software we have used. It has great features and is very easy to use. That's why we recommend it to every student in our school." -- Liyuan Y. Silva, Principal, Massachusetts Chinese School.
NetTVDB for China Welcome to NetTVDB the Internet TV database Watch Live broadcasts and pre recorded programmes available from China.
I Learn Chinese Here This dictionary contains over 40.000 entries. Each dictionary entry has this pattern : Chinese (traditional-simplified) - Pinyin - English. Pinyin is Chinese written in Western script. To look a word up, you can use Chinese (both simplified and traditional), English or Pinyin.
The Complete Reference to
China About China, you name it, we have it! 8,500+ links to China/Chinese related Web sites, and update everyday. For Advanced Chinese Learners
* * * * * * * * * China's People
There are about 55 million ethnic minorities in China, each with their own distinctive customs costumes and, in many cases, languages. Though rich in culture, and varied, together they make up only about seven percent of the population, with the main group, know as Han Chinese, accounting for rest. Modernization of society and intermarriage are inevitably leading to the dilution of these differences, but many groups remain proud of their heritage and retain their traditional beliefs and customs. Many have beautiful styles of dress (especially of the women), and these costumes and cultures have become a major attraction to visitors, who bring trade to communities.
Dorling Kindersly Travel Guide (2005) p. 24
For more facts about China --> [Press Here]
Years: ...1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, 2020
Rat personality traits: People born in the Year of the Rat are one of the most industrious and hardest working in the zodiac. The Rat [2008] is welcomed as a clever protector and bringer of wealth
Geography
China covers an area of about 9,572,900 sq km (3,696,100 sq miles), making it the third-largest country in the world.
In many respects, its development has been shaped by its geography. The East Asian country has deserts, mountains and fertile river basins as well as the highest and one of the lowest places on Earth. It is high in the west and low in the east. Most of China's recent economic development has taken place in the eastern coastal provinces, leaving the rural interior underdeveloped.
Ethnic issues
The Han Chinese make up over 92% of the population of China, which is also home to 55 other official ethnic groups.
Most of the minority groups live in sparsely populated border areas. Beijing faces two separatist conflicts in the western region - the Tibetans in Tibet and the Uighur in Xinjiang. Although tensions between other minority groups and the majority Han have mostly been hidden they have always been sensitive. And, after an outbreak of violence in Henan province in 2004, there are fears they could further deteriorate.
Population
China's 1.3bn people make up one-fifth of the world's population. But strict rules and changing lifestyles have led to lower growth rates. Most urban couples are bound by the "One Child" policy. Rural families are allowed a second child if their first-born is a girl. Many go to great lengths to ensure they have boys which officials believe is leading to a growing gender imbalance.
China is seeing a great movement of population from the rural interior to the cities in the east. In 1950, the urban population represented less than 13% of the total - it is now about 40% and is expected to reach 60% by 2030.
Economy
Since the communist regime decided to open up to foreign investment in 1978, China has become one of the world's fastest growing economies and is among its 10 largest. But, with growth rates close to 9%, some experts warn the Chinese economy may be overheating and that should it falter the rest of the world could suffer.
In recent years, China has also become a trading giant - it is the world's fifth largest exporter of merchandise after the US, Germany, Japan, and France.
The economic boom has, however, created new social and environmental problems.
Ethnologue Survey (1999) lists the following as the top languages by
population:
(number of native speakers in parentheses)
A few of the easier things about learning Chinese:
- Unlike many European languages, Chinese has no irregular verbs or noun plurals to learn, because
words have only a single form, with no suffixes for tense, number, case, etc. (There are some particles
which work somewhat like tense endings, but they always take the same form, no matter what
they are added to.)
- It is said that Chinese speakers are usually tolerant of a foreigner's mistakes--perhaps because
so many Chinese themselves speak standard Mandarin Chinese as a second language.
If you would like to know a few of the harder things about learning the language... go to:
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