Welcome to The Character Project
The Character Project is a growing collection of translated Chinese characters, as told through personal stories and life lessons.
Why The Character Project?
Have you ever had the feeling of a word or phrase on the tip of your tongue that you couldn't voice?
That was me, but for an entire language.
An entire heritage.
Growing up Chinese American (or American Chinese??), I hopped back and forth between China and the US multiple times. Often I felt like an outsider in both countries.
Language was one of the main reasons.
I struggled to communicate in English when I first moved to the US. Then I struggled again in Chinese when I moved back to China in middle school. Too often while growing up I felt voiceless—unable to express what I wanted to say inside, hindered by the language I was surrounded by.
It led me to constantly be curious about language, etymology, and the things that get lost in translation. For example: why does a “piece of cake” mean easy? How do you translate the nuance of the phrase into Chinese?
Drawing legs on a snake, or 画蛇添足 (huà shé tiān zú) is such a descriptive way to describe doing something unnecessary or adding unnecessary steps. How do you incorporate the literal ingenuity of this metaphor?
I am fascinated by the dance and interrelationship these two languages have on each other, and the larger implications into the culture and worldview each language carries. Perhaps no two languages can dance together more than this East meets West dalliance, with such different world (and political) views.
And this is why The Character Project was born, coming to you as a special collection of essays. An anthology of different interpretations of Chinese characters written to you in English, and the lasting impact they’ve had on me. An ongoing reconciliation of my, and our, shared heritage.
Because language shapes our worldview.
Language, after all, is how we have a voice.
And language, for me, began with characters.
What can you expect?
The Character Project is a place to unpack the deeper meaning behind a language and heritage, interwoven with personal stories and essays. Every other Thursday, I’ll be in your inbox to introduce you to a new character.
Some of these essays will be irreverent. Others will (attempt to) pursue deep, existential questions. All of them, I hope, will be something you can take with you.
As a preview until the next piece drops, here are some of the most popular pieces from previous editions:
As I write about the characters that resonate with me, I’d also love to know: what are some of your favorite words in English (or any other language) and why?
Feel free to comment, or reply to my emails; it goes straight to my inbox and I read every reply. I hope to not only share my stories, but also get to know yours, too. And finally, thank you for being a part of this project.
Onwards and upwards,
Yina
