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Get ready to brush up on your Chinese skills and immerse yourself in the rich culture of China this Chinese Language Day!
Get ready to celebrate the beauty and richness of the Chinese language on April 20 for Chinese Language Day! This holiday was established by the United Nations in 2010 to promote cultural diversity and multilingualism, as well as to honor the contributions of Chinese culture to the world. Did you know that Mandarin Chinese is the most spoken language in the world with over 1 billion speakers? From ancient poetry to modern-day films, the Chinese language has a long and fascinating history. So why not take this day to learn some new words and phrases or try your hand at writing in Chinese characters? It's sure to be a fun and rewarding experience!
<div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>3000 BC</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Origin of Chinese Script</div><div class='timeline-text'>Ancient Chinese script, also known as Oracle Bone Script, was found carved into tortoise shells and animal bones dating back to around 3000 BC making it one of the earliest forms of written expression.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>221 BC</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Standardization of Chinese Script</div><div class='timeline-text'>During the Qin Dynasty (221-206 BC), Prime Minister Li Si standardized the Chinese characters across the different provinces, leading to what we know as Traditional Chinese characters today.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>581</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Creation of Simplified Chinese</div><div class='timeline-text'>In the Sui Dynasty (581-618), the government introduced block printing which led to a simplified form of the Chinese characters.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1956</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Adoption of Pinyin</div><div class='timeline-text'>In 1956, the Chinese government officially adopted Pinyin, a romanization system for Chinese characters, to help promote literacy and make Chinese more accessible to foreigners.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>2010</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>UN's Chinese Language Day</div><div class='timeline-text'>In 2010, the United Nations declared April 20 as Chinese Language Day, aiming to celebrate and promote the cultural diversity and multilingualism of the Chinese language and culture.</div></div></div>
<div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>1</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Attend a language exchange event</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Join a local Chinese language exchange event where you can practice speaking Chinese with native speakers and learn more about the culture.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>2</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Try out a new Chinese dish</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Celebrate Chinese Language Day by trying out a new Chinese dish or cooking your favorite Chinese meal at home. Don't forget to use chopsticks!</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>3</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Learn a new phrase or word in Chinese</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Expand your Chinese vocabulary by learning a new phrase or word on Chinese Language Day. You can impress your friends and family with your new language skills!</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>4</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Watch a Chinese film or TV show</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Spend the day watching a Chinese film or TV show with subtitles to improve your listening and reading skills in Chinese.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>5</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Visit a local Chinatown</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Take a trip to your nearest Chinatown to immerse yourself in Chinese culture, try authentic food, and practice your language skills with locals. Don't forget to snap some photos!</p></div></div>
<div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>A</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>It celebrates a beautiful and ancient language</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>Chinese Language Day is a day to honor the rich history and beauty of the Chinese language. As one of the oldest living languages in the world, Chinese holds a special significance and cultural importance that should be acknowledged and celebrated.</p></div></div><div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>B</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>It promotes diversity and understanding</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>By celebrating Chinese Language Day, we are also promoting diversity and understanding among different cultures. Learning about another culture's language opens up opportunities for communication and connection, fostering respect and acceptance for one another.</p></div></div><div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>C</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>It's an opportunity to learn something new</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>Learning a new language can be daunting, but it can also be incredibly fulfilling. Celebrating Chinese Language Day is a chance for non-native speakers to dive into this beautiful language and appreciate its intricate characters, tones, and grammar - who knows, you may even pick up some new words or phrases!</p></div></div>
Chinese Language Day is celebrated on April 20 every year. In 2024, Chinese Language Day will occur on a Saturday.
2023
Apr 20
Thursday
2024
Apr 20
Saturday
2025
Apr 20
Sunday
2026
Apr 20
Monday
2027
Apr 20
Tuesday
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