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September 29, 2011

X is for Xiao


This is the Chinese character for small or little. In pinyin - the spelled sound and official phonetic system - it is xiao.

To my ears, the X is pronounced in between the English S and the SH. Xiao, then, is pronounced: shiao... or she-ow (and you can thank me for not getting into tones).

You can remember this character by visualizing the arms down, legs together... in contrast to the character for big or large, da - 大, which has the arms up, legs apart.

In China, xiao as a preface makes a common term of endearment. You often hear a waitress called xiao mei (little sister). Among friends, xiao is put before the personal name. For instance, my Chinese name is Fu Lian, so, if I were younger, people close to me and in the same generation could call me Xiao Fu.

The most famous xiao is Deng Xiaoping, 鄧小平, the diminutive paramount leader of China from 1978 to 1992 who made a big impact by raising millions out of poverty. Perhaps the most famous line attributed to him is: To get rich is glorious!

Shenzhen, 2010

Propaganda posters, and these days billboards, are evident throughout China. This one, featuring Deng Xiaoping, says: Continue the party's basic direction without hesitation for 100 years. 

The modern city of Shenzhen you see behind Mr Deng was little more than a fishing village when I first entered China in 1985. Today it is a thriving metropolis of 14 million people. That's no xiao feat.

X is the letter at Alphabe-Thursday and I'm also linking to Signs, Signs. 

26 comments:

  1. JimSeptember 29, 2011 at 10:41 AM

    what a sign!
    Sydney - City and Suburbs

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  2. Luna MirandaSeptember 29, 2011 at 12:43 PM

    interesting--i learned something new today! great post!

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  3. LindySeptember 29, 2011 at 12:54 PM

    It's always a good day when I learn something new, so thank you for today's lesson. =)

    14 million people - WOW! I can't even imagine.

    My sign is posted on my Drive-By Photos blog.

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  4. DinaSeptember 29, 2011 at 1:15 PM

    So many interesting things in one short post. I love the idea of a term of endearment before the name.

    So you speak and read Chinese?

    Yes, I agree that word verification is a waste of readers' time.

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  5. EbieSeptember 29, 2011 at 1:16 PM

    Its been a long time since I was 很小.

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  6. StaciaSeptember 29, 2011 at 3:56 PM

    Thanks for the lesson! How interesting!

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  7. LesleySeptember 29, 2011 at 5:49 PM

    And learning Chinese is no small feat!

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  8. AnonymousSeptember 29, 2011 at 8:24 PM

    What a wonderful lesson you have shared!

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  9. HalcyonSeptember 29, 2011 at 9:30 PM

    Hmmm... an interesting sign. They do propaganda well in China. I must admit, it is an attractive vista they've put behind this party man.

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  10. LolaSeptember 29, 2011 at 10:56 PM

    Learned something new today too! The derivation of words is so interesting!

    Many thanks for stopping by.Have a great weekend & look forward to *seeing* you again next time,

    XOXO LOLA:)

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  11. jooSeptember 29, 2011 at 10:58 PM

    I love this image for 'small'. To be honest I'm fascinated with bot Chinese and Japanese characters. As for the huge propaganda sign, well....it's huge!
    Hugs:)

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  12. AnonymousSeptember 29, 2011 at 11:03 PM

    Interesting,I enjoy learning new things,see you can teach and old dawg(me).
    ~JO

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  13. DinaSeptember 29, 2011 at 11:53 PM

    Ni how ma? (My only knowledge of Chinese)

    Thanks for your thoughts about the movie. I'm still thinking how I would answer such questions.

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  14. Susan AndersonSeptember 30, 2011 at 12:22 AM

    Thanks! I feel a little smarter than I was when I got here.

    =)

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  15. shirleySeptember 30, 2011 at 1:53 AM

    Wo de Zhong Wen mingzi shi Chang Sho Yi.

    I'm sure I butchered the pingyin on that - My Chinese name is Shirley

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  16. Tina´s PicStorySeptember 30, 2011 at 3:25 AM

    You gave me an idea for signs :) zai jian :)

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  17. GattinaSeptember 30, 2011 at 3:26 AM

    Interesting to learn somthing new, I didn't know !

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  18. Sallie (FullTime-Life)September 30, 2011 at 4:51 AM

    I love learning history from you. (Or perhaps re-learning what I must once have known something about.) And thank you for the lesson on language too.

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  19. Vicki/JakeSeptember 30, 2011 at 7:18 AM

    This was fun! Never thought I'd know what the Chinese letters meant...now I know one:) Awso many thanks Fu Lian :)

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  20. Red Nomad OZSeptember 30, 2011 at 9:29 AM

    Amazing the impact of one little character ... downunder here in OZ your world seems so exotic!! Have a great weekend!

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  21. AndreaSeptember 30, 2011 at 9:36 AM

    Oh that's something to regurgitate on for awhile, but big thanks for those information. I often see the word 'ciao' in greetings, but didn't bother to know what it is, are they the same?

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  22. PondsideSeptember 30, 2011 at 11:25 AM

    All new to me. I would love to visit China, but for now I'll be satisfied with vicarious experiences on your blog - in China and wherever else you take us.

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  23. EG CameraGirlSeptember 30, 2011 at 9:37 PM

    Very interesting post, Francisca! It's truly amazing how much China has grown in the past 25 years.

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  24. JudieOctober 2, 2011 at 8:27 AM

    Francisca, I am back again, trying for the third time to leave a comment!!! I know very little about China, but certainly do know of Deng Xiaoping. What a life you have led!! I thought we were being so daring when we moved from the southeast to Tucson, but you have gone places that I have only dreamed of!!!

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  25. UnknownOctober 3, 2011 at 6:03 AM

    What a huge billboard! Loved the information, Francisca.

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  26. JennyOctober 5, 2011 at 2:52 AM

    That billboard is really huge! How cool!

    I can't even imagine attempting this language. It seems so complicated and intricate yet lovely.

    Thanks for an xcellent and unusual link this week.

    You did great for the letter X.

    A++++++++++++++++++++++

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I am thrilled that you are here... a note from you will make me smile.

I'm receiving a flurry of Anonymous spam, so I've set comments only for registered users.

This is a word verification free blog. Read Susan's poem on my sidebar and join the movement, please!