今生遇见你是我的福
jín shèng yujián ni shi wŏ de fú
Meeting you in this life is my blessing

龙和凤凰
lóng hé fèng huáng
Dragon and Phoenix

上马
shàng mă
Mount Up! (let's go now)

白莲花生长在最黑的泥里
bái lián huā shēng zhăng zài zuì hēi de ní lĭ
The white lotus flower grows in the blackest mud

不到长城非好汉
bù dào cháng chéng fēi hăo hàn
Not reach Great Wall, not proper person
(You must overcome great difficulties before you reach the goal)

天下之软   驰骋天下之坚
tiăn xià zhī ruăn   chí chĕng tiăn xià zhī jiān
[all] under heaven that is soft, prevails over [all] under heaven that is hard
— 道德经 Dao De Jing, Chapter 43

G enerally, DON'T! Chinese people do not openly display their feelings. There are NO public displays of affection! To say you like something (xĭ huān) can get you in a world of trouble. They may think you either want it or, if the subject is a person, you love that person. Instead, say something nice about the subject. Say it is beautiful, good looking, you enjoy it, or it makes you happy. This is much, much safer. If someone asks you, "Do you like this?", they want to sell it to you. They will never ask if you want to buy it.

N ever say, "I Love You", in public. It's considered way, way too intimate. Even a hug is considered too much. Stay reserved until you are in private.

I f someone points to some food and asks you, "Do you like this?", BE CAREFUL. If you answer "Yes" they will immediately begin cooking it. Answer instead, "This is delicious, now don't want."

W hen visiting someone's house also be careful. Saying "I really like that painting" means you want to have it somehow. Say, "very beautiful", instead. The same goes for eating out. If you say, "I really like seafood.", it will translate as "I only want seafood."

S igns use a contracted version of the Chinese vernacular. Usually one written word replaces two or more vernacular words. These are commonly used on street signs, store signs, and advertisements.

☕   此处售咖啡   ☕
cĭ chù shòu kā fēi
this place sells coffee

🚭   禁止吸烟   🚭
jìn zhĭ xī yān
Prohibit smoking

💆   盲人按摩   💆
máng rén àn mó
Blind Man Massage

🍺 禁止酒后开车 🍺
Jìn zhĭ jiŭ hòu kāi chē
Prohibited after alcohol drive car

⚡   危险 小心   ⚡
wéi xiăn - xiăo xīn
Danger - Careful

⛔   禁止进入   ⛔
jìn zhĭ jìn rù
Prohibit Entry

I n ancient China Copper Coins with a square center hole were strung together and hung about the neck, to ensure their safe keeping. A string of 1,000 Coins was called a hanger (diào zi 吊子). 500 coins made a half hanger (bàn diào zi 半吊子). To achieve a half hanger was looked down upon. To have only half of a half (250) was considered just plain stupid. Currently the number 250 is considered a huge insult. When bartering, no one will ever settle on 250 as a price and to call someone 250 is to invite a fight. Caution is advised!

T he Chinese have always counted by groups of Ten Thousand, NOT 1,000 like the rest of the world. They continue to count in this manner.
For instance:

13,000 (13 Thousand) is, yī wàn sān qiān (一万三千) (one ten-thousand, 3 thousand)

100,000,000 (100 Million) is, yī wàn wàn (一万万) (ten thousand ten-thousands)

中国月历
zhōng guó yuè lì
Chinese Lunar Calendar