Learn Mandarin: Some Methods Used to create Simplified Chinese Characters

There are a number of different ways the simplified characters are used, depending on the character. These vary from a simplified character than can not stand alone to a simplified character that stands alone and has a different sound, and even simplified characters that are reversions to a more ancient form which was less intricate. Here are some examples of the different types of simplified Chinese characters. In Part 1 of this series we look at four different methods with example illustrating the changes.

The simplified character still uses the same pattern as the traditional one.

a) The simpler substituted element isn’t a stand-alone character.

For examples:

· 單 【dān=simple】 → 单 【dān】

· 僉 【qiān=all】 → 佥 【qiān】

· 岡 【gāng=ridge】 → 冈 【gāng】

· 單 → 单

· 僉 → 佥

· 岡 → 冈

b) The simpler substituted element is a stand-alone character and has a different sound than the traditional character.

When it’s substituted, its phonetic sound is changed from the phonetic of the traditional character, such as 玉【yù】, which came from 国 【guó】. This method is also known as changing the phonetic element.

For examples:

Traditional Chinese → Simplified Chinese (Simpler Substituted Element)

• 國 【guó=country】 → 国【guó】( 玉 【yù=jade】)
• 還 【hái=still, yet】 → 还【hái】 ( 不 【bù=no, not】 )
• 潔 【jié=clean】 → 洁【jié】( 土 【tǔ=land】 and 口【kǒu=mouth】 )
• 國 → 国 ( 玉 )
• 還 → 还 ( 不 )
• 潔 → 洁 ( 土and 口 )

c) The simpler substituted element is a stand-alone character and has the similar/same sound as the traditional one.

When it’s substituted, its meaning is changed, such as the meaning of 由【yóu=cause】whicjh is changed from 邮【yóu=post】.

For examples:

Traditional Chinese → Simplified Chinese (Simpler Substituted Element)

• 郵【yóu=mail】→ 邮【yóu】( 由 【yóu=cause】)
• 樣【yàng=shape】→ 样【yàng】( 羊 【yáng=sheep】)
• 園 【yuán= garden】→ 园 【yuán】( 元【yuán=primary】)
• 郵 → 邮 ( 由 )
• 樣 → 样 ( 羊 )
• 園 → 园 ( 元 )

Examples:

· 電 【diàn= electricity】 → 电【diàn】

· 點 【diǎn= a little】 → 点 【diǎn】

· 氣 【qì= air】 → 气 【qì】

· 電 → 电

· 點 → 点

· 氣 → 气

For example:

· 涙 【lèi = tear 】 → 泪 【lèi= tear】

· 禮 【lǐ= courtesy】 → 礼 【lǐ= courtesy】

· 網 【wǎng=net 】 → 网 【wǎng=net】

· 涙 → 泪

· 禮 → 礼

· 網 → 网

Example 1:

First Character + Second Character → Merged into

麵 【miàn =noodle】+ 面 【miàn=face】→ 面【miàn=face, noodle】

Sample Words:

面條 【miàntiáo= noodles】

面子 【miànzi=face】

Example 2:

First Character + Second Character → Merged into

豐 【fēng =rich】+ 丰 【fēng=handsome】→ 丰【fēng=rich】

Sample Words:

丰富 【fēngfù=rich】

丰姿绰约 【fēngzīchuòyuē=graceful】

Example 3:

First Character + Second Character → Merged into

穀 【gǔ=crop】+ 谷 【gǔ= valley】 → 谷 【gǔ=crop, valley】

Sample Words:

五谷 【wǔgǔ=food crops】

山谷 【shāngǔ= mountain valley】

· 麵 + 面 → 面 e.g. 面條, 面子

· 豐 + 丰 → 丰 e.g. 丰富, 丰姿绰约

· 穀 + 谷 → 谷 e.g. 五谷, 山谷

In part 2 of this series we will look at an additional five methods used to create simplified Chinese characters from traditional characters.