The fun of Chinese characters
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Description
Book Introduction
A story about Chinese characters that brings out the flavor of words,
There's history and humor hidden in every word!
In messengers, we say 'okay', and in meetings, we say 'you know, there's that'.
Modern people speak a lot, but the depth of their words is gradually fading.
According to a recent survey, 89.7% of office workers responded that “modern people’s literacy level has declined.”
Additionally, the government policy briefing column, “Korean society with smartphones is losing vocabulary,” points out that “the smartphone-centric language environment is affecting the decline in vocabulary.”
In an age where short conversations, abbreviations, and emoticons replace spoken words, we need books that revive the joy of speaking.
This is the “Fun Grains of Chinese Characters”.
These days, when I come across a word I don't know, I start by searching the web.
But the real fun begins the moment you realize 'why that's what happened'.
Here lies the joy of ‘exploring the taste of words’ rather than studying Chinese characters.
Son Yu-mi (Youmei), well known for her YouTube channel “The Fun of Chinese Characters,” delves into the roots and hidden stories of Chinese characters contained in our everyday, familiar Korean words.
This book makes us realize the humor and insight of our ancestors, hidden within Chinese characters, about where words like 'Jin-sang', 'Sik-geop', 'Sim-sul', 'No-ik-jang', 'Hwan-jang', 'Al-ryeok', and 'Juchak-baga-ji' came from and what kind of life they embody.
In the author's note, the author points out, "In an age overflowing with fast and light information, we need to understand the meaning of words more deeply." Rather than simply memorizing Chinese character shapes, here is a book that reads a person's heart and history through a single word.
Readers will find themselves saying, "Aha!" just by reading, without having to learn new Chinese characters and etymologies.
This lifestyle book, which explains the origins and context of words rather than just a study book, will be a pleasant stimulus to revive the vocabulary of modern people of all ages.
There's history and humor hidden in every word!
In messengers, we say 'okay', and in meetings, we say 'you know, there's that'.
Modern people speak a lot, but the depth of their words is gradually fading.
According to a recent survey, 89.7% of office workers responded that “modern people’s literacy level has declined.”
Additionally, the government policy briefing column, “Korean society with smartphones is losing vocabulary,” points out that “the smartphone-centric language environment is affecting the decline in vocabulary.”
In an age where short conversations, abbreviations, and emoticons replace spoken words, we need books that revive the joy of speaking.
This is the “Fun Grains of Chinese Characters”.
These days, when I come across a word I don't know, I start by searching the web.
But the real fun begins the moment you realize 'why that's what happened'.
Here lies the joy of ‘exploring the taste of words’ rather than studying Chinese characters.
Son Yu-mi (Youmei), well known for her YouTube channel “The Fun of Chinese Characters,” delves into the roots and hidden stories of Chinese characters contained in our everyday, familiar Korean words.
This book makes us realize the humor and insight of our ancestors, hidden within Chinese characters, about where words like 'Jin-sang', 'Sik-geop', 'Sim-sul', 'No-ik-jang', 'Hwan-jang', 'Al-ryeok', and 'Juchak-baga-ji' came from and what kind of life they embody.
In the author's note, the author points out, "In an age overflowing with fast and light information, we need to understand the meaning of words more deeply." Rather than simply memorizing Chinese character shapes, here is a book that reads a person's heart and history through a single word.
Readers will find themselves saying, "Aha!" just by reading, without having to learn new Chinese characters and etymologies.
This lifestyle book, which explains the origins and context of words rather than just a study book, will be a pleasant stimulus to revive the vocabulary of modern people of all ages.
- You can preview some of the book's contents.
Preview
index
Author's Note 4
Emotions and human relationships
1. Take off the school uniform 16
2 The Wild Tangs · The Embarrassment of the Tang 18
3 Intestinal dislocation and rupture 20
4 Friction [軋轢] · Conflict [葛藤] 22
5. Jinsang [Advancement] 24
6. A bowl of alcohol 26
7 Tiger's Mouth 28
8 Horo [胡虜] children · Tea and rice 30
9. Pretentiousness and quietness 32
10 The liver is swollen 34
11 Food Fear 36
12 Shinshindangbu [Shinshindangbu] 38
13 Harmonious and Peaceful [Harmonious and Peaceful] 40
14 Full Satisfaction 42
15 Idiots [ignorant] and seasoned veterans [aged and mature] 44
16 Buying a Binchuk [嚬蹙] 46
17 Breath · Child [子息] · Life 48 1
18 Fatal incident 50
19 Lonely 52
20 Grumpy [heart] 54
Life, Fate, and Competition
21 The sole existence of children under heaven and earth [天上天下 唯我獨尊] 58
22 Likes and Dislikes · Fortune and Disfortune 60
23 Providence [Providence] 62
24 World Cup and President's Cup 64
25 The Last Bastion [Fortress] 66
26 The Best Volume · White Eyebrows 68
27 Thin Ice · Sharp Battle 70
28 Goal 72
29 The wind and the earth shattered and scattered [風飛雹散] 74
30 No Fall [Never Fall] 76
31 Autumn hair · Short hair 78
32 Deviation [Deviation] 80
33 Spicy Ramen 82
34 84
35 Changing the Secret [幽明] 86
36 Hearse 88
37 Disgraceful killing [亡body煞] 90
38 Perseverance [92]
39 Collapse of the Tile 94
40 Revenge [Snow Humiliation] 96 Expressions steeped in culture and history
41 Water Fountain 100
42 Spring and Autumn Annals 102
43 Sadamun 104
44 Reception Party 106
April Fool's Day 108
46 Nalyang [納] Special Feature 110
47 Leader's Conference 112
48 Hot Topics in Chang'an 114
49 Sambok [三伏] 116
50 Rejected 118
51. The 120th day of the first lunar month
52 Entrance [Hyun-Gwan] 122
53 mackerel 124
54 Kimchi 126
55 Dumplings 128
56 wall windows 130
57 mugwort barley 132
58. Hangover · Hangover 134
59 Anxiety and Worry [Old Woman's Heart] 136
60 Romance [Romance] 138
61. The Turtle Mirror 140
62 Byeongsinyukgap [病body 6甲] 142
63 dumbbell 144
64 Mudeppo 146
Deep meaning in everyday words and expressions
65 Become a scallop stew 150
66 Common 152
67 Jeonggok [正鵠] · Jangsajin 154
68 Common Sense 156
69 Great Acclaim [Great Acclaim] 158
70 Fun and Interest [Excitement] 160
71. Gem-Byeong · Outsider [門外漢] 162
72 Reptiles · Amphibians 164
73 Obstacles · Issue 166
74 Tal [] · Heum [欠] 168 7
5 Gingaminga 170
76 Smelting 172
77 Celsius [攝氏] · Fahrenheit [華氏] 174
78 Sujak [酬酌] · Guessing [斟酌] 176
79 Chupa [Autumn Faction] 178
80 Ultraviolet rays [UV rays] 180
81 Bachelor and Maiden 182
82 Kirasung [綺羅星] 184
83 Bizarre Hunting 186
84 Mirage [188]
85 Comb ratio 190
86 Drum and Dance 192
87. Sunken eyes and gray hair. 194.
88 Drawer 196
89 wavelength 198
90 setbacks [蹉跌] 200 Expressions reflecting society and economy
91 Red · Black 204
$92 206
93 Gakchul[各出] · Ggaechul[醵出] 208
94 Wolcheok [越尺] 210
95-hand therapy 212
96 hits [安打] 214
97 Begging God 216
98 Hangarae 218
99 Whirlwind 220
100 Jinbu [陳腐] · Shin Jin-haesa [新陳代謝] 222
101 Treatment of hunger and dysentery 224
102 Stinginess [226]
103 Clear at a glance 228
104 Typical [銓衡] 230
105 Creative Accounting [粉飾會計] 232
Chinese Character Nonsense Quiz 234
Correct answer 236
Emotions and human relationships
1. Take off the school uniform 16
2 The Wild Tangs · The Embarrassment of the Tang 18
3 Intestinal dislocation and rupture 20
4 Friction [軋轢] · Conflict [葛藤] 22
5. Jinsang [Advancement] 24
6. A bowl of alcohol 26
7 Tiger's Mouth 28
8 Horo [胡虜] children · Tea and rice 30
9. Pretentiousness and quietness 32
10 The liver is swollen 34
11 Food Fear 36
12 Shinshindangbu [Shinshindangbu] 38
13 Harmonious and Peaceful [Harmonious and Peaceful] 40
14 Full Satisfaction 42
15 Idiots [ignorant] and seasoned veterans [aged and mature] 44
16 Buying a Binchuk [嚬蹙] 46
17 Breath · Child [子息] · Life 48 1
18 Fatal incident 50
19 Lonely 52
20 Grumpy [heart] 54
Life, Fate, and Competition
21 The sole existence of children under heaven and earth [天上天下 唯我獨尊] 58
22 Likes and Dislikes · Fortune and Disfortune 60
23 Providence [Providence] 62
24 World Cup and President's Cup 64
25 The Last Bastion [Fortress] 66
26 The Best Volume · White Eyebrows 68
27 Thin Ice · Sharp Battle 70
28 Goal 72
29 The wind and the earth shattered and scattered [風飛雹散] 74
30 No Fall [Never Fall] 76
31 Autumn hair · Short hair 78
32 Deviation [Deviation] 80
33 Spicy Ramen 82
34 84
35 Changing the Secret [幽明] 86
36 Hearse 88
37 Disgraceful killing [亡body煞] 90
38 Perseverance [92]
39 Collapse of the Tile 94
40 Revenge [Snow Humiliation] 96 Expressions steeped in culture and history
41 Water Fountain 100
42 Spring and Autumn Annals 102
43 Sadamun 104
44 Reception Party 106
April Fool's Day 108
46 Nalyang [納] Special Feature 110
47 Leader's Conference 112
48 Hot Topics in Chang'an 114
49 Sambok [三伏] 116
50 Rejected 118
51. The 120th day of the first lunar month
52 Entrance [Hyun-Gwan] 122
53 mackerel 124
54 Kimchi 126
55 Dumplings 128
56 wall windows 130
57 mugwort barley 132
58. Hangover · Hangover 134
59 Anxiety and Worry [Old Woman's Heart] 136
60 Romance [Romance] 138
61. The Turtle Mirror 140
62 Byeongsinyukgap [病body 6甲] 142
63 dumbbell 144
64 Mudeppo 146
Deep meaning in everyday words and expressions
65 Become a scallop stew 150
66 Common 152
67 Jeonggok [正鵠] · Jangsajin 154
68 Common Sense 156
69 Great Acclaim [Great Acclaim] 158
70 Fun and Interest [Excitement] 160
71. Gem-Byeong · Outsider [門外漢] 162
72 Reptiles · Amphibians 164
73 Obstacles · Issue 166
74 Tal [] · Heum [欠] 168 7
5 Gingaminga 170
76 Smelting 172
77 Celsius [攝氏] · Fahrenheit [華氏] 174
78 Sujak [酬酌] · Guessing [斟酌] 176
79 Chupa [Autumn Faction] 178
80 Ultraviolet rays [UV rays] 180
81 Bachelor and Maiden 182
82 Kirasung [綺羅星] 184
83 Bizarre Hunting 186
84 Mirage [188]
85 Comb ratio 190
86 Drum and Dance 192
87. Sunken eyes and gray hair. 194.
88 Drawer 196
89 wavelength 198
90 setbacks [蹉跌] 200 Expressions reflecting society and economy
91 Red · Black 204
$92 206
93 Gakchul[各出] · Ggaechul[醵出] 208
94 Wolcheok [越尺] 210
95-hand therapy 212
96 hits [安打] 214
97 Begging God 216
98 Hangarae 218
99 Whirlwind 220
100 Jinbu [陳腐] · Shin Jin-haesa [新陳代謝] 222
101 Treatment of hunger and dysentery 224
102 Stinginess [226]
103 Clear at a glance 228
104 Typical [銓衡] 230
105 Creative Accounting [粉飾會計] 232
Chinese Character Nonsense Quiz 234
Correct answer 236
Publisher's Review
Reading for the fun of language
“Even a single word contains the scenery of the world.”
When we say 'Chinese characters', the first thing that comes to mind is school test papers or memorized meanings.
But this book boldly strips away the Chinese character for ‘study.’
The author dissects each and every word we use thoughtlessly in our daily lives, revealing the human heart and the landscape of the times hidden within those words.
Why 'Jin-sang' became such an uncomfortable word, the fact that 'Sim-sul' originally meant 'a skill of the mind,' and even the philosophy of aging contained in the word 'No-ik-jang.'
Beyond Chinese characters and their meanings, it depicts the moment when the background of words and human emotions intersect.
As you read this book, you will realize that 'language' is not simply a tool of communication, but rather the memory of an era, the character of a community, and a culture that contains the subtle textures of our lives.
This is why, even while reading with a smile, at some point you find yourself nodding your head.
Beyond Chinese Characters, Human Stories
“It’s not about studying Chinese characters, it’s about studying people.”
Son Yu-mi (Youmei) doesn't teach words.
Talk about people.
From the heartbreaking emotions in 'Hwanjang' to the tears of 'Danjang' to the clash of 'Alryuk'.
The author's explanations are not a dictionary, but a life story.
This is why many subscribers to the YouTube channel “The Fun of Chinese Characters” are enthusiastic, saying, “The story is so easy to read.”
The Chinese characters he looks at are not the language of knowledge, but the language of emotions, sentences of empathy.
The Chinese characters used by our ancestors contain the desire to endure and understand the world.
Reading that mind is more than just knowing the etymology; it is a journey of following the 'path of language created by human thought.'
《The Fun of Chinese Characters》 is not a book that teaches you Chinese characters again, but rather a book that makes you listen to words again, that is, a cultural book that revives your 'sense of language.'
Humor and insight, everyday life and history all come together, and readers will soon find themselves experiencing the joy of learning.
“Even a single word contains the scenery of the world.”
When we say 'Chinese characters', the first thing that comes to mind is school test papers or memorized meanings.
But this book boldly strips away the Chinese character for ‘study.’
The author dissects each and every word we use thoughtlessly in our daily lives, revealing the human heart and the landscape of the times hidden within those words.
Why 'Jin-sang' became such an uncomfortable word, the fact that 'Sim-sul' originally meant 'a skill of the mind,' and even the philosophy of aging contained in the word 'No-ik-jang.'
Beyond Chinese characters and their meanings, it depicts the moment when the background of words and human emotions intersect.
As you read this book, you will realize that 'language' is not simply a tool of communication, but rather the memory of an era, the character of a community, and a culture that contains the subtle textures of our lives.
This is why, even while reading with a smile, at some point you find yourself nodding your head.
Beyond Chinese Characters, Human Stories
“It’s not about studying Chinese characters, it’s about studying people.”
Son Yu-mi (Youmei) doesn't teach words.
Talk about people.
From the heartbreaking emotions in 'Hwanjang' to the tears of 'Danjang' to the clash of 'Alryuk'.
The author's explanations are not a dictionary, but a life story.
This is why many subscribers to the YouTube channel “The Fun of Chinese Characters” are enthusiastic, saying, “The story is so easy to read.”
The Chinese characters he looks at are not the language of knowledge, but the language of emotions, sentences of empathy.
The Chinese characters used by our ancestors contain the desire to endure and understand the world.
Reading that mind is more than just knowing the etymology; it is a journey of following the 'path of language created by human thought.'
《The Fun of Chinese Characters》 is not a book that teaches you Chinese characters again, but rather a book that makes you listen to words again, that is, a cultural book that revives your 'sense of language.'
Humor and insight, everyday life and history all come together, and readers will soon find themselves experiencing the joy of learning.
GOODS SPECIFICS
- Date of issue: October 31, 2025
- Pages, weight, size: 236 pages | 234g | 100*180*14mm
- ISBN13: 9788961555883
- ISBN10: 896155588X
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카테고리
korean
korean
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