In the last week of every year, we will write a blog about the Chinese Character of the year. Do you know these 2024 Chinese Characters? Read more.
The Chinese Character of the Year is like the Person of the Year of TIME magazine. Japan is the first country to choose one Chinese character to indicate the year’s theme. This started in 1995 and became a very popular event in Japan and Asia. Other countries also choose their Chinese character of the year to show the most important thing people think about the year. China started in 2006, Taiwan in 2008, Malaysia and Singapore started in the same year in 2011. Recently, some overseas Chinese communities, like America, France and others, also started their Chinese Characters of the Year.
Let’s now examine the Chinese of the year for Japan, China, Taiwan, Malaysia, and Singapore.
Japan Chinese character of the year
This year the Japanese chose 金 to indicate the the political money scandal and the Olympic gold medals in Paris. It also indicates the devaluation of the money. Gold is the king. This is the fifth time of 金 became the character of the year since 1995.
金/jīn/キン/コン/かね/かな/こがね – Gold, money,
China Chinese Character of the Year – International
This is the Chinese character to reflect the international situation. 变 means change. It indicates the international change caused by AI.
变 /biàn/
Change
China Chinese Character of the Year – Domestic
This year Chinese people chose “智“ which means “intelligence”. AI has become more involved in the economy and people’s daily lives.
智 /zhì/
wisdom, knowledge, intelligence,
The China-Taiwan Chinese Character of the Year
貪 (贪) became the 2024 Taiwan Chinese character. This is to reflect the many political corruptions in Taiwan. The greed of the politicians became the target of the people.
貪 (贪)/tān/
greedy, covet; covetous
Malaysia’s Chinese Character of the Year
升 became the 2024 Chinese character in Malaysia following the 贵 in 2023. Prices of everything still arise. But it also gives hope for the rise of the economy.
升 /shēng/
arise, go up; hoist; advance
Singapore’s Chinese Character of the Year
Singaporeans chose 灾 as the 2024 Chinese characters. The big storm on the night of the Moon Festival and other disasters all over the world in 2024.
灾 /zāi/
calamity, disaster, catastrophe
If you compare the 2024 Chinese characters with the 2023 Chinese characters, you will find people are now more concerned about AI, political corruption and disasters other than inflation.
If you want to know all the past Chinese Characters, please visit here.
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You can also purchase a YCT1 Chinese character worksheet to learn how to write Chinese characters step by step.