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Wisdom, allegedly
Asian culture for language learners
Surnames, wordplay, festivals, etiquette and the quotes Confucius never said. Culture explained through language, with the myths checked and the puns explained.
The short answer
Kungfucius says: Confucius never said most of what Kungfucius says he said.
In this section
IdeasThe Chinese zodiac, explained by a scepticThe Chinese zodiac explained by a sceptic: the 12 animals, the five elements, how to find your sign, compatibility claims and why it matters socially.NamesThe 100 most common Chinese surnames (百家姓)The 100 most common Chinese surnames (百家姓): characters, Pinyin, meaning, how many people share each, and why Wang, Li and Zhang rule the list.IdeasConfucius didn't say that: fake quotes debunkedConfucius didn't say that: popular fake Confucius quotes debunked, what the Analects actually say, and how to check a quote before you share it.CustomsDrinking culture in China: toasts, baijiu and survivalDrinking culture in China: how to toast, what 干杯 really means, baijiu survival tips, business banquets, and how to decline a drink politely.CustomsRed envelopes (紅包, 红包): how much to give and whyRed envelopes (紅包, 红包) explained: how much to give at Chinese New Year and weddings, lucky and unlucky amounts, etiquette, and digital hongbao.NamesChinese given names: meanings and how they workChinese given names explained: how they are chosen, popular characters and meanings, generation names, and the dos and don'ts of picking your own name.Words & playChinese puns & homophones explainedChinese puns and homophones explained: why 4 is unlucky, why fish appear at New Year, and the wordplay behind gifts, slang and internet memes.
Kungfucius says
“Confucius never said most of what Kungfucius says he said.”Kungfucius說是孔子說的話，孔子大多沒說過。
“When leaves fall early, winter will be mild; when leaves fall late, winter will be wild.”葉子落得早，冬天溫和；葉子落得晚，冬天狂野。