Did you know?

Did you know that the chinese write with pictures?!? Uh-huh, they do!! actually, they're called "symbols".

in chinese, each symbol stands for an entire word, unlike in english, where a bunch of symbols, or letters, make the word. But each of the symbols can be broken down.

the chinese symbols started out as actual pictures, then eventually became the ones that we're used to seeing.

Like this:

(Chinese symbols form left to right)

Ji - chicken.
Yang - sheep. A symbolic representation of a sheep head with horns.
Fu - bat.
Gui - tortoise.
Yu - fish.

and this:

(Chinese symbols form left to right)

Zhi - to stop. A picture of two feet, one behind the other. The second foot is placed at a right angle indicating that the person has stopped. Compare with the next symbol showing a walking person.
Bu - to walk. Two feet in succession indicating a person walking forward.
Xiang - elephant.
Hu - tiger.
Shi - house. A house with a pointed roof and foundation.

and this:

(Chinese symbols form left to right)

Xi - rhino.
Lu - deer.
Ma - horse.
Quan - dog.
Qi - banner. A pole with strips in the wind.