Rich and colorful, the Chinese language blends music and painting: a language nonpareil in its unique visceral quality. Chinese proverbs, mostly four-character phrases, concise but deep in their meanings, take a special place in Chinese culture, illustrating moral and emotional expressions. The philosophical and often incisive messages the proverbs carry are alternately somber, didactic, amusing, hilarious, or ironic. Used properly in writings or speeches, they can achieve what cannot be achieved by other ways of articulating the same thoughts. This five-session course, held in English, will cover some of the most poignant and evocative among the thousands of Chinese proverbs. Previous knowledge of Chinese is not required.
Ben Wang is Senior Lecturer in Humanities and Chinese Language at China Institute and an award-winning translator.
Tuesdays, November 13, 20, 27, and December 4 and 11 ~ 6:30 – 8:30 PM