Culture Connection
Map
East Asia
Your Guides
Ni hao! I’m Ping and this is my best friend Xiongmao. Let’s tour East Asia, our home.
There’s one thing that culture in East Asia has in common no matter what country you visit: our ancient traditions blend with what’s modern and popular to create a unique mix of ideas that span thousands of years of history.
Sounds and Rhythms
Xiongmao loves listing to Chinese opera, which is one of our great traditions that’s still popular today. I don’t really like opera, but my friends and I love C-Pop (Chinese-Pop). This music sounds a lot like the pop you know, but the lyrics are in Chinese.
C-Pop Artists and Songs for You to Check Out:
- “Can’t Help Falling in Love” by F4
- “Beauty Up My Life” by S.H.E.
- “Niang Zi” by Jay Chou
- “Nature” by Lee Hom Wang
- “Love in the Dark” by Twins
Chinese New Year
Chinese New Year happens at a different time of year than the New Year you’re probably used to on January 1. That’s because it’s based off our ancient calendar.
Chinese New Year
Dragon lantern
This special day is my favorite holiday of the year because there’s so much to see and do, from the special food we eat to the red decorations that go up all over the place (red is a lucky color for us).
On the last night of Chinese New Year, everyone gets together for the Lantern Festival. My brother Kali always takes part. He’ll tell you about it here.
Kali: “I made a lantern out of bamboo, silk and paper and joined the parade with my friends. Everyone had lanterns—they lit up the night sky like bobbing fireflies. In the middle of the parade was a red, 100-foot-long dragon. It was made out of bamboo, silk and paper and there were men inside to make the dragon dance and weave. Dragons bring luck, and so does the color red, so there are always red dragons in the Lantern Festival. It’s one of my favorite times of year.”
Festivals like these are common in East Asia and everyone, young or old, comes out to join the party.
Songs We Sing
My friends all across East Asia love singing. We sing one of our favorite songs in Mandarin whenever we can. Take a listen to this recording and see if you can sing along.
Liang Jur Lao Hu (repeat) (Li-Ang Jur Law Who)
Two tigers (lao who)Pao Di Quai (repeat) (Paw De Kuai)
Running fast
Ee Jur Mae Yo Wae Bah (Ee Jur May You Way Bah)
One doesn’t have a tail
Ee Jur Mae Yo Yien Jing (Ee Jur May You Yean Jing)
One doesn’t have eyes
Tzin Chee Quai? (repeat) (Zhen Chee Ge-Why)
Isn’t that weird?
Learn the Lingo
Practice these phrases in Mandarin, the most common type of Chinese. Click on the words to hear how they are pronounced.
Hello / Ni hao
How are you? / Ni hao ma?
My name is / Wo de, ming zi
I love you / Wo ai ni
Will you be my friend? / Wo men, ke yi, zuo, peng you, ma?
How much is this? / Zhe ge, duo shao, qian?