Study Guide: The Influence of Language and Culture on Identity (AP Chinese Unit 2)

Identity (shēn fèn, 視份)

The concept of personal identity considering family, society, and history.

Individualism

A Western cultural emphasis on the individual self.

Collectivism (jí tǐ zhǔ yì, 集体主义)

The Chinese cultural focus on the group and collective well-being.

Three Teachings Harmoniously as One (Sān Jiào Hé Yī)

The integration of Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism as core philosophical traditions in China.

Confucianism (儒家 Rújiā)

A philosophy emphasizing social order and filial piety.

Filial Piety (孝 Xiào)

The virtue of respect for one’s parents, elders, and ancestors.

Taoism (道家 Dàojiā)

A philosophy that promotes harmony with nature and non-action (Wu Wei).

Wu Wei

The concept of non-action or effortless action in Taoism.

Buddhism (也教 Fójiào)

A spiritual tradition that includes beliefs about karma, compassion, and the afterlife.

Karma

The principle of cause and effect in Buddhism, influencing fate.

Compassion

A fundamental value in Buddhism promoting charity and kindness.

Face (面子 Miànzi)

A mix of dignity, prestige, and honor in Chinese culture.

Guanxi (关系)

The network of social relationships that facilitate business and social dealings.

Hanzi (汉字)

The written characters of the Chinese language.

Logograms

Characters in Chinese that represent meanings or morphemes instead of sounds.

Simplified Characters

The form of Chinese characters adopted in mainland China to increase literacy.

Traditional Characters

The older form of Chinese characters used in Taiwan and Hong Kong.

Pictographs (象形)

Characters that are direct drawings representing the object they refer to.

Ideographs (指事)

Abstract characters that represent ideas or concepts.

Picto-phonetic (形声)

A category of characters where one part indicates meaning and the other part indicates sound.

Calligraphy (书法 Shūfă)

The art of beautiful writing in Chinese culture.

Four Treasures of the Study (文房四宝)

The essential tools for Chinese calligraphy: brush, ink, paper, and inkstone.

Brush (笔)

The tool used in calligraphy, traditionally made of animal hair.

Ink (墨)

The black medium used for writing and painting.

Paper (纸)

The surface on which calligraphy is performed, often rice paper.

Inkstone (砚)

A stone used to grind ink for writing.

Feng Shui (风水)

The art of placement and arrangement in architecture to harmonize with the environment.

Siheyuan (四合院)

Traditional courtyard homes in China that symbolize family unity.

Min Yi Shi Wei Tian (民以食为天)

A saying that means food is fundamental to the people, representing the importance of food in culture.

Dining Etiquette

The rules and norms governing social interactions during meals.

Lazy Susan

A rotating tray used to share dishes during communal meals.

Chopstick Taboos

Cultural rules about the usage of chopsticks during meals in Chinese etiquette.

North-South Cuisine

Diverse culinary styles in China with northern regions favoring wheat and southern regions favoring rice.

DINK families

An acronym for 'Double Income, No Kids,' indicating a growing family trend in China.

Digital Ecosystem

The unique online environment in China shaped by internet censorship and local apps.

WeChat (Wiixin)

A super app in China used for social media, payment, and other daily activities.

Mobile Payments

Digital transactions widely used in China, linking identity to financial apps like Alipay and WeChat Pay.

Globalization

The process in which global ideas and cultures, including language and fashion, influence local identity.

Gaokao (高考)

The National College Entrance Examination, crucial for university admissions in China.

Rote Memorization

A learning technique that relies on repeating information as opposed to critical thinking.

Confusing Religions Mistake

Misunderstanding Confucianism as a religion instead of a philosophy.

Generalizing Chinese Food Mistake

Assuming all Chinese people eat rice daily, ignoring regional culinary differences.

One Child Policy Correction

Recognizing the end of the one-child policy in 2016 and the shift to two and three-child policies.

Tone Misconceptions Mistake

Misinterpreting Chinese tones as accents instead of essential components that change meaning.

Calligraphy vs. Writing Correction

Understanding that calligraphy is an esteemed art form distinct from regular handwriting.