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My name is Linda Yi and I'm a writer/illustrator from Georgia, currently based in Brooklyn, NY. I create educational drawings around my own journey of relearning the Chinese language and reconnecting with my cultural heritage.

Writing and illustrating is (what I hope will be!) my second career. I painted these 100 characters during a pivotal year in my life—one during which I took an intentional look at the Chinese characters that had, up to that point, been a source of frustration and built-up dread (if you've been to a weekend Chinese school... you may know the feeling.)

As I researched the meanings behind each of these character paintings, I learned about the secrets and stories shimmering underneath the squiggly characters I’d hated practicing as a kid. These characters—this language I'd held at arm's length—was vibrant and beautiful!

Whenever I look at these character paintings (which I do every day as I settle down to work), I'm reminded of the beauty behind the Chinese language. If it does the same for you, this print is exclusively available through Kickstarter (linked below)!

If successfully funded, this poster will become a reality (and the inaugural print of my home print shop). I have until Dec. 10 to raise the necessary funds, so please chip in below if you appreciate my art!

More info: kickstarter.com

#1

星 (Xīng) Star; (Literally 日/Sun + 生/Birth. 星 = Birth Of A Sun)

星 (Xīng) Star; (Literally 日/Sun + 生/Birth. 星 = Birth Of A Sun)

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#9

好 (Hǎo) Good (Woman女 + Child子)

好 (Hǎo) Good (Woman女 + Child子)

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#15

英 (Yīng) Hero, Heroic

英 (Yīng) Hero, Heroic

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#17

明 (Míng) Bright; (The 日/Sun And 月/Moon Together Is Bright)

明 (Míng) Bright; (The 日/Sun And 月/Moon Together Is Bright)

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#22

文 (Wén) Text, Culture, Language

文 (Wén) Text, Culture, Language

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#24

午 (Wǔ) Noon

午 (Wǔ) Noon

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sujanchanthiran avatar
BoredPanda is awesome
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Love how you used the colours. If you look very close at the big symbol, you can see tiny symbols

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#28

間(间)(Jiān) Space In Between (Literally A Sun/日 Outside An Open 門/Door)

間(间)(Jiān) Space In Between (Literally A Sun/日 Outside An Open 門/Door)

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#29

子 (Zi) Child, Son

子 (Zi) Child, Son

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#30

門(门)(Mén) Door

門(门)(Mén) Door

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#31

也 (Yě) And Also

也 (Yě) And Also

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#32

兩(两) (Liǎng) Double, Two (Of Something)

兩(两) (Liǎng) Double, Two (Of Something)

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#33

大 (Dà) Big

大 (Dà) Big

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#34

半 (Bàn) Half

半 (Bàn) Half

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#36

姐 (Jiě) Older Sister

姐 (Jiě) Older Sister

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#37

哥 (Gē) Older Brother

哥 (Gē) Older Brother

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#38

去 (Qù) Go

去 (Qù) Go

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#39

果 (Guǒ) Fruit

果 (Guǒ) Fruit

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Rainbow Panda
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3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

水果 🍏🍎🍐🍊🍉🍇🍓🍈🍌🍒🍑🥭🍍🥝

#40

你 (Nǐ) You

你 (Nǐ) You

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#41

地 (Dì) Earth; Ground

地 (Dì) Earth; Ground

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#43

點(点)(Diǎn) Dot; A Bit; Used For Telling Time

點(点)(Diǎn) Dot; A Bit; Used For Telling Time

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#44

是(Shì) Is; Just

是(Shì) Is; Just

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#49

年 (Nián) Year

年 (Nián) Year

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#50

今 (Jīn) This, Now

今 (Jīn) This, Now

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#52

木 (Mù) Wood

木 (Mù) Wood

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rainbownews avatar
Rainbow Panda
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

See those characters carved in the wood? Those are elements. 💧 🔥 🌱 🌍

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#53

火 (Huǒ) Fire

火 (Huǒ) Fire

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#54

爸 (Bà) Father

爸 (Bà) Father

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#55

口 (Kǒu) Mouth

口 (Kǒu) Mouth

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CATMONSTER2018
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Any word that has "kou" 口 in it usually has to do with your mouth.

#56

羊 (Yáng) Ram/Sheep

羊 (Yáng) Ram/Sheep

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#57

在 (Zài) To Be (Somewhere)

在 (Zài) To Be (Somewhere)

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#58

未 (Wèi) Not, Not Yet Come

未 (Wèi) Not, Not Yet Come

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#59

期 (Qī) Period (Of Time)

期 (Qī) Period (Of Time)

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#60

昨 (Zuó) Yesterday

昨 (Zuó) Yesterday

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lassila-alexander avatar
Aragorn II Elessar
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

昨天(zuo tian) is actually yesterday, 昨 is “previously” by itself, but only in contexts pertaining to time.

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#61

以 (Yǐ) With, By, According To

以 (Yǐ) With, By, According To

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#62

前 (Qián) Before, In Front

前 (Qián) Before, In Front

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#63

金 (Jīn) Metal, Gold

金 (Jīn) Metal, Gold

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#64

土 (Tǔ) Earth, Soil

土 (Tǔ) Earth, Soil

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#65

我 (Wǒ) I; Me

我 (Wǒ) I; Me

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#66

六 (Liù) Six

六 (Liù) Six

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#67

七 (Qī) Seven

七 (Qī) Seven

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#68

八 (Bā) Eight

八 (Bā) Eight

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#69

九 (Jiǔ) Nine

九 (Jiǔ) Nine

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#70

十 (Shí) Ten

十 (Shí) Ten

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#71

百 (Bǎi) Hundred

百 (Bǎi) Hundred

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#72

千 (Qiān) Thousand

千 (Qiān) Thousand

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#73

萬(万)(Wàn) Ten Thousand

萬(万)(Wàn) Ten Thousand

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#74

小 (Xiǎo) Small

小 (Xiǎo) Small

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#75

的 (De) Possessive Article

的 (De) Possessive Article

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lassila-alexander avatar
Aragorn II Elessar
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

我的(wo de) means mine, 他/她的(ta/ta de) for the male/female is his or hers.

#76

不 (Bù) No

不 (Bù) No

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#77

男 (Nán) Man; Male

男 (Nán) Man; Male

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#78

了 (Le) Helper Particle; Often Used To Indicate An Action As Passed

了 (Le) Helper Particle; Often Used To Indicate An Action As Passed

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#79

出 (Chū) To Go Out

出 (Chū) To Go Out

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#80

有 (Yǒu) Have

有 (Yǒu) Have

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CATMONSTER2018
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This has nothing to do with the picture but for people reading this. writing Chinese Characters is harder than you might think. especially if ins in bubble writing!!! I believe that "Linda Yi" has done a wonderful job at both the writing, and the art. Btw.in my opinion, the word xin - which means heart. 心 is one of the hardest words to write.

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#81

没 (Méi) No/Not; To Sink Or Submerge

没 (Méi) No/Not; To Sink Or Submerge

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#82

回 (Huí) Return; Circle; Wind

回 (Huí) Return; Circle; Wind

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#83

上 (Shàng) Up; Above

上 (Shàng) Up; Above

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#84

上 (Xià) Down; Below

上 (Xià) Down; Below

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#85

來(来)(Lái) Come

來(来)(Lái) Come

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#86

一 (Yī) One

一 (Yī) One

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#87

五 (Wǔ) Five

五 (Wǔ) Five

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#88

多 (Duō) Many

多 (Duō) Many

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#89

少 (Shǎo) Less

少 (Shǎo) Less

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#90

個(个) A; Basic Measure Word

個(个) A; Basic Measure Word

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#91

麼(么)(Me) What (Part 2)

麼(么)(Me) What (Part 2)

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#92

後(后) (Hòu) Behind, After

後(后) (Hòu) Behind, After

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#93

山(Shān) Mountain

山(Shān) Mountain

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#94

們(们)(Men) Plural Particle (For Pronouns)

們(们)(Men) Plural Particle (For Pronouns)

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Aragorn II Elessar
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Found in 我们(wo men), which means we, 他们(ta men), which means they, etc

#95

草 (Cǎo) Grass

草 (Cǎo) Grass

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#96

剛(刚) Just So, Firm

剛(刚) Just So, Firm

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#98

二 (Èr) Two

二 (Èr) Two

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lassila-alexander avatar
Aragorn II Elessar
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Like I said earlier, two is the only number that is changed to become an adjective. Five, for instance, is both the number and the adjective, but 二 is the number alone, while 两 is the adjective.

#99

三 (Sān) Three

三 (Sān) Three

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#100

四 (Sì) Four

四 (Sì) Four

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