Being Chinese, Speaking Chinese Real Chinese

Please note: we are currently unable to insert accents etc in the following subtitles.

The Chinese have never been more open to the outside world than now.

But though everyday life is changing,

many aspects of their culture seem set to survive.

In this programme, how children learn to speak and write their language.

How a passion for fitness relates to ancient beliefs

and how the Chinese celebrate their national identity.

Plus greeting people in Mandarin and asking their names.

THEY SPEAK MANDARIN Welcome to Beijing!

If you're visiting China,

being able to say everyday greetings in Mandarin is a must,

and they're wonderfully simple.

The most common is...

Literally, "you well?"

-Ni hao.

-Ni hao.

-Ni hao.

-Ni hao.

-Ni hao.

-Ni hao.

-Ni hao!

..means goodbye.

Zai Jian.

-Zai Jian.

-Zai Jian.

Zia Jian.

Zai Jian.

Morning.

Good morning.

-Zaoshang hao.

-Zaoshang hao.

It's often shortened to...

Ni zao.

China - literally "the middle kingdom."

Its capital Beijing is the heartland of Mandarin.

Mandarin is the most widely spoken Chinese dialect

and the official language of China's 1.3 billion people.

Some of the other dialects, like Cantonese,

are almost different languages.

On the fringes of the country, ethnic minorities speak other languages

like Mongolian, Uighur and Tibetan.

But everyone is expected to learn Mandarin.

Learning a complex language like Chinese

represents a huge challenge for children in their early years.

The Chinese are fanatical about education.

Children start primary school at the age of six

but they'll already have had at least three years of nursery school,

with basic grounding in spoken Mandarin.

Chinese characters don't show how words should sound,

so when children start off,

they learn sounds and meanings with the help of the phonetic

Romanised form of Chinese known as Pinyin.

Pinyin is also the form we use throughout this series.

Chinese is a tonal language.

The tone with which a word is spoken completely changes its meaning.

There are four tones - the first is high and level,

the second is rising...

the third falls and then rises...

and the fourth tone falls.

The meaning of each word will depend on the tone.

For example...means "eight"...

means "dad".

Because Chinese characters don't show pronunciation,

they have to be learned for their own sake.

To read and write Chinese you need to know at least 2,000 of them.

And the strokes should be written in the right order.

The Chinese writing system has a long and fascinating history.

The earliest characters date back over 3,500 years.

They were pictographs -

stylised pictures of sun,

moon, animals and so on.

As time passed, other elements were added

or characters were combined, allowing them to express concepts and ideas.

For example, sun and moon put together

means "bright".

Woman together with a roof over her head means "peace".

Woman put together with the character for child

means "good."

Characters can offer intriguing insights

into Chinese culture.

Chinese calligraphy is much more than stylised writing.

Rather, it's a form of abstract art with a spiritual dimension,

taking its inspiration from nature.

The brushstrokes should be perfectly balanced

and each one should embody something of the natural world.

In China, anyone can become a master of calligraphy

even if it's just as a pastime.

Former factory worker Chen Fu Gung

has been passionate about calligraphy for over 40 years.

The temple of Heaven - one of Beijing's imperial landmarks.

This is where Ming and Qing emperors would come to perform sacred rituals.

Today the huge park surrounding the temple

is a Mecca for fitness-conscious Beijingers.

means the art of energy control,

and it takes hundreds of forms.

The idea is that by following set movements,

you can control the flow of energy or qi in the body,

and induce a state of harmony and wellbeing.

The idea of qi relates to ancient Taoist beliefs.

The Taoists taught that heaven and earth

and every living plant and being shared this essential life force or qi.

All we human beings need to know is how to recognise and use it.

65-year-old Chen Zhixin practises qigong daily

with religious zeal.

She started the practise after a serious accident

and she's convinced that it saved her life.

For school children, the 15-minute exercise regime

at the start of each day is considered essential.

Chinese children are often willing victims for beginners in Mandarin.

To ask a child's name say...

Literally "what are you called"?

I'm called...

Wo jiao Mu Tong.

Wo jiao Bao Yiqin.

Wo jiao Sun Yiping.

The Chinese often give their surname first, using...

and after that, the full name.

My surname is Chen.

I'm called Chen Zhi Xin.

Wo xing Chen, wo jiao Chen Zhixin.

Wo xing Qian, wo jiao Qian Sainan.

Wo xing Qiyang, wo jiao Qiyang Yushu.

Wo xing Zhu, wo jiao Zhubing.

Wo xing Wang, wo jiao Wang Lanjun.

Wo xing Zhang, wo jiao Zhang Hao.

Wo xing Wang, wo jiao Wang Zhen.

The Chinese believe the meaning of your name can affect your fortunes,

so names are carefully chosen.

This is Tiananmen Square - the heart of Beijing.

Today preparations are underway for the massive displays and festivities

planned to take place on October 1st - China's National Day.

All over the city, people are rehearsing for the occasion.

National Day celebrates the founding of Mao's People's Republic.

For most Chinese, it's the chance for a holiday and family outings.

Happy holiday!

-Jieri kuaile!

-Jieri kuaile!

Jieri kuaile!

The flags are out in every neighbourhood,

and for many, family lunch is the high point of the day.

This year, half a million people have come to Tiananmen Square

to enjoy the atmosphere,

and not just from Beijing but from all over China.

Military parades only happen once ever five years.

This year, the vast space has been transformed

into a floral fantasy world.

Centre stage is a portrait of Sun Yat-Sen,

founder of the Chinese republic well before the advent of Mao's communism.

On the night of National Day, commerce is more in evidence than communism.

Advertisments have replaced the old political banners

and Chairman Mao's China feels a very long way off.

Good evening!

Wanshang hao!

-Wanshang hao!

-Wanshang hao!

Beijing's smart shopping area is a magnet for people from the provinces.

All over Beijing, boulevards, office blocks and government buildings

are ablaze with lights.

Everyone's come out to marvel at the glamorous face of this new China.