I Painted 100 Chinese Characters In Watercolor So That They Are Easier To Learn

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)

#2 成 (Chéng) To Make, Succeed, Complete

#3 冬 (Dōng) Winter

#4 月 (Yuè) Moon; Month

#5 春 (Chūn) Spring

#6 夏 (Xià) Summer

#7 秋 (Qiū) Autumn

#8 妹 (Mèi) Younger Sister

#9 好 (Hǎo) Good (Woman女 + Child子)

#10 時(时)(Shí) Time

#11 晚 (Wǎn) Evening; Late

#12 女 (Nǚ) Woman; Female

#13 美 (Měi) Beautiful

#14 人 (Rén) Person

#15 英 (Yīng) Hero, Heroic

#16 日 (Rì) Sun; Day

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

#18 玩 (Wán) Play

#19 水 (Shuǐ) Water

#20 妈 (Mā) Mother

#21 弟 (Dì) Younger Brother

#22 文 (Wén) Text, Culture, Language

#23 吃 (Chī) Eat

#24 午 (Wǔ) Noon

#25 很 (Hěn) Very

#26 狗 (Gǒu) Dog

#27 孩 (Hái) Child

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

#29 子 (Zi) Child, Son

#30 門(门)(Mén) Door

#31 也 (Yě) And Also

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

#33 大 (Dà) Big

#34 半 (Bàn) Half

#35 家 (Jiā) Home, Family

#36 姐 (Jiě) Older Sister

#37 哥 (Gē) Older Brother

#38 去 (Qù) Go

#39 果 (Guǒ) Fruit

#40 你 (Nǐ) You

#41 地 (Dì) Earth; Ground

#42 太(Tài) Greatest; Highest, Too

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

#44 是(Shì) Is; Just

#45 什 (Shén) What (Part 1)

#46 早 (Zǎo) Morning; Early

#47 中 (Zhōng) Middle, Center

#48 天 (Tiān) Sky; Heavens

#49 年 (Nián) Year

#50 今 (Jīn) This, Now

#51 花 (Huā) Flower

#52 木 (Mù) Wood

#53 火 (Huǒ) Fire

#54 爸 (Bà) Father

#55 口 (Kǒu) Mouth

#56 羊 (Yáng) Ram/Sheep

#57 在 (Zài) To Be (Somewhere)

#58 未 (Wèi) Not, Not Yet Come

#59 期 (Qī) Period (Of Time)

#60 昨 (Zuó) Yesterday

#61 以 (Yǐ) With, By, According To

#62 前 (Qián) Before, In Front

#63 金 (Jīn) Metal, Gold

#64 土 (Tǔ) Earth, Soil

#65 我 (Wǒ) I; Me

#66 六 (Liù) Six

#67 七 (Qī) Seven

#68 八 (Bā) Eight

#69 九 (Jiǔ) Nine

#70 十 (Shí) Ten

#71 百 (Bǎi) Hundred

#72 千 (Qiān) Thousand

#73 萬(万)(Wàn) Ten Thousand

#74 小 (Xiǎo) Small

#75 的 (De) Possessive Article

#76 不 (Bù) No

#77 男 (Nán) Man; Male

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

#79 出 (Chū) To Go Out

#80 有 (Yǒu) Have

#81 没 (Méi) No/Not; To Sink Or Submerge

#82 回 (Huí) Return; Circle; Wind

#83 上 (Shàng) Up; Above

#84 上 (Xià) Down; Below

#85 來(来)(Lái) Come

#86 一 (Yī) One

#87 五 (Wǔ) Five

#88 多 (Duō) Many

#89 少 (Shǎo) Less

#90 個(个) A; Basic Measure Word

#91 麼(么)(Me) What (Part 2)

#92 後(后) (Hòu) Behind, After

#93 山(Shān) Mountain

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

#95 草 (Cǎo) Grass

#96 剛(刚) Just So, Firm

#97 和 (Hé) Harmonious; Gentle; And

#98 二 (Èr) Two

#99 三 (Sān) Three

#100 四 (Sì) Four