Understand China

China, in small pieces — food, festivals, family, everyday life, and the history behind them. Every piece is in plain English first, with Chinese words second, so you never need to read Chinese to start.

How each piece works

1. One idea only — one custom, one dish, one festival, one everyday moment.
2. English first — the explanation is in English you can actually read.
3. Chinese second — the words you need, with characters, pinyin, and a plain English meaning. Characters are a footnote here, not lesson one.
4. Something to notice — one thing to watch for next time you see it, in a film, in the news, or on the street in China.

Topics to come

• Food: what people actually eat, and how to order it without pointing and hoping
• Festivals: what people actually do, not just the legend
• Family and friends: titles, greetings, and why everyone seems to be an uncle or auntie
• Everyday life: money, transport, queuing, gifts, and polite ways to say no
• History in small pieces: one story at a time, not a whole dynasty at once

First pieces will be linked here as they are published. Nothing here is a placeholder article — if a title is not linked yet, it is still being written.

Also on this site

• Today's phrase you can use
• Tai Chi, one movement at a time
• China news, explained
• Visit China with Allen

Want Allen to explain something about China? Contact him and ask — one question is enough.