“Love” in Chinese is not a high frequency word, not even in the hottest c-pop songs. The high frequency character in Chinese thought is “heart”, as in “my heart has only you”. According to Professor Michael Puett, the word for “mind” and “heart” are the same in Chinese thought. When you “think” of something and when you “miss” someone, in Chinese they are both the same character with a heart component. To be careful, meticulous, and diligent, in Chinese you use your heart. To ponder, to reflect, and to consider, you look inside your heart. Being “smart” in Chinese is a heart, not brain, attribute. Happy Heart Day!
About Author
yvonne.liu.wolf
Yvonne Wolf was born in Taiwan and educated in the U.S. and Europe. She has extensive experience living and working internationally (Denmark and Japan). She is fluent in English, Mandarin, and Danish, and has studied Japanese, Spanish, and Greek. Between work and personal travel, she has visited more than 20 countries and well-traveled within the U.S. and Canada. She has worked with organizations and business executives focusing on communication strategies working with Chinese and East Asian partners. Among her many skills is mediating across cultural misunderstandings.