More than one billion people speak Chinese as their first language — that’s more than any other population in the world! UNESCO (part of the United Nations) first created Chinese Language Day in 2010 to celebrate Chinese as one of the six official languages of the United Nations. We’ve enjoyed it every year since on April 20. The day also celebrates Cangjie, who invented Chinese characters about 5,000 years ago. Legend says that when Cangjie finished, the gods rained grain upon the earth.
The Chinese language is known as one of the most complex languages to learn, but it is deeply rooted in history and has existed for thousands of years. So, who created the Chinese language?
How has it persisted for so long? What’s so important about the Chinese language? This day is Chinese Language Day, a day all about learning its history and convincing others to use Chinese with friends, at work or at home.
History of Chinese Language Day
The Chinese language has existed for thousands of years. Chinese formed from the Sino-Tibetian language family. Due to its complexity, its origins remain unknown as to when it separated itself from that family. It is believed however that the origins of the Chinese language are credited to Cangjie.
They were one of the first official historians to invent Chinese characters when the Yellow Emperor first began his reign. Despite this credit, different dialects formed throughout the provinces of China. Much of the influence of archaic Chinese, spoken during the early and middle 11th to 7th centuries B.C., isn’t seen much in modern Chinese.
During the Sui, Tang, and Song Dynasties or 7th through 10th centuries A.D., connections can be made more easily to modern Chinese languages. Distinct writing styles can be noted thanks to historians during those centuries that served the Emperors.
Chinese Language Day is celebrated on this day to honor Cangjie. Founded by the United Nations, Chinese Language Day also celebrates multilingualism and cultural diversity.
They aim to educate people about the history of the Chinese language. Chinese was established as an official language of the United Nations in 1946. In 1973, the General Assembly included Chinese as a working language.
Today, many members of the United Nations work with Chinese as a functional language. They also aim to teach people around the world the benefits that learning the Chinese language can have.
How to Celebrate Chinese Language Day
Celebrate Chinese Language Day by trying to learn Chinese! Online programs or colleges courses can give you plenty of opportunities to learn the Chinese language in all of its complexities.
If you know Chinese, then put it on your resume and try and use it in your work to see what connections you can make with others.
Help teach other people Chinese and teach them about the history of the Chinese language. Share this holiday with your friends and family and help others appreciate the Chinese language.
Chinese Language Day timeline
- 2019
One-fifth of the world
Around 1.3 billion people speak some form of Chinese — ranking it No. 1 in the world. Standard Mandarin remains the official language in the largest part of mainland China and Taiwan. It's also an official idiom of the United Nations.
- 1973
UN General Assembly adopted Chinese
The UN Security Council would soon follow suit — making Chinese its "working language" in 1974. After that, more and more UN offices and staff members began to work with Chinese.
- 1946
UN established Chinese as an official language
Still, the UN did not commonly use Chinese at first. The situation improved after the People's Republic of China regained lawful rights in the UN 25 years later.
- 1911
China adopted Mandarin as national language
Mandarin was one of the 10 major dialects. It became the national language after Dr. Sun Yat Sen overthrew the Qing Dynasty.
- 2650 BC
Chinese written for the first time
Canjie invented the written Chinese language.
Chinese Language Day Activities
Learn some Chinese
To say, "Thank you" you say, "xiexie." Written phonetically, it's like "she-ye she-ye." Just say it all together like one word. Easy right? Now you know some Chinese!
Visit a Chinese restaurant
Most everyone has a favorite Chinese dish, but if you don't, try Peking duck. You will never taste anything else like it. Then, at the end of your meal with taste buds in nirvana, you can prove you're a citizen of the world by thanking your server — in Chinese of course.
Watch a Chinese movie
You're in luck. Some of the most visually stunning movies in the world come from China. Maybe start with "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon." After realizing how beautiful the Mandarin language sounds and how great Chinese movies are, you'll have a whole new genre with thousands of films to explore on Chinese Language Day.
Why We Love Chinese Language Day
We can say thank you to China
It's the day we get to say "xiexie" (thank you) for the wonderful stuff China has brought us. Like spaghetti? It came from Italy, but the noodles (the critical part) originated in China. We can thank China for inventing paper. Who could live without it? Plus, do you like Earl Grey tea? Captain Picard did. Despite the name, the tea originated in the Chinese Imperial court. Think about all that during Chinese Language Day.
China has some choices
China can claim 11 languages — lumping together related ones — with Mandarin as the national language. Adding to that, the Chinese speak more than 1,500 different dialects.
The stars speak Chinese
Chinese movie stars rock, and they speak Chinese. Jackie Chan is arguably the world's funniest stuntman and Jet Li is the world's most famous martial artist. Michelle Yeoh was a gorgeous and deadly Bond girl. Zhang Ziyi has starred in some great films. The facts bear the truth: some of the world's coolest people speak Chinese.
