ADVERTISEMENT

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)

星 (Xīng) Star; (Literally 日/Sun + 生/Birth. 星 = Birth Of A Sun)

Report

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
#9

好 (Hǎo) Good (Woman女 + Child子)

好 (Hǎo) Good (Woman女 + Child子)

Report

#15

英 (Yīng) Hero, Heroic

英 (Yīng) Hero, Heroic

Report

ADVERTISEMENT
#17

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

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

Report

Add photo comments
POST
View more commentsArrow down menu
#22

文 (Wén) Text, Culture, Language

文 (Wén) Text, Culture, Language

Report

#24

午 (Wǔ) Noon

午 (Wǔ) Noon

Report

Add photo comments
POST
BoredPanda is awesome
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Love how you used the colours. If you look very close at the big symbol, you can see tiny symbols

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#28

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

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

Report

#29

子 (Zi) Child, Son

子 (Zi) Child, Son

Report

Add photo comments
POST
#30

門(门)(Mén) Door

門(门)(Mén) Door

Report

Add photo comments
POST
#31

也 (Yě) And Also

也 (Yě) And Also

Report

Add photo comments
POST
#32

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

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

Report

ADVERTISEMENT
#33

大 (Dà) Big

大 (Dà) Big

Report

Add photo comments
POST
#34

半 (Bàn) Half

半 (Bàn) Half

Report

Add photo comments
POST
#36

姐 (Jiě) Older Sister

姐 (Jiě) Older Sister

Report

Add photo comments
POST
#37

哥 (Gē) Older Brother

哥 (Gē) Older Brother

Report

#39

果 (Guǒ) Fruit

果 (Guǒ) Fruit

Report

Add photo comments
POST
Rainbow Panda
Community Member
4 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

水果 🍏🍎🍐🍊🍉🍇🍓🍈🍌🍒🍑🥭🍍🥝

#40

你 (Nǐ) You

你 (Nǐ) You

Report

Add photo comments
POST
ADVERTISEMENT
#41

地 (Dì) Earth; Ground

地 (Dì) Earth; Ground

Report

#43

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

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

Report

Add photo comments
POST
#44

是(Shì) Is; Just

是(Shì) Is; Just

Report

Add photo comments
POST
ADVERTISEMENT
#49

年 (Nián) Year

年 (Nián) Year

Report

Add photo comments
POST
#50

今 (Jīn) This, Now

今 (Jīn) This, Now

Report

#52

木 (Mù) Wood

木 (Mù) Wood

Report

#53

火 (Huǒ) Fire

火 (Huǒ) Fire

Report

Add photo comments
POST
#54

爸 (Bà) Father

爸 (Bà) Father

Report

Add photo comments
POST
#55

口 (Kǒu) Mouth

口 (Kǒu) Mouth

Report

Add photo comments
POST
CATMONSTER2018
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Any word that has "kou" 口 in it usually has to do with your mouth.

#56

羊 (Yáng) Ram/Sheep

羊 (Yáng) Ram/Sheep

Report

Add photo comments
POST
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#57

在 (Zài) To Be (Somewhere)

在 (Zài) To Be (Somewhere)

Report

Add photo comments
POST
#58

未 (Wèi) Not, Not Yet Come

未 (Wèi) Not, Not Yet Come

Report

Add photo comments
POST
#59

期 (Qī) Period (Of Time)

期 (Qī) Period (Of Time)

Report

Add photo comments
POST
#60

昨 (Zuó) Yesterday

昨 (Zuó) Yesterday

Report

Add photo comments
POST
Aragorn II Elessar
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

昨天(zuo tian) is actually yesterday, 昨 is “previously” by itself, but only in contexts pertaining to time.

View more commentsArrow down menu
#61

以 (Yǐ) With, By, According To

以 (Yǐ) With, By, According To

Report

Add photo comments
POST
#62

前 (Qián) Before, In Front

前 (Qián) Before, In Front

Report

Add photo comments
POST
#63

金 (Jīn) Metal, Gold

金 (Jīn) Metal, Gold

Report

Add photo comments
POST
#64

土 (Tǔ) Earth, Soil

土 (Tǔ) Earth, Soil

Report

Add photo comments
POST
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#65

我 (Wǒ) I; Me

我 (Wǒ) I; Me

Report

Add photo comments
POST
#66

六 (Liù) Six

六 (Liù) Six

Report

#67

七 (Qī) Seven

七 (Qī) Seven

Report

Add photo comments
POST
#68

八 (Bā) Eight

八 (Bā) Eight

Report

Add photo comments
POST
#69

九 (Jiǔ) Nine

九 (Jiǔ) Nine

Report

Add photo comments
POST
#70

十 (Shí) Ten

十 (Shí) Ten

Report

Add photo comments
POST
#71

百 (Bǎi) Hundred

百 (Bǎi) Hundred

Report

Add photo comments
POST
#72

千 (Qiān) Thousand

千 (Qiān) Thousand

Report

Add photo comments
POST
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#73

萬(万)(Wàn) Ten Thousand

萬(万)(Wàn) Ten Thousand

Report

Add photo comments
POST
#74

小 (Xiǎo) Small

小 (Xiǎo) Small

Report

Add photo comments
POST
#75

的 (De) Possessive Article

的 (De) Possessive Article

Report

Add photo comments
POST
Aragorn II Elessar
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

我的(wo de) means mine, 他/她的(ta/ta de) for the male/female is his or hers.

#76

不 (Bù) No

不 (Bù) No

Report

Add photo comments
POST
#77

男 (Nán) Man; Male

男 (Nán) Man; Male

Report

Add photo comments
POST
#78

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

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

Report

Add photo comments
POST
#79

出 (Chū) To Go Out

出 (Chū) To Go Out

Report

#80

有 (Yǒu) Have

有 (Yǒu) Have

Report

Add photo comments
POST
CATMONSTER2018
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This has nothing to do with the picture but for people reading this. writing Chinese Characters is harder than you might think. especially if ins in bubble writing!!! I believe that "Linda Yi" has done a wonderful job at both the writing, and the art. Btw.in my opinion, the word xin - which means heart. 心 is one of the hardest words to write.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#81

没 (Méi) No/Not; To Sink Or Submerge

没 (Méi) No/Not; To Sink Or Submerge

Report

Add photo comments
POST
#82

回 (Huí) Return; Circle; Wind

回 (Huí) Return; Circle; Wind

Report

Add photo comments
POST
#83

上 (Shàng) Up; Above

上 (Shàng) Up; Above

Report

Add photo comments
POST
#84

上 (Xià) Down; Below

上 (Xià) Down; Below

Report

Add photo comments
POST
#85

來(来)(Lái) Come

來(来)(Lái) Come

Report

Add photo comments
POST
#86

一 (Yī) One

一 (Yī) One

Report

Add photo comments
POST
#87

五 (Wǔ) Five

五 (Wǔ) Five

Report

Add photo comments
POST
#88

多 (Duō) Many

多 (Duō) Many

Report

Add photo comments
POST
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#89

少 (Shǎo) Less

少 (Shǎo) Less

Report

Add photo comments
POST
#90

個(个) A; Basic Measure Word

個(个) A; Basic Measure Word

Report

Add photo comments
POST
#91

麼(么)(Me) What (Part 2)

麼(么)(Me) What (Part 2)

Report

Add photo comments
POST
#92

後(后) (Hòu) Behind, After

後(后) (Hòu) Behind, After

Report

Add photo comments
POST
#93

山(Shān) Mountain

山(Shān) Mountain

Report

Add photo comments
POST
#94

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

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

Report

Add photo comments
POST
Aragorn II Elessar
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Found in 我们(wo men), which means we, 他们(ta men), which means they, etc

#95

草 (Cǎo) Grass

草 (Cǎo) Grass

Report

Add photo comments
POST
#96

剛(刚) Just So, Firm

剛(刚) Just So, Firm

Report

Add photo comments
POST
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#98

二 (Èr) Two

二 (Èr) Two

Report

Add photo comments
POST
Aragorn II Elessar
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Like I said earlier, two is the only number that is changed to become an adjective. Five, for instance, is both the number and the adjective, but 二 is the number alone, while 两 is the adjective.

#99

三 (Sān) Three

三 (Sān) Three

Report

Add photo comments
POST
#100

四 (Sì) Four

四 (Sì) Four

Report

Add photo comments
POST