Chinese Language Day
Chinese Language Day is an annual observance that highlights the significance of the Chinese language and its cultural heritage. Established by the United Nations, this day serves to promote multilingualism and cultural diversity while celebrating one of the world’s oldest languages.
Quick Facts
- When is it?: April 20
- Tagged as: UN Chinese Language Day
- What’s the hashtag?: #ChineseLanguageDay, #LearnChinese, #20April
- When was it founded?: February 19, 2010
- Who founded it?: The United Nations Department of Public Information
History
The origins of Chinese Language Day are deeply rooted in Chinese mythology, particularly the story of Cangjie, who is believed to have invented Chinese characters approximately 5,000 years ago. The date of April 20 corresponds with Guyu, or “Grain Rain,” a significant solar term in the traditional East Asian calendar that marks a period of important rainfall for crops. This day was chosen to honor Cangjie and celebrate the rich history of the Chinese language.
Timeline
- 2010: First Chinese Language Day celebrated on November 12.
- 2011: Date changed to April 20 to align with Guyu.
- 1973: Chinese recognized as a working language of the UN.
- 1946: Chinese established as an official language of the UN.
- 5,000 years ago: Cangjie invents Chinese characters according to legend.
Dates by Next Year 2025 to 2030
| Year | Month and Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | April 20 | Sunday |
| 2026 | April 20 | Monday |
| 2027 | April 20 | Tuesday |
| 2028 | April 20 | Thursday |
| 2029 | April 20 | Friday |
| 2030 | April 20 | Saturday |
Observed
Chinese Language Day is observed globally with various activities aimed at promoting the language and culture. Events often include educational workshops, cultural exhibitions, and social media campaigns encouraging people to learn and use Mandarin.
Fun Facts About Chinese Language
- Over 1 billion people speak some form of Chinese as their first language.
- The earliest known Chinese characters date back to around 1600–1046 BC, found in oracle-bone inscriptions.
- The Chinese language has more than 50,000 characters, but knowing about 3,000 is sufficient for reading a newspaper.
Quiz
- How many native speakers does the Chinese language have?
- a) Over 100 million
- b) Over 500 million
- c) Over 1 billion
- d) Over 2 billion
- What is the official language of China?
- a) Mandarin
- b) Cantonese
- c) Shanghainese
- d) Hokkien
- How many tones are there in Mandarin Chinese?
- a) Two
- b) Four
- c) Six
- d) Eight
Answers:
- c) Over 1 billion
- a) Mandarin
- b) Four
FAQs
- What is the significance of Cangjie?
Cangjie is celebrated as the inventor of Chinese characters, which forms a crucial part of China’s linguistic heritage. - Why is multilingualism important?
Promoting multilingualism helps preserve cultural diversity and enhances communication across different cultures.
Related
- International Mother Language Day
- UN Arabic Language Day
- UN English Language Day
