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Mandarin Chinese Lessons – Mistakes about the Chinese Zodiac Signs

Key Learning Points (Preview):

属相 (shǔxiàng), 生肖 (shēngxiāo): n. Chinese zodiac sign, animal sign
  

属 (shǔ): v. to symbolize (the birth year of a person)
  

属于 (shǔyú): v. to belong to
  

Many westerners have shown a keen interest in the "生肖 (shēngxiāo)" or signs of the Chinese Zodiac, but they can easily make mistakes when attempting to use them. Hemingway was one such person. After several days of studying the Chinese Lunar Calendar, he said to his secretary excitedly, “You were born in 1923. 你属于猪！(Nǐ shǔyú zhū!) You belong to a Pig!" His secretary got angry and left, leaving Hemingway very confused.

The mistake Hemingway made was in confusing two seemingly similar Chinese words: "属于 (shǔyú)" and "属 (shǔ)." "属于 (shǔyú)" means “to belong to,” but "属 (shǔ)" is only used when referring to the Chinese Zodiac signs. It means a person who was born "in a year of the Chinese Zodiac sign." In fact, what Hemingway really wanted to say to his secretary was “你属猪。(Nǐ shǔ zhū.) You were born in the Year of the Pig.”

The Chinese zodiac signs are twelve in number. They are the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog and pig. Chinese people believe that the animals of the zodiac will shape people’s character. For example, if someone is born in the year 2011, then he is born in the Year of the Rabbit. A Person born under the sign of the rabbit is gentle, sensitive, compassionate, amiable, modest and merciful, and has a good memory. But he has weaknesses too. He is not good at looking deeply at an issue and is prone to try to escape reality. He may lose good chances because of being too reserved. You can also try to use the Chinese zodiac signs to learn more about yourself. Have fun!

Key Learning Point:

属相 (shǔxiàng), 生肖 (shēngxiāo): n. Chinese zodiac sign, animal sign
  

Example:

Wǒ de shǔxiàng shì mǎ.
 我  的     属相     是 马。  
I was born in the year of the horse.

属 (shǔ): v. to symbolize (the birth year of a person)
  

Example:

A: Nǐ shǔ shénme?
     你  属      什么？    
     What is your animal sign?

B: Wǒ shǔ niú.
     我   属   牛。    
     My animal sign is the ox.

属于 (shǔyú): v. to belong to
  

Example:

Tāmen shǔyú jiào wéi niánqīng de yí dài.
  他们     属于  较  为     年轻      的 一 代。    
They belong to a younger generation.