Americans are fond of referring to their country as "the greatest nation on earth". Until recently, I didn't believe any country deserved that description. But today I think there is a strong contender for the title.

China is the world's oldest living civilisation. It has recovered from over a century of colonial oppression and lifted its citizens out of poverty. As its growth continues, China is poised to become the world's largest economy and a technology leader that is second to none. By 2030, I believe it will be an indisputable fact that China is the greatest nation on earth.

I need to understand China, from a Chinese perspective. This is my journey.

Friday, 9 September 2022

That Feeling When You Understand A Chinese Meme

I had a most gratifying experience today when I saw a response on Twitter and understood what the meme was saying.

The words
你 知道 我 要 说 什么
nǐ zhīdào wǒ yào shuō shénme

mean "You know what I want to say" (literally "You know I want say what")

The deliberately neutral expression on the man's face says it all. He has an opinion, but isn't saying anything.

I was so pleased that I was able to read and understand every character in the meme, and best of all, understand what the meme meant.

Understanding this meme from pop culture is another small milestone in my journey to gain better insights into Chinese society.