Ideas and beliefs, morals and values, the classical schools of thought and how a tradition is handed on.
Much of the vocabulary of ideas ends in a syllable that says what kind of word it is: 家 is a person or a school (哲学家, 儒家), 观 a view of something (价值观, 世界观), 主义 an “-ism”. English has one word where Chinese has two: 尊敬is the respect you look up with尊重the respect you give to other people's rights and choices
The words
View
Verb (2)
传承to pass on; to hand down; heritageVerb5
这门手艺在他们家已经传承了好几代。This craft has been handed down in their family for several generations.
尊敬to respect; to look up toVerb4
学生们都很尊敬这位老教授。The students all look up to this old professor.
Respect for someone above you; respecting a choice or a right is 尊重.
Noun (34)
哲学philosophyNoun4
他平时喜欢读一些哲学方面的书。In his spare time he likes reading books on philosophy.
哲学家philosopherNoun5
这位哲学家一生都在思考什么是幸福。This philosopher spent his whole life thinking about what happiness is.
思想thought; ideas; ideologyNoun4
这本书介绍了古代中国的主要思想。This book introduces the main schools of thought of ancient China.
A body of ideas; a single idea you have is 想法.
思想家thinkerNoun5
孔子是中国古代著名的思想家和教育家。Confucius was a famous thinker and educator of ancient China.
价值观valuesNoun5
两代人的价值观常常不一样。Two generations often hold different values.
One word for a whole set of values; literally “a view of what has worth”.
道德morality; ethics; moralNoun4
这不是法律问题，而是道德问题。This is not a legal question but a moral one.
信仰belief; faith; to believe inNoun5
每个人都有自己的信仰，我们应该互相尊重。Everyone has their own beliefs, and we should respect one another.
宗教religionNoun5
这门课介绍世界上几大宗教的历史。This course introduces the history of the world's major religions.
儒家Confucianism; the Confucian schoolNoun5
儒家思想非常重视家庭和教育。Confucian thought places great weight on family and education.
道家Daoism; the Daoist schoolNoun5
道家主张顺应自然。Daoism teaches that one should go along with nature.
The school of thought; the religion is 道教.
佛教BuddhismNoun5
佛教很早就从印度传到了中国。Buddhism reached China from India very early on.
观念idea; notion; way of thinkingNoun5
现在很多年轻人的消费观念跟父母完全不同。Many young people today think about spending money quite differently from their parents.
精神spirit; mindNoun4
这种不怕困难的精神值得我们学习。This spirit of not being afraid of difficulties is one we should learn from.
With a neutral second syllable, jīngshen means lively or full of energy.
孔子ConfuciusNoun5
孔子的很多话今天还常常被人引用。Many of the sayings of Confucius are still often quoted today.
论语the Analects (of Confucius)Noun5
《论语》记录了孔子和学生之间的对话。The Analects record conversations between Confucius and his students.
The first syllable is lún here, not lùn as in 讨论.
智慧wisdomNoun5
这些老话里有很多生活的智慧。There is a lot of practical wisdom in these old sayings.
人生life (one's course through life)Noun4
那次旅行改变了她对人生的看法。That journey changed the way she looks at life.
Life as a whole; daily life is 生活.
世界观world view; outlookNoun5
读书和旅行都能影响一个人的世界观。Both reading and travel can shape a person's view of the world.
美德virtueNoun5
在很多文化里，诚实都被看作一种美德。In many cultures honesty is regarded as a virtue.
孝道filial pietyNoun5
孝道是儒家伦理中很重要的一部分。Filial piety is a very important part of Confucian ethics.
礼仪etiquette; ceremonyNoun5
去别人家做客要注意一些基本的礼仪。When you are a guest in someone's home you should observe some basic etiquette.
中庸the doctrine of the mean; moderationNoun5
中庸的意思是做事不走极端。The doctrine of the mean means not going to extremes in what you do.
修养self-cultivation; good breedingNoun5
他说话很有礼貌，一看就是很有修养的人。He speaks very politely; you can tell at once that he is a cultivated person.
良心conscienceNoun5
做生意也要讲良心。Business, too, should be done with a conscience.
真理truthNoun5
人们常说，真理越辩越明。People often say that the truth becomes clearer the more it is debated.
Truth as a principle; telling the truth is 说实话.
个人主义individualismNoun5
有人认为个人主义和自私不是一回事。Some people argue that individualism and selfishness are not the same thing.
信念conviction; firm beliefNoun5
正是这个信念让他坚持了下来。It was this conviction that kept him going.
教堂churchNoun4
广场旁边有一座很老的教堂。Beside the square there is a very old church.
Measure word: 座.
伦理ethicsNoun5
基因技术的发展带来了很多伦理问题。Advances in genetic technology have raised many ethical questions.
理性reason; rationalNoun5
遇到问题的时候，我们要保持理性。When problems come up, we have to stay rational.
人性human natureNoun5
这部小说写出了人性的复杂。This novel shows how complex human nature is.
仁benevolence; humanenessNoun5
在儒家思想里，“仁”的核心是爱人。In Confucian thought, the heart of benevolence is loving other people.
Sounds exactly like 人, “person”, which is part of the point.
灵魂soulNoun5
音乐是这部电影的灵魂。The music is the soul of this film.
境界level (of attainment); state of mindNoun5
他的书法已经达到了很高的境界。His calligraphy has reached a very high level of mastery.
Adjective (3)
和谐harmoniousAdjective5
他们一家人相处得很和谐。The whole family get on together in harmony.
多元diverse; pluralisticAdjective5
这座港口城市的文化非常多元。The culture of this port city is very diverse.
本土local; home-grownAdjective5
这个电影节主要展示本土导演的作品。This film festival mainly shows the work of local directors.
From the place itself as opposed to from abroad; a place nearby is 当地.
Idiom (1)
天人合一the unity of heaven and humanityIdiom5
天人合一的思想强调人和自然之间的和谐。The idea of the unity of heaven and humanity stresses harmony between people and nature.
This list belongs to Chinese culture and history — six lists and 242 words that can also be practised as a whole.
Practise this list
Multiple choice and gaps, drawn from exactly these 40 words. Whatever you get wrong comes back tomorrow.
