Many Chinese words correspond to celestial bodies. For example, 明 (míng), clear or bright, combines the two characters for sun and moon, the two brightest bodies in the sky. Likewise, there is a moon in 陰 (yīn), feminine or negative, and a sun in 陽(yáng) (yáng), masculine or positive. The two planets are deemed natural dualities of opposite natures – like yin and yang – such as light and dark, hot and cold, fire and water, life and death.

When the Chinese endure many trials and hardships, they say they have passed through 風(fēng)風(fēng)雨雨 (fēng fēng yǔ yǔ), winds and rains. Nevertheless, life isn’t always so hard and after the rain comes clear skies, 雨過天晴 (yǔ guò tiān qíng). In France, we say that after the rain comes the time for mushrooms. But for the Chinese this is the time for bamboo shoots, 雨后春筍 (yǔ hòu chūn sǔn). This signifies thriving development and rapid growth. But the wind and rain are not always enemies; when arriving at the right time and appropriate amount they create favorable weather, this is 風(fēng)調(diào)雨順 (fēng tiáo yǔ shùn). Also, the wind brings news and friends. Hearsay is 風(fēng)聞 (fēng wén). When greeting an unexpected friend you might ask 什么風(fēng)把你吹來了 (shén me fēng bǎ nǐ chuī lái le)? “What good wind brings you here?”

Fatalistic people in China attribute their fortunes to 天意 (tiān yì), the will of Heaven. This is similar to what we call God’s will in the West. The Chinese expression 盡人事, 聽天命 (jìn rén shì, tīng tiān mìng) also has an English equivalent: man proposes, God disposes. Natural gifts are 天賦 (tiān fù). Sudden good luck is 天上掉餡兒餅 (tiān shang diào xiànr bǐng), stuffed breads falling from the sky! But when facing natural disasters, Chinese people also believe they are handed out by Heaven, so referring to them as 天災(zāi) (tiān zāi).

我的天 (wǒ de tiān), good Heavens! It’s time to wrap up. 改天見 (gǎi tiān jiàn), see you later!