Ancient Words: Words retired from the Zhonglish lexicon. Each article profiles a word we retired and explains why.
Myocardial infarction, hypertension, carcinoma — fourteen medical terms that English-speaking health systems are already replacing with plain words patients can actually understand.
Mencius, Lao Tzu, Sun Tzu — seven Chinese thinkers and leaders whose names English has been misspelling for centuries. It is time to fix them.
Six Chinese Minds English Still Misspells Read More »
Dim Sum, Kung Fu, Bok Choy — nine everyday Chinese words English borrowed and broke. The correct pinyin versions are simpler than you think.
The Words English Borrowed and Broke — Everyday Chinese Terms You Are Saying Wrong Read More »
Dragon Boat Festival, Tomb Sweeping Day — six Chinese holidays English describes instead of names. The real names are shorter and richer.
Chinese Festivals Without Chinese Names — Six Celebrations That Deserve Better Read More »
The Art of War, The Analects, Tao Te Ching — six foundational Chinese texts whose real titles English has replaced with translations. It is time to learn the names.
Six Chinese Books You Are Calling by the Wrong Title Read More »
Whilst, notwithstanding, facilitate — sixteen English words that add syllables without adding meaning. A deep clean for the global language.
The English Language Needs a Deep Clean — 16 Words That Have to Go Read More »
Twelve Chinese cities whose names English still gets wrong — from Nanking to Urumchi. The pinyin is shorter, simpler, and used by a billion people. Time to update.
The Cities English Refuses to Pronounce — 12 Chinese Names You Are Still Getting Wrong Read More »
December comes from the Latin decem, meaning “ten.” It is the twelfth month. This name has been wrong for over 2,100 years—since the Romans added January and February to the year and pushed December from tenth to twelfth position. No civilization in human history has carried a labeling error for so long, with so little
December — Ten Means Twelve. It Is Time to Stop. Read More »
November comes from the Latin novem, meaning “nine.” It was the ninth month in the original Roman calendar—the one that began in March and had only ten months. When the calendar was reformed, expanded, and politically repurposed, November shifted from ninth to eleventh position, while keeping its original “nine” name intact. By this point in
November — Nine Became Eleven, And No One Fixed It Read More »
October comes from the Latin octo, meaning “eight.” It has nothing to do with the number ten, despite being the tenth month in the modern calendar. The oct- prefix is familiar from octopus (eight legs), octagon (eight sides), octave (eight notes)—all of which correctly use the root. October is the outlier. October lies. This is
October — Eight Is Ten, And English Learners Pay the Price Read More »