China in Translation

Making Themselves Heard: Chinese Sign Language & Deaf China Online

Chinese is widely known as one of the world’s most difficult languages, but what about Chinese Sign Language? What’s on Weibo’s Cat Hanson explores the issue of sign language and Deaf Culture in China, and their place in China’s online environment.

Published

11 years ago

March 7, 2016

Cat Hanson

Chinese is widely known as one of the world’s most difficult languages, but what about Chinese Sign Language? Cat Hanson looks into the issue of sign language and Deaf Culture in China for What’s on Weibo, and explores their place in China’s online environment.

February 21st marked the United Nations International Mother Language Day, so-named for its recognition of mother tongues across the world. It was also the day that sign language interpreter and…

Related Topics:china disability Chinese language Chinese society

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Cat Hanson

Cat Hanson is a U.K. graduate of Chinese Studies now teaching and living in China. She swapped Beijing for Anhui, and runs her own blog on China life: Putong Press.

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China in Translation

China’s 2025 Year in Review in 12 Phrases

Andrew Methven’s favorite Chinese phrases of the year, a special feature by RealTime Mandarin.

Published

9 months ago

December 31, 2025

Andrew Methven

Dear Reader,

Happy New Year! A new year is, undoubtedly, filled with new resolutions. I have a few on my list, and maybe we have some in common—like reading more books (my new e-reader is arriving from Shenzhen tomorrow!) and being more diligent about practicing my new Chinese vocabulary.

If upping your Chinese is also on your list for 2026, Andrew Methven’s newsletter, RealTime Mandarin, is a must-follow. It’s a free weekly resource that…

China in Translation

Jiehun Huazhai (结婚化债): Getting Married to Pay Off Debts

Published

1 year ago

July 3, 2025

Manya Koetse

🔥 A version of this story also appeared in the Weibo Watch newsletter. Subscribe to stay in the loop.

Our Weibo phrase of the week is 结婚化债 jiéhūn huàzhài. Lately, the term “结婚化债” jiéhūn huàzhài, which translates to “marriage as debt resolution” or “getting married to resolve debt” is a recurring term on Chinese social media.

The word refers to a phenomenon that has become more prevalent alongside rising debts among…