Component Translations
Comprehensive chinese translation guide of all components in Where Winds Meet!
Are you ever worried that you might be using a component incorrectly due to not knowing what the characters say? Fear no more, here is your comprehensive translation guide of all components in Where Winds Meet!
寒 - winter / cold
日 - day
堂 - hall
悬 - hang
壶 - gourd
济 - save
世 - world
“Hang up the gourd to save the world.” A Chinese idiom from Extensive Records of the Taiping Era 《太平廣記》that tells the story of a physician who would hang an empty gourd on the ceiling of his house. Read More
Only use this for medical-related builds.
丹 - cinnabar/red
心 - heart
In Chinese culture, red/cinnabar symbolizes loyalty, honor, devotion, sincerity. So in this case, this refers to a devoted heart. Most likely a reference to “Crossing Lingding Ocean“ 《过零丁洋》 by Wen Tianxiang during the Southern Song. The poem was written while Wen was being held captive on a Yuan warship while crossing the Lingding Ocean.
The final couplets are:
人生自古谁无死？留取丹心照汗青。
Since ancient times, who has ever escaped death?
A loyal heart remains to illuminate written history.
汗青 refers to bamboo slips that were used for writing and documentation, so the literal translation would be “bamboo slips.”
萬 ten thousand
家 family
馒头 steamed buns
Can only be used for steamed bun and food stalls, nothing else.
福 Fortune
Used for new years greetings most often.
Disclaimer: This specific sign is written in grass script, which makes it very difficult to read, even by native Chinese readers.
Marvelite and I worked together on this and our best bet is: “性不去松，自流朗”
Roughly translated, it means “one’s character does not leave the pine (tree); it flows and illuminates itself”
驿 - postal (relay station)
Only used for postal relay stations (courier stations) and sometimes inns
天 Heaven
石 Stone
Heavenly Stone
驛 - traditional version of “postal relay station”
Used for postal relay stations/courier stations and inns.
Plaque: 妙手回春
Chinese idiom that literally means “skillful hands bring back spring,” but refers specifically to a physician who can bring back a patient from the brink of death.
Left Pillar: 银针草药救死扶伤
Silver Needle’s herbs and medicine save the dying and injured
Right Pillar: 妙手丹心保康灭病
Skillful hands and a loyal heart can preserve health and extinguish illness
This component can only be used for medical settings, unless all of the pillars and the plaque are covered up.
大医 Great Physician
精诚 Absolute Sincerity
Written during the Tang Dynasty, this line is the title of the first volume of one of the most important texts in the history of Chinese medicine, 《备急千金要方 》Prescriptions Worth One Thousand Gold by Sun Si Miao. Sun was largely considered the Tang Dynasty’s “King of Medicine.”
This component absolutely cannot be used as anything other than for medical purposes, unless you cover up the sign. But even if you cover up the sign, please be advised that each drawer is labeled with the names of herbs and medicine.
宋 “Song” （ as in Song Dynasty) - this is in seal script.
Here are examples of “宋” in seal script
This text is an excerpt from Preface to the Poems Composed at the Orchid Pavilion 《兰亭集序》by Wang Xizhi. You can read a full translation here.
It is considered the most famous classical Chinese prose in Chinese calligraphy ever written by some.
香 - Fragrant
手 - Hand
玉門關 - Jade Gate Pass
Can use this anywhere you want to name “Jade Gate Pass”
慨然攬長劍，濟世宣邀名，星旗紛電舉，日羽蕭天行，遍野屯萬騎，臨原駐五營，登山麾武節，背水縱神兵，在昔我戈動，今來宇宙平。
With surging emotion, I seize the longsword. Ferrying the world, renown calls my name. Star banners and lightning rise in multitude; the sun and feathered arrows cross the desolate sky. Ten thousand cavalry encamped at the edge of wilderness; overlooking the plain, five encampments are stationed. Ascending the mountain, the command banner directs the (martial) order. With backs to the water, divine soldiers are released. During the times of old, our spears moved. Now the universe is at peace.
Center: 非攻之道 - The way of non-aggression (a key Mohist tenet)
Left: 百萬間廣度難求
Among a hundred thousand things, the breadth is hard to attain
Right: 千機巧竅清心平
A thousand ingenious mechanisms and openings, a clear heart, peaceful