Freedom of Speech in Traditional Chinese

Introduction:

The purpose of this instructable is to draw awareness to the protests in Hong Kong. The hope is that this instructable will spark activism for the rights of the people in China from an oppressive government. The instructable should efficiently teach the user how to write “Freedom of Speech” in the traditional Chinese language, just as protestors have it written on their signs.

Disclaimer:

Traditional Chinese is meant to be written vertically from top to bottom and read right to left. Because this instructable is intended to be used by those not literate in Traditional Chinese, the phrase taught in this instructable is intended to be written horizontally from left to right like typical English.
Additionally, the measurements specified in this instructable are used only to maintain consistency. Those using this instructable are free to adjust the sizes of these characters as they see fit.

Supplies

• Pencil, pen, or other marking utensil, ruler
• paper, poster board, or other materials to write on

Step 1: 言 (Yán) This Symbol Alone Means “word”, But Combined With the Second Symbol, It Will Become the First Part of the Word “speech”.

Draw a straight, horizontal line about an inch in length

Step 2:

Draw a slightly shorter horizontal line above the first line

Step 3:

Draw another horizontal line beneath the first line, slightly shorter than the

second line

Step 4:

Repeat the step above

Step 5:

Repeat the step above

Step 6:

Draw two vertical lines, one on either end of the previous line creating two

corners

Step 7:

Draw a horizontal line between the two previous lines to connect them

Step 8:

Done!

Step 9: 論 (Yánlún) This Symbol Alone Is Not a Word by Itself, But When Combined With Step 1 (yán), It Becomes the Full and Complete Word for “speech”.

Draw a horizontal line about half an inch in length

Step 10:

Draw three vertical lines, about half an inch long, extending from the first

line

Step 11:

At the right end of the first line, draw a vertical line extending down but

curve the end like a “J”

Step 12:

Draw a horizontal line under the first line and through the four vertical

lines

Step 13:

Draw another horizontal line above the first line, slightly less than half an

inch

Step 14:

Draw two diagonal lines meeting at the top of the character like

drawing the roof of a house

Step 15:

Draw three horizontal lines, one on top of the other, to the left of what has

been already drawn, all slightly less than half an inch

Step 16:

Draw two more horizontal lines under the previous three lines

Step 17:

Draw two vertical lines, one on either end of the lower of the previous two

lines creating two corners

Step 18:

Draw a horizontal line between the two previous lines to connect them

Step 19:

Done!

Step 20: 自 (Zì) When Standing Alone, This Symbol Means “from”. However, When It’s Combined With the Final Symbol, It Will Translate As “for Freedom”.

Draw a horizontal line about an inch in length

Step 21:

Draw two vertical lines, one on either end of the previous line creating two

corners

Step 22:

Draw three horizontal lines between the previous two lines all about one

fourth of an inch apart

Step 23:

Add a short diagonal line on top of what has been previously drawn,

slightly off-center

Step 24:

Done!

Step 25: 由(Zìyóu) When This Symbol Is Combined With the Third Symbol (Zì), It Fully Forms the Word “free” or “freedom”.

Draw a horizontal line about an inch and a half in length

Step 26:

Draw two vertical lines, one on either end of the previous line

creating two corners about an inch in length

Step 27:

Draw two horizontal lines in between the two previous lines, both

less than half and inch apart

Step 28:

Draw a vertical line extending upward past what has been

previously drawn just under an inch and a half in length

Step 29:

Done!