Good Characters Monday, March 17, 2025, Newsletter
St. Patrick’s Day
St. Patrick’s Day feels special to me because I have a couple of good friends in Ireland.
In Traditional Chinese, Ireland is 愛爾蘭, and in Simplified Chinese, it’s 爱尔兰.
Character by character, they mean:
愛/爱 (ài) – love
爾/尔 (ěr) – you
蘭/兰 (lán) – orchid
I always prefer the Traditional Chinese character for love (愛) because it includes a heart (心). After all, what is love without a heart? In the process of simplification, the Simplified Chinese version (爱) lost its heart.
Love without its heart,
trimmed down for simplicity,
yet something is lost.
New Product Idea: Seal Sign
If you’ve purchased a name stamp or school stamp, would you find it useful to have that same design made into a sign you can stick on the wall? Let me know what you think!
A stamp on the wall,
marking names with honor bright,
history displayed.
New Product Idea: Cutout Photo Frame
Another idea: a custom-cut mat where you can place any photo or image behind. The cutout can be in English or in Chinese, Japanese, or Korean characters. Would this be something you’d use at home or in your studio?
Framed in chosen words,
memories take shape and hold,
a name tells a tale.
NBA Stars and Their Chinese Names
I read an article in The New York Times about NBA players connecting with their Chinese fans through social media—very different from ours since most American platforms are blocked there. One player caught my attention because his transliterated name has an unfortunate homophone with a negative meaning.
I see a great opportunity to improve his name and deepen his fan engagement. I’d love to help, but I’m not sure how to get my message across. Do you have any ideas?
A name shapes the heart,
bridging cultures far and wide,
spoken with respect.
Update on Try Our AI Phone Assistant!
Last week, I invited you to try our AI assistant. Some of you did—thank you! It’s still a work in progress, but for now, it can take messages and answer basic questions. Give it a try at (559) 472-3320.
A voice stands ready,
listening with quiet care,
always here to help.
Reminder: Free Personal Stamp Offer Ends Soon!
Just a quick reminder—I emailed you a few weeks ago about my new book, Choose Your Own Good Characters: John, and a special offer for past customers. If you’d like a free personal stamp with a transliteration of your choice, be sure to order before March 31st!
Check it out here: John
Let me know if you have any questions—I’d love to hear your thoughts!
A name in your hand,
etched in time, a mark of self,
yours and yours alone.
The Heart of Love (愛 vs. 爱)
They took the heart from love one day,
Left strokes of ink in cold array.
A symbol once so full, complete,
Now stands alone, yet feels less deep.
The ancient form, with heart inside,
Bears whispers soft, a soul as guide.
For love without a beating core,
Is but a shell and nothing more.
The heart remains in 愛 so true,
A bond that roots, a thread that grew.
To love is more than lips declare,
But hands that give, and hearts that care.
They placed a 友 where heart once stayed,
A mark for “friend,” in lines displayed.
Yet love runs deeper, vast and wide,
More than just friends who stand beside.
For love’s fierce fire, strong and pure,
Needs more than 友 to stand secure.