Random Descent

According to the statistics of the Chinese National Language Commission, there are altogether most frequently used 604 Chinese characters, which cover 80 percent of the overall Chinese characters appearing in newspapers, broadcasting, television, news and Internet etc. The book covers the 604 Chinese characters.
(604 Chinese Characters, Central Compilation and Translation Press)



I was born in the year of the dragon.
I came into the world 20 years ago.
When I am shopping, my boyfriend usually helps me to take the bag.
He has accumulated great fortune in these two years.
The peasants coming from the village to work in the city are all very kind.
The living environment of the residents is better and better.
Social stability not only relies on law, but also morality.
Our country pays great attention to education.
My younger brother has wanted to become a scientist since he was young.
I love chatting on the internet!
Finding a good job is our common goal.
I can't help laughing when recalling my childhood!
We judge quality according to price.
The reason that I am together with my present boyfriend is that he can give me a sense of security.
What are your standards for a boyfriend?
He looks very handsome in this suit!
He made much money by doing business.
Leaders ask him to complete this glorious and difficult task.
China is a developing country.
This policy is for peasants.
I haven't been here for some years, and the economy is developing faster and faster.
The traditional industrial advantage should be maintained.
My boyfriend has specially ordered a wedding gown.
He wears famous brands from head to toe.
People all like to buy clothes with a famous brand.
The world's richest list is changing all the year.
Six new couples are holding collective wedding ceremony in the church.
This technique is in the leading position.
Don't you stand on ceremony?
Our performances have all reached the standard.
I said goodbye to my family.
How beautiful are the stars!
How beautiful is the moonlight tonight!
There will be bread and there will be milk.
Relationships between human beings are equal.
A train passed by.

Something went wrong with my new cellphone as soon as I bought it.
Now young people know fewer and fewer about the traditional culture.
He has many cards, such as beauty salon card, credit card, bank card as well as shopping card.
His merits and demerits are all very outstanding.
I can only conform to the leader's appointment.
Please list your advantages one by one.
Many goods are displayed on my shopping list.
The old don't understand the consumption concept of the young!
Our tour guide is a beautiful, active girl.
She dances with graceful movements.
He speaks very fast.
His voice sounds strange.
This is unfair!
I think you have been abroad now, but you are still in our country!
Don't let anyone disturb me!
What’s wrong?
America is a developed country.
Electronic technology in Silicon Valley is in the world leading position.
Nothing's wrong with me now. Don't worry.
Mother comes to visit me and I am very happy.
Mother always emphasizes inner beauty is more important than outer beauty.
The comprehensive national strength of many African countries is rising all the time.
Great changes have taken place in my hometown when I come back this time.
Try to make yourself happier.
How difficult it is to survive in this society of severe competition!
Our country can only develop better relying on technology.
Technology of American aviation is very advanced.
The present life has great distance from the imagination. 
Actually, it is hard to completely carry out equality of persons.
The city planning is not reasonable.
His speech is unacceptable!
My weight has dropped a lot since I was ill.
Market competition is more and more severe.
I always want to be the first, not the second.
That you should do this is useless!
What did you say?
This house is too big!
I speak for four hours without stopping, and now my mouth is dry and my throat is sore.
He loves fighting with others since he was young.
Heroes arrived at the crucial time.
Finally, the class is over.

I don't have much stuff, so I can manage myself.
Divorce also needs to go through some legal procedures.
We have to absorb lessons from failure.
I hope our country to be more powerful.
Unity is strength.
Please repeat.

About this poem

I wrote this in about 2010, while I was working at the British Consulate-General in Chongqing. I think I was on a trip to Guizhou province when I started work on it. I had with me a little book called ‘604 Chinese Characters’, listing the 604 most commonly seen Chinese characters, which represent – by volume – about 80% of all characters used in modern Chinese media. The idea was that if you want to learn Chinese and you learn merely these 604 characters, then you have made a very good start.

I was intrigued to see that the translations of the sample sentences used to demonstrate the characters in the book seemed to sum up so many precoccupations of modern Chinese people, whether it be the pace of change, internal migration of people or gender roles. I selected a number of these sample sentences and arranged them in such a way that you can discern a couple of characters and a general narrative.