Leaving old posts up here. I’ll be doing new posting over at Bluesky, look for zevhandel there. Check out my new book from @UWAPress at the link below.
Joined December 2019
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828 Photos and videos
Pinned Tweet
5 Jan 2022
The replies to this pinned tweet index my threads on language and linguistics—dealing mostly with sinograms, historical phonology, and etymology.
And occasionally Pokémon.
Languages (focus on East Asia): 🇨🇳🇹🇼🇭🇰🇰🇷🇰🇵🇯🇵🇻🇳 etc.
ALT Image of the Pokémon Eevee with its name written in five different ways: イーブイ, Eevee, 이브이, 伊布, 伊貝
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Jan 21
If you are in the Seattle area, come see me February 3 at the Barnes and Noble UW Book Store. I'm holding a talk, reading, and book signing for my book Chinese Characters Across Asia: How the Chinese Script Came to Write Japanese, Korean, and Vietnamese.
stores.barnesandnoble.com/ev…
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Jan 21
Like the book, this talk will be accessible to everyone—regardless of whether you have any knowledge of Chinese characters or East Asian languages. All are welcome and guaranteed to have a good time.
ALT Cover of the book Chinese Characters Across Asia by Zev Handel (University of Washington Press, 2025)
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zev handel retweeted
Just finished reading _Chinese Characters Across Asia_ by @ZevHandel. It’s the clearest introduction I have read about how the Chinese writing system works—dispelling common, long-held misunderstandings—, and how the script was adapted to Korean, Japanese, Vietnamese, and Zhuang.
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10 Sep 2025
My book talk at Third Place Books in the Ravenna neighborhood of Seattle is next Tuesday!
Below in thread is an excerpt from *Chinese Characters Across Asia: How the Chinese Script Came to Write Japanese, Korean, and Vietnamese*. I'll be reading more at the book event.
2 Sep 2025
Are you in the Seattle area? Come see me at Third Place Books in Ravenna on Sept 16, 7pm. I'll be talking about and reading from my new book, followed by Q&A and book signing. Check out the link for more info, to RSVP, and to preorder a book for signing.
thirdplacebooks.com/event/ze…
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10 Sep 2025
Do our spoken languages have single words corresponding to all basic ideas? Are basic ideas immutable, or do they vary across time, space, and cultures?
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10 Sep 2025
For example, is ‘toast’ a basic idea? Is ‘toothbrush’ a basic idea? Is ‘dodecahedron’? ‘Disgruntlement’? ‘Romantic love’? Is the slight indentation between the bottom of your nose and your upper lip a basic idea?
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Come hear more on Tuesday!
bsky.app/profile/zevhandel.b…
ALT Cover of book Chinese Characters Across Asia: How the Chinese Script Came to Write Japanese, Korean, and Vietnamese by Zev Handel
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2 Sep 2025
Are you in the Seattle area? Come see me at Third Place Books in Ravenna on Sept 16, 7pm. I'll be talking about and reading from my new book, followed by Q&A and book signing. Check out the link for more info, to RSVP, and to preorder a book for signing.
thirdplacebooks.com/event/ze…
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5 Aug 2025
Matteo Ricci (1552–1610) was an Italian Jesuit who resided in China, pursuing his order’s goal of spreading the Catholic faith. He mastered both spoken Chinese and the classical written language. Ricci was well positioned to explain Chinese writing to his fellow Europeans.
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ALT Portrait of Matteo Ricci (1552–1610) from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matteo_Ricci#/media/File:Ricciportrait.jpg
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5 Aug 2025
It is only by dispelling these myths that we can truly understand how Chinese writing works, and how the characters were adapted to write many different languages beyond China’s periphery.
(The above is adapted from Chinese Characters Across Asia, pp. 1–4.)
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5 Aug 2025
The book is on a huge sale right now!
x.com/ZevHandel/status/19522…
4 Aug 2025
If you’re interested in reading my book "Chinese Characters Across Asia: How the Chinese Script Came to Write Japanese, Korean, and Vietnamese", but have been waiting to buy it until it was priced as cheap as humanly possible, now is your chance.
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