Study on Integrating the Character “Fu” in Chinese Cultural Lessons for International Education

In the field of Teaching Chinese to Speakers of Other Languages (TCSOL), cultural instruction plays a pivotal role in helping learners understand and engage with the cultural environment behind the language. This paper uses the Chinese character “fu” (fú, meaning “good fortune”) as the entry point to explore both the historical evolution of Chinese characters and the cultural connotations behind “fu.” Drawing on a teaching practice in a secondary school in Phetchabun, Thailand, the paper introduces a culture-focused lesson titled “Bringing ‘Fu’ Home.” The lesson design, implementation, and outcomes are examined to illustrate how integrating the “fu” character into cultural instruction can inspire students’ interest in the Chinese language, deepen their cultural awareness, and foster greater appreciation of Chinese traditions.