The United Nations (UN’s) Chinese Language Day is annually observed across the globe on April 20 to promote multilingualism, cultural diversity, and the equal use of the six official languages of the UN.
- The 2025 theme, “Chinese Language: A Gift Across Time and Space”, highlights the historical and cultural significance of the Chinese language.
Why April 20?
i.UN Chinese Language Day has been held on April 20, corresponding to Guyu (“Rain of Millet”), the sixth solar term in the traditional East Asian calendar.
ii.This date honours Cangjie, the legendary historian of the Yellow Emperor, believed to have invented Chinese characters, a mythic act that made deities weep and caused millet to rain from the sky.
Background:
i.The observance was established in 2010 by the UN Department of Global Communications (DGC) (formerly Department of Public Information) to celebrate the rich heritage of the Chinese language and foster its use across all UN duty stations worldwide.
ii.The inaugural UN Chinese Language Day was held on 12 November 2010. Since 2011, it has been celebrated annually on 20 April to align with Guyu and Cangjie’s legacy.
Chinese Language at the UN:
i.Chinese was designated an official UN language in 1946, following General Assembly resolution 2 (I) on 1 February 1946.
ii.Later adopted as a working language by the General Assembly in 1973 and the Security Council in 1974.
iii.Usage expanded significantly after the People’s Republic of China regained its UN seat in 1971, leading to broader incorporation in UN documents and meetings.
Key Facts:
i.Over 1 billion people speak Mandarin Chinese as their first language, making it the most spoken UN language
ii.Chinese calligraphy was inscribed in 2009 on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity maintained by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
iii.UN resolutions and publications are routinely translated into all six official languages, ensuring equitable access to information.
Other UN Language Days:
i.UN Arabic Language Day – December 18 (marks Arabic’s inclusion as an official language in 1973)
ii.UN English Language Day – April 23 (honours the birthday of William Shakespeare)
iii.UN French Language Day – March 20 (coincides with Journée internationale de la Francophonie)
iv.UN Russian Language Day – June 6 (commemorates poet Alexander Pushkin’s birthday)
v.UN Spanish Language Day – April 23 (pays tribute to writer Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra, who died in 1616)
