Is it true that the printed Chinese characters for "crisis" is...

Factual Questions
1

1/2 “opportunity” and the other half “danger”?

I’ve read this so many times that it has never occurred to me to question this. Until now, for whatever reason.

So, what’s the straight dope? Is this saying true?

2

No.

3

There is (surprisingly) a Wikipedia article on the topic. (The talk page is worth reading along with the article itself.)

4

Thanks! I knew I should have checked The Master’s columns for this, but was lazy.

5

On a tangential note, I remember reading that the character for prosperity (or some similar term) was a pig under a roof, and that the character for chaos (again, I don’t remember the exact word, but the opposite of “harmony”) was two women under a roof.

Are either of these even close?

Thanks!

6

A pig under a roof means “home” or “house”.

7

Well, home is where the pig is. One woman under a roof is “an”, usually translated as serenity. I like the idea of the opposite being two women under a roof. I hope someone confirms that!

8

I heard the “two women under a roof” story long ago from my high school history teacher. I am pretty skeptical, though. It is too good of a joke.