ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Chinese playing cards

Chinese playing cards are sets of cards that people use to play games in China. They look different from the cards you might be used to seeing in other places because they have characters and symbols written on them instead of the traditional suits and numbers. The characters and symbols on these cards tell stories, represent different concepts, or serve as a form of fortune telling.

These cards come in various sizes, but they usually have small dimensions, which fit perfectly within the palm of your hand. A typical deck consists of 40 cards, which are further divided into four suits, including coins, strings of coins, myriads (representing 10,000), and characters. Each suit has ten pip cards with values ranging from 1 to 10 and three face cards, including the "vice," "second," or "master," which represent the highest honor, followed by the "first," and the "junior" or "third."

In addition to the four suits, Chinese playing cards might have extra cards, including penalty or happiness cards, which come into play during gameplay. These cards have unique markings on them which can enhance or decrease the player's score depending on the context of the game.

Overall, Chinese playing cards are an integral part of Chinese culture and have a long history that dates back to the Ming Dynasty. Even though the cards may seem complicated with all their symbols, once you know how to play with them, you're sure to have lots of fun.