Hacking Chinese

Author: Olle Linge
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781530334889
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 246

Book Description
Learning Chinese can be frustrating and difficult, partly because it's very different from European languages. Following a teacher, textbook or language course is not enough. They show you the characters, words and grammar you need to become proficient in Chinese, but they don't teach you how to learn them! Regardless of what program you're in (if any), you need to take responsibility for your own learning. If you don't, you will miss many important things that aren't included in the course you're taking. If you study on your own, you need to be even more aware of what you need to do, what you're doing at the moment and the difference between them. Here are some of the questions I have asked and have since been asked many times by students: How do I learn characters efficiently? How do I get the most out of my course or teacher? Which are the best learning tools and resources? How can I become fluent in Mandarin? How can I improve my pronunciation? How do I learn successfully on my own? How can I motivate myself to study more? How can I fit learning Chinese into a busy schedule? The answers I've found to these questions and many others form the core of this book. It took eight years of learning, researching, teaching and writing to figure these things out. Not everybody has the time to do that! I can't go back in time and help myself learn in a better way, but I can help you! This book is meant for normal students and independent language learners alike. While it covers all major areas of learning, you won't learn Chinese just by reading this book. It's like when someone on TV teaches you how to cook: you won't get to eat the delicious dish just by watching the program; you have to do the cooking yourself. That's true for this book as well. When you apply what you learn, it will boost your learning, making every hour you spend count for more, but you still have to do the learning yourself. This is what a few readers have said about the book: "The book had me nodding at a heap of things I'd learnt the hard way, wishing I knew them when I started, as well as highlighting areas that I'm currently missing in my study." - Geoff van der Meer, VP engineering "This publication is like a bible for anyone serious about Chinese proficiency. It's easy for anyone to read and written with scientific precision." - Zachary Danz, foreign teacher, children's theatre artist About me I started learning Chinese when I was 23 (that's more than eight years ago now) and have since studied in many different situations, including serious immersion programs abroad, high-intensity programs in Sweden, online courses, as well as on the side while working or studying other things. I have also successfully used my Chinese in a graduate program for teaching Chinese as a second language, taught entirely in Chinese mostly for native speakers (the Graduate Institute for Teaching Chinese as a Second Language at National Taiwan Normal University). All these parts have contributed to my website, Hacking Chinese, where I write regularly about how to learn Mandarin.

Tuttle Learning Chinese Characters

Author: Alison Matthews
Publisher: Tuttle Publishing
ISBN: 146290128X
Category : Foreign Language Study
Languages : en
Pages : 388

Book Description
This user-friendly book is aimed at helping students of Mandarin Chinese learn and remember Chinese characters. At last--there is a truly effective and enjoyable way to learn Chinese characters! This book helps students to learn and remember both the meanings and the pronunciations of over 800 characters. This otherwise daunting task is made easier by the use of techniques based on the psychology of learning and memory. key principles include the use of visual imagery, the visualization of short "stories," and the systematic building up of more complicated characters from basic building blocks. Although Learning Chinese Characters is primarily a book for serious learners of Mandarin Chinese, it can be used by anyone with interest in Chinese characters, without any prior knowledge of Chinese. It can be used alongside (or after, or even before) a course in the Chinese language. All characters are simplified (as in mainland China), but traditional characters are also given, when available. Key features: Specially designed pictures and stories are used in a structured way to make the learning process more enjoyable and effective, reducing the need for rote learning to the absolute minimum. The emphasis throughout is on learning and remembering the meanings and pronunciations of the characters. Tips are also included on learning techniques and how to avoid common problems. Characters are introduced in a logical sequence, which also gives priority to learning the most common characters first. Modern, simplified characters are used, with pronunciations given in pinyin. Key information is given for each character, including radical, stroke-count, traditional form, compounds, and guidance on writing the character. This is a practical guide with a clear, concise and appealing layout, and it is well-indexed with easy lookup methods. The 800 Chinese characters and 1,033 compounds specified for the original HSK Level A proficiency test are covered.

Remembering Simplified Hanzi 1

Author: James W. Heisig
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Foreign Language Study
Languages : en
Pages : 438

Book Description
"The approach that has helped thousands of learners memorize Japanese kanji has been adapted to help students with Chinese characters. Remembering Simplified Hanzi covers the writing and meaning of the 1,000 most commonly used characters in the traditional Chinese writing system, plus another 500 that are best learned at an early stage." "Of critical importance to the approach found in these pages is the systematic arranging of characters in an order best suited to memory. In the Chinese writing system, strokes and simple components are nested within relatively simple characters, which can, in turn, serve as parts of more complicated characters and so on. Taking advantage of this allows a logical ordering, making it possible for students to approach most new characters with prior knowledge that can greatly facilitate the learning process."--BOOK JACKET.

Mandarin Chinese Characters Made Easy

Author: Michael L. Kluemper
Publisher: Tuttle Publishing
ISBN: 1462917208
Category : Foreign Language Study
Languages : en
Pages : 220

Book Description
This highly-visual book introduces an effective new method for learning Chinese characters using visual stimuli and pictographs. Learning the necessary characters used to write even simple Chinese sentences can be a long and arduous process. Chinese Characters Made Easy makes the learning process fun and easy by presenting the 1,000 most common characters using a new mnemonic approach that associates each character with a memorable visual and verbal clue--making memorization easy. The character for person, for example, is superimposed over a sketch of a man representing "a person standing on two legs"—drawing the reader's attention to the distinctive shape of the character and associating the sketch with the character's meaning. The Chinese characters are presented in groups or clusters all sharing common elements and meanings, for context and ease of identification. These groups of characters all share common root symbols known as radicals or relate to a particular theme or topic such as colors, numbers, animals, or body parts. Pronunciations, meanings and vocabulary compounds are provided for each character in the group. Key features of Chinese Characters Made Easy include: An introduction to the history and structure of the Chinese writing system 1,000 characters and over 3,000 words for beginning learners of Chinese This Chinese character book's visual approach is a powerful learning tool. It can be used by serious students and is entertaining and useful to general readers who are curious about how the Chinese writing system works and how it developed.

Learn Chinese Radicals

Author: Daniel Schoeman
Publisher:
ISBN: 9780796164261
Category : Education
Languages : en
Pages : 0

Book Description
This is a book to practice the 214 standard Chinese radicals in. In This Book You Will Find: Material for students new to the writing and reading of Chinese characters. A list of the 214 standard Chinese radicals and their variants in both Traditional and Simplified Chinese characters. A page spread that consists of 12 radicals provided in the left column, and 16 writing boxes per row to practice in. Each radical can be written 16 times, across two pages. Blank pages provided for copying. Every radical is provided with its: Pinyin pronunciation Meaning in English Number of strokes The list provided is 100% correct, but Chinese radical lists found online can vary due to several factors: Historical Variations: Throughout history, there have been different categorizations and interpretations of radicals, leading to variations in radical lists. Simplification and Standardization: The Chinese writing system has undergone reforms, such as simplification in mainland China and traditional forms in Taiwan and Hong Kong. These reforms may result in different radical lists being used in different regions. Scholarly Interpretations: Different scholars may have different perspectives on which components should be considered radicals, leading to variations in radical lists. Educational Curriculum: Radical lists used in educational materials may be tailored to suit the specific needs of learners or the requirements of the curriculum, resulting in variations. Usage and Frequency: Some lists may prioritize radicals based on their frequency of use or importance in understanding characters, leading to variations depending on the purpose of the list. Overall, the variation in Chinese radical lists reflects the complexity and richness of the Chinese writing system, as well as the diverse perspectives and needs of learners and users. Radicals serve as headers in dictionaries, organizing characters or words. The 214 Kangxi radicals specifically categorize entries in the Kangxi dictionary; they are not universally employed in other dictionaries, unless another dictionary deliberately adopts the same radical set. Consequently, if a smaller dictionary opts not to include some obscure characters found in larger or more comprehensive dictionaries, it may lack the complete set of Kangxi radicals. The Kangxi dictionary, being Traditional Chinese, uses its distinct set of radicals, which differs from those used in Simplified Chinese dictionaries. However, entries in Simplified Chinese dictionaries may still be rooted in the Kangxi dictionary. Radicals, whether Kangxi or otherwise, are essentially arbitrary. They often bear little relation to a character's meaning or pronunciation. Therefore, it's entirely acceptable for a new dictionary publisher to devise their own radical system for character grouping.

Learn Chinese Radicals

Author: Daniel Schoeman
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781095606100
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 59

Book Description
This is a book for students new to the writing and reading of Chinese characters.A list of the 214 standard Chinese radicals and their variants is provided (both Traditional and Simplifed Chinese characters).Every radical is provided with its: - Pinyin pronunciation, - Meaning in English, - Number of strokes.A page spread consists of 12 radicals provided in the left column and 16 writing boxes per row to practice in.Each radical can be written 16 times, across two pages.Blank pages are provided for copying.

Chinese Characters

Author: Alan Hoenig
Publisher: Dr. Alan Hoenig
ISBN: 0982232403
Category : Foreign Language Study
Languages : en
Pages : 507

Book Description
A systematic, building block-style plan for mastering the most daunting aspect of learning Chinese--how to remember the meaning of more than 2,000 of the most common characters--is provided in this handbook. Beginning with the simplest of strokes, such as those for numbers, scepter, and earth, and progressing to the extremely complex, such as destroy, insert, and mouse, this manual presents a methodology employing memory techniques to associate meanings with the characters' visual components. A sequence of numbered panels displays each character in two font styles, and a notation in the adjacent margin describes the character's pinyin pronunciation. Graphics that identify the components or characters from which the featured characters are drawn, and a listing of both the names of these root components, and the panel numbers that cite their location in the book augment the presentation. Beginners will be best served by using this guide in conjunction with the development of language skills, while those who are familiar with the language will find this book to be a comprehensive reference and refresher.

Decoding Top 20 Chinese Radicals which Account 51% of Characters

Author: David Yao
Publisher: Independently Published
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 40

Book Description
Origin of Chinese Characters IntroductionChinese is a pictorial language and is the only Language still in use which has no Alphabet. Chinese Characters were initially originated from picture. According legend, Cang Jie (仓颉) inspired by the trace of bird and animal, observing the nature such as Sun, moon, wood, created Chinese Characters or scripts. It is used by around one third of the total population on the earth and has a history of 5000 years. The creation and evolution of Chinese Characters is closely interwoven with the development of Chinese Civilization and has long lasting impact on Japan, Korean, Vietnam, and Thailand... etc.Chinese Characters are the basic carriers of Chinese culture and as an important tool for extending, spreading and exchanging idea. Chinese Characters contain information and will never be replaced by Alphabet.Chinese Characters present a daunting challenge to foreigner as well as native Chinese. But good news, we have some secrets for you to study Chinese in a smarter way: Even there is no alphabet but have Component Part (Radicals) in Chinese. The Most Common 20 Chinese Radicals which account 51% of total Chinese Characters And the most 900 Characters cover 90% of daily usage in Chinese Newspaper, daily conversation...GOOD news for you?! Take our course to find more.-Origin of Chinese Characters- the Comprehensive Way to Expand Your Vocabulary Quickly! Volume 01-50-The Secrets of How the Chinese Characters were Created -Amazing Reading Skills using "Six Ways 六书" -Decoding Chinese Characters by Radicals- The Secrets of How Chinese Characters Were Created, The Roots of Chinese Civilization (100 Radicals) -Learn Chinese in the Smart Way - Decoding Top 20 Chinese Radicals which Account 51% of Characters -The 50 Chinese Radicals Roots You Must Know- Decoding Chinese and Expanding Vocabulary for HSK, IB, IGCSE -Decipher Chinese Characters' Secrets! -Improve Reading Skills for HSK, IB, IGCSE by Analyzing Radicals

The Chinese Language

Author: John DeFrancis
Publisher: University of Hawaii Press
ISBN: 9780824810689
Category : Foreign Language Study
Languages : en
Pages : 348

Book Description
"DeFrancis's book is first rate. It entertains. It teaches. It demystifies. It counteracts popular ignorance as well as sophisticated (cocktail party) ignorance. Who could ask for anything more? There is no other book like it. ... It is one of a kind, a first, and I would not only buy it but I would recommend it to friends and colleagues, many of whom are visiting China now and are adding 'two-week-expert' ignorance to the two kinds that existed before. This is a book for everyone." --Joshua A. Fishman, research professor of social sciences, Yeshiva University, New York "Professor De Francis has produced a work of great effectiveness that should appeal to a wide-ranging audience. It is at once instructive and entertaining. While being delighted by the flair of his novel approach, the reader will also be led to ponder on some of the most fundamental problems concerning the relations between written languages and spoken languages. Specifically, he will be served a variety of information on the languages of East Asia, not as dry pedantic facts, but as appealing tidbits that whet the intellectual appetite. The expert will find much to reflect on in this book, for Professor DeFrancis takes nothing for granted." --William S.Y. Wang, professor of linguistics, University of California at Berkeley

Introduction to International and Global Studies, Third Edition

Author: Shawn C. Smallman
Publisher: UNC Press Books
ISBN: 1469660008
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 377

Book Description
Shawn C. Smallman and Kimberley Brown's popular introductory textbook for undergraduates in international and global studies is now released in a substantially revised and updated third edition. Encompassing the latest scholarship in what has become a markedly interdisciplinary endeavor and an increasingly chosen undergraduate major, the book introduces key concepts, themes, and issues and then examines each in lively chapters on essential topics, including the history of globalization; economic, political, and cultural globalization; security, energy, and development; health; agriculture and food; and the environment. Within these topics the authors explore such diverse and pressing subjects as commodity chains, labor (including present-day slavery), pandemics, human rights, and multinational corporations and the connections among them. This textbook, used successfully in both traditional and online courses, provides the newest and most crucial information needed for understanding our rapidly changing world. New to this edition: *Close to 50% new material *New illustrations, maps, and tables *New and expanded emphases on political and economic globalization and populism; health; climate change, and development *Extensively revised exercises and activities *New resume-writing exercise in careers chapter *Thoroughly revised online teacher's manual