{"id":1362,"date":"2013-12-19T02:59:31","date_gmt":"2013-12-19T02:59:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.digmandarin.com\/?p=1362"},"modified":"2024-07-23T09:00:59","modified_gmt":"2024-07-23T09:00:59","slug":"chinese-textbook-reviews-learning-chinese-characters","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.digmandarin.com\/chinese-textbook-reviews-learning-chinese-characters.html","title":{"rendered":"Chinese Textbook Reviews \u2013 Learning Chinese Characters"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>A year into my Mandarin studies it is becoming harder and harder to remember what each character means and how to pronounce it. The only method that has proven effective for me is repetition, but it is an extremely time-consuming method. Therefore I have resolved to find alternative ways to help me remember the characters, starting off with this <a href=ref%3das_li_qf_sp_asin_tlf334.html>Learning Chinese Characters<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"200\" height=\"298\" src=index-826.html alt=\"book\" class=\"wp-image-1368\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"background\">Background<\/h2>\n\n\n<p>Originally it was published to help students study for their <a href=index-67.html>HSK Basic exam<\/a>, which is China\u2019s standardized test of Mandarin for non-native speakers, meaning that it covered 800 characters and 1,033 words that are examined. However, the HSK exam has now changed so I am not sure whether or not the book will be updated to follow the new guidelines. Nevertheless, it still covers the essential characters that you\u2019ll need to know so even if you are not taking the HSK exam, (like me), the book is still straightforward to follow.<\/p>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"structure\">Structure<\/h2>\n\n\n<p>The way this book works is that it uses stories to help you remember both the meanings and <a href=index-25.html>pronunciations of Chinese characters<\/a>. It first distinguishes the difference between \u2018basic building blocks\u2019 and \u2018composite\u2019 characters. Basic building blocks on their own mean one thing but when it\u2019s combined with another basic building block it forms a new meaning and this new character thus becomes a composite character. The characters are listed one by one in the book and the characters, pinyin, and English meanings are given. Then the story to help you remember this is written next to it.<\/p>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"how-it-works\">How it works<\/h2>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"1-remembering-basic-building-blocks\">1) Remembering Basic Building Blocks<\/h3>\n\n\n<p>In their stories, a wheel is used to indicate that the character the story is linked to is a basic building block. To remember how that character is pronounced a soundword is used, and the general rule is that the first syllable of that soundword corresponds with the Chinese syllable (as one character is only one syllable long) \u2013 but this is properly and clearly explained more in the book. The tone of that character is also indicated within the story as the authors incorporate an archetype into it:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Giant \u2013 If he features in the story then that character is pronounced in the 1st tone (e.g. m\u0101)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Fairy \u2013 If a fairy features then it\u2019s pronounced in the 2nd tone (e.g. m\u00e1)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Teddy \u2013 If a teddy is featured then it\u2019s pronounced in the 3rd tone (e.g. m\u01ce)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Dwarf \u2013 4th tone (e.g. m\u00e0)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Robot \u2013 5th tone (also known as the neutral tone; e.g. ma)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Even special cases are considered \u2013 for example\u5973, in which the p\u012bny\u012bn is \u2018n\u01da\u2019, and since this sound does not occur in the English language the authors change the setting of the story (which is indicated by a symbol) to help the reader realize that this character is special.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Example<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"580\" height=\"379\" src=index-827.html alt=\"Example in Learning Chinese characters\" class=\"wp-image-1366\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.digmandarin.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/Example-in-Learning-Chinese-characters1.jpg 580w, https:\/\/www.digmandarin.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/Example-in-Learning-Chinese-characters1-300x196.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 580px) 100vw, 580px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"2-remembering-composite-characters\">2) Remembering Composite Characters<\/h3>\n\n\n<p>Once you are taught the basic building blocks required the book then teaches you how to form them into composite characters. In the story, they include the meaning of the blocks into it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Example:<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"580\" height=\"402\" src=index-828.html alt=\"Example 2 in Learning Chinese characters\" class=\"wp-image-1364\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.digmandarin.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/Example-2-in-Learning-Chinese-characters.jpg 580w, https:\/\/www.digmandarin.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/Example-2-in-Learning-Chinese-characters-300x208.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 580px) 100vw, 580px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"review\">Review<\/h2>\n\n\n<p><strong>Pros<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Straightforward to follow.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Includes stroke order of how to write each listed character.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>In each of the composite characters it also tells you what is the radical of that character.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Even though the characters are listed separately if it means a different word when it\u2019s put together with another character (i.e. they are compounds), at the bottom of that character listing all the compounds are listed \u2013 for example underneath the entry for \u2018\u6587\u2019 (which means culture), \u2018\u65e5\u6587\u2019 (meaning (written) Japanese) is listed underneath as \u2018\u65e5\u2019 was already introduced earlier in the book.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The book is well laid out, and it is very easy to look up particular characters.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Even though this book is focused on simplified Chinese, the traditional form of that character is listed in the entry (when applicable)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The archetypes develop personalities in the stories so it\u2019s easier to remember the stories<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Illustrations of the stories are provided in the early chapters of the book to help you remember the story better<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Cons<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Although anyone can use it, it is tailored towards the (now outdated version of the) HSK exam \u2013 as some words, such as \u2018\u6728\u2019 (tree) are listed as its building block, but as it\u2019s not officially in the HSK Basic exam, or HSK Level A as the authors call it, there is no story to come with it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Since I have been learning Mandarin for a while already, I thought I could just skip to the characters that I needed to learn at that time. However, as I was not familiar with this it was very confusing to use.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It may help you translate from Chinese to English, but it is more difficult trying to apply this method in translating from English to Chinese as you would have to think in reverse.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You might find the stories a bit too childish \u2013 especially as they use a giant\/fairy\/teddy\/dwarf\/robot in the stories.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"verdict\"><strong>Verdict<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n<p>At first, I was skeptical of this book \u2013 I thought I would never remember any of these stories and I would just be creating more work for myself. However, I gave it a try and I am now glad that I purchased this book! I would recommend starting from the beginning and working your way through it rather than skipping to particular characters. However, make sure that you make the time to do so as you will have to commit to it and study regularly. The stories do help, especially with the pronunciation aspect of it as I\u2019m constantly forgetting with what tones they\u2019re supposed to be in! If you are struggling with your reading skills this is definitely a book worth investing in.<br><br><strong>If you have any other questions about the book or if you have tried using this book and want to share your views on it, please comment below!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Further study resources:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=index-19.html>Recommended Chinese Characters books collection<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=index-18.html>A Collection of Resources for Learning Chinese Characters\u2013 Books, Videos, Courses, Apps, Tools<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=index-22.html>A Comprehensive Guide to Chinese Characters<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=index-14.html>The Most Efficient Way to Learn Hundreds of Chinese Characters<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=index-12.html>How to Write Chinese Characters<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=index-9.html>Chinese Characters List<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A year into my Mandarin studies it is becoming harder and harder to remember what each character means and how to pronounce it. The only method that has proven effective for me is repetition, but it is an extremely time-consuming method. Therefore I have resolved to find alternative ways to help me remember the characters,&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":4266,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[86,92,5,80,94],"post_series":[],"class_list":["post-1362","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-learn-mandarin-online","tag-chinese-characters","tag-hsk","tag-reviews","tag-self-study","tag-textbook","entry","has-media"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v24.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Chinese Textbook Reviews \u2013 Learning Chinese Characters<\/title>\n
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