Reading and Writing Chinese: Third Edition, Hsk All Levels (2,349 Chinese Characters and 5,000+ Compounds)

Description

This is a complete and easy-to-use guide for reading and writing Chinese characters. Learning written Chinese is an essential part of mastering the Chinese language. Used as a standard by students and teachers learning to read Chinese and write Chinese for more than three decades, the bestselling Reading & Writing Chinese has been thoroughly revised and updated. Reading & Writing Chinese places at your fingertips the essential 1,725 Chinese characters' current definitions, derivations, pronunciations, and examples of correct usage by utilizing cleverly condensed grids. This guide also focuses on Pinyin, which is the official system to transcribe Hanzi, Chinese characters, into Latin script, now universally used in mainland China and Singapore. Traditional characters (still used in Taiwan and Hong Kong) are also included, making this a complete reference. Newly updated and revised, these characters are the ones officially prescribed by the Chinese government for the internationally recognized test of proficiency in Chinese, the Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi (HSK). The student's ability to read and write Chinese are reinforced throughout the text. Key features of this newly-expanded edition include: The 1,725 most frequently used characters in both Simplified and Traditional forms. All 2,633 characters and 5,000+ compounds required for the HSK Exam. Standard Hanyu Pinyin romanizations. More mnemonic phrases and etymologies to help you remember the characters. An extensive introduction, alphabetical index, and index according to stroke count and stroke order. Completely updated/expanded English definitions. Convenient quick-reference tables of radicals. Updated and revised compounds, plus 25% more vocabulary now offered. Codes to assist those who are preparing for the AP exam or the HSK exam. Review: This updated version is superior in many ways! - I have an older version of this book that has been my most valuable Chinese reference tool for many years. This updated version is superior in many ways! First, the Characters are larger with a style that is easier to read. Besides referencing similar looking characters that could easily be confused, the order has been aranged so that characters with similar elements are often placed together. This revision includes more combination character words and is geared toward helping those preparing to take the HSK proficiency test. Both my old versions and this newer one share the traditional character when it is different. (The Traditional characters book edition shares the Simplified when different.) Both puts the most useful and frequently used words ahead of lesser used words. Both have the ability to look up words by sound or by stroke count. I am very glad I got this updated copy! I would not have known about this updated version, had I not insisted that a young girl with great language ambition, learning from her grandmother, needed this reference work. Initially I got it for her, then realized I wanted one too! Review: Language - Thanks.