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fWotD Episode 2941: Chinese characters Welcome to Featured Wiki of the Day, your daily dose of knowledge from Wikipedia's finest articles.The featured article for Saturday, 24 May 2025, is Chinese characters.Chinese characters are logographs used to write the Chinese languages and others from regions historically influenced by Chinese culture. Of the four independently invented writing systems accepted by scholars, they represent the only one that has remained in continuous use. Over a documented history spanning more than three millennia, the function, style, and means of writing characters have changed greatly. Unlike letters in alphabets that reflect the sounds of speech, Chinese characters generally represent morphemes, the units of meaning in a language. Writing all of the frequently used vocabulary in a language requires roughly 2000–3000 characters; as of 2024, nearly 100000 have been identified and included in The Unicode Standard. Characters are created according to several principles, where aspects of shape and pronunciation may be used to indicate the character's meaning.The first attested characters are oracle bone inscriptions made during the 13th century BCE in what is now Anyang, Henan, as part of divinations conducted by the Shang dynasty royal house. Character forms were originally ideographic or pictographic in style, but evolved as writing spread across China. Numerous attempts have been made to reform the script, including the promotion of small seal script by the Qin dynasty (221–206 BCE). Clerical script, which had matured by the early Han dynasty (202 BCE – 220 CE), abstracted the forms of characters—obscuring their pictographic origins in favour of making them easier to write. Following the Han, regular script emerged as the result of cursive influence on clerical script, and has been the primary style used for characters since. Informed by a long tradition of lexicography, states using Chinese characters have standardized their forms—broadly, simplified characters are used to write Chinese in mainland China, Singapore, and Malaysia, while traditional characters are used in Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau.Where the use of characters spread beyond China, they were initially used to write Literary Chinese; they were then often adapted to write local languages spoken throughout the Sinosphere. In Japanese, Korean, and Vietnamese, Chinese characters are known as kanji, hanja, and chữ Hán respectively. Writing traditions also emerged for some of the other languages of China, like the sawndip script used to write the Zhuang languages of Guangxi. Each of these written vernaculars used existing characters to write the language's native vocabulary, as well as the loanwords it borrowed from Chinese. In addition, each invented characters for local use. In written Korean and Vietnamese, Chinese characters have largely been replaced with alphabets—leaving Japanese as the only major non-Chinese language still written using them, alongside the other elements of the Japanese writing system.At the most basic level, characters are composed of strokes that are written in a fixed order. Historically, methods of writing characters have included inscribing stone, bone, or bronze; brushing ink onto silk, bamboo, or paper; and printing with woodblocks or moveable type. Technologies invented since the 19th century to facilitate the use of characters include telegraph codes and typewriters, as well as input methods and text encodings on computers.This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 00:48 UTC on Saturday, 24 May 2025.For the full current version of the article, see Chinese characters on Wikipedia.This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.Until next time, I'm neural Ayanda.
Zi.Tools is a great free resource for exploring Chinese characters. See what it offers and how you can use it to boost your learning!#learnchinese #chinesecharacters #hanzi #etymology #analysis #dictionaryLink to written article on Hacking Chinese: Zi.Tools: A powerful free resource for exploring Chinese characters: https://www.hackingchinese.com/zi-tools-a-powerful-free-resource-for-exploring-chinese-characters/Zi.tools 字統网: https://zi.tools/5 levels of understanding Chinese characters: Superficial forms to deep structure: https://www.hackingchinese.com/5-levels-of-understanding-chinese-characters-superficial-forms-to-deep-structure/The building blocks of Chinese, part 1: Chinese characters and words in a nutshell: https://www.hackingchinese.com/the-building-blocks-of-chinese-part-1-chinese-characters-and-words-in-a-nutshell/Outlier Chinese Character Masterclass review: Understand more, learn faster, remember longer: https://www.hackingchinese.com/outlier-chinese-character-masterclass-review-understand-more-learn-faster-remember-longer/Review: The Outlier Dictionary of Chinese Characters: https://www.hackingchinese.com/review-the-outlier-linguistics-dictionary-of-chinese-characters-with-discount-code/21 essential dictionaries and corpora for learning Chinese: https://www.hackingchinese.com/21-essential-dictionaries-and-corpora-for-learning-chinese/Chinese character variants and font differences for language learners: https://www.hackingchinese.com/chinese-character-variants-and-fonts-for-language-learners/More information and inspiration about learning and teaching Chinese can be found at: https://www.hackingchinese.com/Music: "Traxis 1 ~ F. Benjamin" by Traxis, 2020 - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0)
Should you focus on learning many words superficially or few words well? How do you stay motivated when flashcards get boring? And how can you tell if you really know a word?#learnchinese #vocabulary #flashcards #skritter #q&aLink to written article on Hacking Chinese: https://www.hackingchinese.com/student-qa-may-2025-learning-chinese-characters-and-words-with-flashcard-apps/Link to vocabulary challenge: https://www.hackingchinese.com/chinese-vocabulary-challenge/Links to articles mentioned in this episode:Learning Chinese words: When quantity beats quality: https://www.hackingchinese.com/the-importance-of-knowing-many-words/Should you learn Chinese vocabulary from lists? https://www.hackingchinese.com/should-you-learn-chinese-vocabulary-from-lists/Which words you should learn and where to find them: https://www.hackingchinese.com/which-words-you-should-learn-in-and-where-to-find-them/How to best use flashcards to learn Chinese: https://www.hackingchinese.com/how-to-best-use-flashcards-to-learn-chinese/Do you have to learn to write Chinese characters by hand? https://www.hackingchinese.com/is-it-necessary-to-learn-to-write-chinese-characters-by-hand/Should you use an efficient method for learning Chinese even if you hate it? https://www.hackingchinese.com/should-you-use-an-efficient-method-for-learning-chinese-even-if-you-hate-it/Are you practising Chinese the right way? Is your method valid? https://www.hackingchinese.com/are-you-practising-chinese-the-right-way/More information and inspiration about learning and teaching Chinese can be found at: https://www.hackingchinese.com/Music: "Traxis 1 ~ F. Benjamin" by Traxis, 2020 - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0)
While other ancient nonalphabetic scripts—Sumerian cuneiform, Egyptian hieroglyphs, and Mayan hieroglyphs—are long extinct, Chinese characters, invented over three thousand years ago, are today used by well over a billion people to write Chinese and Japanese. In medieval East Asia, the written Classical Chinese language knit the region together in a common intellectual enterprise that encompassed religion, philosophy, historiography, political theory, art, and literature. Literacy in Classical Chinese set the stage for the adaptation of Chinese characters into ways of writing non-Chinese languages like Vietnamese and Korean, which differ dramatically from Chinese in vocabularies and grammatical structures.Because of its unique status in the modern world, myths and misunderstandings about Chinese characters abound. Where does this writing system, so different in form and function from alphabetic writing, come from? How does it really work? How did it come to be used to write non-Chinese languages? And why has it proven so resilient? By exploring the spread and adaptation of the script across two millennia and thousands of miles, Chinese Characters across Asia: How the Chinese Script Came to Write Japanese, Korean, and Vietnamese (University of Washington Press, 2025) by Dr. Zev Handel addresses these questions and provides insights into human cognition and culture. Written in an approachable style and meant for readers with no prior knowledge of Chinese script or Asian languages, it presents a fascinating story that challenges assumptions about speech and writing. This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. You can find Miranda's interviews on New Books with Miranda Melcher, wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/communications
While other ancient nonalphabetic scripts—Sumerian cuneiform, Egyptian hieroglyphs, and Mayan hieroglyphs—are long extinct, Chinese characters, invented over three thousand years ago, are today used by well over a billion people to write Chinese and Japanese. In medieval East Asia, the written Classical Chinese language knit the region together in a common intellectual enterprise that encompassed religion, philosophy, historiography, political theory, art, and literature. Literacy in Classical Chinese set the stage for the adaptation of Chinese characters into ways of writing non-Chinese languages like Vietnamese and Korean, which differ dramatically from Chinese in vocabularies and grammatical structures.Because of its unique status in the modern world, myths and misunderstandings about Chinese characters abound. Where does this writing system, so different in form and function from alphabetic writing, come from? How does it really work? How did it come to be used to write non-Chinese languages? And why has it proven so resilient? By exploring the spread and adaptation of the script across two millennia and thousands of miles, Chinese Characters across Asia: How the Chinese Script Came to Write Japanese, Korean, and Vietnamese (University of Washington Press, 2025) by Dr. Zev Handel addresses these questions and provides insights into human cognition and culture. Written in an approachable style and meant for readers with no prior knowledge of Chinese script or Asian languages, it presents a fascinating story that challenges assumptions about speech and writing. This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. You can find Miranda's interviews on New Books with Miranda Melcher, wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network
While other ancient nonalphabetic scripts—Sumerian cuneiform, Egyptian hieroglyphs, and Mayan hieroglyphs—are long extinct, Chinese characters, invented over three thousand years ago, are today used by well over a billion people to write Chinese and Japanese. In medieval East Asia, the written Classical Chinese language knit the region together in a common intellectual enterprise that encompassed religion, philosophy, historiography, political theory, art, and literature. Literacy in Classical Chinese set the stage for the adaptation of Chinese characters into ways of writing non-Chinese languages like Vietnamese and Korean, which differ dramatically from Chinese in vocabularies and grammatical structures.Because of its unique status in the modern world, myths and misunderstandings about Chinese characters abound. Where does this writing system, so different in form and function from alphabetic writing, come from? How does it really work? How did it come to be used to write non-Chinese languages? And why has it proven so resilient? By exploring the spread and adaptation of the script across two millennia and thousands of miles, Chinese Characters across Asia: How the Chinese Script Came to Write Japanese, Korean, and Vietnamese (University of Washington Press, 2025) by Dr. Zev Handel addresses these questions and provides insights into human cognition and culture. Written in an approachable style and meant for readers with no prior knowledge of Chinese script or Asian languages, it presents a fascinating story that challenges assumptions about speech and writing. This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. You can find Miranda's interviews on New Books with Miranda Melcher, wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/east-asian-studies
While other ancient nonalphabetic scripts—Sumerian cuneiform, Egyptian hieroglyphs, and Mayan hieroglyphs—are long extinct, Chinese characters, invented over three thousand years ago, are today used by well over a billion people to write Chinese and Japanese. In medieval East Asia, the written Classical Chinese language knit the region together in a common intellectual enterprise that encompassed religion, philosophy, historiography, political theory, art, and literature. Literacy in Classical Chinese set the stage for the adaptation of Chinese characters into ways of writing non-Chinese languages like Vietnamese and Korean, which differ dramatically from Chinese in vocabularies and grammatical structures.Because of its unique status in the modern world, myths and misunderstandings about Chinese characters abound. Where does this writing system, so different in form and function from alphabetic writing, come from? How does it really work? How did it come to be used to write non-Chinese languages? And why has it proven so resilient? By exploring the spread and adaptation of the script across two millennia and thousands of miles, Chinese Characters across Asia: How the Chinese Script Came to Write Japanese, Korean, and Vietnamese (University of Washington Press, 2025) by Dr. Zev Handel addresses these questions and provides insights into human cognition and culture. Written in an approachable style and meant for readers with no prior knowledge of Chinese script or Asian languages, it presents a fascinating story that challenges assumptions about speech and writing. This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. You can find Miranda's interviews on New Books with Miranda Melcher, wherever you get your podcasts. Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/southeast-asian-studies
While other ancient nonalphabetic scripts—Sumerian cuneiform, Egyptian hieroglyphs, and Mayan hieroglyphs—are long extinct, Chinese characters, invented over three thousand years ago, are today used by well over a billion people to write Chinese and Japanese. In medieval East Asia, the written Classical Chinese language knit the region together in a common intellectual enterprise that encompassed religion, philosophy, historiography, political theory, art, and literature. Literacy in Classical Chinese set the stage for the adaptation of Chinese characters into ways of writing non-Chinese languages like Vietnamese and Korean, which differ dramatically from Chinese in vocabularies and grammatical structures.Because of its unique status in the modern world, myths and misunderstandings about Chinese characters abound. Where does this writing system, so different in form and function from alphabetic writing, come from? How does it really work? How did it come to be used to write non-Chinese languages? And why has it proven so resilient? By exploring the spread and adaptation of the script across two millennia and thousands of miles, Chinese Characters across Asia: How the Chinese Script Came to Write Japanese, Korean, and Vietnamese (University of Washington Press, 2025) by Dr. Zev Handel addresses these questions and provides insights into human cognition and culture. Written in an approachable style and meant for readers with no prior knowledge of Chinese script or Asian languages, it presents a fascinating story that challenges assumptions about speech and writing. This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. You can find Miranda's interviews on New Books with Miranda Melcher, wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/chinese-studies
While other ancient nonalphabetic scripts—Sumerian cuneiform, Egyptian hieroglyphs, and Mayan hieroglyphs—are long extinct, Chinese characters, invented over three thousand years ago, are today used by well over a billion people to write Chinese and Japanese. In medieval East Asia, the written Classical Chinese language knit the region together in a common intellectual enterprise that encompassed religion, philosophy, historiography, political theory, art, and literature. Literacy in Classical Chinese set the stage for the adaptation of Chinese characters into ways of writing non-Chinese languages like Vietnamese and Korean, which differ dramatically from Chinese in vocabularies and grammatical structures.Because of its unique status in the modern world, myths and misunderstandings about Chinese characters abound. Where does this writing system, so different in form and function from alphabetic writing, come from? How does it really work? How did it come to be used to write non-Chinese languages? And why has it proven so resilient? By exploring the spread and adaptation of the script across two millennia and thousands of miles, Chinese Characters across Asia: How the Chinese Script Came to Write Japanese, Korean, and Vietnamese (University of Washington Press, 2025) by Dr. Zev Handel addresses these questions and provides insights into human cognition and culture. Written in an approachable style and meant for readers with no prior knowledge of Chinese script or Asian languages, it presents a fascinating story that challenges assumptions about speech and writing. This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. You can find Miranda's interviews on New Books with Miranda Melcher, wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/language
While other ancient nonalphabetic scripts—Sumerian cuneiform, Egyptian hieroglyphs, and Mayan hieroglyphs—are long extinct, Chinese characters, invented over three thousand years ago, are today used by well over a billion people to write Chinese and Japanese. In medieval East Asia, the written Classical Chinese language knit the region together in a common intellectual enterprise that encompassed religion, philosophy, historiography, political theory, art, and literature. Literacy in Classical Chinese set the stage for the adaptation of Chinese characters into ways of writing non-Chinese languages like Vietnamese and Korean, which differ dramatically from Chinese in vocabularies and grammatical structures.Because of its unique status in the modern world, myths and misunderstandings about Chinese characters abound. Where does this writing system, so different in form and function from alphabetic writing, come from? How does it really work? How did it come to be used to write non-Chinese languages? And why has it proven so resilient? By exploring the spread and adaptation of the script across two millennia and thousands of miles, Chinese Characters across Asia: How the Chinese Script Came to Write Japanese, Korean, and Vietnamese (University of Washington Press, 2025) by Dr. Zev Handel addresses these questions and provides insights into human cognition and culture. Written in an approachable style and meant for readers with no prior knowledge of Chinese script or Asian languages, it presents a fascinating story that challenges assumptions about speech and writing. This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. You can find Miranda's interviews on New Books with Miranda Melcher, wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/japanese-studies
As you likely know, Chinese writing comes in two main forms: traditional (fántǐzì) and simplified (jiǎntǐzì). Taiwan uses traditional characters and China uses simplified characters. Taiwan is a peace-loving democracy and China is an authoritarian state; ergo – traditional characters are better! But no, logic doesn't care about politics and as John and Eryk debate this sometimes-controversial topic, you may come to agree with us that there are pluses and minuses for both systems. Eryk likes writing his wife's surname as 刘, not 劉… but John has a point about beauty – did they really need to do this 东 to “east”? Was the original, 東, really oh, sooo hard? Enjoy a friendly argument or two, and learn a bit of the history of characters and the people who simplified them. PS: if you want to know more about Hanyu Pinyin, listen to our Bookish Asia podcast episode where John chats with an author of a book on Zhou Youguang (周有光).
Mnemonics are clever memory techniques you can use to learn and remember more, but this doesn't mean that you should always use them. If you do, you will end up spending more time on mnemonics than you do engaging with the Chinese language. #learnchinese #characters #mnemonics #memory Link to article on Hacking Chinese: Don't use mnemonics for everything when learning Chinese: https://www.hackingchinese.com/dont-use-mnemonics-for-everything/ The building blocks of Chinese, part 1 Chinese characters and words in a nutshell: https://www.hackingchinese.com/the-building-blocks-of-chinese-part-1-chinese-characters-and-words-in-a-nutshell/ Review The Outlier Dictionary of Chinese Characters: https://www.hackingchinese.com/review-the-outlier-linguistics-dictionary-of-chinese-characters-with-discount-code/ Remembering the Hanzi (Amazon.com): https://amzn.to/3P6Lm9a Student Q&A, June 2024 How much time on flashcards, Remembering the Hanzi, and resources for learning characters https://www.hackingchinese.com/student-qa-june-2024-how-much-time-on-flashcards-remembering-the-hanzi-and-resources-for-learning-characters/ Unlocking Chinese The Ultimate Guide for Beginners: https://www.hackingchinese.com/courses/unlocking-chinese-ultimate-guide-beginner/ Hacking Chinese A Practical Guide to Learning Mandarin: https://www.hackingchinese.com/courses/practical-guide-to-learning-mandarin/ You can't learn Chinese characters by rote: https://www.hackingchinese.com/you-cant-learn-chinese-characters-by-rote/ Remembering is a skill you can learn: https://www.hackingchinese.com/remembering-is-a-skill-you-can-learn/ How to create mnemonics for general or abstract character components: https://www.hackingchinese.com/how-to-create-mnemonics-for-general-or-abstract-character-components Extending mnemonics Tones and pronunciation: https://www.hackingchinese.com/extending-mnemonics-inspiration-and-insights/ The building blocks of Chinese Characters, components, radicals: https://www.hackingchinese.com/the-building-blocks-of-chinese-part-2-basic-characters-components-and-radicals/ Phonetic components, part 1 The key to 80% of all Chinese characters: https://www.hackingchinese.com/phonetic-components-part-1-the-key-to-80-of-all-chinese-characters/ Outlier Chinese Character Masterclass review Understand more, learn faster, remember longer: https://www.hackingchinese.com/outlier-chinese-character-masterclass-review-understand-more-learn-faster-remember-longer/ Chinese characters with the same components in different places: https://www.hackingchinese.com/chinese-characters-components-different-meanings More information and inspiration about learning and teaching Chinese can be found at: https://www.hackingchinese.com/ Music: "Traxis 1 ~ F. Benjamin" by Traxis, 2020 - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0)
How can you remember the difference between similar Chinese characters? Are flashcards better than reading for building vocabulary? And how do you learn polyphonic characters? #learnchinese #vocabulary #characters #reading #flashcards Link to article on Hacking Chinese: Student Q&A, December 2024: Learning similar Chinese characters, polyphonic characters, and flashcards vs. reading for building vocabulary: https://www.hackingchinese.com/student-qa-december-2024-learning-similar-chinese-characters-polyphonic-characters-and-flashcards-vs-reading-for-building-vocabulary/ Chinese vocabulary challenge, December 2024: https://www.hackingchinese.com/chinese-vocabulary-challenge/ Courses on Hacking Chinese: https://www.hackingchinese.com/courses/ Skritter review: Boosting your Chinese character learning: https://www.hackingchinese.com/skritter-chinese-review-boosting-your-character-learning/ Links for question 1: The building blocks of Chinese, part 1: Chinese characters and words in a nutshell: https://www.hackingchinese.com/the-building-blocks-of-chinese-part-1-chinese-characters-and-words-in-a-nutshell/ Phonetic components, part 2: Hacking Chinese characters: https://www.hackingchinese.com/phonetic-components-part-2-hacking-chinese-characters/ Remembering is a skill you can learn: https://www.hackingchinese.com/remembering-is-a-skill-you-can-learn/ How to create mnemonics for general or abstract character components: https://www.hackingchinese.com/how-to-create-mnemonics-for-general-or-abstract-character-components/ Links for question 2: Reading is a lot like spaced repetition, only better: https://www.hackingchinese.com/reading-is-a-lot-like-spaced-repetition-only-better/ An introduction to extensive reading for Chinese learners: https://www.hackingchinese.com/introduction-extensive-reading-chinese-learners/ Why flashcards are great for learning Chinese: https://www.hackingchinese.com/why-flashcards-are-great-for-learning-chinese/ Links for question 3: Should you learn Chinese vocabulary from lists? https://www.hackingchinese.com/should-you-learn-chinese-vocabulary-from-lists/ More information and inspiration about learning and teaching Chinese can be found at: https://www.hackingchinese.com/ Music: "Traxis 1 ~ F. Benjamin" by Traxis, 2020 - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0)
Thanks to the internet, learning Chinese is now more accessible than ever, and you can do it completely for free. Just because you can doesn't mean that you should, however. If you have money to invest, here's how to do so with the greatest impact. #learnchinese #resources #paid #premium #free Link to article on Hacking Chinese: Which Chinese learning resources are worth paying for? https://www.hackingchinese.com/chinese-learning-tools-and-resources-worth-paying-for/ Black Friday discounts for Hacking Chinese courses: https://www.hackingchinese.com/black-friday-discounts-for-hacking-chinese-courses/ The 10 best free Chinese listening resources for beginner, intermediate, and advanced learners: https://www.hackingchinese.com/the-10-best-free-chinese-listening-resources-for-beginner-intermediate-and-advanced-learners/ The cheapest and most convenient way to improve your spoken Chinese: https://www.hackingchinese.com/the-cheapest-and-most-convenient-way-to-improve-your-spoken-chinese/ The Hacking Chinese guide to Mandarin tones: https://www.hackingchinese.com/the-hacking-chinese-guide-to-mandarin-tones/ 24 great resources for improving your Mandarin pronunciation: https://www.hackingchinese.com/24-great-resources-for-improving-your-mandarin-pronunciation/ The 10 best free Chinese reading resources for beginner, intermediate, and advanced learners: https://www.hackingchinese.com/the-10-best-free-chinese-reading-resources-for-beginner-intermediate-and-advanced-learners/ 20 tips and tricks to improve your Chinese writing ability: https://www.hackingchinese.com/20-tips-and-tricks-to-improve-your-chinese-writing-ability/ Anki: A friendly, intelligent spaced learning system: https://www.hackingchinese.com/anki-a-friendly-intelligent-spaced-learning-system/ The Hacking Chinese Podcast: https://www.hackingchinese.com/podcast/ 5 websites to help answer your questions about Chinese: https://www.hackingchinese.com/5-websites-to-help-answer-your-questions-about-chinese/ Pleco: https://www.hackingchinese.com/pleco Hanping: https://www.hackingchinese.com/hanping Review: The Outlier Linguistics Dictionary of Chinese Characters: https://www.hackingchinese.com/review-the-outlier-linguistics-dictionary-of-chinese-characters-with-discount-code/ Outlier Chinese character masterclass review: Understand more, learn faster, remember longer: https://www.hackingchinese.com/outlier-chinese-character-masterclass-review-understand-more-learn-faster-remember-longer/ The building blocks of Chinese, part 1: Chinese characters and words in a nutshell: https://www.hackingchinese.com/the-building-blocks-of-chinese-part-1-chinese-characters-and-words-in-a-nutshell/ Should you throw away your Chinese textbook? https://www.hackingchinese.com/should-you-throw-away-your-chinese-textbook/ Integrated Chinese: http://amzn.to/1K8jzjE A Course in Contemporary Chinese: https://amzn.to/3OlCPPp Unlocking Chinese: The ultimate guide for beginners: https://www.hackingchinese.com/courses/unlocking-chinese-ultimate-guide-beginner/ Review: Mandarin Companion graded readers level 1: https://www.hackingchinese.com/review-mandarin-companion-graded-readers-level-1/ Chinese Breeze: http://www.chinesebreeze.net/ Mandarin Chinese pronunciation course: https://www.hackingchinese.com/courses/mandarin-chinese-pronunciation-course/ Training your Chinese teacher, part 2: Speaking ability: https://www.hackingchinese.com/training-your-chinese-teacher-part-2-speaking-ability/ Pros and cons with travelling to learn a language: https://www.hackingchinese.com/pros-and-cons-with-travelling-to-learn-a-language/ Boosting your character learning with Skritter: https://www.hackingchinese.com/boosting-your-character-learning-with-skritter/ More information and inspiration about learning and teaching Chinese can be found at: https://www.hackingchinese.com/ Music: "Traxis 1 ~ F. Benjamin" by Traxis, 2020 - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0)
Is writing Chinese characters difficult for you? In fact, for people in Taiwan, writing characters isn't that easy either. Native speakers spend a lot of time practicing the skill of writing characters and trying to memorize them. Nowadays, even though people type more than they write characters by hand, it can still be a calming and therapeutic activity 你喜歡寫字嗎?對你來說寫中文字是不是一件很困難的事?其實對台灣人來說,寫字也一點都不簡單。但有時候寫字也可能是一件療癒的事情呢!來聽聽看我們對寫字的看法吧! Please preview the keywords of this week on Facebook before you listen to this episode.https://www.facebook.com/howto.zhongwen Visit our website: https://howtozhongwen.wordpress.com/ Support Us: https://reurl.cc/GKyEpD --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/t9g7th81jho/support
Is writing Chinese characters difficult for you? In fact, for people in Taiwan, writing characters isn't that easy either. Native speakers spend a lot of time practicing the skill of writing characters and trying to memorize them. Nowadays, even though people type more than they write characters by hand, it can still be a calming and therapeutic activity 你喜歡寫字嗎?對你來說寫中文字是不是一件很困難的事?其實對台灣人來說,寫字也一點都不簡單。但有時候寫字也可能是一件療癒的事情呢!來聽聽看我們對寫字的看法吧! Please preview the keywords of this week on Facebook before you listen to this episode.https://www.facebook.com/howto.zhongwen Visit our website: https://howtozhongwen.wordpress.com/ Support Us: https://reurl.cc/GKyEpD --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/t9g7th81jho/support
Is reading digitally in Chinese better than on paper? What are the best digital tools for reading? And what should you do if you can't find texts that are both interesting and at the right level? #learnchinese #reading #faq #digital #paper #tools #comprehensible #engaging Link to article on Hacking Chinese: Student Q&A, November 2024: Pros and cons of digital tools for Chinese reading, and the struggle to find comprehensible and interesting texts: https://www.hackingchinese.com/student-qa-november-2024-pros-and-cons-of-digital-tools-for-chinese-reading-and-the-struggle-to-find-comprehensible-and-interesting-texts/ Chinese reading challenge, November 2024: https://www.hackingchinese.com/chinese-reading-challenge/ The 10 best free Chinese reading resources for beginner, intermediate and advanced learners: https://www.hackingchinese.com/10-best-free-chinese-reading-resources-beginner-intermediate-advanced/ How technology can help you learn Chinese: https://www.hackingchinese.com/technology-makes-learning-chinese-easier/ How technology can stop you from learning Chinese: https://www.hackingchinese.com/technology-can-stop-learning-chinese/ Pleco: https://www.pleco.com/pleco Outlier Linguistics Dictionary of Chinese Characters: https://www.hackingchinese.com/review-the-outlier-linguistics-dictionary-of-chinese-characters-with-discount-code/ Hanping: https://www.hackingchinese.com/hanping DuChinese: https://www.duchinese.net/ Chairman's Bao: https://www.thechairmansbao.com/ MyLingua: https://www.mylingua.world/landing/hackingchinese/ The new paperless revolution in Chinese reading: https://www.hackingchinese.com/the-new-paperless-revolution-in-chinese-reading/ Are authentic texts good for learning Chinese or is graded content better? https://www.hackingchinese.com/are-authentic-texts-good-for-learning-chinese-or-is-graded-content-better/ Learning Chinese through comprehensible input: https://www.hackingchinese.com/learning-chinese-comprehensible-input/ An introduction to extensive reading for Chinese learners: https://www.hackingchinese.com/introduction-extensive-reading-chinese-learners/ How to learn Chinese in the long term with intrinsic motivation: https://www.hackingchinese.com/how-to-learn-chinese-in-the-long-term-with-intrinsic-motivation/ Have fun learning Chinese or else… https://www.hackingchinese.com/have-fun-or-else/ More information and inspiration about learning and teaching Chinese can be found at: https://www.hackingchinese.com Music: "Traxis 1 ~ F. Benjamin" by Traxis, 2020 - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0)
Many people believe that learning a new script is challenging, but mastering systems like Zhuyin (Bopomofo) or Japanese kana is surprisingly easy. With the right approach and resources, you can do it in just a few hours! #learnchinese #zhuyin #bopomofo #taiwan Link to article: How to learn Zhuyin (Bopomofo) in two hours: https://www.hackingchinese.com/how-to-learn-zhuyin-bopomofo-in-two-hours/ Skritter's free Zhuyin course: https://app.skritter.com/link/zh/?link=https://skritter.com?deck=6506846101766144&apn=com.inkren.skritter.chinese&ibi=com.inkren.skritter.chinese&isi=1370892114?ref=hackingchinese&?coupon=HCSKRITTER 6 things in Chinese that are harder to learn than they seem: https://www.hackingchinese.com/6-things-in-chinese-that-are-harder-to-learn-than-they-seem/ How I learnt Chinese, part 2: Learning Mandarin in Sweden: https://www.hackingchinese.com/how-i-learnt-chinese-part-2-foreign-language-learning-in-sweden/ What's the difference between Chinese pronunciation and Pinyin? Does it matter? https://www.hackingchinese.com/whats-the-difference-chinese-pronunciation-and-pinyin-does-matter/ Why learning Chinese pronunciation by using English words is a really bad idea: https://www.hackingchinese.com/why-learning-chinese-pronunciation-by-using-english-words-is-a-really-bad-idea/ Learning to pronounce Mandarin with Pinyin, Zhuyin and IPA: Part 1: https://www.hackingchinese.com/learning-to-pronounce-mandarin-with-pinyin-zhuyin-and-ipa-part-1/ Skritter Review: Boosting your Chinese character learning: https://www.hackingchinese.com/skritter-chinese-review-boosting-your-character-learning/ Kickstart your learning with the Skritter Character Course: https://www.hackingchinese.com/kickstart-your-learning-with-the-skritter-character-course Don't learn Mandarin pronunciation by reading, listen and mimic instead: https://www.hackingchinese.com/dont-learn-mandarin-pronunciation-by-reading/ Hacking Chinese Pronunciation: Speaking with Confidence : https://www.hackingchinese.com/courses/mandarin-chinese-pronunciation-course/ The building blocks of Chinese: Characters, components, radicals: https://www.hackingchinese.com/the-building-blocks-of-chinese-part-2-basic-characters-components-and-radicals/ Bopomofo - Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bopomofo#Symbols Are mnemonics too slow for Chinese learners? https://www.hackingchinese.com/are-mnemonics-too-slow-for-chinese-learners/ Why flashcards are great for learning Chinese: https://www.hackingchinese.com/why-flashcards-are-great-for-learning-chinese/ Why flashcards are terrible for learning Chinese: https://www.hackingchinese.com/why-flashcards-are-bad-for-learning-chinese More information and inspiration about learning and teaching Chinese can be found at: https://www.hackingchinese.com Music: "Traxis 1 ~ F. Benjamin" by Traxis, 2020 - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0)
Don't miss out on how to say “Chinese Characters” with Transition drummer, Josh Edbrooke! ShaoLan shares about the origins of the words and how they came to mean what they do. Do you know why there are 2 different kinds of characters, simplified and traditional? Listen in to find the answer! ✨ BIG NEWS ✨ Our brand new Talk Chineasy App, is now live on the App Store! Free to download and perfect for building your speaking confidence from Day 1. Visit our website for more info about the app.
If you're learning Chinese, these are the must-know answers about Chinese characters. Join Jared and John as they dive into key questions like: Should you learn characters right from the start? Is handwriting really necessary? Should you choose simplified or traditional? Get clear, practical advice and actionable tips that will transform the way you approach learning characters, helping you make smarter decisions and boost your progress! Links from the episode: 200 Foundational Characters Learn Chinese Characters by Reading | Amazon Transforming Hanzi Pedagogy in the Digital Age | Amazon
Today, we're diving into the mesmerizing world of Chinese characters—symbols that aren't just letters, but living stories that have evolved over thousands of years. These intricate characters hold the secrets of an ancient civilization, each one a unique blend of art, philosophy, and communication. Curious about how Steve, a newcomer to China, tackles learning these intricate characters? Tune in to find out!
Send us a Text Message.Today's Episode:Learn Chinese | Top 100 Most Common Chinese Characters: Your Gateway to Mandarin Fluency | HSK 1-2 The Learn Chinese Podcast is brought to you by LC Chinese School. Listening to our podcast is an enjoyable way to learn Chinese at your own pace, whenever and wherever you are! Contact our head teacher Chen Huimin at info@lcchineseschool.com if you want to learn Chinese or have additional questions about our Chinese programs.Visit our website www.lcchineseschool.com and sign up for a FREE Chinese Trial Class.
How much time should you spend on flashcards? Is Remembering the Hanzi good for learning Chinese characters? And what resources should you use if you want to understand the writing system better? #learnchinese #vocabualry #characters #hanzi #flashcards #heisig Student Q&A, June 2024: How much time on flashcards, Remembering the Hanzi, and resources for learning characters: https://www.hackingchinese.com/student-qa-june-2024-how-much-time-on-flashcards-remembering-the-hanzi-and-resources-for-learning-characters/ Links to things mentioned in the introduction Chinese vocabulary challenge, June 2024: https://www.hackingchinese.com/chinese-vocabulary-challenge/ Use this link to get free Skritter for the duration of the challenge (new accounts only); the discount code HCVOCABCHALLENGE will be automatically applied: https://skritter.com/?ref=hackingchinese&activation=HCVOCABCHALLENGE Skritter review: Boosting your Chinese character learning: https://www.hackingchinese.com/skritter-chinese-review-boosting-your-character-learning/ Links for question #1: Time on flashcards Analyse and balance your Chinese learning with Paul Nation's four strands: https://www.hackingchinese.com/analyse-and-balance-your-chinese-learning-with-paul-nations-four-strands/ How to become fluent in Chinese: https://www.hackingchinese.com/how-to-become-fluent-in-chinese/ Why flashcards are great for learning Chinese: https://www.hackingchinese.com/why-flashcards-are-great-for-learning-chinese/ Why flashcards are terrible for learning Chinese: https://www.hackingchinese.com/why-flashcards-are-bad-for-learning-chinese/ Links for question #2: Remembering the Hanzi Phonetic components, part 1: The key to 80% of all Chinese characters: https://www.hackingchinese.com/phonetic-components-part-1-the-key-to-80-of-all-chinese-characters/ 5 levels of understanding Chinese characters: Superficial forms to deep structure: https://www.hackingchinese.com/5-levels-of-understanding-chinese-characters-superficial-forms-to-deep-structure/ Learn Chinese character meaning and pronunciation together: https://www.hackingchinese.com/learning-characters-and-their-readings/ Links for question #3: Writing system resources The building blocks of Chinese, part 1: Chinese characters and words in a nutshell: https://www.hackingchinese.com/the-building-blocks-of-chinese-part-1-chinese-characters-and-words-in-a-nutshell/ Kickstart your learning with the Skritter Character Course: https://www.hackingchinese.com/kickstart-your-learning-with-the-skritter-character-course/ Outlier Chinese Character Masterclass review: Understand more, learn faster, remember longer: https://www.hackingchinese.com/outlier-chinese-character-masterclass-review-understand-more-learn-faster-remember-longer/ Review: The Outlier Dictionary of Chinese Characters: https://www.hackingchinese.com/review-the-outlier-linguistics-dictionary-of-chinese-characters-with-discount-code/ More information and inspiration about learning and teaching Chinese can be found over at https://www.hackingchinese.com Music: "Traxis 1 ~ F. Benjamin" by Traxis, 2020 - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0)
Mastering Chinese characters, whether you find them enchantingly beautiful or overwhelmingly complex, is essential for literacy in Chinese. Outlier Linguistics will help you understand how the Chinese writing system works, making it easier to learn! #learnchinese #characters #hanzi #course #reviewSocial media and sharing Link to article: Outlier Chinese Character Masterclass review: Understand more, learn faster, remember longer: https://www.hackingchinese.com/outlier-chinese-character-masterclass-review-understand-more-learn-faster-remember-longer/ Chinese Character Masterclass - Learn Chinese Characters - Outlier Linguistics: https://www.outlier-linguistics.com/products/how-to-learn-chinese-characters?rfsn=4170716.4415dd All the resources you need to learn and teach Chinese stroke order: https://www.hackingchinese.com/everything-you-need-to-learn-chinese-stroke-order How to learn Chinese characters: My best advice: https://www.hackingchinese.com/my-best-advice-on-how-to-learn-chinese-characters/ Review: The Outlier Dictionary of Chinese Characters: https://www.hackingchinese.com/review-the-outlier-linguistics-dictionary-of-chinese-characters-with-discount-code How I learnt Chinese, part 6: Graduate program in Taiwan: https://www.hackingchinese.com/i-learnt-chinese-part-6-graduate-program-taiwan/ Skritter Review: Boosting your Chinese character learning: https://www.hackingchinese.com/skritter-chinese-review-boosting-your-character-learning/ Kickstart your learning with the Skritter Character Course: https://www.hackingchinese.com/kickstart-your-learning-with-the-skritter-character-course/ Chinese Characters & Reading – Outlier Linguistics: https://www.outlier-linguistics.com/collections/chinese-characters?rfsn=4170716.4415dd Mandarin Pronunciation & Speaking – Outlier Linguistics: https://www.outlier-linguistics.com/collections/mandarin-pronunciation?rfsn=4170716.4415dd Chinese History, Literature & Culture – Outlier Linguistics: https://www.outlier-linguistics.com/collections/chinese-history-culture?rfsn=4170716.4415dd Classical & Literary Chinese – Outlier Linguistics: https://www.outlier-linguistics.com/collections/classical-literary-chinese?rfsn=4170716.4415dd Japanese – Outlier Linguistics: https://www.outlier-linguistics.com/collections/japanese?rfsn=4170716.4415dd More information and inspiration about learning and teaching Chinese can be found at https://www.hackingchinese.com Music: "Traxis 1 ~ F. Benjamin" by Traxis, 2020 - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0)
"I dont really wanna unleash the dragon" - Sisqo In this conversation, Ed and Solo discuss Chinese anime (Donghua) and manhua (Chinese manga). They explore the top 10 Chinese anime and manhua recommendations, including titles like Psychic Princess, The Outcast, and Fog Hill of Five Elements. They also discuss where to find and read manhua online. The conversation concludes with a discussion on favourite dragons in anime. Discussion NotesExploring Chinese Anime and ManhuaTop 10 Chinese Anime and Manhua RecommendationsDiscussion on Watching Chinese Anime and Reading ManhuaIntroduction to Manhua RecommendationsContinuation of Manhua RecommendationsFavourite Dragons in AnimeFavourite Chinese inspired and Chinese Characters in Anime-Inspired Anime CharactersAnime Characters Who Would Start a Chinese RestaurantAnime characters who would be a triad LeaderArticles referenced in the episode Best Chinese Anime article Best Chinese Manhua article Best Anime Dragons article Patreon - www.patreon.com/suuuperanimeIf you enjoy the podcast, please don't forget to FOLLOW, RATE and REVIEW the show (it takes less than 30 seconds) Please do also share with anyone you fill will enjoy the show. Also, to keep conversation going were super keen to hear your thoughts, questions and opinions on the show's discussion points, so please do drop us a voice note on our website www.suuuperanimepodcast.com or email at www.suuuperanimepodcast.com/contact Social media links Instagram: SuuuperanimepodcastTikTok: SuuuperanimepodcastTwitter: @SuuuperanimeFacebook: SuuuperAnimePodcast You Tube: SuuuperAnimeDiscord: https://discord.gg/suuuperlightsassembleSupport the show
Is it better to practise writing Chinese on a computer or by hand? How do you find the right words when writing? And how can you leverage AI to improve your writing ability? #learnchinese #typing #handrwriting #vocabulary #ai Link to article: Student Q&A, February 2024: Typing or handwriting, using new words in texts, and how to use AI to improve your writing: https://www.hackingchinese.com/student-qa-february-2024-typing-or-handwriting-using-new-words-in-texts-and-how-to-use-ai-to-improve-your-writing/ Links to things mentioned in the introduction Chinese writing challenge, February 2024: https://www.hackingchinese.com/chinese-writing-challenge/ Hacking Chinese Challenges: https://challenges.hackingchinese.com/ Courses on Hacking Chinese: https://www.hackingchinese.com/courses/ 20 tips and tricks to improve your Chinese writing ability: https://www.hackingchinese.com/20-tips-and-tricks-to-improve-your-chinese-writing-ability/ Links for question #1: Handwriting or typing Do you have to learn to write Chinese characters by hand? https://www.hackingchinese.com/is-it-necessary-to-learn-to-write-chinese-characters-by-hand/ Skritter review: Boosting your Chinese character learning: https://www.hackingchinese.com/skritter-chinese-review-boosting-your-character-learning/ Why spaced repetition software is uniquely well suited to learning Chinese characters: https://www.hackingchinese.com/why-spaced-repetition-software-is-uniquely-well-suited-to-learning-chinese-characters/ Links for question #2: Looking up how to use words How to look up Chinese characters you don't know: https://www.hackingchinese.com/how-to-look-up-chinese-characters-you-dont-know/ 21 essential dictionaries and corpora for learning Chinese: https://www.hackingchinese.com/21-essential-dictionaries-and-corpora-for-learning-chinese/ Should you learn Chinese vocabulary from lists? https://www.hackingchinese.com/should-you-learn-chinese-vocabulary-from-lists/ Vocabulary lists that help you learn Chinese and how to use them: https://www.hackingchinese.com/different-lists-for-learning-chinese/ Links for question #3: Using AI to improve writing ability Review: The Outlier Linguistics Dictionary of Chinese Characters: https://www.hackingchinese.com/review-the-outlier-linguistics-dictionary-of-chinese-characters-with-discount-code/ Chinese language logging, part 1: Why and how to track your progress: https://www.hackingchinese.com/chinese-language-logging-part-1-why-and-how-to-track-your-progress/ More information and inspiration about learning and teaching Chinese can be found over at https://www.hackingchinese.com Music: "Traxis 1 ~ F. Benjamin" by Traxis, 2020 - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0)
This week: Is podcasting done? Ted discovers Haunted Cosmos; Humanizing Faith Heroes; Refusing to Evolve; Bespoke Bedtime Stories
中国的历史源远流长。几千年来,汉字忠实地记录了帝王,庶民的生活和思想,是中华文明最宝贵的财富之一。今天,我会为大家介绍几个关于汉字历史的小故事。它们是:仓颉造字,蔡伦造纸,1899年王懿荣发现甲骨文,等等。 China has a long history. For thousands of years, Chinese characters faithfully recorded the lives and thinkings of emperors and peasants, and is undoubtedly one of the riches of Chinese civilization. Today, I will tell you a few stories surrounding the history of the Chinese characters. They are "Cangjie invented the hieroglyphs", "Cai Lun invented the paper" and the rediscovery of the Oracle Bone Script in 1899, etc. ◉ Read transcripts for free ◉ Become a Patron ◉ Visit merch store ◉ Find us on YouTube ◉ We are on LinkedIn ◉ We are on Facebook ◉ Find a Chinese teacher on italki and receive $10 ◉ One-time Donate
I had a fascinating discussion with Dr. Benjamin Keep about the common misconceptions about learning, the science of learning and how to best learn languages based on science. Dr. Benjamin Keep is a Stanford trained cognitive scientist specializing in learning and instruction. Ben's YouTube channel: @benjaminkeep Ben's newsletter: https://www.benjaminkeep.com/
Most Chinese characters are well-behaved and easy to recognise in compound characters. Some components are sneaky, though; they change appearance depending on context! #learnchinese #characters #components #radicals Link to article: Shapeshifting Chinese characters: https://www.hackingchinese.com/shapeshifting-chinese-characters/ 6 challenges students face when learning to read Chinese and how to overcome them: https://www.hackingchinese.com/6-challenges-students-face-when-learning-to-read-chinese-and-how-to-overcome-them/ When small changes make a big difference, part 1: https://blog.skritter.com/2014/12/when-small-changes-make-a-big-difference-part-1?ref=hackingchinese Phonetic components, part 1: The key to 80% of all Chinese characters: https://www.hackingchinese.com/phonetic-components-part-1-the-key-to-80-of-all-chinese-characters/ Kickstart your Chinese character learning with the 100 most common radicals: https://www.hackingchinese.com/kickstart-your-character-learning-with-the-100-most-common-radicals/ Chinese character variants and fonts for language learners: https://www.hackingchinese.com/chinese-character-variants-and-fonts-for-language-learners/ Are simplified characters really simpler to learn? https://www.hackingchinese.com/are-simplified-characters-really-simpler-to-learn/ The Ultimate Guide to Chinese Character Stroke Order: https://blog.skritter.com/2021/03/the-ultimate-guide-to-chinese-character-stroke-order?ref=hackingchinese Review: The Outlier Linguistics Dictionary of Chinese Characters: https://www.hackingchinese.com/review-the-outlier-linguistics-dictionary-of-chinese-characters-with-discount-code/ 5 levels of understanding Chinese characters: Superficial forms to deep structure: https://www.hackingchinese.com/5-levels-of-understanding-chinese-characters-superficial-forms-to-deep-structure/ How to learn Chinese characters: My best advice: https://www.hackingchinese.com/my-best-advice-on-how-to-learn-chinese-characters Listen to this and other episodes on your favourite podcasting platform, including Apple Podcasts, Breaker, Google Podcast, Overcast, Pocket Casts, RadioPublic, Spotify and YouTube: https://www.hackingchinese.com/podcast More information and inspiration about learning and teaching Chinese can be found over at https://www.hackingchinese.com Music: "Traxis 1 ~ F. Benjamin" by Traxis, 2020 - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0)
Don't miss out on how to say “Chinese Characters” with Transition drummer, Josh Edbrooke! ShaoLan shares about the origins of the words and how they came to mean what they do. Do you know why there are 2 different kinds of characters, simplified and traditional? Listen in to find the answer!
Should you drop everything you're doing to learn Chinese for one year? How should you approach reading at an intermediate level? And how do you choose the best resources for learning? Link to article: Hacking Chinese Podcast three-year anniversary Q&A: https://www.hackingchinese.com/hacking-chinese-podcast-two-year-anniversary-qa/ #learnchinese #immersion #goingabroad #learningstrategy #reading A list of all episodes can be found here: https://www.hackingchinese.com/podcast/ Courses on Hacking Chinese: https://www.hackingchinese.com/courses/ Support Hacking Chinese on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/hackingchinese Why not going to China now could actually be good for your Chinese: https://www.hackingchinese.com/why-not-going-to-china-now-could-actually-be-good-for-your-chinese/ You won't learn Chinese simply by living abroad: https://www.hackingchinese.com/you-wont-learn-chinese-simply-by-living-abroad/ Immersion at home or: Why you don't have to go abroad to learn Chinese: https://www.hackingchinese.com/immersion-at-home-or-why-you-dont-have-to-go-abroad/ Review: The Outlier Linguistics Dictionary of Chinese Characters: https://www.hackingchinese.com/review-the-outlier-linguistics-dictionary-of-chinese-characters-with-discount-code/ Efficiency on xkcd: https://xkcd.com/1445/ When perfectionism becomes an obstacle to progress: https://www.hackingchinese.com/when-perfectionism-becomes-an-obstacle-to-progress/ An introduction to extensive reading for Chinese learners: https://www.hackingchinese.com/introduction-extensive-reading-chinese-learners/ How narrow reading and listening can help you bridge the gap to real Chinese: https://www.hackingchinese.com/narrow-listening-reading-can-help-learn-chinese/ Five text games for Chinese learners: https://www.hackingchinese.com/five-text-games-for-chinese-learners/ Easing yourself into reading novels in Chinese: https://www.hackingchinese.com/easing-yourself-into-reading-novels-in-chinese/ 25 books I've read in Chinese, with reviews and difficulty ratings: https://www.hackingchinese.com/25-books-i-read-in-chinese-last-year/Are authentic texts good for learning Chinese or is graded content better? https://www.hackingchinese.com/are-authentic-texts-good-for-learning-chinese-or-is-graded-content-better/ Listen to this and other episodes on your favourite podcasting platform, including Apple Podcasts, Breaker, Google Podcast, Overcast, Pocket Casts, RadioPublic, Spotify and YouTube: https://www.hackingchinese.com/podcast More information and inspiration about learning and teaching Chinese can be found over at https://www.hackingchinese.com Music: "Traxis 1 ~ F. Benjamin" by Traxis, 2020 - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0)
Sometimes seemingly small changes in study efforts can result in big differences in learning gains. John and Jared are going to give you tips and insights into things you can do to get more out of the time you're studying Chinese, including flashcards, reading in Chinese, preparing for speaking situations, and learning grammar and vocab. Guest interview is with Marcus Murphy who after deciding to study Chinese in college, ended up spending years in China and today is a Chinese language instructor in Tennessee. Links from the episode:The Prince and the Pauper | Level 1 Chinese Graded ReaderSummer Chinese Language Camp | University of the SouthSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Do you keep learning new vocab but have trouble using it? Jared and John talk about the vocab dilemma in which many learners find themselves caught and discuss the balance between knowledge and proficiency. Guest interview is with Amy Celico, international political and economic consultant, former US senior trade representative, and a lifelong Chinese learner. Links from the episode:Jekyll and Hyde | Mandarin CompanionUsing ChatGPT to Learn Chinese | SinospliceSteve Kaufmann Interview | Podcast 98Amy Celico | Albright Stonebridge GroupSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
So you want to read Chinese literature? John and Jared talk about the unique aspects of Chinese literature that you should know before jumping in. Guest interview is with Christina Duffy, a PHD rowing champion from Ireland turned Chinese learner. Links from the episode:The 6 Best Apps for Reading Chinese | Mandarin Companion Interview with Murray James Morrison Sherlock Holmes and a Scandal in Shanghai | Level 2 graded reader向歌友们拜年 | 988 DJsSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
How did we get the set of Chinese words we have today? John and Jared talk about how the Chinese language has evolved, adapted, innovated, and borrowed to create the language it is today. Guest interview is with Krystal Wu, a heritage Cantonese speaker from the UK who, later in her life, decided to branch out and learn Mandarin Chinese. Links from the episode:Chinese Grammar Wiki | #1 Online grammar resourceHeavenly Path | Chinese language learning resourcesHeavenly Path Discord | Discord GroupSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
What do you like about learning Chinese? John and Jared talk about all of the reasons they love Chinese! Guest interview is with Jason Brooks, a former language teacher and founder of an AI startup.Links from the episode:Harkness AI | Conversational awareness toolJason Brooks | LinkedinJourney to the Center of the Earth | Level 2 Chinese graded readerSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Questions are a fundamental function of language. John and Jared talk about how to use asking and responding to questions to maximize your learning gain. Guest interview is with Jonathan Rechtman, a simultaneous interpreter, entrepreneur, and consultant. Links from the episode:Mandarin Companion Merch Black Friday sale | WebsiteSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
We all come into language learning with different expectations. John and Jared talk about common expectations many learners have versus the reality of the language. Guest interview is with Dan Stephenson, consultant, China watcher, and a guy with his fingers in many pies. Links from the episode:Sherlock Holmes and a Scandal in Shanghai | Mandarin Companion Level 2 graded readerMandarin Companion | Brand new websiteSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
After nearly 4 years since the first episode, Jared and John celebrate their 100th podcast episode with two special interviews with two special guest interviewers. Even John gets to do the intro this time! Links from the episode:Mandarin Companion | Chinese graded readersChinese learning memes on Instagram SinoSplice | John's Blog AllSet LearningSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
You're learning Chinese, but are you getting better? Chances are you're improving but it can be hard to notice the progress. John and Jared discuss 9 signs that your Chinese is getting better so you can start celebrating those wins! Interview is with Arthur Jones, documentary filmmaker and director of The Six, a new documentary about the six Chinese survivors of the Titanic. Links from the episode:Small Personal Victories in Language Acquisition | SinospliceThe Six 《六人》Documentary | Website | Facebook | Twitter | Weibo How Jane Austen's early Chinese translators were stumped by the oddities of 19th-century British cuisine | The ConversationThe Secret Garden | Mandarin Companion Level 1See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
There are a lot of opinions about how to learn Chinese with some of it being just plain bad! John and Jared share some of the worst advice they've come across, why it's bad, and what you can be doing instead to get your Chinese on track. Interview is with Steve Kaufmann, legendary polyglot and speaker of 20 languages, including Chinese!Links from the episode:#84 How to progress from textbooks to conversation#70 Reading the News: Do's and Dont's#87 The 6 Types of Chinese Learners#79 Why typing characters is better than handwriting#23 Pinyin Over Characters: the Crippling CrutchErhua | The Chinese Pronunciation WikiCountry of the Blind | Mandarin Companion Level 1See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Don't miss out on how to say “Chinese Characters” with Transition drummer, Josh Edbrooke! ShaoLan shares about the origins of the words and how they came to mean what they do. Do you know why there are 2 different kinds of characters, simplified and traditional? Listen in to find the answer!
Many people study for the HSK exam but will focusing your language learning on your interests and needs be better and faster? Well, yes…maybe! In this episode John and Jared discuss how to bring better focus to your studies so you can beat the pants off the HSK. Guest interview is with Ben Whatley, avid Chinese learner and co-founder of Memrise.Links from the episode:Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi (HSK) | Wikipedia general infoHSK-Mod | Live, one-one-one online courses by AllSet LearningNo links for too much sugar in your Chinese food… no one needs thatSimply Chinese | Comprehensible input YouTube channelMemrise | Co-founded by guest Ben Whatley See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Does a musical background make you better at Chinese? Believe it or not, there is research on this very subject that John and I are going to delve into. Guest interview is with Murray James Morrison, jazz musician, composer, and professor at NYU Shanghai. Links from the episode:Research Paper | Identification of Mandarin tones by English-speaking musicians and nonmusiciansSherlock Holmes and a Scandal in Shanghai | New Level 2, 450 Words, Mandarin Companion Graded Reader Sinica Podcast hosted by Kaiser KuoThe China Project | Rebranded name for SupChinaSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Anyone can learn a language, but in this episode, John and I are going to talk about five qualities of good language learners. Call them qualities, call them attitudes — these adjustments will help maximize your learning results.Guest interview is with Zachary Gidwitz, who despite having a Chinese teacher tell him to give up, later progressed to a level that opened up job opportunities with one of China's largest ecommerce giants. Links from the episode:YCLC #7 The Myth of Learning Chinese Like a ChildTolerance of Ambiguity and Use of Second Language StrategiesSherlock Holmes and a Scandal in Shanghai (Mandarin Companion's next book!)The Six | Documentary about 6 Chinese survivors of the TitanicSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
The Ultra-Traditional, the “Buddy”, the Know-it-All, and the “Too Nice” are all teacher types that John and Jared are going to break down and you should consider avoiding. That being said, they have some redeeming qualities too!Interview is with Brad Johnson whose interest and friendships were the driving force in improving his Chinese skills to the level where he now hosts a podcast in Chinese. Links from the episode:#87 The 6 Types of Chinese Learners#79 Why typing characters is better than handwritingEmma 《安末》 (Mandarin Companion Level 1 graded reader)Brad Johnson's Podcasts | MianBao.fmXiaoyuzhou podcast appTop 100 Podcasts on XiaoyuzhouSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
In this special episode, John and Jared interview game-based learning expert Fred Poole who is a professor at Michigan State University, an avid gamer, and also an advanced speaker of Chinese and Spanish. Links from the episode:Fred Poole at GithubGame and Activity Book by Fred Poole (PDF)Identity RPG game Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Curly Haired Company | Mandarin Companion Level 1 graded readerSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Have you ever had comments in Chinese about your weight, asked how much money you make, or experienced just a general lack of “please” and “thank-you”? John and Jared talk about common usages of Chinese that at times can be perceived as “rude” by non-native speakers. Plus we'll talk about how YOU can avoid being perceived as rude to Chinese speakers. Interview is with Randy Telfer who was first drawn to Chinese by martial arts and today has built a life and career around Chinese.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
This week on Sinica, Kaiser chats with Jing Tsu, John M. Schiff Professor of East Asian Languages and Literatures & Comparative Literature at Yale University, about her wonderful new book Kingdom of Characters: The Language Revolution that Made China Modern. Jing talks about her role as culture commentator for NBC during the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, about how the written Chinese language has helped shape China, and about the fascinating individuals who worked to bring a writing system so deeply rooted in history and tradition into the modern world.Link to Jing and Kaiser interviewed for the Radio Opensource Podcast here.4:59 – Jing's role as cultural commentator for NBC during the Winter Games10:43 – The impetus for writing Kingdom of Characters16:09 – Why the critics of the Chinese writing system called for its destruction18:57 – What the defenders of the Chinese writing system love so much about it25:51 – The challenge of writing about the technology of Chinese writing29:05 – The Chinese writing system as a metaphor for China32:46 – The next technological frontiers for Chinese35:48 – Language and how it shapes thinking in ChinaA complete transcript of this podcast is available at SupChina.com.Recommendations:Jing: Everything Everywhere All at OnceKaiser: The Pattern of the Chinese Past by Mark Elvin; and Closure/Continuation, a new album by the British progressive rock band Porcupine Tree.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.