Understanding Chinese 2 Ed: A Guide to the Usage of Chinese Characters [Paperback]

Rita Mei-Wah Choy (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0941340139 | ISBN-13: 978-0941340137 | Publication Date: May 30, 2000 | Edition: Revised

This straightforward guide explains how Chinese characters are used and expressed in combinations; how sentences are formed; and how to say the same phrase in Mandarin or Cantonese.

Editorial Reviews

Language Notes

Text: English, Chinese

Product Details

• Paperback: 577 pages
• Publisher: China West Books; Revised edition (May 30, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0941340139
• ISBN-13: 978-0941340137
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 5.5 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #932,241 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Recommended for those with basic spoken knowledge of Chinese, April 4, 1998

By 

[e-mail] (USA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Understanding Chinese: A Guide to the Usage of Chinese Characters (Paperback)

I read this book with the intention to learn how to write Chinese and associate the Chinese characters with what I already know in spoken Chinese. After 1 month of practicing, I can see the difference in my knowledge of written Chinese (although my knowledge is still far from complete). And I have only studied less than half the book!! I especially like the fact that the book provides translation in both Mandarin and Cantonese. Because of that, I could learn both the Mandarin and Cantonese pronunciations. Furthermore, the book is very helpful because it also provides phrases associated with each character. Just as in English where phrases sometimes connote different meanings compared the meaning of the sole word (eg.pass vs. pass away), so can be said for Chinese. Therefore, in learning Chinese, it is important not only to know the meaning of a singular word but also to know how the word combines with other words to form a phrase. Also recommended, "Read and Write Chinese: A Simplified Guide to the Chinese Characters" by the same author--published a year later. A more compact guide without the phrase part (mentioned in the last paragraph).

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent for beginners and advanced learners!, September 23, 2002

By 

Jeff Jacobson "JJ" (Taipei, Taiwan) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Understanding Chinese 2 Ed: A Guide to the Usage of Chinese Characters (Paperback)

Rita Choy is one of the best writers for Chinese helpers. She has put together several books that I find most useful. I have lived in Taiwan for quite sometime and her books have been very useful in finding meanings. Her cross listed index is a life saver I use it almost everyday. I cannot imagine anyone who is studying Chinese not buying her books. Regardless of the simplifed vs. traditional characters. If you learn simplied first you will have much trouble learning and reading traditional.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book WITHOUT a flaw!, December 31, 2001

By 

S Holland (Taipei, Taiwan) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Understanding Chinese 2 Ed: A Guide to the Usage of Chinese Characters (Paperback)

This book is wonderful and I do not consider that having only unsimplified forms of the characters is a flaw. While simplifid characters are more useful in Mainland China, they are not used at all in Taiwan, Hong Kong or Singapore and are only used rarely in Chinese communities in the U.S. and Canada. This book is most useful when visiting one of these places or studying there, since it is well nigh impossible to find an unsimplified guide or dictionary in most book stores.