Chinese Character Writing

READERS SHOULD KNOW THAT THE CHINESE LANGUAGE IS BROKEN INTO TWO DIFFERENT WRITTEN FORMS: SIMPLIFIED AND TRADITIONAL CHARACTERS

Before we begin learning how to write the Chinese language, we need to understand the key differences, from character formation to punctuation, between the two different forms.

Simplified Chinese characters are considered to be the modern Chinese language as it is the most commonly used Chinese writing system these days. Just like its name, simplified Chinese is the simplified version of the more traditional Chinese characters.

One of the primary key differences is character formation. Traditional characters are more complicated and have more strokes than its counterpart.

Some characters are modified, either the radical or components of the character, to make them easier to read and write. Traditional characters use a separate character to express a word, while a single character in simplified Chinese is used to represent words that have identical pronunciations but different meanings.

HERE ARE SEVERAL METHODS OF LEARNING CHINESE CHARACTERS YOU CAN TEACH YOUR CHILDREN!

CHARACTER COMPONENTS

Each Chinese character is composed of components which have their own meaning. They are also referred to as “radicals” and “component characters” and represent a basic idea. Therefore, most radicals and component characters are simple and have a similar appearance to a drawing of the concept they reflect.

Hence, by breaking a Chinese word or character down into its component parts, we can use them to create memory aids. This is a much easier and more efficient way of memorizing Chinese characters.

What you can do:

Print customizable worksheets to construct Chinese characters from character components. Use the Chinese character decomposition explorer to explore the character components one layer at a time.

VISUALIZATION

The component-focused mnemonic technique – a memory device for retaining information – is the main focus when you learn how to write Chinese characters.

木 – wood. It is pronounced mù.

斤 – old word for “ax head.” It is pronounced jīn.

Character breakdowns create a strong relation between separate characters and their component characters. Use the component parts and create a story or sentence involving them and the meaning of the character. For example, the character “split” – 分 can be remembered by visualizing someone separating pieces of wood with an axe and the rings inside the tree.

As the progress continues, your child’s brain will automatically fill with mnemonics for all the characters and their components. After all, effective learning stems from the most creative imaginations.

THE PATTERNS

The next step you should take is always to look for patterns in the Chinese writing system. This will further reinforce the previous stage of visualization.

1. Analyze what components are used in a character
2. List characters that share the same components and categorize them based on the theme
3. List characters with the same phonetic component and the theme in how they’re pronounced
4. Lastly, search for the meaning and pronunciation of a new character, and try to guess what components it contains

This is a good practice for your child to familiarize themselves with how Chinese characters work! As they actively engage with the language, they will learn more than passive ‘absorbing’ do.

THE PINYIN

Now, not everything is about pictures and characters. Your child should also know how to read a character as well. You may apply the same mnemonic techniques when they learn to read Chinese words. Additionally, their Chinese teacher will most likely provide them with a list of all pinyin syllables used in standard Mandarin Chinese, including all the possible tone variations.

This step is connected with memorizing pronunciation, so read the following step to understand the idea further!

PRONUNCIATION

Sometimes, we can create a character’s visualization based on their pronunciation. To combine these two concepts together, we use the pronunciation of the character 木 – mù. We can imagine a tree saying the word mù, scaring any passerby.

Do remember that only some characters are pronounced exactly like their phonetic component while others take on the initial or final sounds.

What you can do:

Incorporate the usage of flashcards and spaced repetition software (SRS) into your children’s studies. Use the techniques from above to make their study sessions more interesting!

STROKE ORDER

There is a very specific order for you to write a Chinese character; therefore, your child must learn the stroke order of writing Chinese characters. The Chinese stroke order system is:

1. left to right and top to bottom
2. horizontal before vertical
3. horizontal and vertical strokes which pass over other strokes
4. diagonals (right-to-left and then left-to-right)
5. centre verticals and then outside diagonals
6. outside strokes before inside stokes
7. left verticals before enclosing strokes
8. bottom enclosing strokes
9. dots and minor strokes

An added benefit of learning stroke order is you can use the Chinese dictionary without confusion!

PRACTICE

As the saying goes, practice makes perfect! Have your child practice writing every day with different characters. Make some more mnemonics, learn new characters, actively engage in writing characters and do some SRS reviews.

Create a routine for your child so that they can study without any interference! Try to at least include a 30 minutes session in their schedule instead of letting them avoid and make it up every other weekend.

GET DIRECT HELP FROM SLC!

The School of Language and Communication (SLC) specializes in Chinese tuition with the best learning experiences. Their tuition centre comprises former MOE Chinese language teachers who have the know-how to what your child needs to learn to do well in their Chinese exams.

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