Books on Learning Chinese
Mandarin: Lonely Planet Phrasebook
ISBN: 1741042305
254 pp
Responding to criticisms of earlier editions of this phrasebook, pinyin has been re-introduced for the 6th edition. This handy, color-coded, pocket-size phrasebook is a definite improvement on early editions. The book begins with an introduction to the sounds of Mandarin and the all-important tones followed by grammar rules in an A-Z quick phrase-builder. Subsequent sections include phrases group according to situation and function: transport, meeting people, food, health etc. Finally there is an alphabetical English-Mandarin dictionary and a Mandarin-English dictionary ordered by the number of strokes in the featured characters from one stroke to 16-23 strokes. The book is pleasantly laid out, illustrated throughout and includes useful cultural notes on the topics covered.
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Rough Guide To Mandarin Chinese
by Lexus
ISBN: 1858286077
288 pp
This dictionary phrasebook is a excellent tool for beginners of Mandarin and introduces the learner to working with Pinyin from the outset in the opening section on forming and using common, everyday phrases. The English to Chinese dictionary section offers 160 pages of words and phrases interspersed with cultural usage notes which are a feature of Rough Guides' dictionary phrasebooks. Each word or phrase is given in Pinyin, a phonetic spelling and usefully the Chinese characters. There are then over 50 pages of Chinese to English words and phrases alphabetized using Pinyin spelling. There are further chapters on interpreting the Chinese characters on signs and restaurant menus. Another plus is the clear marking of the tones above the Pinyin transliteration. Recommended.
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Speak E-Z Chinese In Phonetic English
by Fang Zhao and Timothy Green
ISBN: 0977195309
288 pp
This "fun" phrasebook co-authored by Timothy Green and Fang Zhao aims to help learners master Chinese pronunciation as smoothly and quickly as possible. Speak E-Z Chinese begins with a pronunciation guide to replace pinyin with a phonetic English approximation and introduces the four tones. Basic essential phrases are covered in their context, leading to longer sentence construction. The phrases introduced also cover some topics not usually found in other language guides such as how to curse and swear in Chinese and tell someone you love them as well as the more mainstream money, food, hotels, travel and time expressions. the sometimes racy expressions covered may not be to everyone's taste so be forewarned. The book's English-based phonetic approach to pronunciation and the tones also divides opinion. Some people love the approach; others believe there is no substitute for learning the pinyin. The book concludes with a handy 100-plus page phrasal dictionary.
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Tuttle Learning Chinese Characters Volume 1: A Revolutionary New Way to Learn and Remember the 800 Most Basic Chinese Characters
by Alison Matthews and Laurence Matthews
ISBN: 0977195309
288 pp
Co-authored by husband and wife team Alison and Laurence Matthews, this well-reviewed book is a study aid to help students of Chinese remember the essential Chinese characters through visual imagery. Introducing the first, most basic 800 characters in simplified Chinese (the traditional character is also given in parentheses, if different) the book explains how Chinese characters are formed and their correct stroke order. Each character is introduced through images and specific stories revolving around the character to act as a mnemonic for the character and its tone. Simple words using character combinations are also introduced. The methodology of this mnemonic approach is similar to James Heisig's ground-breaking book on learning Japanese kanji characters - Remembering The Kanji - but offers more support for the student. Highly recommended.
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Cantonese: Lonely Planet Phrasebook
by Chiu-yee Cheung & Tao Li
ISBN: 1740599349
260 pp
Concise, lightweight and to-the-point, Lonely Planet's Cantonese Phrasebook packs a lot in to its 260 pages. Color-coded throughout, this handy book is divided into easy-to-search sections: introduction, tools, practical, social, food, safe travel, sustainable travel etc. The back of the book has English-Cantonese and Cantonese-English dictionaries and an index. Each phrase comes in English, written Cantonese characters and with an in-house simplified transliteration based on the Yale system (though not Yale itself) to show the pronunciation. The "Tools" section outlines the tones and basic grammar with the body of the book dedicated to language in various situations - shopping, sightseeing, meeting people, travel etc. This section is pretty comprehensive for the casual traveler, so if you need to say "Let's use a condom," it's here, as is "Do you sell Fair Trade products?" A useful pocket book for anyone considering travel in a Cantonese-speaking area.
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