The New Way to Read Chinese by Shaolan Is Published by Thames & Hudson

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 · 531 ratings  · threescore reviews

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Mar 22, 2014 Alan rated information technology really liked it

'Chineasy' is not, by any ways, a book for learning Chinese, as near of its critics (judging from the negative reviews here and elsewhere) seem to believe. This fundamental misunderstanding of the purpose and part of this book can exist blamed squarely on the author and publishers for promoting it equally such (in TED talks, etc.), taking a mannerly little concept and hyping it up well out of proportion.

What this is, kickoff and foremost, is an fine art book, something you can admire not merely for the swain

'Chineasy' is non, by any means, a book for learning Chinese, equally most of its critics (judging from the negative reviews hither and elsewhere) seem to believe. This fundamental misunderstanding of the purpose and role of this book tin can be blamed squarely on the author and publishers for promoting it every bit such (in TED talks, etc.), taking a charming piddling concept and hyping it up well out of proportion.

What this is, first and foremost, is an art book, something you can admire not just for the beautiful illustrations on the within, only as well for the way the book was put together and laid out. Secondly, if, like me, you are starting out on the nerve-wracking challenge of learning Chinese, this is a corking way of demystifying the subject, presenting the logical idea processes behind what may seem like arbitrary and complicated symbols, and giving you an insight into the Chinese mentality. For these purposes, I couldn't recommend this book highly enough, and I've already memorised quite a few of the characters in its pages without applying any existent effort.

Merely y'all tin't possibly rely exclusively on this book to teach you the language. Bated from presenting an extremely small sample of Chinese characters, at that place'due south also the fact that they're mostly all traditional forms (most learners of Chinese will want to simplified characters, but fifty-fifty those who are after the traditional characters will find that some of them in hither are simplified, every bit the author/illustrator picks whatever looks best for her purposes). Also, some of the characters (eastward.grand. "statement", p.47) are extremely rare or archaic forms that nobody uses anymore, as more ane of my Chinese friends pointed out to me when they looked within. And so, great volume if y'all desire to appreciate the art or use it equally a supplement with real Chinese textbooks, but forget about information technology if you call back information technology will be an "easy" way to larn the language.

...more than

Dec 21, 2014 Katie rated information technology liked it

Chineasy is a book total of Chinese characters and illustrations designed to make learning to read Chinese characters fun and piece of cake. Each graphic symbol is incorporated into a cartoon to help illustrate the meaning. Initially, I had fun trying to empathise the characters and the meanings. It felt like solving a puzzle. Even so, the novelty wore off speedily. I did find it interesting that fifty-fifty though I did learn a number of Chinese characters, I yet have no idea how to say any of the words.

I read th

Chineasy is a book full of Chinese characters and illustrations designed to brand learning to read Chinese characters fun and piece of cake. Each character is incorporated into a drawing to help illustrate the meaning. Initially, I had fun trying to understand the characters and the meanings. It felt like solving a puzzle. However, the novelty wore off rapidly. I did observe information technology interesting that even though I did learn a number of Chinese characters, I even so have no idea how to say whatever of the words.

I read this book equally part of my personal challenge to read a book from every ten places of the Dewey Decimal System. This book is in the 490s. The 400s are the language category, and the 490s consist of pretty much every not-European language. (Many European languages get 10 numbers all of their own, while all languages of East and Southeast Asia are in 495.) I initiated this challenge of reading books from across the Dewey Decimal categories in an try to broaden my horizons and read books about things I wouldn't normally choose to read things about. Unfortunately, I fright the claiming will be dominated by the western world.

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This is such a fun way to approach Chinese writing in an original and creative way. The author presents the near usually occurring characters as visual building blocks and and then shows how they evolve into phrases when placed next to other characters. The illustrations are gorgeous and a book for everyone really who is interested in learning some rudimentary Chinese!

Mar 19, 2014 Kay rated it it was ok

Hmmmm.... I was intrigued past a short video I saw on the WSJournal site, but this method is less useful than I thought it would be. Do I really think I'll need the characters for " mermaid" or " morality"? Plus, many of the mnemonic devices she suggests are cumbersome. Finally, I'm not sold on the concept that learning big groups of words that take the same root characters is really helpful for those who desire to get by in China. I probably should have spent the $15 on apps that read characters or Hmmmm.... I was intrigued by a brusk video I saw on the WSJournal site, simply this method is less useful than I thought it would be. Exercise I really remember I'll demand the characters for " mermaid" or " morality"? Plus, many of the mnemonic devices she suggests are cumbersome. Finally, I'grand non sold on the concept that learning big groups of words that take the aforementioned root characters is really helpful for those who want to get by in China. I probably should accept spent the $15 on apps that read characters or translated. Granted, though. - the illustrations are cute and the overall presentation stylish.

Update: Unfortunately, my Kindle edition of this book would not completely download, and then I only got almost a quarter of the manner through it before I could not get the residuum of the book to load, endeavour every bit I might. However, I really don't think I would have gotten what I wanted from this book, then no big loss in my eyes.

...more

Sep 11, 2017 Quynh Than rated it it was amazing

Makes me fall in dear again with the beauty of Sinosphere cultures.

Jun 22, 2014 Tom rated it it was ok

'Chineasy' is a beautiful book, containing some 400 traditional and simplified Chinese characters. I just can't stress enough how neat the book and its images look.

Just its content is pretty useless.

You might be able to remember some characters, get a bit a hang of the system, but it simply doesn't provide enough groundwork information. Every bit other reviewers pointed out: information technology is an art project. However, non much thought has given to the bodily content. You lot tin can't really acquire Chinese with this – it si

'Chineasy' is a beautiful book, containing some 400 traditional and simplified Chinese characters. I just tin can't stress enough how great the volume and its images look.

But its content is pretty useless.

You might be able to remember some characters, get a chip a hang of the system, but it simply doesn't provide enough groundwork information. Equally other reviewers pointed out: it is an art project. However, not much thought has given to the actual content. You tin can't actually learn Chinese with this – it simply allows you to remember a bunch of characters through some beautiful imagery.

I wouldn't take heed this, if 'Chineasy' would accept been marketed in accordance with its true nature. Rather than that, it is advertised as a 'learning tool'. Rated every bit a learning tool, this doesn't deserve more than than two stars.

...more

Apr 12, 2014 Gordon rated it information technology was amazing

As someone who has simply moved to China, I recollect Chineasy is vivid.
It's not about learning to read Chinese for me (I think I will endeavour to walk earlier I tin run) but about understanding what it's about. I find it gives me a great insight into the culture and helps me to get to know the people I work with by being interested in their style of living. At the same time, it is helping me to recognise some basic characters which is pretty handy.
A beautiful, fun and insightful book. As someone who has but moved to China, I recall Chineasy is brilliant.
It's not about learning to read Chinese for me (I think I will try to walk earlier I can run) but well-nigh understanding what information technology's well-nigh. I find information technology gives me a neat insight into the culture and helps me to become to know the people I work with past beingness interested in their fashion of living. At the same fourth dimension, information technology is helping me to recognise some basic characters which is pretty handy.
A beautiful, fun and insightful volume. ...more

Cute, but basically useless. Making images around the characters is inspiring, yet hardly original. And there should be at to the lowest degree 2 editions - simplified and traditional, non both - that is hardly helpful to beginners. Accept a look elsewhere (Heisig, Matthews, Jing-Hua Yin) and use Skritter, THAT really works /and it is testified by many succesful learners already/.

Jan 30, 2020 Pooja rated it really liked it

Chinese has never been this piece of cake. Loving every chip of it, thanks to Duolingo and Chineasy. Since terminal few days, I've been studying Chinese and this is so cute language, I've never felt so happy speaking a linguistic communication. Chinese has never been this easy. Loving every bit of it, thank you to Duolingo and Chineasy. Since terminal few days, I've been studying Chinese and this is and then beautiful linguistic communication, I've never felt and then happy speaking a language. ...more

Jan nineteen, 2022 Attila Gáspár rated it actually liked information technology

This is a beautiful book and makes y'all want to acquire Chinese.

However, it is non in whatever way, shape or grade "the new way to read Chinese", then it does non become 5 stars because the subtitle is quite misleading. Not that I am familiar with either the new or the erstwhile ways of reading Chinese, only this is definitely non a language teaching volume. Information technology is an appetizer, and absolutely a pretty good one.

This is a beautiful book and makes you want to acquire Chinese.

However, it is not in any way, shape or form "the new mode to read Chinese", and then it does non get 5 stars because the subtitle is quite misleading. Not that I am familiar with either the new or the one-time ways of reading Chinese, merely this is definitely not a language teaching book. It is an appetizer, and admittedly a pretty good ane.

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It'south easy to critisise a volume of this nature because it volition never do what every ane wants, even so what it does do information technology does very well.

Ok here's what information technology isn't:
It isn't a dictionary. (Although information technology does have words and their pinyin and characters)

It isn't a guide to speaking (Although information technology does have phrases that y'all may detect useful and certainly there are enough words for you to accept bones conversations).

And maybe that's why after two hours or and so of reading information technology that I'm struggling to see its purpose.

I lov

Information technology's like shooting fish in a barrel to critisise a volume of this nature because it will never do what every one wants, however what it does do it does very well.

Ok here'due south what it isn't:
It isn't a dictionary. (Although it does have words and their pinyin and characters)

Information technology isn't a guide to speaking (Although information technology does accept phrases that you may find useful and certainly in that location are enough words for you to have basic conversations).

And maybe that's why after ii hours or so of reading it that I'm struggling to see its purpose.

I dearest the formatting of the book. It is designed brilliantly and is past far the virtually interesting chinese language guide I've encounter and it makes me want to pick it upwardly again then I volition almost certainly learn many characters from it.

Despite living in Taiwan for 10 years i've pretty much failed at beingness able to read the characters and whilst that isn't important in daily life (much is in English) menu items are still a mystery. I was hoping that this book would help useful characters adhere to my mind. Unfortunately I don't recall that many of the characters in this book will help for that.

But mayhap I'm missing the point. As the writer writes in the introduction, she wrote this book to help he British built-in Taiwanese children learn to read and write a language that, I assume, they can speak fluently. For that purpose I believe information technology will be an excellent tool as it'southward certainly interesting plenty for kids to want to want to selection upwards again and again.

...more

This book got me excited near learning characters! It is easy to understand, funny, and informative at the aforementioned time. I wish the volume could be changed (reprinted). For example, characters on pg. 107 are not articulate in the picture because they're black. On pg. 120, in the dark-brown box, it's difficult to read the words because it's in black font. Same thing applies to pg. 171. I think the font should be changed to white or a lighter color. Cheers very much for creating this book! I enjoyed learning This book got me excited about learning characters! It is like shooting fish in a barrel to understand, funny, and informative at the aforementioned time. I wish the book could be changed (reprinted). For instance, characters on pg. 107 are not clear in the flick considering they're black. On pg. 120, in the chocolate-brown box, it's difficult to read the words considering information technology'southward in black font. Aforementioned thing applies to pg. 171. I think the font should be inverse to white or a lighter color. Cheers very much for creating this volume! I enjoyed learning from it. ...more

Fantabulous concept. Execution not so much.

Firstly, there are a lot of totally useless characters in hither ("gallbladder"? really?). Secondly, besides many of the visual mnemonics are just drawn on top of a figure which won't really assist you remember them. Mainly I found this a trouble when a graphic symbol was just slapped on top of a face up ("woman", "small", "structure", etc.).

Would love to run across a version 2.0 taking the feedback in a higher place into account.

Excellent concept. Execution not so much.

Firstly, there are a lot of totally useless characters in here ("gallbladder"? actually?). Secondly, too many of the visual mnemonics are only drawn on meridian of a figure which won't really assistance you remember them. Mainly I establish this a problem when a character was just slapped on pinnacle of a face ("woman", "minor", "structure", etc.).

Would honey to see a version two.0 taking the feedback above into account.

...more

February 17, 2016 Iguanaditty rated it it was amazing

Bought this for my daughter (6) who loves anything Chinese. A fantastic introduction to Chinese for a immature child. The illustrations are great and the notes about the history behind the characters lead to bang-up discussions.

January 26, 2017 Charles Garard rated it really liked it

This is a difficult book to review because it is not a book that you always really finish. It is more of a guide to keep around and inspect at random, or when i feels challenged to os up on a hard language.

This book by Shaolan Hsueh offers a arrangement that tries not to focus on rote retentivity, the way that many Chinese students are taught to learn. I know this because I taught at the college and university level in China for several years. I did acquire many of the characters at the time and, wi

This is a difficult volume to review because information technology is non a book that you lot ever really finish. It is more than of a guide to keep around and inspect at random, or when ane feels challenged to os up on a difficult language.

This book past Shaolan Hsueh offers a system that tries not to focus on rote memory, the way that many Chinese students are taught to learn. I know this considering I taught at the college and university level in Communist china for several years. I did larn many of the characters at the time and, with the assist of a beautiful lady friend, discovered that I could read a few signs. Notwithstanding, every bit y'all can guess, if one does not utilize something like a foreign language it can fade from the back of your brain where yous take and so much information stored (if you are an educated person).

The writer tries to educate us by offering what she calls a new way to read Chinese. Yeah. Reading information technology. But remembering information technology then that one tin utilize it is a different affair. She offers colorful, and sometimes total-page, artwork to help u.s.a. initially recognize a character. Withal, sometimes the artwork is distracting because it is congenital around, and not from, the grapheme itself. Eastward.g., the blade of a pocketknife is painted over the discussion for "knife" does non help with recognizing the give-and-take because there is no resemblance. It but is used to innovate the give-and-take. Sometimes the traditional course is focused on, just nosotros usually start with the simplified form. And then nosotros encounter characters combined to form new words. Sometimes characters are changed slightly when attached to some other.

Often she provides the history of the give-and-take and shows how changes have taken place. On the other manus, she sometimes shows how certain characters may have several meanings, and this becomes overwhelming when five or 6 possibilities exist, oftentimes unrelated in pregnant. She is understandably annoyed that the character for women is derived from a time or place when they supposedly had to humble themselves in a subservient posture before men.

Shaolan Hsueh is shown in a full-page pose near the front of the book. I take no thought how many copies of her book have been, simply it might be possible that she could double her sales past putting that photograph on the dorsum or even front cover of the volume. She has a face that would launch a chiliad ships and a grin to burnish upwards the world.

...more

May 09, 2017 Erin Britton rated it it was amazing

Chineasy presents ShaoLan Hsueh's delightfully simple (and undeniably cute) system for quickly understanding the basic edifice blocks of written Chinese. In collaboration with illustrator Noma Bar, Hsueh has developed a set up of illustrations that match wonderfully with the Chinese characters that they represent then human action every bit an incredibly constructive written report assistance when information technology comes to recognising and remembering key Chinese words and phrases. While I'1000 still far, far from fluent, Chineasy has certainly gi Chineasy presents ShaoLan Hsueh'southward delightfully simple (and undeniably beautiful) system for rapidly understanding the basic building blocks of written Chinese. In collaboration with illustrator Noma Bar, Hsueh has developed a set up of illustrations that match wonderfully with the Chinese characters that they stand for and then act as an incredibly constructive study aid when it comes to recognising and remembering key Chinese words and phrases. While I'thou still far, far from fluent, Chineasy has certainly given me a head offset at reading and writing bones Chinese so, importantly, has given me the confidence that I might exist able to progress farther with the linguistic communication. ...more

December eleven, 2018 Joseph rated it actually liked it

This is a great book for people who are just getting started with Chinese characters and want something that'southward not too intimidating. Two notes of caution: (1) don't buy this if you're hoping for a rigorous treatment of the Chinese language (or even if you hope to be able write a bones alphabetic character in Chinese). Yous'll demand something else for that. This is more about getting your feet wet with some characters and with some aspects of the Chinese writing organization. (2) Be aware that the author goes back and This is a smashing book for people who are just getting started with Chinese characters and want something that'southward not too intimidating. Two notes of circumspection: (1) don't buy this if y'all're hoping for a rigorous treatment of the Chinese language (or even if yous hope to be able write a basic letter in Chinese). Yous'll demand something else for that. This is more virtually getting your feet moisture with some characters and with some aspects of the Chinese writing organization. (2) Be enlightened that the writer goes dorsum and forth between simplified and traditional characters in a few places. She's non consequent (though when both exist, she consistently gives both). ...more than

All the Characters the book covered are all astonishing with nice designs to demonstrate the word meanings.
This is a super astonishing way to remember mutual characters and words following their building blocks.

For example : 人 ren : means person, the principal building blocks to course :
从 ：to follow
众 ：the crowd
大人 ： adult
夫人 ： the wife
and countless of other examples.

-1 star because information technology should have another sequels to comprehend other commonly used characters.
Because I still feel the characters presented here are non

All the Characters the book covered are all amazing with prissy designs to demonstrate the word meanings.
This is a super amazing way to remember common characters and words following their edifice blocks.

For case : 人 ren : ways person, the chief edifice blocks to form :
从 ：to follow
众 ：the crowd
大人 ： adult
夫人 ： the wife
and countless of other examples.

-i star considering information technology should accept another sequels to cover other commonly used characters.
Because I all the same experience the characters presented here are not enough :(

...more

Nov 29, 2020 Sarah rated it liked it

This book is cool looking but my encephalon absolutely does not piece of work this way every bit far equally the visual memorization. I practice like the little explanations of the characters, that's helpful to know a bit more about the history or general "flavour" of a grapheme.

If this book/method doesn't piece of work for you, just attempt more traditional ways of learning characters. Information technology doesn't mean you're incapable of learning characters.

This volume is cool looking but my brain absolutely does not work this manner equally far as the visual memorization. I do like the footling explanations of the characters, that's helpful to know a bit more about the history or general "flavor" of a character.

If this book/method doesn't work for yous, just effort more traditional ways of learning characters. It doesn't mean you're incapable of learning characters.

...more

Oct 31, 2017 Nolan rated it it was amazing

Makes learning Chinese more fun. So you lot only don't re-create downwardly a graphic symbol and memorize. Every fourth dimension I deceit remember what a character ways I call up dorsum to see if this book has a picture show for information technology. I just used it every bit a volume on the side to help my Chinese grow better. I first saw it on Pinterest then I ran into the TED talk near information technology. Makes learning Chinese more fun. Then you just don't copy downwards a graphic symbol and memorize. Every time I cant call back what a character ways I think back to come across if this book has a picture for it. I only used it as a book on the side to help my Chinese grow better. I get-go saw information technology on Pinterest and then I ran into the TED talk near it. ...more than

This is a great book if you lot're starting to learn Chinese and are completely unfamiliar with the symbols. The volume gives you lot a new way to think of them when they prove up in any other Chinese text and makes them more familiar. Apparently the book itself isn't made to teach you lot how to speak Chinese, simply information technology's at that place to make you lot more familiar with the symbols. An fantabulous resource. This is a swell book if you're starting to learn Chinese and are completely unfamiliar with the symbols. The volume gives yous a new mode to think of them when they evidence up in whatsoever other Chinese text and makes them more familiar. Obviously the book itself isn't made to teach you how to speak Chinese, but information technology's at that place to make y'all more than familiar with the symbols. An splendid resource. ...more

The author actively promotes the thought of memorizing Chinese characters through motion picture mnemonics like something she invented while in reality it has been done for ages. And the pictures themselves sometimes have trivial connection to the characters. Although extremely far from a definitive complete manual, still a fun volume to supplement your studies of Chinese.

It's an interesting book, merely I can just recommend it for people with a passing interest in the Chinese languages. Anyone looking to seriously study Chinese will non discover this book so useful in one case they chief the basics. It's an interesting book, but I can but recommend it for people with a passing interest in the Chinese languages. Anyone looking to seriously report Chinese will not find this book then useful in one case they primary the basics. ...more

Mar 05, 2018 Maria Carmo rated it really liked it

Interesting and useful, although I got a feeling information technology is closer to the Taiwanese way of writing than to the chief land Mandarin. Still, it is creative and imaginative. I enjoyed reading it!

Maria Carmo,

Lisbon, 5 March 2018.

Non read in the traditional sense, but I have been through it.

Non really what I needed or idea I'd get, but seeing the style y'all could combine different signs and components was interesting and I did brand myself a tiny dictionary with signs I thought I should try to learn eventually.

Not read in the traditional sense, only I have been through it.

Not really what I needed or thought I'd get, but seeing the manner you could combine unlike signs and components was interesting and I did brand myself a tiny dictionary with signs I thought I should try to learn eventually.

...more than

May 12, 2017 Paula rated information technology actually liked it

This book served well as a companion for my chinese form. I'm not struggling equally bad every bit my classmates with chinese characters. I count that every bit a win. This volume served well as a companion for my chinese class. I'm not struggling every bit bad every bit my classmates with chinese characters. I count that as a win. ...more

Very easy and fun way to learn Chinese (Mandarine characters and Pinyin), with some analogies to make the ideas relatable

Sep 29, 2017 Katie rated information technology it was amazing

Really useful as an aid for memorising characters, but definitely needs to be used in conjunction with another resources that teaches sentence construction, grammar etc, not just characters.

This book is better than the 2nd ane (Chineasy Everyday)

merely these 2 points are still valid

i) BPMF/phonetic - for a taiwan-built-in author , she did not use BPMF system ,used for children to larn, and opted for pinyin....i am a big fan of the BPMF organisation -- as I grew upwards in the w learning it -- because its
1a) unique (and obviously has a phonetic mapping)
1b) doesn't rely on teh the romanicized system
1c) makes the writing system even more pretty ...latin appearing beside chinese writing is UGLY

This volume is better than the 2nd one (Chineasy Everyday)

but these 2 points are withal valid

1) BPMF/phonetic - for a taiwan-born writer , she did non use BPMF system ,used for children to larn, and opted for pinyin....i am a large fan of the BPMF system -- as I grew up in the westward learning it -- because its
1a) unique (and obviously has a phonetic mapping)
1b) doesn't rely on teh the romanicized system
1c) makes the writing system even more pretty ...latin appearing beside chinese writing is UGLY!!

Too i think she used the Mainland chinese pinyin and not the Taiwanese (or the proper phonetic version...that uses the english/latin sounds ie /sh/ & /ch/ vs mainlad converting sounds like Ten and Q )

2) FONT - I wished they used the hybrid phonetic font that shows all 3 (graphic symbol + BPMF+pinyin)
rather than separating the pinyin from the character ....BPMF goes on teh right & pinyin on bottom of character.

...this book gets an extra star because its a listing and "buso"-esque based volume.
And then none of the actress word ataxia of the 2nd book

...lose a star, cuz art doesn't match the character clarification

...more than

Interesting, fascinating, enchanting and gorgeous.

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