Publisher Description

This Mandarin picture dictionary covers the 1,200 most useful Mandarin Chinese words and sentences. Each word and sentence is given in Chinese characters with Hanyu Pinyin pronunciation and English definition. The words are grouped into 37 themes or topics. Each theme has 25 to 35 words and 5 to 8 sentences and is richly illustrated with colour photographs. A free CD contains audio recordings by native Mandarin speakers of all the vocabulary and sentences. A brief introduction to Chinese pronunciation and tones is included, and indexes at the back allow you to quickly look up any of the words or characters in the book. "Learning to speak, read, and write Mandarin Chinese is a daunting task for many English speakers. This logical and accessible guide offers thematic spreads that introduce related vocabulary words and phrases in context. Chinese characters and Hanyu Pinyin romanizations align with crisp, full-color photographs that pop against clean white backgrounds. The text is full of user-friendly features and includes basic information, the benefits of which outweigh the occasional awkward illustration or example. The book is designed specifically to prepare readers for the Advanced Placement Chinese Language and Culture Exam or the HSK (the national standardized test for Chinese-language proficiency for non-native speakers); Mandarin learners with at least some background should appreciate this overview. Also included is an online, downloadable, audible pronunciation guide." Booklist

Author Biography

Yi Ren taught and conducted research in Beijing for several years after graduating from Tsinghua University. Since moving to the U.S., she has been teaching Chinese for the past twenty years. This is her fourth book about Chinese language and culture.

Review

"It's a great resource for not only kids learning Chinese, but also for adults. Travelers and expats living in Chinese-speaking countries will find this dictionary handy as well. […] The dictionary includes a brief introduction to Chinese pronunciation and tones. A comprehensive index allows readers to quickly and easily search for words and phrases. This bilingual book features each word and sentence in Chinese characters with a Hanyu Pinyin pronunciation and English definition. As a bonus, the dictionary includes free online audio recordings of the vocabulary and sentences spoken by native Mandarin speakers. I highly recommend the Mandarin Chinese Picture Dictionary for anyone interested in learning Chinese whether for personal enrichment or for their travels." --BiculturalMama.com
"This is an excellent and engaging dictionary and guide to speaking and reading in Chinese. It covers Mandarin, the major version of the language. It's very well done, and is filled with engaging photography of popular items and general topics which would be commonly used today hellip;" -- KidsR.Us
"This book provides a perfect way for visual learners to learn Mandarin Chinese…One of the great parts of this book is that it appeals to children, but also can help teenagers and adults to learn this language that is often considered a very hard language to learn." --Crafty Moms Share blog

Long Description

This Mandarin picture dictionary covers the 1,200 most useful Mandarin Chinese words and sentences. Each word and sentence is given in Chinese characters with Hanyu Pinyin pronunciation and English definition. The words are grouped into 37 themes or topics. Each theme has 25 to 35 words and 5 to 8 sentences and is richly illustrated with colour photographs. A free CD contains audio recordings by native Mandarin speakers of all the vocabulary and sentences. A brief introduction to Chinese pronunciation and tones is included, and indexes at the back allow you to quickly look up any of the words or characters in the book. "Learning to speak, read, and write Mandarin Chinese is a daunting task for many English speakers. This logical and accessible guide offers thematic spreads that introduce related vocabulary words and phrases in context. Chinese characters and Hanyu Pinyin romanizations align with crisp, full-color photographs that pop against clean white backgrounds . The text is full of user-friendly features and includes basic information, the benefits of which outweigh the occasional awkward illustration or example. The book is designed specifically to prepare readers for the Advanced Placement Chinese Language and Culture Exam or the HSK (the national standardized test for Chinese-language proficiency for non-native speakers); Mandarin learners with at least some background should appreciate this overview. Also included is an online, downloadable, audible pronunciation guide." Booklist

Review Quote

"This logical and accessible guide offers thematic spreads that introduce related vocabulary words and phrases in context. Chinese characters and Hanyu Pinyin romanizations align with crisp, full-color photographs that pop against clean white backgrounds." --Booklist

Details