Reading and Writing Chinese has been the standard text for foreign students and teachers of the Chinese Writing System since Tuttle first published it over 20 years ago. This new, completely revised edition offers students a more convenient, efficient, and up-to-date introduction to the writing system.
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About the Author
William McNaughton has taught at Hong Kong's City University since 1986. He is the author of numerous books and journal articles on Chinese literature and language.
Li Ying teaches at Hong Kong University.
Li Ying teaches at Hong Kong University.
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Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By Kate M.
Format:Paperback
This book doesn't mess around- it presents the important characters and how to write them in a logical, organized, format. Too many books out there are not straightforward enough; you are constantly flipping through the pages, wondering where you saw a certain character or bit of information. This rational book has my highest reccomendation.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By Tarra
Format:Paperback
I bought this book when I began taking Chinese in college and it is the most indispensible book I own. Now that I am living in Taiwan I use it regularly to do my own independent studying. The best part is the stroke-count index where if you don't know the name of a character, you can count the strokes and look it up. They also give a chart of the stroke orders and the format is very easy to use. A lot of foreigners in Taiwan sing the praises of this book. If you are serious about studying Mandarin, this is the best tool you will ever find.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By David M
Format:Paperback
I don't want to understate my enthusiasm for this book -- but buy it. It's cheap and extraordinarily valuable. I use this book in combination with my Mandarin II class, Pimsleur Mandarin, and other dictionaries (especially the Harbaugh one -- different and complementary). So WHY is this so great? Learning characters, for me, is not easy (I know about 300-400 at this point). What appears to be complex combinations of strokes are actually combinations of simpler structures. This book organizes the pieces of characters (in big, readable type) and their related parts and actually makes them easier to learn. Most dictionaries just give the meaning, this gives origins and commonalities. The citations refer to pictogram origins, sound loans, and radical inclusion (the basic 1000 are given stroke by stroke for the most part). Some characters (even traditional) have different forms (little stroke variations) and McNaughton explains that in part. Each character is given with a selection of related combinations derived from the main character. Both traditional and simplified characters are included in each citation.
The book is inexpensive and helps me. The Harbaugh book is incredibly more thorough, relates characters to others, but doesn't explain the relationships within characters. I have both, and as a first year student, the McNaughton book is more helpful in learning characters and their relationships. As I get more advanced, Harbaugh's book is becoming more valuable. But McNaughton's book is pure fun.
On the down side, I wish there were an English index. There are stroke-count, character, and Pinyin indices.
Take a look at this historically valuable handbook, and see if you don't agree.
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Go to Amazon.com to see all 57 reviews
4.2 out of 5 stars
Most recent customer reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
A useful tool for the beginner
A number of people have complained that the title of this book is misleading and that they bought it under the impression that this book was a course in the Chinese language. Read more
Published on Nov 25 2010 by C. J. Thompson
3.0 out of 5 stars
A good supplement
This is NOT a dictionary. The book is really a collection of some 2000 characters with their English equivalents or close English equivalents. Read more
Published on May 1 2004
2.0 out of 5 stars
BEWARE - NOT AN INSTRUCTION BOOK
This book is akin to a dictionary. It is NOT an instructional book. From reading the other amazon comments, I was under the impression that I could learn chinese from self-study of... Read more
Published on Jan 3 2004 by Mike
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great
This book is perfect for those of you who are interested in learning Chinese characters and how to write them. Read more
Published on April 26 2003 by Michael J. Dudrich
3.0 out of 5 stars
Just okay
This book is okay and it is actually very similar to one of Rita Choy's books,however I feel that Rita Choy's book is much better organized and has more information. Read more
Published on Jan 23 2003 by Jeff Jacobson
4.0 out of 5 stars
Useful for Learners
McNaughton's 'Reading and Writing Chinese' remains a very useful guide for learners attempting to acquire literacy in Chinese. Read more
Published on Nov 25 2002 by "radagasty"
4.0 out of 5 stars
Very Useful!
It contains soo many characters that I am not sure where to start but it certainly a good reference book. I found it very useful and resourceful.
Published on Nov 5 2002
2.0 out of 5 stars
not a fan
as an advanced chinese student I dont like this thing. i cant articulate why, but it isnt cool. I like "Chinese ABC computerized" much better.
Published on Sep 23 2002 by Nick
4.0 out of 5 stars
Very useful
I'm learning Mandarin and I can really say this has been more than a big help. Apart from telling you how to 'draw' the character, it works as a dictionary, and it also gives you a... Read more
Published on May 29 2002 by Cristián A. Gaymer
3.0 out of 5 stars
Frustrating errors in edition I have been using
This book is a compact and useful guide to writing characters. However, its pronunciation guide is frequently wrong!!! Read more
Published on Mar 26 2002 by Bart Motes
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