Chinese Compound Words: Build Vocabulary from Characters
Much of Chinese vocabulary is built from two-character compounds. See how 电, 车 and 学 unlock families of words, and where literal meanings mislead.
Topic: Components
Chinese Radicals and Their English Root Equivalents
A reference list of 20 common Chinese radicals paired with English roots of similar meaning, from hydro- to manu-, with example characters and pinyin.
Chinese Radicals Work Like English Word Roots
Chinese radicals work a lot like English word roots such as aqua- and manu-. See how components help you guess meanings, and where the analogy breaks down.
Chinese Phonetic Components: Guess How Characters Sound
Learn how Chinese phonetic components work, with real families like 青, 马 and 包, so you can guess how many new characters are pronounced.
How Chinese Characters Are Built: A Beginner's Guide
Chinese characters are not random drawings. Learn the four ways characters are built from smaller parts, and why learning components makes them easier to remember.
How to Learn Chinese Characters as an English Speaker
A practical plan for how to learn Chinese characters as an English speaker: components, character families, sound hints, writing, spaced review, and a sample week.
Confusing Chinese Radicals: Parts That Look the Same
Learn the confusing Chinese radicals that look alike but mean different things: flesh vs moon, left vs right 阝, 礻 vs 衤, and fire dots. Tips included.