China Books

'All-Audio Language on the Go - Fast, Fun, Friendly', according to the publisher. And, if you can believe the hype, you can 'speak Chinese today' after partaking in this morsel - instant language, 'just add water and speak', apparently. (For this item please quote stock ID 19793) ISBN: 9780658000560

'This pleasant, unpretentious account [is] a small stream leading to the ocean of the culture of China.' - Scientific American Not a how-to text, this beguiling book is instead a fascinating look at Chinese language and culture. Ranging through history, literature, folklore, linguistics, and sociology, this is a breezy, straightforward primer of surprising breadth. (For this item please quote stock ID 5090) ISBN: 9780393321876

For the business and leisure traveler, the simple-yet-effective Chinese In Plain English will help you find a hotel or the nearest restaurant as you pass through China. Now updated to include the latest additions to the language, it offers you 1,200 essential words and phrases that will get you around the country confidently and without faux pas. The pronunciation system is simple, and, more important, each Chinese phrase is presented in the Roman alphabet, rather than its non-Roman script. (For this item please quote stock ID 15894) ISBN: 9780071482950

[Indent] The Chinese Lexicon is a detailed study of the words and word combinations used in modern Chinese. Yip Po-Ching defines the general properties of a language's lexicon, or vocabulary, prior to a thorough discussion of the organisational features of the Chinese lexicon. Comparisons are made between Chinese and English, highlighting the similarities and differences between the two lexicons. This fascinating work examines the relationships between word and meanings, and demonstrates the ability of language to combine continuity and change. It surpasses the scope of a dictionary and reveals the systematic nature of vocabulary. Features: >A wealth of language examples >Clear comparisons between Chinese & English >Chinese characters & pinyin romanisation throughout >Comprehensive index. The Chinese Lexicon surpasses the scope of a dictionary and reveals the systematic nature of vocabulary. It will prove an invaluable resource for all students and teachers of Chinese. 'The book will be of immense practical and theoretical use to a wide range of readers, from serious intermediate students to specialists' - Forum for Modern Language. 'As a source of exaple words and phrases, and as a concrete, reasoned confirmation of intuitively sensed patterns and correlations Dr. Yip's meticulous analysis is enormously helpful, and teachers of Chinese will be particularly grateful that throughout the text the Chinese characters (in simplified form) are given for every romanised expression' - Hugh Baker, China Quarterly. (For this item please quote stock ID 21363) ISBN: 9780415151740

'Delightfully engaging ... this book contains a wealth of hard facts about Chinese.' -Canadian Journal of Linguistics 'DeFrancis's book is first rate. It entertains. It teaches. It demystifies. It counteracts popular ignorance as well as sophisticated (cocktail party) ignorance. Who could ask for anything more? There is no other book like it. ... It is one of a kind, a first, and I would not only buy it but I would recommend it to friends and colleagues, many of whom are visiting China now and are adding 'two-week-expert' ignorance to the two kinds that existed before. This is a book for everyone.' - Joshua A. Fishman, research professor of social sciences, Yeshiva University, New York 'Professor De Francis has produced a work of great effectiveness that should appeal to a wide-ranging audience. It is at once instructive and entertaining. While being delighted by the flair of his novel approach, the reader will also be led to ponder on some of the most fundamental problems concerning the relations between written languages and spoken languages. Specifically, he will be served a variety of information on the languages of East Asia, not as dry pedantic facts, but as appealing tidbits that whet the intellectual appetite. The expert will find much to reflect on in this book, for Professor DeFrancis takes nothing for granted.' - William S.Y. Wang, professor of linguistics, University of California at Berkeley John DeFrancis, Emeritus Professor of Chinese at the University of Hawai'i, graduated from Yale in 1933 and immediately departed for China to pursue his interests. In three years of study and travel, he covered over 4,000 miles in Northwest China and Mongolia, across the Gobi Desert, and down the Yellow River, immersing himself in grassroots contact with the language and people. Upon his return to the United States, DeFrancis earned his M.A. and Ph.D. from Columbia University. He has taught at several institutions nationwide. Dr. DeFrancis is the author of dozens of articles and books on spoken and written Chinese, among them a widely used 12-volume set of educational materials and Visible Speech: The Diverse Oneness of Writing Systems (UH Press, 1989). (For this item please quote stock ID 6366) ISBN: 9780824810689

Each chapter in this book is made up of three sections. The first section contains scenarios one may encounter due to cultural differences, e.g., a state of confusion, misunderstanding or conflict. The second section is cultural tips. The third section provides some useful expressions.
This book is characteristic of its witty and interesting scenarios, simplified knowledge of some complicated cultural background, rich and colorful expressions. It's like a handy textbook combined with novelty and humor. (For this item please quote stock ID 31015) ISBN: 9787802004917

Each chapter in this book is made up of three sections. The first section contains scenarios one may encounter due to cultural differences, e.g., a state of confusion, misunderstanding or conflict. The second section is cultural tips. The third section provides some useful expressions.
This book is characteristic of its witty and interesting scenarios, simplified knowledge of some complicated cultural background, rich and colorful expressions. It's like a handy textbook combined with novelty and humor. (For this item please quote stock ID 31171) ISBN: 9787802004924

Much more than a set of flashcards, the BuilderCards are uniquely designed to help students build their Chinese vocabulary by understanding how groups of words are related.

Research on second-language acquisition has proven that learning groups of associated words is the fastest way to build vocabulary. Using a carefully sequenced order, students will learn about 700 head words plus more than 2,000 associated words that are linguistically, semantically and pedagogically related to the head words, and build mnemonic connections that will help them recall definitions and interpret unfamiliar words from context.

The structure of the cards allows for a wealth of information, including part of speech, English definition, and pinyin, plus information on radicals and numbers of strokes. This thoroughly designed set will give students confidence as they prepare to take the HSK, SAT II Chinese, AP Chinese, or other Chinese proficiency tests.

Features
>Contains 768 head words selected through a statistical analysis of their use in seven standard beginning-level textbook series and the HSK (standard test of Chinese for foreign speakers) word list.
>Teaches a total of 2,894 vocabulary words.
>Each card includes a head word, chosen by the frequency of appearance in seven widely-used Chinese textbooks, pinyin, English definition, radical information, and number of strokes.
>The face of each card includes a key to the chapter or section in each of the seven textbook series in which the character is introduced for quick reference.
>Cards are numbered sequentially based on dictionary order by pinyin romanization. Users may use indices to re-sort the BuilderCards according to their own textbook order and determine how to prioritize the importance of each word in their study.
>A 62-page companion booklet includes a pedagogical introduction, study guide, suggested learning strategies, an index of all words by card number and frequency, and an index to where each word appears in the seven publications.
>Available in simplified or traditional characters with pinyin.

(For this item please quote stock ID 29854) ISBN: 9780887276972

(For this item please quote stock ID 13979) ISBN: 9787800521485

This book aims to help students learn Chinese more efficiently. Chinese Made Super Easy enables students to learn Chinese through a systematic, easy and effective method. It can be used as a textbook or for self-study, and is suitable for all ages. Contents include vocabulary, basic and extended sentences, phrases, and questions. The Grammar chapter, for example, illustrates the basic differences between the structure of Chinese and English grammar, while the Hanyu Pinyin chapter briefs the learner on the structure of hanyu pinyin. Beginners are encouraged to follow a number of steps: 1. Learn 100-200 words 2. Get familiar with basic sentences, phrases & questions 3. Proceed to extended sentences. Contents: >Grammar >Hanyu Pinyin >Basic Sentences >Basic Phrases >Extended Sentences >Questions >Common questions >Common sentences/phrases >Vocabulary 'Detailed, yet not too deep to make you yawn in boredom. Fresh approach in style, teaching the basics of Chinese language, and more. In a nutshell, an easy to understand guide for anyone! - , Secondary 2 student, CHIJ Katong Convent, Singapore. 'This book is very good. It helps you learn Chinese easy and fast. It is very interesting!' - Jeremy Toh, Primary 2 student, Yu Neng Primary School, Singapore. Joscelyn Quek graduated from Queen's University, Canada, and has many years of experience teaching Chinese to students of all ages. She currently lives and teaches in Singapore. (For this item please quote stock ID 24095) ISBN: 9789810502782

The best-selling student's guide for over 25 years, featuring the simplified characters most commonly used today, with traditional forms also listed. Features: >The Student's 1,067 Character List >All 3,000 "frequently used" characters as well as the foundation characters for the HSK test >Clear definitions and over 3,000 combinations >Standard Hanyu Pinyin romanization >Memorization hints and stroke-order guides >Charts of modern and traditional radicals. (For this item please quote stock ID 10750) ISBN: 9780804835091