How to learn to read and write Chinese characters (Part 1)

Get your free guide - The 10 Biggest Mistakes Beginners in Chinese Make ...and How You Can Avoid Them http://bit.ly/1QrHjBp This two part video series introduces how to approach learning to read and write Chinese characters, types of characters, how they are put together and answers some common questions. Basic guidelines for writing Chinese characters http://www.oxfordlanguagedictionaries.com/view/Document.html?filename=/oldo/resources/zh/writing-chinese-characters.pdf Radicals (the basic components that make up characters) http://www.archchinese.com/arch_chinese_radicals.html http://www.ctcfl.ox.ac.uk/Lang%20work/Radicals/Strokes&Radicals.htm (some simple examples) Character etymologies (break down of how they are put together) http://www.archchinese.com http://www.yellowbridge.com/chinese/character-dictionary.php http://www.zhongwen.com Stroke order animations (how to write demos for each character) http://www.archchinese.com http://www.nciku.com/ downloadable software packages (wenlin, dimsum) Most frequently used Chinese characters http://www.zein.se/patrick/3000char.html Reading and learning tools http://pinyin.sogou.com/ (pinyin input method for typing in chinese. To download, click the big green button in the middle of the website. Install is in Chinese but keep pressing next to move through the install. When installed, you can activate it with CTRL-Space) http://www.wenlin.com/ (excellent software for learning chinese, mouseover dictionary, character breakdowns, stroke order demos etc) DIMSUM software: http://www.mandarintools.com/dimsum.html (reading aid and dictionary, free software) http://ankisrs.net/ (flashcard software for testing yourself vocab or characters) http://www.pleco.com/ (excellent dictionary for iphone, ipad, android) http://www.skritter.com/ (character learning for iphone) Books For Character Learning (Just some examples) http://www.amazon.co.uk/Chinese-Characters-Learn-Remember-Meanings/dp/0982232403/ref=pd_cp_b_1 http://www.amazon.co.uk/Remembering-Simplified-Hanzi-Meaning-Characters/dp/0824833236/ref=zg_bs_713674_58 Textbooks (again, just a few of my choices) http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mastering-Chinese-complete-beginners-Languages/dp/0230200559/ref=pd_sim_b_2 http://www.amazon.co.uk/Complete-Mandarin-Chinese-Book-Pack/dp/0340958944/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1325507793&sr=8-1 Beijing Language and Culture University Press - New Practical Chinese Reader (Series)