Mandarin Chinese Picture Dictionary

Mandarin Chinese Picture Dictionary covers the 1,200 most useful Mandarin Chinese words and sentences. Each word and sentence is provided in Chinese characters with Hanyu Pinyin pronunciation and an English definition.

The words are grouped into 37 themes or topics. Each theme contains 25 to 35 words and 5 to 8 sentences, richly illustrated with colour photographs. A free CD includes audio recordings by native Mandarin speakers of all the vocabulary and sentences.

A brief introduction to Chinese pronunciation and tones is included, with indexes at the back allowing quick reference to any of the words or characters in the book.

Learning to speak, read, and write Mandarin Chinese can be daunting 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 romanisations align with crisp, full-colour photographs that stand out against clean white backgrounds.

The text is user-friendly and provides basic information, with benefits that outweigh the occasional awkward illustration or example. The book is specifically designed to prepare readers for the Advanced Placement Chinese Language and Culture Exam or the HSK (the national standardised test for Chinese-language proficiency for non-native speakers). Mandarin learners with at least some background should find this overview helpful. Also included is an online, downloadable, audible pronunciation guide.

— Booklist