Understanding Chinese Characters by Their Ancestral Forms
Understanding Chinese Characters by Their Ancestral Forms by Gam Go is a comprehensive resource published by Simplex Publications in 1995. This third edition spans 128 pages and is presented in English. The book focuses on the principal unit of Chinese characters, known as the Radical, which provides the general meaning of each character. It organizes 5,000 characters alphabetically according to the English names of their Radicals, making it a valuable tool for those studying the Chinese language.
Readers will find that the book highlights the significance of 27 simple Radicals, which can help in recognizing over 3,000 characters, accounting for about 60% of commonly used Chinese. A Rapid Access Index allows for quick identification of characters through a second writing unit, with a total of 214 writing units explained based on their ancestral forms. Additionally, the dictionary includes both simplified and romanized (Pinyin) forms of the characters currently used in the People’s Republic of China, making it an essential reference for language learners and educators alike.
Official synopsis Publisher
The principal unit of a Chinese character, called the Radical (RADIX-root), gives the general meaning of the character. Most of the time, it is placed on the left-hand side of the character. The 5,000 characters are arranged ALPHABETICALLY according to the English names of their Radicals. Mr. Go (author of “Understanding Chinese Characters by Their Ancestral Forms”) found that over 3,000 characters (about 60%) can be found knowing only 27 simple, easy-to-recognize Radicals (such as Man, Hand, Mouth, Water, Tree). A Rapid Access Index allows the user to have immediate access to the character by recognizing a second writing-unit. There are 214 writing-units in total & their English meanings are explained on the basis of their ancestral forms. The dictionary also contains the SIMPLIFIED & ROMANIZED (so called “PINYIN”) forms of the characters now officially being used in the People’s Republic of China. This is certainly a book that should be on the shelf of the reference section of all libraries. Phone orders accepted: (415) 564-5494.
FAQ
What is “Understanding Chinese Characters by Their Ancestral Forms” about?
Who is the author of “Understanding Chinese Characters by Their Ancestral Forms”?
When was “Understanding Chinese Characters by Their Ancestral Forms” published?
What is the ISBN for “Understanding Chinese Characters by Their Ancestral Forms”?
What are the book details (language, pages, edition)?
