Tips:

Only way to learn Chinese characters is to memorize them, practice writing a character on paper until you remember it. Start from easy ones, which also include all strokes, for example, 一(one), 十(ten), 中(middle), 山(mountain), 上(above), 火(fire), 河(river), 入(enter).

Rather than writing one word many times before doing next one, write each word once or twice then go through whole list again until you've done required number of repetitions. This will reinforce new words more firmly in your memory.

Read Chinese newspapers, booklets and books found at your local library or Chinese market

Watch movies or TV programs with Chinese subtitles, it is a great way to learn Chinese speaking and writing at same time in a simulated real-life scenario.

Use post-it notepaper to write down characters and stick them on objects you are about to learn.

Write vocabulary words using index or flash cards on one side with definition on other side.

Use your imagination by linking shape of new word by first glancing to something you are familiar with. Play vocabulary by creating a 3-column vocabulary sheet with characters, pinyin, and English definitions. Fold paper with only one or two columns showing and then take practice written tests.

After a while, you will notice that many characters have elements in common, either related to meaning or pronunciation. Note common elements and use them to help you remember new characters.

Take advantage of free learning Chinese resources online. If you can memorize about 1,000 - 2,000 characters, you will feel comfortable with reading and writing modern Chinese.

Step IV: Grammar?

Learn basic grammar, but try not to worry and be constrained by rules. After all, languages are spoken as a way to express meaning.

The basic grammar elements are almost identical with different languages; however, sequence may be different. Pay particular attention to differences and practice on them.

The most important points on learning new foreign languages:

Don't be afraid to make mistakes. Being self-conscious can be an obstacle in learning a language. Remember, most people are willing to helping you rather than laughing at you.

Don't be discouraged by difficulties at first attempt. Practice, practice, and practice! you will be amazed by your own progress!

Be persistent. Allocate a set time on studying and follow schedule. Studying a little every day is more effective than studying for a long period at once.

Rosie From Learn Chinese Language Online (http://www.learn-chinese-language-online.com)

The goal of Learn Chinese Language Online (LCLO) is to reduce the Mandarin Learning curve, promote and introduce the most efficient way to grasp the broad foundation of Chinese language.

A phonetic compound consists of a semantic radical and a phonetic radical, semantic radical indicates its semantic field and phonetic radical its pronunciation.

The meaning component of semantic-phonetic compound Chinese character is also called 'radical'. For example, ' 足 ' is a popular Chinese radical that means 'foot'. The meanings of those characters that contain this radical are related to 'foot' in a certain way.

The phonetic component indicates at least part of sound. Characters that contain same phonetic component tend to have similar sounds.

For example, for character ' 跳' ( jump ), right part ' 兆' indicates sound. They share same vowel.

Phonetic Loans

The phonetic loan is another way of using existing characters. It is an internal borrowing on basis of pronunciation: a character is used in a new meaning which is expressed by a similar sound in spoken form. In this way an existing character has acquired a new meaning, but no new character is created.

For example, character自in Oracle-Bone Inscriptions was originally pictograph and referred to nose, but it is now used in sense of "self" as a result of phonetic loan. The character 来 in Oracle-Bone Inscriptions was also a pictograph, referring to wheat, but is now used in sense of "come" as a phonetic loan.

Rosie From Learn Chinese Language Online (http://www.learn-chinese-language-online.com)

The goal of Learn Chinese Language Online (LCLO) is to reduce the Mandarin Learning curve, promote and introduce the most efficient way to grasp the broad foundation of Chinese language.