Author: Philip Yungkin Lee
Publisher: Tuttle Publishing
ISBN: 1462911927
Category : Foreign Language Study
Languages : en
Pages : 680
Book Description
This is an invaluable study guide for learning basic Chinese characters. 250 Essential Chinese Characters Volume 1 is a completely revised second edition with 50 percent new material. Featuring a new design; tips for mastery throughout; exercises in AP-exam format; progressive review sections; and several indices, this volume is a crucial learning tool for anyone interested in the Chinese language and a great way to learn Chinese characters. Master each character's radical, stroke count and meaning. Grow in proficiency by learning compound words. Example sentences show how to use them in context. Review activities reinforce your learning progress. Helpful writing guides and practice grids for every character. After studying this book together with its companion, 250 Essential Chinese Characters, Volume 2, you'll have learned 500 of the most important characters in Chinese, and thousands of words in which they appear. Whether you're new to Chinese or coming back for review, each of these 250 characters offers you ways to improve your abilities to read Chinese and write Chinese.
250 Essential Chinese Characters Volume 1
Author: Philip Yungkin Lee
Publisher: Tuttle Publishing
ISBN: 1462911927
Category : Foreign Language Study
Languages : en
Pages : 680
Book Description
This is an invaluable study guide for learning basic Chinese characters. 250 Essential Chinese Characters Volume 1 is a completely revised second edition with 50 percent new material. Featuring a new design; tips for mastery throughout; exercises in AP-exam format; progressive review sections; and several indices, this volume is a crucial learning tool for anyone interested in the Chinese language and a great way to learn Chinese characters. Master each character's radical, stroke count and meaning. Grow in proficiency by learning compound words. Example sentences show how to use them in context. Review activities reinforce your learning progress. Helpful writing guides and practice grids for every character. After studying this book together with its companion, 250 Essential Chinese Characters, Volume 2, you'll have learned 500 of the most important characters in Chinese, and thousands of words in which they appear. Whether you're new to Chinese or coming back for review, each of these 250 characters offers you ways to improve your abilities to read Chinese and write Chinese.
Publisher: Tuttle Publishing
ISBN: 1462911927
Category : Foreign Language Study
Languages : en
Pages : 680
Book Description
This is an invaluable study guide for learning basic Chinese characters. 250 Essential Chinese Characters Volume 1 is a completely revised second edition with 50 percent new material. Featuring a new design; tips for mastery throughout; exercises in AP-exam format; progressive review sections; and several indices, this volume is a crucial learning tool for anyone interested in the Chinese language and a great way to learn Chinese characters. Master each character's radical, stroke count and meaning. Grow in proficiency by learning compound words. Example sentences show how to use them in context. Review activities reinforce your learning progress. Helpful writing guides and practice grids for every character. After studying this book together with its companion, 250 Essential Chinese Characters, Volume 2, you'll have learned 500 of the most important characters in Chinese, and thousands of words in which they appear. Whether you're new to Chinese or coming back for review, each of these 250 characters offers you ways to improve your abilities to read Chinese and write Chinese.
Learning Mandarin Chinese Characters Volume 1
Author: Yi Ren
Publisher: Tuttle Publishing
ISBN: 1462919138
Category : Foreign Language Study
Languages : en
Pages : 286
Book Description
Reinforce your written Chinese with this practice book for the best-selling Tuttle Learning Chinese Characters. Learning Mandarin Chinese Characters helps students quickly learn the essential Chinese characters that are fundamental to the language. This character workbook presents 178 Chinese characters and over 534 standard words using these characters. It is intended for self-study and classroom use and includes the characters and words students need to know if they plan to take the official Chinese government HSK Level 1 Exam or the Advanced Placement (AP) Chinese Language and Culture Exam. Each character is presented plainly and transparently. A step-by-step diagram shows how to write the character, and boxes are provided for freehand writing practice. The meaning and pronunciation are given along with the critical vocabulary compounds and an example sentence. Review exercises reinforce the learning process, and an index at the back allows you to look up the characters according to their English meanings or romanized Hanyu Pinyin pronunciation. Key features of this Chinese workbook include: Designed for HSK Level 1 and AP exam prep Learn the 178 most essential Chinese characters Example sentences and over 534 vocabulary items Step-by-step writing diagrams and practice boxes
Publisher: Tuttle Publishing
ISBN: 1462919138
Category : Foreign Language Study
Languages : en
Pages : 286
Book Description
Reinforce your written Chinese with this practice book for the best-selling Tuttle Learning Chinese Characters. Learning Mandarin Chinese Characters helps students quickly learn the essential Chinese characters that are fundamental to the language. This character workbook presents 178 Chinese characters and over 534 standard words using these characters. It is intended for self-study and classroom use and includes the characters and words students need to know if they plan to take the official Chinese government HSK Level 1 Exam or the Advanced Placement (AP) Chinese Language and Culture Exam. Each character is presented plainly and transparently. A step-by-step diagram shows how to write the character, and boxes are provided for freehand writing practice. The meaning and pronunciation are given along with the critical vocabulary compounds and an example sentence. Review exercises reinforce the learning process, and an index at the back allows you to look up the characters according to their English meanings or romanized Hanyu Pinyin pronunciation. Key features of this Chinese workbook include: Designed for HSK Level 1 and AP exam prep Learn the 178 most essential Chinese characters Example sentences and over 534 vocabulary items Step-by-step writing diagrams and practice boxes
250 Essential Chinese Characters Volume 2
Author: Philip Yungkin Lee
Publisher: Tuttle Publishing
ISBN: 1462911935
Category : Foreign Language Study
Languages : en
Pages : 673
Book Description
This is an invaluable study guide for learning Chinese characters. More than a simple update, 250 Essential Chinese Characters Volume 2 offers 250 more characters in the extremely useful learning format that learners and teachers alike continue to praise. Following in the footsteps of Volume 1, it includes everything that today's learners and teachers want: tips for Chinese language mastery throughout; special exercises in AP-exam format; progressive review sections; and several indexes. Master each character's radical, stroke count and meaning. Grow in proficiency by learning compound words. Example sentences show how to use them in context. Review activities reinforce your leaning progress. Helpful writing guides and practice grids for every character. After studying this book together with its companion, 250 Essential Chinese Characters, Volume 1, you'll have learned 500 of the most important characters in Chinese, and thousands of words in which they appear. Whether you're new to Chinese or coming back for review, each of these 250 characters offers you ways to learn Chinese and improve your abilities to read Chinese and write Chinese.
Publisher: Tuttle Publishing
ISBN: 1462911935
Category : Foreign Language Study
Languages : en
Pages : 673
Book Description
This is an invaluable study guide for learning Chinese characters. More than a simple update, 250 Essential Chinese Characters Volume 2 offers 250 more characters in the extremely useful learning format that learners and teachers alike continue to praise. Following in the footsteps of Volume 1, it includes everything that today's learners and teachers want: tips for Chinese language mastery throughout; special exercises in AP-exam format; progressive review sections; and several indexes. Master each character's radical, stroke count and meaning. Grow in proficiency by learning compound words. Example sentences show how to use them in context. Review activities reinforce your leaning progress. Helpful writing guides and practice grids for every character. After studying this book together with its companion, 250 Essential Chinese Characters, Volume 1, you'll have learned 500 of the most important characters in Chinese, and thousands of words in which they appear. Whether you're new to Chinese or coming back for review, each of these 250 characters offers you ways to learn Chinese and improve your abilities to read Chinese and write Chinese.
250 Essential Japanese Kanji Characters Volume 1
Author: Kanji Text Research Group Univ of Tokyo,
Publisher: Tuttle Publishing
ISBN: 1462912583
Category : Foreign Language Study
Languages : en
Pages : 518
Book Description
"This is the best kanji book available today. Designed for beginners with a basic knowledge of Japanese to use in the classroom on for self-study."--Modern Language Journal Everyday tasks like finding a street address or buying a train ticket can be an ordeal in Japan if you don't read kanji-the system of Japanese writing based on Chinese characters. A group of teachers from the prestigious University of Tokyo have pooled their talents to create 250 Essential Japanese Kanji Characters in two volumes: a practical way to learn the kanji most frequently used in daily life in Japan. Each lesson helps you master a new group of kanji, using an extremely effective approach that focuses on you, the learner, taking an active part. Introductory Quizzes introduce everyday situations where you encounter kanji. Vocabulary sections help you understand the readings and meanings of the kanji. New Character Charts teach you new kanji systematically—for each character you'll learn its meanings, its basic on-kun readings, its stroke order, common compounds, and derivations. Practice sections help you improve your skills in recognizing and using the kanji. Advanced Placement Exam Practice Questions for each lesson follow the format of the College Boards Japanese Language and Culture examination.
Publisher: Tuttle Publishing
ISBN: 1462912583
Category : Foreign Language Study
Languages : en
Pages : 518
Book Description
"This is the best kanji book available today. Designed for beginners with a basic knowledge of Japanese to use in the classroom on for self-study."--Modern Language Journal Everyday tasks like finding a street address or buying a train ticket can be an ordeal in Japan if you don't read kanji-the system of Japanese writing based on Chinese characters. A group of teachers from the prestigious University of Tokyo have pooled their talents to create 250 Essential Japanese Kanji Characters in two volumes: a practical way to learn the kanji most frequently used in daily life in Japan. Each lesson helps you master a new group of kanji, using an extremely effective approach that focuses on you, the learner, taking an active part. Introductory Quizzes introduce everyday situations where you encounter kanji. Vocabulary sections help you understand the readings and meanings of the kanji. New Character Charts teach you new kanji systematically—for each character you'll learn its meanings, its basic on-kun readings, its stroke order, common compounds, and derivations. Practice sections help you improve your skills in recognizing and using the kanji. Advanced Placement Exam Practice Questions for each lesson follow the format of the College Boards Japanese Language and Culture examination.
Essential Chinese
Author: Philip Yungkin Lee
Publisher: Tuttle Publishing
ISBN: 9780804842426
Category : Foreign Language Study
Languages : en
Pages : 208
Book Description
This portable, user–friendly Chinese language guide, phrasebook and dictionary is the cheapest and easiest way to learn Chinese before and during your trip. If you only want one Chinese language book—Essential Chinese is the way to go. Part of Tuttle Publishing's Essential Phrasebooks Series, it is a great first introduction and beginner guide to the language of China and Taiwan and is also designed as a great Chinese phrasebook, making it the most versatile Chinese language learning tool on the market. Perfect for business people or tourist traveling to China or for students who want to supplement their learning, this book's easy indexing feature allows it to act as a Mandarin phrase book or as English–Chinese Dictionary. A clever "point to" feature allows you to simply point to a phrase translated in Chinese without the need to say a single word or read a single character. You will soon find yourself turning to Essential Chinese again and again when visiting or working in China. In this book you will find: Over 1500 practical sentences for everyday use. A glossary of over 2000 terms and expressions. Terms and phrases covering essential aspects of traveling and living in China. Extensive information about Chinese grammar and pronunciation. This beginner Chinese book will help you quickly and easily learn Chinese. Your ability to read Chinese, write Chinese, speak Chinese, and comprehend Chinese will be vastly improved without having to take an entire Chinese language class. Other titles in this bestselling series of phrasebooks include: Essential Japanese, Essential Arabic, Essential Korean, Essential Tagalog, and Essential Arabic.
Publisher: Tuttle Publishing
ISBN: 9780804842426
Category : Foreign Language Study
Languages : en
Pages : 208
Book Description
This portable, user–friendly Chinese language guide, phrasebook and dictionary is the cheapest and easiest way to learn Chinese before and during your trip. If you only want one Chinese language book—Essential Chinese is the way to go. Part of Tuttle Publishing's Essential Phrasebooks Series, it is a great first introduction and beginner guide to the language of China and Taiwan and is also designed as a great Chinese phrasebook, making it the most versatile Chinese language learning tool on the market. Perfect for business people or tourist traveling to China or for students who want to supplement their learning, this book's easy indexing feature allows it to act as a Mandarin phrase book or as English–Chinese Dictionary. A clever "point to" feature allows you to simply point to a phrase translated in Chinese without the need to say a single word or read a single character. You will soon find yourself turning to Essential Chinese again and again when visiting or working in China. In this book you will find: Over 1500 practical sentences for everyday use. A glossary of over 2000 terms and expressions. Terms and phrases covering essential aspects of traveling and living in China. Extensive information about Chinese grammar and pronunciation. This beginner Chinese book will help you quickly and easily learn Chinese. Your ability to read Chinese, write Chinese, speak Chinese, and comprehend Chinese will be vastly improved without having to take an entire Chinese language class. Other titles in this bestselling series of phrasebooks include: Essential Japanese, Essential Arabic, Essential Korean, Essential Tagalog, and Essential Arabic.
Tuttle Learning Chinese Characters
Author: Alison Matthews
Publisher: Tuttle Publishing
ISBN: 146290128X
Category : Foreign Language Study
Languages : en
Pages : 388
Book Description
This user-friendly book is aimed at helping students of Mandarin Chinese learn and remember Chinese characters. At last--there is a truly effective and enjoyable way to learn Chinese characters! This book helps students to learn and remember both the meanings and the pronunciations of over 800 characters. This otherwise daunting task is made easier by the use of techniques based on the psychology of learning and memory. key principles include the use of visual imagery, the visualization of short "stories," and the systematic building up of more complicated characters from basic building blocks. Although Learning Chinese Characters is primarily a book for serious learners of Mandarin Chinese, it can be used by anyone with interest in Chinese characters, without any prior knowledge of Chinese. It can be used alongside (or after, or even before) a course in the Chinese language. All characters are simplified (as in mainland China), but traditional characters are also given, when available. Key features: Specially designed pictures and stories are used in a structured way to make the learning process more enjoyable and effective, reducing the need for rote learning to the absolute minimum. The emphasis throughout is on learning and remembering the meanings and pronunciations of the characters. Tips are also included on learning techniques and how to avoid common problems. Characters are introduced in a logical sequence, which also gives priority to learning the most common characters first. Modern, simplified characters are used, with pronunciations given in pinyin. Key information is given for each character, including radical, stroke-count, traditional form, compounds, and guidance on writing the character. This is a practical guide with a clear, concise and appealing layout, and it is well-indexed with easy lookup methods. The 800 Chinese characters and 1,033 compounds specified for the original HSK Level A proficiency test are covered.
Publisher: Tuttle Publishing
ISBN: 146290128X
Category : Foreign Language Study
Languages : en
Pages : 388
Book Description
This user-friendly book is aimed at helping students of Mandarin Chinese learn and remember Chinese characters. At last--there is a truly effective and enjoyable way to learn Chinese characters! This book helps students to learn and remember both the meanings and the pronunciations of over 800 characters. This otherwise daunting task is made easier by the use of techniques based on the psychology of learning and memory. key principles include the use of visual imagery, the visualization of short "stories," and the systematic building up of more complicated characters from basic building blocks. Although Learning Chinese Characters is primarily a book for serious learners of Mandarin Chinese, it can be used by anyone with interest in Chinese characters, without any prior knowledge of Chinese. It can be used alongside (or after, or even before) a course in the Chinese language. All characters are simplified (as in mainland China), but traditional characters are also given, when available. Key features: Specially designed pictures and stories are used in a structured way to make the learning process more enjoyable and effective, reducing the need for rote learning to the absolute minimum. The emphasis throughout is on learning and remembering the meanings and pronunciations of the characters. Tips are also included on learning techniques and how to avoid common problems. Characters are introduced in a logical sequence, which also gives priority to learning the most common characters first. Modern, simplified characters are used, with pronunciations given in pinyin. Key information is given for each character, including radical, stroke-count, traditional form, compounds, and guidance on writing the character. This is a practical guide with a clear, concise and appealing layout, and it is well-indexed with easy lookup methods. The 800 Chinese characters and 1,033 compounds specified for the original HSK Level A proficiency test are covered.
250 Essential Chinese Characters Volume 1
Author: Philip Yungkin Lee
Publisher: Tuttle Publishing
ISBN: 9780804840354
Category : Foreign Language Study
Languages : en
Pages : 368
Book Description
This is an invaluable study guide for learning basic Chinese characters. 250 Essential Chinese Characters Volume 1 is a completely revised second edition with 50 percent new material. Featuring a new design; tips for mastery throughout; exercises in AP-exam format; progressive review sections; and several indices, this volume is a crucial learning tool for anyone interested in the Chinese language and a great way to learn Chinese characters. Master each character's radical, stroke count and meaning. Grow in proficiency by learning compound words. Example sentences show how to use them in context. Review activities reinforce your learning progress. Helpful writing guides and practice grids for every character. After studying this book together with its companion, 250 Essential Chinese Characters, Volume 2, you'll have learned 500 of the most important characters in Chinese, and thousands of words in which they appear. Whether you're new to Chinese or coming back for review, each of these 250 characters offers you ways to improve your abilities to read Chinese and write Chinese.
Publisher: Tuttle Publishing
ISBN: 9780804840354
Category : Foreign Language Study
Languages : en
Pages : 368
Book Description
This is an invaluable study guide for learning basic Chinese characters. 250 Essential Chinese Characters Volume 1 is a completely revised second edition with 50 percent new material. Featuring a new design; tips for mastery throughout; exercises in AP-exam format; progressive review sections; and several indices, this volume is a crucial learning tool for anyone interested in the Chinese language and a great way to learn Chinese characters. Master each character's radical, stroke count and meaning. Grow in proficiency by learning compound words. Example sentences show how to use them in context. Review activities reinforce your learning progress. Helpful writing guides and practice grids for every character. After studying this book together with its companion, 250 Essential Chinese Characters, Volume 2, you'll have learned 500 of the most important characters in Chinese, and thousands of words in which they appear. Whether you're new to Chinese or coming back for review, each of these 250 characters offers you ways to improve your abilities to read Chinese and write Chinese.
Learning Mandarin Chinese Characters Volume 2
Author: Yi Ren
Publisher: Tuttle Publishing
ISBN: 1462919235
Category : Foreign Language Study
Languages : en
Pages : 266
Book Description
Reinforce your written Chinese with this practice book for the best-selling Tuttle Learning Chinese Characters. Learning Mandarin Chinese Characters helps students quickly learn the essential Chinese characters that are fundamental to the language. This character workbook is intended for self-study or classroom use and presents 135 high-frequency characters and over 405 prevalent words using these characters. These are the characters and words students need to know if they plan to take the official Chinese government HSK Level 2 Exam or the Advanced Placement (AP) Chinese Language and Culture Exam. Each character is presented in a straightforward way. A step-by-step diagram shows how to write the character and boxes are provided for freehand writing practice. The meaning and pronunciation are given along with the key vocabulary compounds and an example sentence. Review exercises reinforce the learning process, and an index at the back allows you to look up the characters according to their English meanings or romanized Hanyu Pinyin pronunciation. Key features of this Chinese workbook include: Designed for HSK Level 2 and AP exam prep Learn the 135 most written Chinese characters Example sentences and over 405 vocabulary items Step-by-step writing diagrams and practice boxes
Publisher: Tuttle Publishing
ISBN: 1462919235
Category : Foreign Language Study
Languages : en
Pages : 266
Book Description
Reinforce your written Chinese with this practice book for the best-selling Tuttle Learning Chinese Characters. Learning Mandarin Chinese Characters helps students quickly learn the essential Chinese characters that are fundamental to the language. This character workbook is intended for self-study or classroom use and presents 135 high-frequency characters and over 405 prevalent words using these characters. These are the characters and words students need to know if they plan to take the official Chinese government HSK Level 2 Exam or the Advanced Placement (AP) Chinese Language and Culture Exam. Each character is presented in a straightforward way. A step-by-step diagram shows how to write the character and boxes are provided for freehand writing practice. The meaning and pronunciation are given along with the key vocabulary compounds and an example sentence. Review exercises reinforce the learning process, and an index at the back allows you to look up the characters according to their English meanings or romanized Hanyu Pinyin pronunciation. Key features of this Chinese workbook include: Designed for HSK Level 2 and AP exam prep Learn the 135 most written Chinese characters Example sentences and over 405 vocabulary items Step-by-step writing diagrams and practice boxes
250 Essential Chinese Characters Volume 2
Author: Philip Yungkin Lee
Publisher: Tuttle Publishing
ISBN: 9780804840361
Category : Foreign Language Study
Languages : en
Pages : 0
Book Description
This is an invaluable study guide for learning Chinese characters. More than a simple update, 250 Essential Chinese Characters Volume 2 offers 250 more characters in the extremely useful learning format that learners and teachers alike continue to praise. Following in the footsteps of Volume 1, it includes everything that today's learners and teachers want: tips for Chinese language mastery throughout; special exercises in AP-exam format; progressive review sections; and several indexes. Master each character's radical, stroke count and meaning. Grow in proficiency by learning compound words. Example sentences show how to use them in context. Review activities reinforce your leaning progress. Helpful writing guides and practice grids for every character. After studying this book together with its companion, 250 Essential Chinese Characters, Volume 1, you'll have learned 500 of the most important characters in Chinese, and thousands of words in which they appear. Whether you're new to Chinese or coming back for review, each of these 250 characters offers you ways to learn Chinese and improve your abilities to read Chinese and write Chinese.
Publisher: Tuttle Publishing
ISBN: 9780804840361
Category : Foreign Language Study
Languages : en
Pages : 0
Book Description
This is an invaluable study guide for learning Chinese characters. More than a simple update, 250 Essential Chinese Characters Volume 2 offers 250 more characters in the extremely useful learning format that learners and teachers alike continue to praise. Following in the footsteps of Volume 1, it includes everything that today's learners and teachers want: tips for Chinese language mastery throughout; special exercises in AP-exam format; progressive review sections; and several indexes. Master each character's radical, stroke count and meaning. Grow in proficiency by learning compound words. Example sentences show how to use them in context. Review activities reinforce your leaning progress. Helpful writing guides and practice grids for every character. After studying this book together with its companion, 250 Essential Chinese Characters, Volume 1, you'll have learned 500 of the most important characters in Chinese, and thousands of words in which they appear. Whether you're new to Chinese or coming back for review, each of these 250 characters offers you ways to learn Chinese and improve your abilities to read Chinese and write Chinese.
Chinese Stories for Language Learners
Author: Vivian Ling
Publisher: Tuttle Publishing
ISBN: 1462922279
Category : Foreign Language Study
Languages : en
Pages : 260
Book Description
The highly anticipated next book in Tuttle's Stories for Language Learners series is here! This book presents 22 classic Chinese proverbs and the traditional tales behind them. The stories are bilingual, with the Chinese and English versions presented on facing pages. Each includes an explanation of how the proverb is used today, cultural notes, vocabulary and discussion questions. Online audio recordings of the tales by native speakers give students a chance to improve their pronunciation and comprehension. Some of the proverbs featured in this collection include: "Painting the Eyes on the Dragon" Based on the story of a famous court painter in 6th century China who painted dragons, this proverb refers to the finishing touches needed to bring a work of art or literature to life. In a discussion, it refers to the final statements used to clinch the argument. "Waiting for Rabbits by a Tree Stump" Based on an ancient folktale about a foolish farmer who sees a rabbit kill itself in front of him by running into a tree stump, then gives up tilling his field to wait for more rabbits by the stump. This saying is applied to people who wait passively for luck to strike again. It also refers to impractical people who stick to one way of doing things only because it has worked for them once in the past. "Pure Water Has No Fish; Perfect People Have No Friends" Many versions of this historical tale exist. The one told here is about a 2nd century AD official sent to govern a far-flung outpost on the Silk Road who is fastidious in applying strict rules and thereby causes the local people to rebel against him. In the professional world, it is used to refer to people who do not like to work with an overly strict supervisor or colleague. Whether being used in a classroom or for self-study, Chinese Stories for Language Learners provides an educational and entertaining way for intermediate Mandarin learners to expand their vocabulary and understanding of the language.
Publisher: Tuttle Publishing
ISBN: 1462922279
Category : Foreign Language Study
Languages : en
Pages : 260
Book Description
The highly anticipated next book in Tuttle's Stories for Language Learners series is here! This book presents 22 classic Chinese proverbs and the traditional tales behind them. The stories are bilingual, with the Chinese and English versions presented on facing pages. Each includes an explanation of how the proverb is used today, cultural notes, vocabulary and discussion questions. Online audio recordings of the tales by native speakers give students a chance to improve their pronunciation and comprehension. Some of the proverbs featured in this collection include: "Painting the Eyes on the Dragon" Based on the story of a famous court painter in 6th century China who painted dragons, this proverb refers to the finishing touches needed to bring a work of art or literature to life. In a discussion, it refers to the final statements used to clinch the argument. "Waiting for Rabbits by a Tree Stump" Based on an ancient folktale about a foolish farmer who sees a rabbit kill itself in front of him by running into a tree stump, then gives up tilling his field to wait for more rabbits by the stump. This saying is applied to people who wait passively for luck to strike again. It also refers to impractical people who stick to one way of doing things only because it has worked for them once in the past. "Pure Water Has No Fish; Perfect People Have No Friends" Many versions of this historical tale exist. The one told here is about a 2nd century AD official sent to govern a far-flung outpost on the Silk Road who is fastidious in applying strict rules and thereby causes the local people to rebel against him. In the professional world, it is used to refer to people who do not like to work with an overly strict supervisor or colleague. Whether being used in a classroom or for self-study, Chinese Stories for Language Learners provides an educational and entertaining way for intermediate Mandarin learners to expand their vocabulary and understanding of the language.