Here is a practical example of using the Tools on this site.
First, type in or copy the text or web site you want to work on:
Note: Double-click on Image if it is too small. Also make sure you have downloaded and installed the free MBDG Reader – see link in Windows Resources!!!!!
This is Youdou – the Chinese equivalent of Youtube
Note MBDG gives you a translation as soon as you put the mouse over it.
Then use MBDG to translate/pronounce the Mandarin.
Open up the MDBG Reader, and Right-Click for options – in this case, to Breakdown the word and to get its Etymology.
Open up MBDG Reader
Click on History. This will bring up the words, MBDG has translated.
After you have clicked on History – its at the bottom left on the screen
Choose your characters – click or double click.
Choose the characters you need info on.
With your mouse over the word, right click for more options – pronunciation etc. – in this case choose “breakdown”
This will breakdown the character into its radical and phonetic if it is in the MBDG database, which u can edit on the Professional version.
Then, copy the text – choose copy +, which unfortunately also copies the URL – and u have to edit. And then go to CantoDict and paste to see the equivalent Cantonese and Mandarin pronunciation of the characters – i.e. Jyatping and Pinyin.
Copy and paste character into Cantodict
Make sure you choose Chinese Character
Choose Chinese Character in first Column before hitting search.
This will give you more info and especially the Cantonese pronunciation vs the Mandarin. If you click on the LINK ON THE LEFT OF THE CHARACTER, it gives you a list of more Characters with the same radicals and compound words.
Results of search – Cantonese vs Mandarin pronunciation.
Other options results:
Compound words.
And finally, if you want to learn to write or practice writing the Character, use Skritter. If you don’t have an account – u can bypass this restriction by using NCIKU’‘s links.
Paste the character into NCIKU search button:
Result of search in NCIKU
Choose the character:
Notice the box on the right – Stroke Order.
If you click on Stroke Order, a NEW WINDOW pops up. Note that it is a small window and if your browser is not set to show it immediately, it could be easily missed in the background!!!!
Pop-up Window after hitting Stroke Order on NCIKU.
If you look closely at the bottom of the window, you will see a link to Skitter.
After you hit – Practice on Skritter.
And finally, notice the “Lookup” link on the extreme right of the Skritter screen – a Goldmine lies there – including Etymology of the word and the explanation of each “Meaning Radical” and how to write it!!!!
The Goldmine in Skritter.
At this point, we have the Character for the Pinyin and the strokes required to write it, but what about homophemes and phonemes – i.e. the similar sounding Pinyin with slightly different tones, and therefore different meanings and Characters. To double check on that and to learn all the more common homophemes, let’s use the online dictionary at CLEARCHINESE.COM:
http://www.clearchinese.com/chinese-english-dictionary.htm
20 Homophemes of “wang”
Page 2.of 20 Homophemes returned by CEDIT of “wang”
http://www.clearchinese.com/chinese-english-dictionary.htm
AS STATED, THIS ROUNDABOUT LEARNING METHOD WAS NECESSITATED BY PREVIOUS KNOWLEDGE OF HAKKA AND CANTONESE AND DEFICIENCIES IN MANDARIN/PINYIN AND CHINESE CHARACTERS. THIS RESULTED IN MY RESEARCHING ALTERNATE METHODS TO BYPASS THE RIGOROUS ROUTINE AND ROTE LEARNING OF OTHER ESTABLISHED WEB SITES AND LEARNING PROGRAMS – FOCUSING ON COMMON BACKGROUND OF THE DIALECTS AND HENCE CHINESE CHARACTERS. IT’S MY PECULIAR ROUTINE, BUT I FIND IT A LOT MORE INTERESTING AND PERTINENT – TYPICAL OF MOST SOUTH AFRICAN BORN CHINESE WHO NEGLECTED THEIR CHINESE LANGUAGE BACKGROUND. I HOPE IT MAKES SENSE FOR OTHERS AND HELPS THEM IN THEIR QUEST TO RE-CONNECT TO THEIR CHINESE ROOTS. A SITUATION BECOMING MORE RELEVANT WITH CHINA’S ROLE IN AFRICA AND SPECIFICALLY SOUTH AFRICA’S INVOLVEMENT IN BRICS.