As you learn about Chinese calligraphy, you also need to learn to read and write the Chinese script. Doing so, however, is particularly challenging. A Chinese character, compared to the alphabet, does not signify a letter but rather a sound and its meaning as well.

There are several possibilities that would help you learn to read and write Chinese characters as easy and convenient as possible.

Character cards

If you are taking a course on Chinese language, your teacher would suggested or given you large character cards for you to learn the scripts. Each card contains a single large character on the front and the how it is pronounced as well as its meaning at the back. Carry these cards with you and refer to them whenever you have a moment.

Dictionaries

Purchase a good Chinese dictionary to broaden your comprehension on Chinese characters. Make sure that the script should not be too small that you need to strain your eyes. Also, it is best to read the dictionary at a well-lit room and consider reading it with a large magnifying glass.

Online

The Internet has a resource full of fun and interactive ways to learn the Chinese characters.

A web page at CSULB.edu (California State University, Long Beach) features software where you can view all the characters, which are sorted according to its first letter in pinyin, as well as an animated slideshow on how each character is written on a stroke-by-stroke basis.

Sonicnovel.com, meanwhile, provides animated clips that provide information on how Chinese characters come about as well as how to create new characters and compound words.

Minmm.com provides helpful information and tools on how to write Chinese characters on a blank graph provided. You can also look through a list of helpful web sites that teaches Chinese characters.