Chinese Deciphered

Mandarin Chinese etymology and mnemonics.

Chinese Deciphered is a quick reference for understanding Chinese characters and words.

The app uniquely deconstructs Chinese characters and words down to their simplest components, providing a clear link between each component, with memory aids provided for every word and character.

The app includes:

★ Chinese character etymology – character history shown by tracing each character's origin, development and relationships.

★ Character mnemonics – character learning memory aids.

★ Word and character decomposition – words and characters are dissected down to their simplest components.

★ Simplified and traditional Chinese – familiarity with traditional Chinese is essential for proper understanding of simplified characters.

★ Ancient forms of characters – this helps in following the original thinking.

★ Chinese history and culture, where this relates to understanding words and characters.

★ Stroke order – the correct way to write each character.

★ Phonetic inheritance – how characters inherit their sounds from their components.

The app:

★ Is unique – it is the result of more than seven years of ongoing research.

★ Is concise, yet comprehensive – it is designed as a quick reference tool.

★ Is continuously updated and improved.

★ Works offline.

The free version:

★ Contains 933 entries, including all of the HSK level 1 vocabulary (HSK v2.0 and v3.0, simplified and traditional Chinese).

The premium version:

★ Currently contains 7719 entries, with more words and characters added on a continual basis.

★ Includes extensive additional information.

★ Proceeds from the upgrade fund our ongoing research on Chinese etymology.