Introduction to Pleco - 1

Now, I would like to introduce you to one of the application that I find useful in assisting my learning/teaching Mandarin journey.

You might have found something else that works for you all this while, but, there is always good to have a back-up app, just in case, another one is under maintenance or decide to start charging users for full access. We never know, right?

I'm introducing you to Pleco! It is quite comprehensive and what makes it even better, it works without internet connection!  Of course, to get it on your phone, you need a working internet connection.

On your phone, the app will be represented by its blue logo with traditional Chinese character for Fish

The only drawback from the app is that you have to know English. But, if you are reading this, I don't think it is an issue for you. :)

Here how the app can help people like you and me in learning Mandarin:

1. Enriching our vocabularies

Language is defined as a method of communication, either spoken or written, consisting of the use of words in a structured and conventional way. Do you see the word "words"? Yup! We have to know the words before we are able to form a sentence, properly structured sentences.

And luckily, Pleco can help us with that.

2. Practicing our pronunciation with the help of Chinese Phonics provided

I always suggest begginers who can already read and write fluently in any other language (thus, toddler and kids under the age of 7 who are learning Mandarin as a second language are Excluded), to master Hanyu Pinyin. It is the phonics in Chinese. It uses some of the alphabets like what we learn in English, Bahasa Indonesia and many other languages, with slight modifications of course. It is closer to Bahasa Indonesia spelling than English. So, Indonesian speaking friends, don't you dare say "I can't speak Chinese because I am no Chinese." No excuse! We will be introduced to this later on, as our first lesson.

The good thing about Pleco is that it provides you with Hanyu Pinyin for every character that it has. So, need not worry about not being able to read the words that it shows you, because it comes with phonics! The next best thing, when you are in doubt whether or not you read the phonics right, the app has the following feature...

3. Audio! Getting the pronunciation Right.

Other than acting as a translator, the app is also equipped with audio support that will read for you the words/phrases that it translates. 

So, what I suggest people to do before playing the audio is: to read the phonics provided on your own and then compare to the pronunciation that is available in the audio feature. If you get it right, you know your pinyin has improved and before you know if you don't have to play the audio anymore. Because, it does take a few seconds to load. 

4. Use of Words in Phrases/Sentences

It is not rare where one Chinese words have more than one meaning and a thing can be described with several Chinese words/phrases. There are even times when one characters are read differently depending on the usage and the meaning in the sentence. Most of the time, words with similar meaning are often interchangeable, but at times, we have to decide the best words to describe a situation to avoid confusion. And... the sample sentences given are the best in helping us with that!

Best of all, the sentences come with audio features too, so there is a recorded native speaker that will read to you the whole sentences!

5. Getting to know the construction of the character

Chinese characters are constructed with strokes that is best if written in the correct order, systematically. Many times, people who study Chinese as their second language, are introduced to the Chinese characters that have less strokes (e.g. 一， 二，三，人，口） and from there it evolves. For me, it is important to master the basic, why? because most of those difficult characters are actually the combination of several basic characters. E.g 硙 (ai) = 石 (shi） + 岂 （qi) ，if you want to break it down further this qi / kai 岂 = 山 + 己  

More to come about the construction of a word. Unfortunately, strokes order is not available in the 'free' version of Pleco. But that's fine, because we have another app/site that can help us at this. :)

That's Pleco in general. Next post I will show you how to use it for your benefit.

Have you get Pleco on your phone?

Sincerely,

Linda Tan