Decoding the Chinese Language: Characters and Calligraphy

Find out how ancient Chinese people created Chinese characters and developed various artistic writing styles with this interactive online course.

Duration

4 weeks

Weekly study

2 hours

100% online

How it works

Unlimited subscription

Learn more

Embark on a journey through the modern standard Chinese language

This four-week course will take you on a deep dive into the modern standard Chinese language, helping you learn Chinese by developing your language skills.

You’ll discover Putonghua, the official Mandarin dialect, using engaging video lectures designed to unravel the complexities of this fascinating language.

By immersing yourself in authentic Chinese culture, you’ll dive deeper into the Chinese language, understanding and appreciating the art that reflects the worldviews of ancient Chinese civilisations.

Experience the rich history behind Chinese script

You’ll start by exploring the rich history behind Chinese script, unpacking its transformations over millennia.

​​By understanding the evolution from ancient symbols to contemporary characters, you’ll gain valuable insights into the world’s most intricate writing system. This course equips you to explain how ancient Chinese people created these characters and how they have evolved into today’s modern forms.

Master the methods of forming Chinese characters

As you delve into the logical methodologies behind forming Chinese characters, you’ll engage with educational videos, participate in quizzes, and discover a traditional Chinese folk song.

These activities not only enhance your understanding but also ensure you retain more information, building a strong foundation for future language acquisition.

Gain hands-on experience in Chinese calligraphy

You’ll learn to craft beautiful characters using dynamic techniques. This hands-on approach enables you to develop basic skills in writing Chinese while connecting with its cultural roots.

By the end of the course, you’ll be confident in explaining the creation and evolution of Chinese characters and ready to identify and appreciate various artistic styles in Chinese calligraphy.

  • Week 1

    Overview of Modern Standard Chinese

    • Watch the mini-lecture: Overview of Putonghua

      Why was the term Putonghua (common speech) introduced to replace the term Guoyu (national language)? Wanna learn about a fun tongue-twister in which every word is pronounced the same with only the tones differing?

    • Introduction to Pinyin

      Learn about the phonetic symbols for Chinese characters (the system to transcribe Mandarin Chinese sounds into a Latin alphabet).

    • Share your thoughts and feelings

      Why are you interested in the Chinese language?

  • Week 2

    Historical Development of Chinese Script

    • Watch the mini-lectures

      Historical development of Chinese script

    • Watch the video about Chinese oracle-bone inscriptions

      Made by New China TV

    • Suggested reading

      "More Than You Want To Know About Simplified Characters"

  • Week 3

    Methods of Forming Chinese Characters

    • Watch the mini-lectures

      Four main methods of forming the Chinese characters: pictographic, ideographic, semantic-semantic compound, and semantic-phonetic compound.

    • Suggested reading

      Learn more about the radicals of the Chinese characters

    • Sing along!

      Learn to sing the Chinese traditional folk song Mo Li Hua (Jasmine Flower)

  • Week 4

    Chinese Calligraphy

    • Watch the mini-lectures

      Tools used for Chinese calligraphy; styles of Chinese calligraphy.

    • Suggested readings

      Technique and the eight different kinds of strokes in Chinese calligraphy

More courses you might like

Learners who joined this course have also enjoyed these courses.

©2025  onlincourse.com. All rights reserved