What is Chinese characters

you can master hanzi by pratice writing everyday... little by little but have to be consistent :)

Practicing every day with a dedicated Chinese character notebook will help you become a Chinese character master.

you can learn with me。我是中文老师。

I think you should read more Chinese characters, familiarize yourself with Chinese characters visually at first. Usually, the structure of a Chinese character is divided into left and right, top and bottom, semi enclosed, and fully enclosed. Then you need to try writing Chinese characters by hand, and you can find some calligraphy with stroke order to practice.

1. Start with the Basics
Learn Radicals (部首, bùshǒu)
Radicals are the building blocks of characters (e.g., 氵= water, 女= female). Knowing 50–100 common radicals helps you guess meanings and categorize characters.
Example: 妈 (mā, mom) = 女 (female) + 马 (mǎ, horse).

Master Stroke Order
Follow rules like "top to bottom," "left to right." Apps like Skritter or Pleco can teach correct writing.

2. Use Mnemonics & Stories
Associate characters with vivid stories or images:

木 (mù, tree) → Looks like a tree.

休 (xiū, rest) → A person (亻) leaning against a tree (木).
Tools: Books like "Remembering the Hanzi" (Heisig method).

3. Spaced Repetition (SRS)
Use flashcards with apps like:

Anki (custom decks for characters)

HelloChinese (gamified SRS)

Quizlet (pre-made HSK lists)
Tip: Review characters daily in small batches (10–20/day).

4. Contextual Learning
Learn Words, Not Just Characters
Single characters often combine into words (e.g., 电话 = diànhuà, "electric speech" = telephone). Focus on vocabulary.

Read Graded Readers
Start with HSK-leveled (e.g., "Mandarin Companion" series).

5. Practice Writing & Typing
Writing: Keep a journal using characters. Apps like TOFU Learn track progress.

Typing: Use Pinyin input to reinforce recognition (e.g., typing "nǐhǎo" → 你好).

6. Immersion
Watch Shows with Chinese Subtitles (The Untamed, cartoons like Peppa Pig in Chinese).

Label Objects at home with characters (e.g., 门 mén on your door).

Language Exchange (Apps like HelloTalk or Tandem to practice with natives).

7. Tackle Common Challenges
Homophones: Use tone drills (e.g., 是 shì (is) vs. 十 shí (ten)).

Complex Characters: Break them down (e.g., 谢谢 xièxie = "thank" = 讠+ 射).

8. Track Progress
Aim for HSK milestones (e.g., HSK 1 = 150 characters).

Celebrate small wins (e.g., reading a menu without Pinyin).

Tools & Resources
Apps: Pleco (dictionary), DuChinese (reading), Hanping (Android).

Websites: ArchChinese (animations), YellowBridge (character decomposition).

Courses: Coursera (Peking University’s "Chinese for Beginners").

Key Mindset Tips
Consistency > Speed: 15–30 minutes daily beats cramming.

Embrace Mistakes: Even natives forget characters!

Have Fun: Try calligraphy or writing poems.

Example Study Plan:

Morning: Learn 5 new characters + radicals (10 min).

Afternoon: Review Anki deck + write them (10 min).

Night: Read 1 graded reader page (5 min).

With patience and the right methods, you’ll unlock the beauty of 汉字! 加油！(Jiāyóu! — "Keep going!")

Would you like recommendations for your friend’s specific level (beginner/intermediate)? 😊

Maybe u can read preschool literacy picture book？

Practice Writing 8-10 words per day. Write repetitively daily or weekly to remmber what you have learnt. But in here, the most important thing is how to write properly since all the chinese characters have their own significant and systematic drawing. And combining learning the differentiation of radicals, you will memorize their meanings.