How to created chinese flashcards on Anki?

[sleepy eyes]

Sorry for my cluelessness. I just started using Anki and would like to created flashcards for the textbook we've been using. It's from BLCU, dunno the name though. It only has a chinese name.

Anyways, what are my options for typing the characters? I thought the program would have some function where you would input the pinyin and it would give you a set of options for the character, which alas it appears not to have, and I still haven't even found a way to input the pinyin in the first place. (Yes, I've downloaded both mandarin plugins.) Is copying and pasting them from somewhere else my only option? It seems very laborious.

And, yes, I'm completely inexperienced in typing Chinese on a pc, be it pinyin or characters.

Anyone care to help? Thanks!

P.s. oh, what a horrible typo in the title, sorry.

[Hugh]

Chinese input is handled by another program that is used everywhere, not by Anki itself. What operating system do yo use? For Windows, I would recommend Google pinyin (http://www.google.com/ime/pinyin/). The installer is all in Chinese but you should be fine just by clicking through it. If you're using Linux, then SCIM is very good (in Ubuntu, run this in terminal: sudo apt-get install scim scim-pinyin).

Once you've got an input program installed, you can start typing Chinese as you described. If you've got the Pinyin toolkit plugin installed in Anki then that will auto-generate readings and colour-codings etc. from Chinese characters.

Good luck and just ask if you need help.

[valikor]

How to type in Chinese: http://www.chinese-forums.com/index.php?/topic/14636-input-methods-for-typing-characters-and-pinyin/

How to add words to Anki:

File || New

Add material

Type in your data (Front/Back) then click "Add"

Pretty easy Lots of info in the documentation about this.

Also, if you want, go to FILE || Download || Shared Plugin

Search for pinyin toolkit, which will make it easier to create cards. Also, you can go to Download || Shared Deck and see if somebody already uploaded the words for your textbook.

David

[jbradfor]

Before you start creating flashcards, however, check whether someone else already created them. If it's at all a commonly used textbooks, odds are someone has.

[JenniferW]

I use Anki for learning Chinese - and it's not too long back that I was at your stage.

My recommendation is to first get your computer set up for typing in Chinese (I used the IME download from Microsoft), and then download one of the applications for typing in pinyin with tones (I use the pinyininput that was first made available through this forum - you'll find it via this forum still).

I would also say check and see if one of the shared anki decks is going to cover what you want - you could save yourself lots of work.

On the other hand, I opted to create my own decks, and have never regretted it. The work involved in getting things worked out, and then adding cards, for me, works as a major part of the learning and memorisation process, in an active, involving sort of way. So don't reject your original idea out of hand.

Maybe try a shared deck first and see how you get on with it? It lets you try out anki without wondering if it's your own deck and the way you've set it up that's causing problems, for example.

[Hugh]

Before you start creating flashcards, however, check whether someone else already created them. If it's at all a commonly used textbooks, odds are someone has.

I think the process of making the flashcards is beneficial for your memory though, and helps you get off to a good start when you go through them.

[sleepy eyes]

Thank you for your prompt responses, guys! I deeply appreciated it.

The english name of the textbook (it's a whole course, actually) is Developmental Chinese, by BLCU. I dislike it quite a bit but, hey, I have to suffer my way through it anyway. I haven't found any decks for it, though. I agree that the just the process of creating the decks is a great study aid in itself, so I'll carry on regardless. Thanks again!

[sleepy eyes]

Oh, I have a further doubt... What do you guys do to improve the standard flashcard model? I mean, instead of just having the character shown and having to guess the pinyin/meaning? Do you mix it, in the same deck, with the inverse model, having the pinyin shown and having to guess the character?

As you do it, how do you test yourself, by mentally drawing the character until it's perfect?

Is there anything else of interest to be done?

Thanks in advance.

[chaiknees]

I have both in one deck. Hanzi --> Pinyin/Translation and Translation --> Hanzi/Pinyin. At least now, as I am at the beginner's stage. I think, at a more advanced stage when you definitely know you will never use a word actively, the recognition card is probably enough.

And I found the following very helpful: I also have the pinyin on the question side of each card, but in white color. Thus, when I know a word could be a synonym (e.g. "to pay" --> 付款 or 付钱) or a hanzi with different pronunciations (e.g. 得 --> dei3, must or de, complement particle), then I can mark the invisible text and see the pinyin to know which answer should be required.

[jbradfor]

I haven't found any decks for it, though.

Is this a list for it?

[sleepy eyes]

It is, thanks! Unfortunately only a few chapters from the Intermediate book (dunno which, it's a huge series with more than one book per level)