Vocabulary
Vocabulary size depends on how characters, morphemes, words, and fixed expressions are distinguished. This chapter shifts attention from totals to recognition, retrieval, and use.
Are learners counting characters, words, or usable ability?
A Character Is Not a Word
Knowing 1,000 Chinese characters does not tell us how many words we understand. To interpret vocabulary numbers responsibly, we must first identify the unit, the language system, the target skill, and the measurement method.
9 min read→
Recognition First, Production Later
Beginners often hear Chinese as an unbroken stream and struggle to use words they already recognize. Both experiences point toward a more selective approach to vocabulary, listening, and active production.
10 min read→