Learning Mandarin Words Quick(ly)

怎么记住汉字记得很快
Zěnme jìzhù hànzi jì de hěn kuài
How to learn Chinese words quickly.

For the HSK 3 (The official Chinese proficiency test) I have to learn 600 of these. I’m at about 550 at this point—But I still have a good way to go.

For some reason, though, in the past week my comprehension has exploded. A professor was late for a class, and in those fifteen minutes I pulled out my vocabulary-to-learn list and started copying characters. Kept at it on and off through class. By the end of the class I had learned (by heart) about 8 new characters!

So I’ve started to use this new technique and it’s worked amazingly.

1. Write down (pinyin/character) the words you’re learning.

2. Write the Hanzi/Pinyin in black, and the corresponding English in red.

3. Put each new word in a Chinese sentence.

4. Rest your eyes and mind for a moment. Come back to the words every few minutes, repeating, solidifying the words in your mind.

It’s worked wonders. The HSK 3 in May. I hope I’ll be ready. Any other aspiring Chinese-speakers care to share quick-learning secrets?