What Are the Chinese Characters?

Chinese can be considered challenging to learn due in large part to its relatively unique and, some might argue, visually complex scripts. The basic unit of the Chinese orthographic system is the Chinese character. To master Chinese characters, learners need to establish connections between their graphic (the shape), semantic (the meaning), and phonetic (the sound) forms right from the beginning of learning. Recognizing how Chinese characters differ in terms of lines, shapes, and overall form is a necessary component of learning Chinese characters.