Learn the essential Mandarin Chinese characters and words in everyday use in China! Anyone planning to learn Chinese knows that there are 300 primary characters they must learn to function in China. This systematic introduction to Mandarin is designed to help you learn them fast along with how to pronounce, write, and remember 1,200 key vocabulary words and phrases. Essential for anyone wishing to pass the official Chinese government HSK Level 1 and 2 proficiency exam or the Advanced Placement (AP) Chinese Language and Culture Exam, Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters, Volume 1 presents these 300 characters in a series of very simple and easy lessons in which: The characters are grouped into themes with a warm-up narrative for each character Each character's pronunciation and meanings in combination with other characters are presented Exercises to practice recognizing the characters and using the vocabulary are provided Writing guides show you how to write each correctly Includes easy access to online native speaker audio recordings and free, printable flashcards.