Boxi Learn › Chinese › Stage 1 · Observe and Say
Build a character: meaning part + sound part
CN-1 Characters make senseX-1 Guess, then check
What many people think
Every character is a separate picture you just have to memorise.
The idea
In a meaning–sound character, the radical tells you the area of meaning and the phonetic hints at the sound: 青 + 氵/日/目/讠/忄 gives 清 晴 睛 请 情.
Explain it
A friend says Chinese characters are thousands of unrelated pictures. Use 清 and 晴 to show them why not — then give one case where the sound hint does not work.
Try at home
Find five characters with 氵 or 扌 on packets, signs or book covers at home. Guess what each one is about, then check with an adult or a dictionary.