This Mandarin picture dictionary covers the 1,200 most useful Mandarin Chinese words and sentences. Each word and sentence is given in Chinese characters with Hanyu Pinyin pronunciation and English definition. The words are grouped into 37 themes or topics. Each theme has 25 to 35 words and 5 to 8 sentences and is richly illustrated with colour photographs. A free CD contains audio recordings by native Mandarin speakers of all the vocabulary and sentences. A brief introduction to Chinese pronunciation and tones is included, and indexes at the back allow you to quickly look up any of the words or characters in the book. "Learning to speak, read, and write Mandarin Chinese is a daunting task for many English speakers. This logical and accessible guide offers thematic spreads that introduce related vocabulary words and phrases in context.

Chinese characters and Hanyu Pinyin romanizations align with crisp, full-color photographs that pop against clean white backgrounds . The text is full of user-friendly features and includes basic information, the benefits of which outweigh the occasional awkward illustration or example. The book is designed specifically to prepare readers for the Advanced Placement Chinese Language and Culture Exam or the HSK (the national standardized test for Chinese-language proficiency for non-native speakers); Mandarin learners with at least some background should appreciate this overview. Also included is an online, downloadable, audible pronunciation guide." Booklist.