Printing error on this set of cards, February 27, 2006
　

Vol. 2 of Chinese in a Flash (flashcards) has a printing error. The top of the front of the cards is the same edge as the top of the back of the cards. This means you cannot "flip" the card by holding it on the side to read the back of the card. Vol. 1 of this set is printed correctly so you you can flip them by holding the side of the card. This makes it a real pain when trying to mix cards from both sets. Tuttle Publishing realizes this problem and corrected cards will be available the end of April 2006. Tuttle may be contacted for an excahnge if you already have the misprinted second set. Otherwise these cards have been useful to me when used with the asociated books in my study of Chinese characters.

EXCELLENT TOOL FOR ADVANCED STUDENTS, November 18, 2005
　

First, I would like to say that i'm really happy with my purchase.

I bought the cards vol1 and vol2 by amazon, both are great, excellent price-value, and exceeded my expectations.

Second, this cards are not for begginers, are not to learn by yourself, you have to know pinyin and have some formal instruction before use this cards, in particular with volume 2, that introduces more complicated symbols .

Third, can help you with simplified chinese and traditional.
Fourth, each card include valuable information as:

1.-Meaning
2.-Pinyin
3.-Radical
4.-Chinese Proverb or expression that use that word in pinyin/hanzi/english.-
5.-3 or 4 common words that includes the symbol (pinyin/hanzi/english)


However, the volume 2 doesn't include the order of the strokes.
Volume 1 includes the order. I have no idea the volumes why are different, or i received and older version of volume 2, but for me it's the only lack of this cards.-

Finally, the cards are in package that has the shape of a book. That it's great to carry the cards everywhere.
This it's important for me because i used other cards before and the box was a nightmare, every day the box opened in my purse, and i have to order de 500 cards by number again.

I totally recommend this volume.

Sincerely

Carolina from the south of the world

PD: Sorry for my english, i speak spanish and some chinese

do not buy, December 23, 2004
　

The cards offer sentences in chinese and english with no clue on which words mean what. For example 'I was busy last wednesday' allegedly equals 'shang xingqisan wo you shir' but it doesn't teach you anything... 'last wednesday I was [literally 'have'] busy' would be a bit more informative and accurate. Since they do not tell you the meaning of the words, and also do not provide a dictionary, you can only learn from the cards if your Chinese is pretty good (or if you plan to learn a language by learning sentences without knowing what the words mean, a really ridiculous premise, but I have seen tourist language books like that before). I speak some Chinese but not enough by far to use these cards.

Useful Tool for Learning Chinese Characters, October 30, 2004
　

Since I have both "Chinese in a Flash" and "Chinese Character Flashcards 888" flashcard sets, I wanted to offer a comparison between the two.

Flashcards 888 are organized in the order of frequency of use of characters; Chinese in a Flash are arranged in the order of frequency and complexity. Someone learning Chinese language is more likely to encounter characters in the order presented in Chinese in a Flash cards.

Flashcards 888 are of a sturdier quality than Chinese in a Flash cards.

Both are approximately the same size.

Both have radicals mentioned. On Flashcards 888, radicals are provided in the upper right corner on the front of the card; on Chinese in a Flash cards, beside the radical is also noted the name of the character as well as character components.

On Flashcards 888, you'll also find a stroke order, helpful to know when you practice writing characters; Chinese in a Flash cards, do not provide a stroke order.

Both sets also mention several character combinations, together with their pronounciation in pinyin and the meaning in English.

Chinese in a Flash also provide a sample sentence where the particular character / word is used; Flashcards 888 don't.

Flashcards come in one set of 888 cards; Chinese in Flash come in two sets of 448 cards.

I am very happy with both sets and enjoy using them both.