McGraw-Hill's Chinese Illustrated Dictionary: 1,500 Essential Words in Chinese Script and Pinyin lay the foundation of your language learning First Edition

I recommend "McGraw-Hill's Chinese Illustrated Dictionary," which comes close to its claim of covering "1,500 Essential Words in Chinese Script and Pinyin." I'm not convinced the Chinese medicine word "'''" ("cupping method") is truly "essential." And I'm pretty sure I could get through life not knowing "''''" ("black-faced spoonbill"). But most of the words included are quite useful.Amazon's selling this quality full-color hardcover with a CD of MP3 recordings attached inside the back cover (I'm not sure about the recording quality because I haven't used the CD) for under $15. A penny per word seems a bargain.It covers an excellent variety of words (nouns and verbs), categorized well (e.g., "In the hospital" words are on separate pages from "Chinese medicine" words, and restaurant words are divided among "fast-food restaurant," "Western restaurant," "Chinese cuisine" and "snacks at night markets"), each category having its own interesting drawings.For learning purposes, some might prefer each word be right next to its associated picture, but I like this book's approach of separating pictures from the words (linking them only by number) because it lets you quiz yourself by looking at the pictures. The range of words is quite good (e.g., it distinguishes baking, grilling, barbecuing, deep-frying, stir-frying, frying, simmering, boiling, blanching, stewing, and steaming food). The font size is bigger than in some other illustrated dictionaries. And the translations seem good too. Even my Chinese wife has learned a few words from this book. We've long called cupcakes "''" (cake), but the book offers "''," which is probably a better translation. And I appreciate it including some modern words, like "'''''" (LCD monitor).One major weakness is that this dictionary contains no sample sentences. So, it's a great resource for learning Chinese words, but it won't, by itself, teach you basic Mandarin or put those words into context for you.

I was in a rehab center/nursing home for rehab on a broken leg. My roommate, 92-year-old Mr Hsaio,spoke no English, would not acknowledge any Mandarin the staff tried and wouldn't read Mandarin from a dictionary so --- how to communicate. I bought this illustrated dictionary in hopes that pictures (for Mr Hsaio) and Mandarin in phonetic English (for the staff) might bridge the gap. In a way, it did work albeit by way of his wife (some English spoken) and daughter (fluent English) as their daily visits helped connect the staff with his previously indecipherable ailments and complaints. The dictionary pages on medical health and the body were helpful. I only wish there had been more of those pages but the dictionary was really meant for children and/or as an introduction.

I work in a facility where one of the residents speaks only Mandarin Chinese. The other residents have been trying to make him his needs known. So, we ordered this for him and them. The illustrations make it so much easier for people that have difficulty identifying the words. This is an excellent choice.

I primarily use this dictionary to teach my 3-yr old Chinese before she goes to bed. It has lots of common everyday terms and many cute drawings. I first saw this at the local B&N, but they only had one slightly damaged copy. The drawings are simple and almost kids-like. If you are not a native speaker, I think there is a MP3 download available. In fact, it is a great tool for teaching both English and Chinese to young children.

I just received the dictionary 3 days ago and my 3 year old son keeps asking for me to read it to him every night! He absolutely loves all the illustrations and learning how to say the words in Chinese. I was pleasantly surprised. I wasn't expecting it to be so child friendly and with such cute and entertaining illustrations. I don't speak Chinese so i copied the cd that comes with it to my ipod and it helps me with the pronunciation of each word.

I teach Chinese in an elementary school, and this book helps me tons!!I have been searching for a book that is well written and practical for my career, and this book really nail it..It has 1500 words company with pictures, characters, and pinyin. With this book, I would never worry about what to teach next!

If the writing would be bigger.... the letters are too small for glasses wearing people. But besides that and with the right magnifying glass, then everything is fine...

This is a great product. It is well worth the cost. The CD is especially good. It is obvious what Live ABC should do next: Give us the next 1,500 words. Or the next 3,000 words. But this is just too good a start to let it just stop where it is.

There is so much NOT to recommend about this book....Seemingly, whoever compiled the book didn't fully understand the word `essential' in the subtitle.Most of the words consist of pedantic, impractical vocabulary. Example: There is no word for `book', but definitions for `bookcase', `bookend', `book-rack'. Similarly there is no definition for `car', but 18 definitions for musical instruments ranging from accordion to xylophone.One could continue: no definitions in the index for house, kettle (unless you want to call it in colloqial English as an 'electric water boiler'), computer, sitting-room, lounge (of course there is for 'loufah'), table, skin...... ad infinitum. Truly a compendium of useless words.There are so few verbs as to make whatever vocabulary presented near useless.Quite honestly a Berlitz phrasebook from 20 years ago will teach you more - and have better audio quality, better pronunciation (this seems to have some sort of Taiwanese? dialect. Be warned: The accompanying MP3 disc stops half-way thru section 2.....ie. at only 255 words of vocabulary, not before mixing-up the sequence in places as well. Overall, as they would say in Chinese: 'baofei'.But the printing is good....but the wrong paper - glossy unfriendly for penciling notes.

A good way to learn basic words in Mandarin. Shows a picture of the item which helps to remember the word.

Good book with very cute pictures