Chinese Writing Games

Computer-Aided Games

• Learning to write Chinese characters with computer games is a good way to direct children to spend their computer time in class or at home. These games are also appropriate for teens and adults. PBS Kids features Chinese character matching games, where you match Chinese characters to the correct picture from a choice of five pictures.

  Wielding the mouse as the paintbrush or calligraphy pen is a mind-strengthening and intellectually challenging activity for children of all ages. BBC features a Chinese writing game that demonstrates how to write Chinese characters in the correct order and then instructs you to write the characters using the computer mouse or touchpad.

Multimedia Word

• A game inspired by two traditional Chinese games, the String game and the Pictionary game, is called Multimedia Word. Children are required to recognize a Chinese character and write it based on memory, hints on pronunciation, a photograph or drawing or some other clue. Multimedia Word is played in pairs or team competition. The game utilizes the Internet and text messaging. Each team pre-downloads 20 Chinese letters to the photo storage of the mobile phone from any suitable website containing individual Chinese characters. They also download a picture clue for each word. When the game starts, through text message they send the Chinese character to the opposing team's mobile phone. If the team needs additional help, a picture prompt is sent as a clue. If they still don't guess the meaning of the character, the opposing team sends a written text message clue. After the first team guesses (or fails to guess), the first character, the roles are reversed. Keep score of which team guesses the most characters.

Drumming Strokes

• This game is patterned after a traditional Chinese game. To the rhythm of a drum beat, the children pass a flower from one to the other. When the beat stops (as in musical chairs), the one holding the flower is the one who will draw the first stroke of the Chinese character. Not only do Chinese characters have to be written correctly, but there is a specific order in which a stroke of the character should be made. After one child completes one stroke of the character, the flower is passed again to the beat of the drum. The next child who receives the flower draws the next stroke of the letter.

Numbers and Counting

• Chinese number games can help you to learn to write and recognize Chinese number characters. Children stand in a circle with a dry erase board in the middle of the group. The children toss a small ball one to the other. As they do, they count out the number of tosses that have been made in sequence, 1...2.....3.....4....., in Chinese. If they miss a number or miss the ball, they have to go to the board and draw the character of the number they missed or that they are on when they miss. If someone throws the ball too hard, and the other player misses it as a result, they also have to draw the character number on the board.