My preemptive strike on the HSK

New goal added to my list of goals: Learn 3,000 characters (no easy task)


When people are hungry they eat. Drawing simply from that statement one could arrive at the natural conclusion that one eats because one doesn't wish to feel hunger anymore. I am hungry in the sense that I want to learn 3,000 characters during my stay here because I don't want to be illiterate in Chinese.

How do I go about quelling such a feeling? Well, much like a person with hunger wouldn't stuff an entire hamburger in their mouth, I can't cram 3,000 characters into my brain en bloc. I can't even cram 1,500, half of the burger, into my brain all at once. I need to take smaller bites, I need to input smaller bytes, I must chew.

The reason I'm aiming for around 3,000 characters is because I plan on sitting for the HSK in about 8 months time, and the entire exam is written in characters, no pinyin or English (NOTE: I've done some research on the exam and material one would have to know in order to place at a level in which I'd be be satisfied with, and at the pace I'm going and with the variety in how/what I focus my study time on, I'm not sure where I'd be nor how ready I'd be for what the test focuses on. For this very reason I've decided to be proactive and attack early-on with a plan, something with a bold and solid number). So I've done the math: 3,000 characters in 8 months would necessitate me learning about 13 - 14 new characters daily, to be up around 3,000 by exam time. Trust me this is still no easy feat, however in comparison, it is markedly easier than letting the mind run amuck contemplating such a seemingly impossible task of knowing, let alone learning, 3,000 characters.

Will I really be able to learn 13-14 characters a day, consecutively, for 8 months?
"Shoot for the moon, and even if you miss you'll land amongst the stars."

A question that I got hung up on for a couple of seconds, until a concept my Uncle Michael introduced me to over the summer, sprung to mind. Although I can't remember the specific vocabulary he used while explaining it to me, and as a result am unable to explain it as eloquently and articulately as he could, I do have a firm grasp on the concept he taught me.


In order to not get discouraged about progress, especially if things aren't going exactly at the rate you had planned, it is most important to give recognition to the things you have accomplished. For example, say I have an extensive list of things I hope to get done, and throughout the day I am bombarded with little interruptions and when its all said and done I can still cross quite a few items off the list, but not every single one. Should I be discouraged because I didn't reach my goal? No. The unforeseen things that sprung up throughout the day that had to be taken care of, took away from the things I had planned to do, yes, but also added to the list many accomplished tasks. Seeing as how I chose to take care of the things that were unexpected shows that these pressing matters were equal if not of more importance, it stands to be reasoned that in actuality, I accomplished quite a lot, if not more than what was expected. So at the end of the day there is cause to applaud, a right to feel good about all I've done, and not to despair over what I didn't accomplish. I should make another list of all the unexpected things that I had accomplished during the course of that day and cross them off. Work is work, affirm what you've done, don't negate your efforts; instead of thinking negatively, think positively.


Although I'm not going to write down every little thing I do here in China, having familiarity of this concept is quite beneficial to the mind. It brings to light the fact that even if I don't master 13 -14 characters daily, in my quest to reach my goal, I am learning and doing many other things that indirectly will help me reach my ultimate goal of doing well on the HSK. I need to be independent of the fact that I'm picking up many unaccounted characters every day, a new radical I just learned will be shared with quite a few other characters down the road, I'm learning things every time I walk down the street and analyze different signs. What about that time I went out with my Chinese friend's and asked about a few characters here and there, or all the characters I learned watching subtitled movies, etc, you get the idea. So here's the nitty gritty - it's very useful to be mindful of the unplanned accomplishments you make everyday. So congratulate yourself, keep hope, with the right attitude you really will achieve your planned goal(s). Our thoughts and motivation levels are static in nature, and easy to manipulate, why not live smarter and stay positive in all we do.



Special thanks to Uncle Michael, for always being a passionate teacher.