A study of pictographs in Shuowen Jiezi and their application to the teaching of modern Chinese characters

Figure 1.

Figure 2.

Figure 3.

Figure 4.

Figure 5.

Delay post-test situation

	Memorize word		Fill in the blank		Word interpretation		Word extension
Experimental group B	13	32.5%	28	70%	21	52.5%	17	42.5%
Control group	12	30%	17	42.5%	18	45%	15	37.5%

Test results of experimental group A after one day of teaching

Score range	Level	Number of people	Proportion
Below 70 points	A	29	72.5%
70 to 90 points	B	9	22.5%
More than 90 points	C	2	5%

Test results of experimental group B after teaching for one day

Score range	Level	Number of people	Proportion
Below 70 points	A	12	30%
70 to 90 points	B	21	52.5%
More than 90 points	C	7	17.5%

Results of pictographic word classification

	Global pictograph	Partial pictograph	Conjoined pictograph
Pictographic characters	75	0	10
Characters depicting the shape of object	25	10	9
Characters resembling object	17	0	6
Characters composed of component with a depiction of object	6	0	2
Characters combining component and the pictorial form of object	3	0	4
Characters derived from component with pictographic attributes	7	0	0

Test results of experimental group B after one week of teaching

Score range	Level	Number of people	Proportion
Below 70 points	A	7	17.5%
70 to 90 points	B	20	50%
More than 90 points	C	13	32.5%

Pre-test situation

	Memorize word		Fill in the blank		Word interpretation		Word extension
Experimental group	22	27.5%	18	22.5%	19	23.75%	23	28.75%
Control group	10	25%	9	22.5%	11	27.5%	11	27.5%

Test results of experimental group A after one week of teaching

Score range	Level	Number of people	Proportion
Below 70 points	A	23	57.5%
70 to 90 points	B	15	37.5%
More than 90 points	C	2	5%

Real-time post-test situation

	Memorize word		Fill in the blank		Word interpretation		Word extension
Experimental group B	26	65%	34	85%	29	72.5%	38	95%
Control group	22	55%	25	62.5%	27	67.5%	23	57.5%