Based on the HSK Dynamic Composition Corpus, this book relates and classifies the Chinese words that are similar in pronunciation, form, meaning, or class. The similar words thus related are compared with the similar error words and target words in interlanguage; based on the number of occurrences of the similar error words and target words in interlanguage, an estimation is made regarding the possibility of students using these similar Chinese words confusedly and erroneously in writing. This book also proposes a model for the discrimination of similar words in light of teaching and learning Chinese as a foreign language, and makes a case study of the discrimination of certain similar words.
Fang Xujun is a professor in the International College of Chinese Studies, Shanghai Normal University and currently a professor in the Faculty of Humanities, University of Botswana, whose research focuses on modern Chinese grammar and vocabulary, and language testing. Mr. Fang has published a number of books, such as Modern Chinese Notional Words, Chinese as a Foreign Language: Vocabulary Teaching and Learning, Similar Chinese Words and Expressions: Distinctions and Exercises (Elementary), Similar Chinese Words and Expressions: Distinctions and Exercises (Intermediate), and Chinese Language Testing and Evaluation.