或許你認為身為中國人理所當然中文程度應不差，但卻發現即使是新聞主播也常常讀錯字，新聞標題更是錯字連連又加語意不清，不禁感慨大夥兒的的中文程度真是一代不如一代。但自己的中文真的好嗎?  陳銘磻的著作作文最常寫錯的字或許可讓你檢視一下自己的中文程度。

書的內容深入淺出介紹漢字及寫文章的用字和技巧，但最吸引人的應該就是作者收集了許多大家經常讀錯和寫錯的字，令人訝異原來簡單不過的日常用語，竟也這麼容易發生錯誤。幾個簡單的例子：

易讀錯音的字                                      

碗粿：ㄍㄨㄛˇ

牛軋糖：ㄍㄚˊ

腓力牛排：ㄈㄟˊ

乾煸四季豆：ㄅㄧㄢ

常見的錯別字

叉路：岔路

片斷：片段

詳實：翔實

閒嗑牙：閒磕牙

兵慌馬亂：荒

很有肚量：度

許多因形、音、義相似而容易混用的錯別字，例子讀來令人莞爾，讀者可以輕鬆閱讀且不失趣味。但中文畢竟博大精深，有些字音字義可能查遍辭源辭海仍莫衷一是，雖然如此，各位讀者若是對所讀的的內容覺得有疑問或是不服氣，建議還是順手查查字典辭典，就當是增加學識並減少些錯用的機會吧。

Lunar New Year is around the corner. Many Asian families celebrate this holiday. Do you want to take this opportunity to celebrate and explore Lunar New Year culture with us?  If yes, let me share with you some of my favorite books, which my children and I read every year.

再過幾天就是農曆新年，許多華裔家庭都會慶祝這個節日, 你想借這個機會和我們一起慶祝並探索中國文化嗎?下面列的是我的小孩和我每年都會閱讀的一些書目，提供給大家參考

Long-Long’s New Year

by Catherine Gower and He Zhihong

This story is about how Long-Long celebrates Chinese New Year.

這是一個關於Long-Long 如何慶祝春節的故事。

This Next New Year by Janet S. Wong

The author introduces Chinese New Year customs from a child’s viewpoint. It helps children better understand those customs.

作者以小孩子的觀點去敘述中國新年的習俗，更能讓小朋友有所體會。

Runaway Rice Cake by Ying Chang Compestine

Rice cake is a traditional dessert for Chinese New Year, just like gingerbread for Christmas. It is interesting to describe a rice cake like The Gingerbread Man.

就像聖誕節吃薑餅一樣，年糕是過年必吃的傳統甜點。作者用薑餅人的寫作方式來描述年糕，真是有趣。

Sam and the Lucky Money by Karen Chinn

Everyone loves lucky money. What would you do with it? Sam was excited about going shopping with his lucky money, but at the end he decided to help a homeless man instead.

每個人都喜歡拿紅包，但拿了壓歲錢要做什麼呢? Sam本來拿著紅包高興地去逛街買東西，最後卻決定用這些錢去幫助別人。

Hiss! Pop Boom!

By Tricia Morrissey

This book is unique because it introduces Chinese New Year customs and Chinese Brush painting to readers at the same time.

這本的特別之處在於它同時介紹了中國新年習俗及國畫給讀者。

There are many more books, like The Chinese New Year and Exploring Chinatown, talking about Lunar New Year in San José Public Library. You are welcome to visit our libraries as often as you want. Happy Lunar New Year!

在聖何西公共圖書館裏，還有許多關於中國新年的書，像是The Chinese New Year和Exploring Chinatown。有空的話，歡迎多蒞臨圖書館。祝大家新年快樂!

Dreaming in Chinese : Mandarin lessons in life, love, and language by Deborah Fallows

Fallows gives excellent examples of the importance of social context of language learning and speaking, how language interacts with culture, and the features of Chinese that non native speakers find difficult: tone, indicating time and space, and lack of referential pronouns. Entertaining as well as enlightening.

• Deborah Fallows discusses her book with Atlantic editor Jennie Rothenberg Gritz
• Excerpt and author interview from All Things Considered.

Another book that discusses the cultural connection of Chinese language and society is Swallowing Clouds by A. Zee.

Do you want to learn Chinese? San José Public Library has books, audios and videos for children and adults. Recommended are the Pimsleur Chinese courses for Mandarin and Cantonese (aural approach) and Mango online language learning.

Coming soon to most San Jose Public Libraries is Volume 1 of Let's Go Guang!, a learning Chinese for children bilingual series.  Join Ling and Kai when they discover the fun-loving dragon while looking for treasures in their Grandparent's basement. Through this story, children learn over 50 everyday words and phrases and also explore the rich culture and history of China.  This kit contains a DVD that includes mini-lessons including how to make Chinese dumplings, an audio CD with sing-along songs, and the story book of Let's go Guang!  The series won the Mom's ChoiceAward Gold Recipient for Educational Products.  For ages 2 - 8 years old.