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Edit: Reading some comments here - this doesn't seem to be about 'recognising' or 'predicting' existing characters, but using a dataset of characters to create

Edit: Reading some comments here - this doesn't seem to be about 'recognising' or 'predicting' existing characters, but using a dataset of characters to create a character by itself (which probably isn't an existing character). This is quite 'clever'. I don't understand the example shapes at the beginning. They're not correct strokes. How does that work? The about page has some neat made up characters. But after trying a few strokes, and doing so more carefully, it seems if you put in a clear radical, the character is well formed, kinda; if you put in a squiggle, all you get is a doodle... that makes sense. Inputting 口 or 艹 for example, vs a random squiggle. Take care to make it reasonable accurate. About characters, incase anyone doesn't know: A character is basically a 2x2 grid where 4 radicals get placed (there are (about) 201 radicals in modern Chinese, Japanese kanji too I guess?). Sometimes 'cells get merged' so the left column of 2 rows is merged to contain 1 radical, and the right contains 1 or 2 radicals. Or 'add a row' can happen at the top, for example adding a 艹 above the 2x2.

Pamar 8y ago
"a character is basically a 2x2 grid"... Do you have any reference for this type of classification/composition? N.B.: I am not implying that it is incorrect - I am a dabbler in Japanese Brush Calligraphy (without any fluency in the language, only as an art) and I would like to read more about this so if you have links or books (preferably in English) I would be very happy to learn more.
- zhte415 8y ago
  Characters are written, not drawn. First learn to write.
- jcl 8y ago
  The practice paper given to children learning kanji is commonly partitioned into a 2x2 grid, to help with proportions -- kind of like how children learning to write English are given paper with guidelines for baseline, ascenders, descenders, and mean line. You can see an example of the 2x2 grid in the Nintendo kanji game on the article's "Info" page, or by searching for "kanji practice paper". The lines are meant more to help relative placement than to exactly divide characters, but many characters do divide into left-and-right or top-and-bottom portions -- see Jack Halpern's SKIP system for example: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kodansha_Kanji_Learner%27s_Dictionary https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kodansha_Kanji_Learner%27s_Dic...
jfries 8y ago
I don't think it's helpful to think of the structure as being based on a 2x2 grid. A bit down on this page (random Google hit) are ways to structure a character: http://www.guavarama.com/2015/03/07/learning-about-character-structure/ http://www.guavarama.com/2015/03/07/learning-about-character... Note that this structure can also apply recursively, further subdividing an area.
- zhte415 8y ago
  I think it is quite useful. A character is a combination of radicals, of which there aren't that many. You're correct, obviously there are more than sticking a radical in a 2x2 grid, however the square framework is always there and emphasises symmetery.

Pamar 8y ago

"a character is basically a 2x2 grid"... Do you have any reference for this type of classification/composition? N.B.: I am not implying that it is incorrect - I am a dabbler in Japanese Brush Calligraphy (without any fluency in the language, only as an art) and I would like to read more about this so if you have links or books (preferably in English) I would be very happy to learn more.

zhte415 8y ago
Characters are written, not drawn. First learn to write.
jcl 8y ago
The practice paper given to children learning kanji is commonly partitioned into a 2x2 grid, to help with proportions -- kind of like how children learning to write English are given paper with guidelines for baseline, ascenders, descenders, and mean line. You can see an example of the 2x2 grid in the Nintendo kanji game on the article's "Info" page, or by searching for "kanji practice paper". The lines are meant more to help relative placement than to exactly divide characters, but many characters do divide into left-and-right or top-and-bottom portions -- see Jack Halpern's SKIP system for example: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kodansha_Kanji_Learner%27s_Dictionary https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kodansha_Kanji_Learner%27s_Dic...

jfries 8y ago

I don't think it's helpful to think of the structure as being based on a 2x2 grid. A bit down on this page (random Google hit) are ways to structure a character: http://www.guavarama.com/2015/03/07/learning-about-character-structure/ http://www.guavarama.com/2015/03/07/learning-about-character... Note that this structure can also apply recursively, further subdividing an area.

zhte415 8y ago
I think it is quite useful. A character is a combination of radicals, of which there aren't that many. You're correct, obviously there are more than sticking a radical in a 2x2 grid, however the square framework is always there and emphasises symmetery.