Han Trainer Screensaver

Han Trainer Screensaver is an educational screensaver - and that is something one cannot say about most screensavers out there. What does it teach? Well, the name says it all. It provides quick lessons on Chinese Han characters and how to use them.

Because it is an SRC file, you can schedule the trainer just like any other screensaver. Alternatively, you can directly launch the file whenever you are in the mood for taking lessons. Be careful about touching any button on the keyboard, as the trainer will immediately close. While there is button-like art within the trainer, giving one the impression that it can control it, there isn't, so don't click on it or use the keys unless you want it closed.

While active, Han Trainer Screensaver will try to connect to its proprietary vocabulary database, meaning an active connection must be provided. Also, the lessons can be delivered in French, German, and Spanish, if English is not your desired language.

The course starts with Han characters thoroughly presented and explained. As the app says, the lesson offers the 100 most common Chinese characters. In case you master this first lesson and want to hone your skills even further, you can try the Han Trainer Pro — a standalone app that covers way more knowledge than the screensaver.

First, the trainer showcases the form of the characters, including the correct way to draw them. Next, you'll get information about the phonetic transcription, followed by the vocabulary part, where you'll get all the meanings, plus extra comments on how to use it or what other translations might apply.

In summary, Han Trainer Screensaver is an interesting method of learning how Chinese Hand characters are written and applied. Because this is a screensaver, the only proper time for lessons is when your computer goes idle, so schedule it with care.