One of my favorite ways of building and reviewing new vocabulary is by reading Chinese webtoons or manhua. While I have made a video about my process using 重花's 您的好兄弟要加熱嗎, this article is quick overview.

1. Read the chapter before studying

   Make sure that the manhua (漫画) you are reading is worth studying. Pick a chapter that is exciting to you.

   As you read it, consider what words are important to the story. What characters are becoming repetitive?

   
   

2. Consider the goal of the study session

   Do you want to learn new vocabulary? Or do you want to review grammar learned earlier today? What do you want to get out of studying this manhua?

   
   

3. Use pleco for look up new words

   Pleco has traditional and simplified characters. Consider using the handwriting option to stay focused on studying. I've personally found it harder to focus when using the OCR or character recognition option. Remember that you don't have to look up every word because the art and pictures provide context clues.

   
   

4. Don't be afraid to use a translator

   There are going to be phrases and words that you don't know how to translate well. Leverage a translator in these cases. My favorite is Baidu Translate. However, make sure you aren't overly dependent on it!

   
   

5. Leverage the audio option

   Listening to the audio of the dictionary and translator helps understand what the word sounds like at a natural speed. Often, words can sound slower in our heads because we are learning it for the first time. Some webtoons also have audio versions on Youtube.

   
   

6. Return to the chapter tomorrow

   After finishing the chapter, return the next day to see how much you have retained. If you don't recall 100%, that is okay. There will be another chapter that may mention the same words. If you have retained 3-4 words, I would consider that a success! Determine what is success to you.