To all the foreign chinese-learner
1.HANYU PINYIN is just an assistant tool for pronunciation.It's very helpful in using dictionary. But it can't replace chinese character. Seldom chinese use it in communication.
2.If you grasp 1000 chinese character, it's easy for you to watch TV,listen to radio,read newspaper and communicate with people.Surely the number is more less than in English.
3.So focus on Chinese character(simplified),not PINYIN for it is just an intermediate.
I'm a chinese guy in Shanghai. Is there any problem in Chinese,don't hesitate to contact me via email:alex_luyang@126.com