Microelectronics is a challenging course to many undergraduate students and is often described as very messy.

Microelectronics is a challenging course to many undergraduate students and is often described as very messy. Before taking this course, all the students have learned circuit analysis, where basically all the problems can be solved by applying Kirchhoff's laws. In addition, most engineering students have also learned engineering mechanics: statics and dynamics, where Newton's laws and related principles can be applied in solving all the problems. However, microelectronics is not as clean as these courses. There are hundreds of equations for different circuits, and it is impossible to remember which equation should be applied to which circuit. One of the common pitfalls in learning this course is over-focusing at the equation level and ignoring the ideas (Tao) behind it. Unfortunately, these ideas are not summarized and emphasized in most microelectronics textbooks, though they cover various electronic circuits comprehensively. Therefore, most undergraduate students feel at a loss when they start to learn this topic. This book tries to illustrate the major ideas and the basic analysis techniques, so that students can derive the right equations easily when facing an electronic circuit.

Chinese is rapidly becoming one of the most popular foreign languages taught in many countries all over the world; however, it is also one of the most challenging to learn. The standard method of teaching Chinese is often adopted from elementary schools in China, where students learn the language through repetition and practice. Unfortunately, this approach is not very effective for teenagers and adults living in other countries, as Chinese children are already familiar with the spoken language before entering elementary school. In addition, learning through rote memorization is not a good approach for teenagers and adults, who have stronger analytical abilities than young children. It is clear that more effective ways of learning Chinese are needed. Western languages are composed of letters with specific pronunciations. In this sense, we can call them audio languages. In contrast, Chinese is a visual language, originating from the images of objects. Therefore, reading is easier than speaking in learning Chinese. If total immersion in the language environment is not an option, studying Chinese characters first is recommended as this can form the foundation for reading and speaking Chinese later on. At first glance, Chinese characters are like randomly scattered beads, and beginners often feel that it is almost impossible to grasp this mysterious language. But if examined closely, the Chinese language is actually similar to a piece of tightly-knit silk woven from basic radicals. If Chinese characters are considered as the chemical compounds, the radicals are the elements in the periodic table. With two hundred radicals, thousands of characters can be constructed. In addition, the weaving process involves wisdom, philosophy, science, and even ancient legends. To introduce the intricate fabric of Chinese to its readers, this book follows the structure of a tree: each chapter is like a large branch, the sections within a chapter are like smaller branches, and each indiv