A multilingual interactive game for learning Chinese 4-character idioms (四字成语 sìzìchéngyǔ) in CLI and Pygame GUI versions.

The Chinese 4-Character Idiom Game offers an engaging way to learn and practice Chinese idioms through an interactive fill-in-the-blank format. Players are presented with Chinese 4-character idioms where 2 characters are hidden, and they must select the characters in correct order from a list of options.

The CLI version offers a text-based interface with color-coded feedback, multiple-choice options, and language selection. Players fill in the blanks for Chinese idioms using keyboard input and receive instant validation of their answers.

The GUI version features a retro 8-bit style interface with colorful visuals, sound effects, and smooth animations. Players can select answers by clicking buttons and receive immediate feedback on their answers.

• Amazon Q CLI: Autonomous AI agent for dynamic coding
• Python 3.6+: Core programming language
• Pygame: For the graphical user interface and game rendering
• JSON: For storing idioms, translations, and game data
• Termios/Fcntl: For terminal control in the CLI version
• Noto Sans Fonts: For multilingual text rendering (Chinese, Japanese, Korean)
• WAV Audio: For game sound effects

• Multilingual Support:

  • English (EN)
  • Japanese (JP)
  • Korean (KR)
  • Language selection via arrow key navigation in CLI version, and using click button in GUI version

• Two Game Modes:

  • CLI (Command Line Interface) for terminal enthusiasts
  • GUI with Pygame for a more visual experience

• Educational Content:

  • Learn Chinese idioms with proper context
  • Understand individual character meanings
  • Practice character recognition and pinyin (Chinese Phonetic Alphabet)

• Game Elements:

  • Lives system (3 hearts)
  • Score tracking
  • Randomized blank positions
  • Sound effects for actions (GUI version)
  • Retro 8-bit visual style (GUI version)

1. Clone the repository:

   git clone https://github.com/karenwky/cn-idiom-game
   cd cn-idiom-game
   

2. Install dependencies:

   pip install -r requirements.txt
   

CLI Version:

python cn_idiom_game_cli.py

• Use arrow keys to navigate the language selection menu
• Press Enter to select your preferred language
• Follow on-screen instructions to play

GUI Version:

python cn_idiom_game_pygame.py

• Click on language button to change languages
• Click on character options to fill in the blanks
• Click Submit when you've selected your answers

1. You start with 3 lives (❤️❤️❤️)
2. Each idiom has 2 blanks that need to be filled
3. Select the characters in correct order from the options provided
4. Correct answers increase your score
5. Incorrect answers cost you a life
6. Game ends when you run out of lives or complete all idioms

cn-idiom-game/
├── assets/
│   ├── font/
│   │   ├── NotoSansSC-Bold.ttf    # Chinese font
│   │   ├── NotoSansJP-Bold.ttf    # Japanese font
│   │   └── NotoSansKR-Bold.ttf    # Korean font
│   └── sounds/
│       ├── correct.wav            # Sound for correct answers
│       ├── wrong.wav              # Sound for wrong answers
│       ├── game_over.wav          # Sound for game over
│       └── end_game.wav           # Sound for completing all idioms
├── cn_idiom_game_cli.py           # CLI version of the game
├── cn_idiom_game_pygame.py        # GUI version with Pygame
├── idioms.json                    # Data source of Chinese idioms
├── translations.json              # Multilingual text translations
├── requirements.txt               # Project dependencies
└── prompts.md                     # Prompts archive for Amazon Q CLI

Place WAV files in assets/sounds/:

• correct.wav
• wrong.wav
• game_over.wav
• end_game.wav

Required fonts in assets/font/:

• NotoSansSC-Bold.ttf (Chinese)
• NotoSansJP-Bold.ttf (Japanese)
• NotoSansKR-Bold.ttf (Korean)

Edit idioms.json following this format:

{
  "idiom": "四字成语",
  "pinyin": "sì zì chéng yǔ",
  "meaning": {
    "en": "English meaning",
    "ja": "Japanese meaning",
    "ko": "Korean meaning"
  },
  "words": [
    {
      "word": "四",
      "meaning": {
        "en": "four",        
        "ja": "四",
        "ko": "넷"
      }
    }
  ]
}

• UI Optimization: Resolve text alignment issues and prevent button overlap
• Database Integration: Use database instead of JSON for large datasets
• Real-time LLM-generated Questions: Generate more varied questions
• Timer Limit: Set varying time limits based on difficulty levels
• Keyboard Control: Use keyboard to play the game in GUI version
• Leaderboard: For showing score ranking
• Additional Languages: Support for more languages

AWS Cloud Community

• Build Games with Amazon Q CLI and score a T shirt 🏆👕
• Vibe Coding in Practice: Building a Classic Platform Jumping Game with Amazon Q CLI

AWS Blog / AWS Documentation

• Amazon Q Developer CLI supports image inputs in your terminal
• Using Amazon Q Developer on the command line - Amazon Q Developer

Fonts

• Noto - Google Fonts

Sound Effects

• StavSounds
• deleted_user_877451

This project is licensed under the MIT License - see the LICENSE file for details.

Created with ❤️ for Chinese language learners everywhere