At the age of 12, the late President Chiang urged him to study Shui Wen Chieh Tzu (a classical etymological dictionary) which he said would be of great help in increasing his son's ability to express himself.
在經國先生十二歲的時候，蔣公即囑咐經國先生讀說文解字，並且指示說：「此書每日識得十字，則三年內必可讀完，一生受用不盡矣。讀書第一要當心聽講，認識一字，須要曉得一字之解說，不可讀過就算。」