Learning To Read Chinese

The language is over 4000 years old and traces its roots back to the vernacular form spoken in Tibet and China. It has evolved as a language and two forms are spoken today – Mandarin and Cantonese with Mandarin being the more common style used. If you walk into any Chinese restaurant, you are exposed to both the Chinese script which adorns the place like art as well as in its menus. You are also sure to hear the Chinese waiters and cooks chattering away in Chinese. So how do you go about learning it?

The Chinese language has over 40,000 characters but there are 30 that are used for everyday writing. The grammar is simple and easy to pick up because it is very basic with no verbs and noun inflections. What you will need when you decide to learn Chinese is a good memory because that is what is needed to remember each character. You need to memorize each one well enough to remember it the next time you see it. Now initially, this can be daunting because all look the same but as time goes by, you begin to see the differences and you can begin identifying each one. What you could do is to invest in a Chinese dictionary and take the time to identify these characters. It is only if you persist at this stage that you will be able to learn Chinese. Once you master these, it is easy to recognize just what you see and start reading.

The difference between English and Chinese exist probably on every possible level. For one, English uses spaces to separate each word, while Chinese does not. Chinese grammar is incorporated into each word. With a great deal of practice, you will soon be able to recognize the characters and you will find that your reading is improving and getting faster. You should also practice writing so you see how the figures are formed so it makes reading easier. The language follows a parallel and vertical method of writing unlike English which is horizontal. With Chinese, it helps if you learn the reading, writing and speaking all together.

Currently, Chinese is becoming a very important language to be learned, in fact next only to Spanish. With a huge Chinese population, it is very essential that anyone who is in international business learn the language. For someone who is keen on learning there are various classes all over, as well as online resources. All you need is a will to learn and soon you will be speaking, reading and writing a language spoken by the largest population in the world.