What are the differences between Traditional and Simplified Chinese (i.e. Mandarin)?
Chinese is becoming one of the most frequently spoken languages in the world today as more and more people study it. There are two varieties of Chinese: Traditional Chinese and Simplified Chinese, which confuses learners. Actually, they are two distinct writing systems.
Different dialects of Chinese
Chinese has developed into numerous distinct dialects throughout the years. Seven groupings have been created to group these dialects, including Mandarin, Wu, Gan, Xiang, Min, Hakka, Yue, and maybe more. Mandarin is by far the most frequently used dialects in the world.
When did people start using Simplified Chinese in China?
Traditional Chinese is the source of Simplified Chinese, a system that is relatively new. Chinese characters were simplified by the Chinese government about half a century ago. Because they have fewer strokes, the language is simpler to write and remember, fostering literacy. However, some felt that parts of the history was also omitted, as the original characters in Traditional Chinese are usually formed by multiple parts carrying different subtle meanings. In Simplified Chinese, these parts (and the corresponding meanings) have also disappeared.
Where do people use Simplified Chinese (Mandarin)?
In Mainland China, Singapore, and Malaysia, the Simplified Chinese writing system is used. The spoken language is called Mandarin or Mandarin Chinese. So if you are looking to localize your content for the local Chinese in Mainland China, Singapore and Malaysia, you should translate it into Simplified Chinese with a Chinese localization agency.
Where do people use Traditional Chinese?
In Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan, traditional Chinese is widely spoken. The characters of Traditional Chinese are also used or read by other Chinese populations across the world. So if you wish to target local Chinese in these areas, you should translate them into Traditional Chinese with a Chinese localization agency.
Which Chinese do people use in United States?
In places like online Chinese and Taiwanese American booksellers, both traditional and simplified Chinese characters are employed. Signs and menus are often in traditional Chinese since immigrants from Cantonese-speaking, traditional Chinese regions were among the first to establish Chinatowns and restaurants across the United States. Additionally, traditional Chinese is frequently used in Taiwanese American-owned enterprises.
On the other hand, there are also some Simplified Chinese users in the US. For example, Simplified Chinese is typically used by younger Asian American generations who have links to Singapore, Malaysia, and the Chinese mainland. So it highly depends on the demographics of the people concerned.
Should I learn Simplified Chinese or Traditional Chinese?
Whether you choose Traditional Chinese or Simplified Chinese mostly relies on your needs and tastes. What is the purpose for you to study Chinese? Which areas are you interested in learning about and interacting with? Learning the Traditional Chinese writing system might be advantageous if you are curious about or familiar with Japanese language and culture. You might be able to study both if you have the time and desire to challenge yourself. Either way, you should expect that it will be a challenging task for westerners as it is a completely different language system.
Is it possible to learn both types of Chinese at the same time?
The ability to read two Chinese writing systems simultaneously is possible. Most individuals learn to write in one script since writing in both is far more complicated. However, the majority of individuals won’t have the time to concurrently master two scripts. It may be more cost-effective and efficient for you to choose one and focus on that particular language.