<p>What would be the criteria for a judging writing system as "good" or "bad"? How well it matches the pronunciation? How easy it is to learn?</p>

<p>The Chinese are aware of the difficulty of their writing system - i.e. that it takes a long time to learn - and <strong>proposals to reform it go back to at least the late 19th century</strong>. Some people supported very radical reforms. For example, the Chinese author <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lu_Xun" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Lu Xun</a> (1881-1936) supposedly said, “If Chinese characters are not eradicated, China will perish” (漢字不滅，中國必亡 / 汉字不灭，中国必亡: Hànzì bù miè, Zhōngguó bì wáng). </p>

<p>One such proposal that replaced Chinese characters with Latin script, was <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latinxua_Sin_Wenz" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><strong>Latinxua Sin Wenz</strong></a>. (Note, however, that not every romanization system was meant as an effort to replace Chinese characters with the Latin script.) 
Also around the beginning of the 20th century, Wang Zhao (1859-1933) came up with a system inspired by Japanese <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katakana" rel="nofollow noreferrer">katakana</a>, but the Chinese government banned the system. </p>

<p>For other examples, see, for example, John DeFrancis' book <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Chinese_Language:_Fact_and_Fantasy" rel="nofollow noreferrer">
<em>The Chinese Language: Fact and Fantasy</em></a> (University of Hawai'i Press, 1984)  and Jerry Norman's book <a href="http://www.cambridge.org/de/academic/subjects/languages-linguistics/asian-language-and-linguistics/chinese?format=PB&amp;isbn=9780521296533" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><em>Chinese</em></a> (Cambridge University Press, 1988). </p>

<p>By the way, some other writing systems are also difficult:</p>

<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=btn0-Vce5ug" rel="nofollow noreferrer">The hardest language to spell</a> (Tibetan, according to NativLang on YouTube)</li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gKVtpCByEy4" rel="nofollow noreferrer">World's Most Complicated Writing System</a> (Thai, according to XidNaf on
YouTube)</li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bcdYKxHT8kY" rel="nofollow noreferrer">The Hardest Writing System! - an animated rant about learning
Japanese</a> (by NativLang on YouTube)</li>
</ul>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-08-02T16:06:27.007Z
Although In the modern age English has to be a lot more illogical than Chinese (characters). I've never had a problem typing Chinese but I often can't figure out how To spell English.
Mou某
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-08-02T10:49:03.550Z
2017-08-01T16:15:49.523Z
2017-08-01T16:15:49.523Z
Tsundoku
<p>I don't have good citations right this second,  but I'll look for some.<br>
I can give a personal answer as someone in-country.
Do they think others must see it as difficult?<br>
<strong>yes</strong>  </p>

<p>They are very aware and proud of the written language likely being the hardest.  They don't expect foreigners to be able to learn it.<br>
Everyone that goes through high school learns at least some English, and so has an idea of alphabetic language.  They understand the difference, and understand that Chinese is one of the only non-alphabetic modern languages.   (are there any others?)<br>
This uniqueness makes it difficult for all foreigners, and this is understood.  </p>

<p>Do they feel like it is difficult?  I don't think they long for an easier way.  As their first language, I would have to guess it is as natural for them as anyone's first language.<br>
But it would be good to find some research.</p>

<p>From a more objective standpoint about difficulty...<br>
As far as using the language, once you know it --- if you count the number of strokes to write the same sentence in Chinese and English it's usually pretty close.<br>
And that's if you write the Chinese characters the perfect, standard way.<br>
Because Chinese is often more efficient than English in the number of words, a native writer of Chinese using a reasonable handwriting style - with an abbreviated number of strokes - is probably faster than someone writing in English.
So we could infer they don't have a problem.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-09-18T05:35:38.917Z
2017-09-18T05:35:38.917Z
Mike M
<p>As a Chinese native speaker, at least I didn't realize this problem until you ask. Well, we have Pinyin which is more like phonetic symbol to help us input Chinese characters into Computers. As for writing by hands, indeed, it is much more complicated than English. </p>

<p>However, this also made the variety of calligraphy of Chinese characters. Many masters are practicing how to write more beautiful characters through their whole lives. I have to admit that's difficult to learn. The fact is while you are judging it, it is used by the most people on this planet lol :)</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-09-06T21:19:36.250Z
Argumentum ad populum much? ;) My measure of a writing system being "good" is how fast I can write what I mean by hand. If it takes several second to write down just one syllable, then it's definitely not good :q  As for those calligraphy masters spent so much time of their lives on just writing those characters, that really means something :q  Imagine what other things they could have spent their lives on more productively if they could write fast ;)
SasQ
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-08-02T11:07:54.863Z
2016-08-02T11:07:54.863Z
realchenchi
<p>How is the difficulty about the Chinese writing system viewed by native speakers? Is it a view they share with other learners around the world or do they see it the same way other speakers see their own language?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-08-02T12:48:38.947Z
@Maroon Personally, I find it more productive to turn the question into something meaningful. The offensive part then goes away.
Tsundoku
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-08-04T10:35:09.817Z
**NOTE:** I tried to fix your question so that it had a more constructive wording. If you want to claim that it's the "worst" writing system, at least you should give context as to what you mean by "worst" and how. I think it's not in any case, but at least you'd give something to answer to with arguments. Just saying it's the worst equals to it just being a rant.
Alenanno
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-08-04T12:07:24.877Z
Writing systems should be hard enough to stay off limits for evil, stupid racists, such as the OP. Now, as @Maroon saw, the original  question is clearly of evil intent. It is a shame to reword it, thus enticing Chinese people to answer to it.
Ludi
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-08-06T17:54:46.187Z
@Maroon The question has been rephrased; it should no longer be offensive.
Tsundoku
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-09-18T05:22:22.607Z
Yes, the current question is not offensive.
Mike M
<characters><writing><culture>
Are Chinese people aware of the difficulty of their writing system?
# Are Chinese people aware of the difficulty of their writing system?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2016-08-02)

How is the difficulty about the Chinese writing system viewed by native speakers? Is it a view they share with other learners around the world or do they see it the same way other speakers see their own language?

**Tags:** characters, writing, culture

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: @Maroon Personally, I find it more productive to turn the question into something meaningful. The offensive part then goes away.  
> **username_2**: **NOTE:** I tried to fix your question so that it had a more constructive wording. If you want to claim that it's the "worst" writing system, at least you should give context as to what you mean by "worst" and how. I think it's not in any case, but at least you'd give something to answer to with arguments. Just saying it's the worst equals to it just being a rant.  
> **username_3**: Writing systems should be hard enough to stay off limits for evil, stupid racists, such as the OP. Now, as @Maroon saw, the original  question is clearly of evil intent. It is a shame to reword it, thus enticing Chinese people to answer to it.  
> **username_1**: @Maroon The question has been rephrased; it should no longer be offensive.  
> **username_4**: Yes, the current question is not offensive.  

---

## 3 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2016-08-02. Score: 2

What would be the criteria for a judging writing system as "good" or "bad"? How well it matches the pronunciation? How easy it is to learn?

The Chinese are aware of the difficulty of their writing system - i.e. that it takes a long time to learn - and **proposals to reform it go back to at least the late 19th century**. Some people supported very radical reforms. For example, the Chinese author [Lu Xun](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lu_Xun) (1881-1936) supposedly said, “If Chinese characters are not eradicated, China will perish” (漢字不滅，中國必亡 / 汉字不灭，中国必亡: Hànzì bù miè, Zhōngguó bì wáng).

One such proposal that replaced Chinese characters with Latin script, was [**Latinxua Sin Wenz**](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latinxua_Sin_Wenz). (Note, however, that not every romanization system was meant as an effort to replace Chinese characters with the Latin script.)
Also around the beginning of the 20th century, Wang Zhao (1859-1933) came up with a system inspired by Japanese [katakana](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katakana), but the Chinese government banned the system.

For other examples, see, for example, John DeFrancis' book [*The Chinese Language: Fact and Fantasy*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Chinese_Language:_Fact_and_Fantasy) (University of Hawai'i Press, 1984) and Jerry Norman's book [*Chinese*](http://www.cambridge.org/de/academic/subjects/languages-linguistics/asian-language-and-linguistics/chinese?format=PB&isbn=9780521296533) (Cambridge University Press, 1988).

By the way, some other writing systems are also difficult:

* [The hardest language to spell](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=btn0-Vce5ug) (Tibetan, according to NativLang on YouTube)
* [World's Most Complicated Writing System](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gKVtpCByEy4) (Thai, according to XidNaf on
  YouTube)
* [The Hardest Writing System! - an animated rant about learning
  Japanese](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bcdYKxHT8kY) (by NativLang on YouTube)

> **Comments:**
> **username_5**: Although In the modern age English has to be a lot more illogical than Chinese (characters). I've never had a problem typing Chinese but I often can't figure out how To spell English.  

---

### Answer by username_4 on 2017-09-18. Score: 1

I don't have good citations right this second, but I'll look for some.  
I can give a personal answer as someone in-country.
Do they think others must see it as difficult?  
**yes**

They are very aware and proud of the written language likely being the hardest. They don't expect foreigners to be able to learn it.  
Everyone that goes through high school learns at least some English, and so has an idea of alphabetic language. They understand the difference, and understand that Chinese is one of the only non-alphabetic modern languages. (are there any others?)  
This uniqueness makes it difficult for all foreigners, and this is understood.

Do they feel like it is difficult? I don't think they long for an easier way. As their first language, I would have to guess it is as natural for them as anyone's first language.  
But it would be good to find some research.

From a more objective standpoint about difficulty...  
As far as using the language, once you know it --- if you count the number of strokes to write the same sentence in Chinese and English it's usually pretty close.  
And that's if you write the Chinese characters the perfect, standard way.  
Because Chinese is often more efficient than English in the number of words, a native writer of Chinese using a reasonable handwriting style - with an abbreviated number of strokes - is probably faster than someone writing in English.
So we could infer they don't have a problem.


---

### Answer by username_6 on 2016-08-02. Score: 1

As a Chinese native speaker, at least I didn't realize this problem until you ask. Well, we have Pinyin which is more like phonetic symbol to help us input Chinese characters into Computers. As for writing by hands, indeed, it is much more complicated than English.

However, this also made the variety of calligraphy of Chinese characters. Many masters are practicing how to write more beautiful characters through their whole lives. I have to admit that's difficult to learn. The fact is while you are judging it, it is used by the most people on this planet lol :)

> **Comments:**
> **username_7**: Argumentum ad populum much? ;) My measure of a writing system being "good" is how fast I can write what I mean by hand. If it takes several second to write down just one syllable, then it's definitely not good :q  As for those calligraphy masters spent so much time of their lives on just writing those characters, that really means something :q  Imagine what other things they could have spent their lives on more productively if they could write fast ;)  

---

