Learning Traditional Chinese Characters vs Learning Simplified Characters

One question that often comes up when deciding between two different Chinese classes is whether or not to learn simplified or traditional characters.

In general, mainland China uses simplified characters while Taiwan, Hong Kong, many overseas Chinese and older texts use traditional characters. So part of your decision will be based on where you plan to use your Mandarin knowledge and whether or not you are more interested in historical aspects of China or modern business in the Middle Kingdom.

Another consideration is the beauty and complexity of the written characters themselves. Traditional Chinese characters are by far more complex and beautiful than the simplified versions. If you want to impress people with your impeccable Chinese calligraphy, traditional is the way to go.

Some proponents of traditional characters point out that these versions contain more of the history and culture of China within the characters themselves. Pieces of the characters mean specific things, so learning traditional will give you a better appreciation for where the written language came from. For some, this also makes it easier to memorize the meaning of the character.

On the other hand, the simplified versions often contain a phonetic version, a piece that gives some indication of the sound of the character. For some learners, this makes it easier to remember how to pronounce the simplified form.

In the end, the choice of simplified characters vs traditional characters comes mainly down to what you plan to do with the language. Someone planning to do business in mainland China will find themselves illiterate should they be familiar only with the traditional Chinese characters, while someone interested in studying historical texts or working in Taiwan will be equally disadvantaged if their only exposure is to simplified Chinese characters.