Chinese languages

Learn both. You'll have an easier time learning Japanese, though. It's actually a very easy language to pick up.

Chinese and Japanese are familiar in writing characters but different in grammars. I know an English-Chinese dictionary and an English-Japanese dictionary here: http://www.hnhsoft.com and I hope it helps.

Which is the easier language is a tough question.

As people mentioned before both languages have their easy points and their hard points.

Learning Mandarin :

Grammer :
Learning Mandarin's grammar is very easy . So easy that some people actually feel that Mandarin has no grammar.

Tones :
This is the killer.Mandarin has 4 tones as well as a neutral tone.You can learn mandarin without these tones but that means you have put everything in context. ( making sure that some can understand your meaning from your whole sentence, so if they dont understand a word that can guess the meaning).

Learning Japanese

Grammar :
The grammar hits you at the start like a right hook. There is so much of it and it quite diffitcult to over come it but once you do then the grammar does start to become easier.


Which one to learn should never depend on what is easy but which one you feel you will enjoy learning the most. As endurance is the most important ability you must have when learning Mandarin or Japanese.

jaz wrote:You can learn mandarin without these tones but that means you have put everything in context. ( making sure that some can understand your meaning from your whole sentence, so if they dont understand a word that can guess the meaning).

Um, I disagree. If you don't learn the tones, no Chinese person will understand you. Which would render your Mandarin skills useless if you can't even converse properly with the locals.

Anybody who's ever studied Chinese properly knows that Mandarin is all about tones and pronunciation.
You may know the pinyin and definition of 1,000 words and characters, but if you still can't say them right, or know how to use them in daily conversation, NO CHINESE PERSON WILL UNDERSTAND YOU!

It's really all about PRACTICE.

Self studying is great, but if you're really serious about learning and improving your Mandarin skills, some kind of formal instruction is still needed. The best would be to take up formal classes (whether private or group) where you can speak Mandarin as much as possible.

And of course, like ANY other language, nothing replaces actually immersing yourself in it by using it in daily life.

Schools like Live the Language (LtL) Mandarin school in Beijing can help you do this since they specialise in MAKING SURE STUDENTS ACTUALLY END UP SPEAKING CHINESE through various 'living the language' programs, like WORK INTERNSHIPS in China, IMMERSIONS, Intensive study and classes on Chinese culture, such as Calligraphy, Kung Fu, cooking and Business Chinese, among others.

The faculty is made up of top quality teachers who are all Bachelor (and some even Master's) - degree holders in Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language from China's top universities.

You can study on a monthly basis, semestral, yearly or just on weekends. You can ask for a customised program (for example, one that has a heavy emphasis on speaking to practice your pronunciation).

Everything is geared towards MAKING SURE YOU ACTUALLY END UP USING YOUR MANDARIN DAILY and THAT YOU MAKE PROGRESS.

If you want more information (especially since I am a non-Chinese who knows the challenges of learning this increasingly important language and has some tips and advice on studying), send me an email at ting@livethelanguage.cn, or check out the school at www.livethelanguage.cn. We have some useful tips up there on how to learn Mandarin better!

Cheers and good luck!