What's the difference?

[Tails 6,692]

<p>So, I have always wondered? What's the difference between Chinese kanji and Japanese kanji (kun'yomi and On'yomi)? Ever since I've started learning Japanese I have always wondered that. Like, how do Japanese and Chinese people tell the difference? Sorry if this is in the wrong section. Wash't quite sure what section this was supposed to go on. If it is on the wrong section the mods feel free to move it to the right section.

[Uncle Dolan 963]

It's easy. Chinese Kanji is sloppy and Japanese Kanji is neat.

[Spectrum of Life 188]

There isn't one. Kanji in Japanese are lifted directly from Chinese.(Or at least the Chinese during the period the character was taken from.)

[Always 309]

I don't think there's a difference in the way they're written, if that's what you mean. But yes, there are on'yomi (Chinese reading) and kun'yomi (Japanese reading), like you mentioned, and so the Chinese wouldn't pronounce their hanzi with kun'yomi, because kun'yomi isn't part of their language.

 

But if you're asking how they tell the difference while they're reading a passage or something, I'd say that's fairly easy--any time something is in Japanese, the kanji will always be interspersed with hiragana, which the Chinese don't have. Also, they could look at the context of what they're reading.

 

Um...am I making any sense here?

[Oishii 3,987]

Compare:

 

命運-王子.居. 留言:登入後, 即可開始發表留言). 發表你的留言

プレイ中は、上画面の右下に表示されているドロップゲージが時間の経過で減少し、これがゼロになると操作キャラが強制的に交代する。

 

Can you tell which one is Chinese and which one is Japanese? Most people who have a simple understanding of the languages can.

 

The thing with Chinese is that they only have one writing system. Japanese has 3 (hiragana, katakana, and kanji), so it's pretty simple to tell the difference between the two.

 

But the characters have no difference. Japanese use 2,000+ while Chinese use I think its 60,000 or something. The onyomi and kunyomi come from the Japanese trying to adopt the Chinese characters into their language. I don't know if the Chinese have a similar system of pronounciation since I don't know Chinese. I just know onyomi is usually the Chinese reading, but not always. It's kind of messy. You should read this: http://www.imabijapa...com/lesson4.htm and then you need to stop fretting over kanji so much and work on you Japanese because once you have an understanding of the Japanese syntax, the kanji is easier to understand!!!!!!!!!!!!! But you won't listen to me I'm typing to a wall.

 

Why am I still not doing my paper?.... *runs away*

[Rob 5,571]

One is badass and the other is less badass.

[Tails 6,692]

Compare:

 

命運-王子.居. 留言:登入後, 即可開始發表留言). 發表你的留言

プレイ中は、上画面の右下に表示されているドロップゲージが時間の経過で減少し、これがゼロになると操作キャラが強制的に交代する。

 

Can you tell which one is Chinese and which one is Japanese? Most people who have a simple understanding of the languages can.

 

The thing with Chinese is that they only have one writing system. Japanese has 3 (hiragana, katakana, and kanji), so it's pretty simple to tell the difference between the two.

 

But the characters have no difference. Japanese use 2,000+ while Chinese use I think its 60,000 or something. The onyomi and kunyomi come from the Japanese trying to adopt the Chinese characters into their language. I don't know if the Chinese have a similar system of pronounciation since I don't know Chinese. I just know onyomi is usually the Chinese reading, but not always. It's kind of messy. You should read this: http://www.imabijapa...com/lesson4.htm and then you need to stop fretting over kanji so much and work on you Japanese because once you have an understanding of the Japanese syntax, the kanji is easier to understand!!!!!!!!!!!!! But you won't listen to me I'm typing to a wall.

 

Why am I still not doing my paper?.... *runs away*

 

Okay, i think I am starting to understand. So the Chinese use only 1 writing style which is all kanji. While Japanese use 3 writing styles (which are Hiragana, Katakana, and kanji of course). That seems to make sense and makes things easier to tell the difference of I guess. I'll take your word for it. Also, I found a few new sites that teach kanji and it's pretty good to use. I learned a few new kanji letters. The site teaches around 1,000 kanji. Which is quite good. And I have been working on my japanese, silly Oishii . Been working on new words, new particles, and new kanji at the same time and I am making some progress. (:

[TheLetterX 7]

One is badass and the other is less badass.

 

You have to steal my words good sir, don't you?

[lizzie1238 538]

Why does Japanese have to use Kanji? I'd love to learn Japanese, but Kanji just makes it so much more difficult. Why can't they just use Hiragana and Katakana?

[Koko 3,944]

Why does Japanese have to use Kanji? I'd love to learn Japanese, but Kanji just makes it so much more difficult. Why can't they just use Hiragana and Katakana?

 

because it's part of its culture and there's nothing you can do about it?

[Tails 6,692]

Why does Japanese have to use Kanji? I'd love to learn Japanese, but Kanji just makes it so much more difficult. Why can't they just use Hiragana and Katakana?

 

Well, the Japanese adopted the Chinese kanji for their owen use of their language. That, and pretty much what Koko said. And I don't see how kanji is so hard to learn. it's easy for me to learn. I learned about 3 new kanji yesterday and it only took me 3-4 hours to memorize them. Although I can understand about writing them though.

[Oishii 3,987]

Why does Japanese have to use Kanji? I'd love to learn Japanese, but Kanji just makes it so much more difficult. Why can't they just use Hiragana and Katakana?

 

TRADITION!

 

But, yes, Kanji is evil

[Tails 6,692]

TRADITION!

 

But, yes, Kanji is evil

 

Oishii, there's something I'd like to say to you. You were totally right, I admit it. I tried tackling the kanji but it's hard because there's more than one pronounciation of it. Which makes it hard to remember. I admit it, you were right and I was wrong. You were right about everything about the kanji. it's too hard for a beginner like me. I should've listened to your warning about kanji. Now I see why it's so hard for you to translate from Japanese to English. You have to figure out which pronounciation is used on the kanji because there's more than one pronounciation for every kanji. Please Oishii, give me your words of wisdom. How do I overcome these kanji? Look, I'll do as you say now. I'll study moreJapanese words, grammer, and particles.