Simplified Chinese characters

Simplified Chinese characters are one of two main ways to write the Chinese language. The other is called traditional characters. Simplified characters were made easier to write so that more people could learn to read and write. The government of the People's Republic of China began using them in the 1950s.

In mainland China, Malaysia, and Singapore, people use simplified characters. In places like Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan, they use traditional characters instead. Simplifying characters often means using fewer strokes or making the shape simpler. For example, the traditional character 沒 was changed to 没 by making it easier to write.

Even though most simplifications happened in the 1960s, there was a second round in 1977. This round was not popular and was stopped in 1986. In 2013, China updated its list of commonly used characters to include a few new simplified forms.

Nomenclature

In Chinese, simplified characters are called 简化字 (jiǎnhuàzì), or sometimes 简体字 (jiǎntǐzì^ⓘ). The word 简体字 talks about any characters that have simpler shapes or structures. The official name 简化字 refers to the specific set of characters that the Chinese government published. This set not only simplifies some characters but also reduces the total number by combining different forms that used to be separate.

History

See also: Variant Chinese characters

The Chinese language has often changed its writing over time, with simplification being a big part of these changes. One of the first big changes happened after the start of the Qin dynasty in 221–206 BC, when the government tried to make everyone use the same style of writing.

In the early 1900s, many people in China thought the writing system made learning hard. Some even suggested using an alphabet instead. In 1909, an educator named Lufei Kui first suggested using simpler characters in schools. In 1935, the Republic of China made a list of simpler characters, but it was stopped because not everyone agreed.

In 1956, after China became the People’s Republic of China, a plan for simpler characters was made. This plan helped many people learn to read. A second plan in 1977 wasn’t liked and was stopped in 1986. Since then, the Chinese government has tried to keep the writing system stable.

Outside of mainland China, Singapore and Malaysia also use simplified characters. Singapore made its own changes in steps from 1969 to 1976 and now uses the same characters as mainland China. Malaysia started using simplified characters in 1981, matching those used in mainland China.

Methodology

All simplified Chinese characters are listed in official charts from 1986. These charts show two main groups: one with characters used by themselves, and another with characters used both alone and as parts of other characters.

There are also rules for creating simplified versions of characters based on these lists. Some characters were changed by picking simpler or older forms, while others were made easier to write by removing or changing parts.

The process sometimes led to characters that look a bit more complex, even though they were chosen to be easier to use overall. This shows that simplification was about making writing more efficient, not always about using fewer strokes.

Distribution

The People's Republic of China and Singapore mainly use simplified characters. You can also see them sometimes in places like Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, and other areas where Chinese people live, but they are used less there.

In China, simplified characters are the usual way to write. Traditional characters are still used for special events, art, old books, and on old buildings. China lets Hong Kong and Macau keep using traditional characters. Materials made in China for these places often use traditional characters too.

In Hong Kong, schools teach traditional characters, but some students use simplified characters to write faster. People in Hong Kong often know both types of characters.

Taiwan only uses traditional characters officially, but some people might use simplified characters in casual writing. It is okay to bring in books or other items that use simplified characters.

In Singapore, simplified characters are used in schools and government work, but people are free to use traditional characters too. Many older Singaporeans still use traditional characters.

In Malaysia, most Chinese schools teach using simplified characters, but traditional characters are still common, especially in newspapers. In Indonesia, Chinese schools also mainly use simplified characters.

In education

Schools in mainland China, Malaysia, and Singapore use simplified characters only. Schools in Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan use traditional characters only.

Today, simplified characters are the main way Chinese is taught to people learning it as a new language outside of China, like in the United States. This is because most people need to talk with people from mainland China.

Mainland China

In 2004, some people suggested that schools should teach traditional characters too, but the government decided not to. They said it would make learning harder and was not allowed by the rules.

Hong Kong

In Hong Kong, most books use traditional characters. Before 1997, using simplified characters was not encouraged in schools. After 1997, students still need to learn traditional characters for formal writing, but sometimes they can use a mix of both in everyday writing to write faster.

Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia

In Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia, schools only teach simplified characters. Traditional characters are usually only taught to students who take special classes in calligraphy or learn Cantonese.

Chinese as a foreign language

Most books for learning Chinese now use simplified characters. This is because most learners will need to talk with people from mainland China. In many places, like Europe and the United States, schools teach simplified characters because they are more useful for communication.

Europe

In the United Kingdom, universities teach Chinese using simplified characters. But if students study in Taiwan or Hong Kong, they also need to learn traditional characters. In Australia and New Zealand, schools and universities mostly use simplified characters.

Russia and most East European countries teach Chinese using simplified characters but also show students both systems.

East Asia

In South Korea, universities mostly use simplified characters. In high schools, they switched to using simplified characters and pinyin in 1996.

In Japan, there are different types of schools. Schools that support mainland China teach simplified characters and pinyin. Schools that support Taiwan teach a different writing system, but they are now also starting to teach simplified characters.

Southeast Asia

In the Philippines, using simplified characters has become more popular. Before the 1970s, most schools used traditional characters. Now, many schools import their books from Singapore and use simplified characters. Some private schools and universities still use traditional characters.

Use with computers

When writing with computers, special systems help show Chinese characters. One system, called GB, usually shows simplified characters, while another system, called Big5, usually shows traditional characters. These systems don’t perfectly match the characters, so they often work together in a certain way.

Today, there is a newer system called GB 18030 that works for both simplified and traditional characters. This helps computers show all kinds of Chinese writing correctly. The World Wide Web also suggests a special code, zh-Hans, to tell computers when a webpage uses simplified characters.

Criticism

Further information: Debate on traditional and simplified Chinese characters

A writer named Liu Shahe spoke out against changing Chinese characters to simpler forms. He had a column called "Simplified Characters are Unreasonable" in the Chinese version of the Financial Times.

Some people criticize Simplified Chinese by calling it "crippled characters."