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Mandarin or Japanese? Which to learn?

Discussion in 'General Chat' started by crystak, Jun 15, 2008.

  1. #1
    Hello all,

    I've decided that during my gap year I will try and learn a new language as best as I can - already fluent in 3 (Romanian, English and German(well, 90% I think :D)).

    Asia is a continent I haven't visited yet, but definitely planning to in the near future. So anyways, I'm looking for your opinions, which one you think is easier or more valuable?

    I know Mandarin is the most spoken language in the world, with over 1 billion people speaking it but I don't really want to get into something that's impossible to learn; yes I know both are hard, but one must be easier, taking into account tenses and synonyms than the other :).
     
    crystak, Jun 15, 2008 IP
    bangalore likes this.
  2. sun and kisses

    sun and kisses Guest

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    #2
    For me maybe considering jap =)
     
    sun and kisses, Jun 16, 2008 IP
  3. Will.Spencer

    Will.Spencer NetBuilder

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    #3
    I dunno... if I were in Romania I might choose Russian.

    That may not be the most politically correct suggestion. :D
     
    Will.Spencer, Jun 16, 2008 IP
  4. Ichigo91

    Ichigo91 Guest

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    #4
    I would recommend Japanese, its not that hard. Kanji is hard.
     
    Ichigo91, Jun 16, 2008 IP
  5. Will.Spencer

    Will.Spencer NetBuilder

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    #5
    And if you do choose Mandarin, you have to choose which character set to learn -- Traditional Chinese or Simplified (Communist) Chinese.
     
    Will.Spencer, Jun 16, 2008 IP
  6. skyekills

    skyekills Banned

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    #6
    I love both because I'm part Chinese but I like nihongo more! weeee
     
    skyekills, Jun 16, 2008 IP
  7. cool_78

    cool_78 Guest

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    #7
    I'd choose Mandarin, it's spoken by more pepole in the world.
     
    cool_78, Jun 16, 2008 IP
  8. nitinleew

    nitinleew Well-Known Member

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    #8
    I also choose Mandarin... Kanjis is hard to write..:eek:
     
    nitinleew, Jun 16, 2008 IP
  9. lightstarm2k

    lightstarm2k Well-Known Member

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    #9
    I choose Mandarin, It's the second after English :D
     
    lightstarm2k, Jun 16, 2008 IP
  10. MyEggNoodles

    MyEggNoodles Peon

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    #10
    I would chose Mandarin, their economy is growing at a super rate and it won't be long before they need more fluent English speakers to help with building trade/relationships.

    I'm currently learning Thai and hear Mandarin is very similar - i.e it's a tonal language.

    Good luck with what ever language you decide to learn :)
     
    MyEggNoodles, Jun 16, 2008 IP
  11. arcel

    arcel Banned

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    #11
    Japanese for sure...
     
    arcel, Jun 16, 2008 IP
  12. WebmasterTL

    WebmasterTL Banned

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    #12
    Japanese.. Yui is kawai...:)
     
    WebmasterTL, Jun 16, 2008 IP
  13. macglobin

    macglobin Peon

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    #13
    Japanese <3
     
    macglobin, Jun 16, 2008 IP
  14. ac3_spad3s

    ac3_spad3s Well-Known Member

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    #14
    I hear that Japanese is a lot easier to learn so I would have to chose Japanese then.
     
    ac3_spad3s, Jun 16, 2008 IP
  15. Ichigo91

    Ichigo91 Guest

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    #15
    Not only its easier, it sounds much better
     
    Ichigo91, Jun 16, 2008 IP
  16. ~Jules~

    ~Jules~ Guest

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    #16
    Even though Kanji is difficult, Japanese grammar isn't (as some friends have told me). Plus, the Japanese market has it all, and it's always a useful language to know.
    About Mandarin, sure, it's great to be able to say you speak Chinese, and China is a growing power (ergo a growing market), but it's not a safe bet.

    If you want to learn one of them just for the kicks, I say both are just as cool.
    Mult succes!
     
    ~Jules~, Jun 16, 2008 IP
  17. dairyman

    dairyman Notable Member

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    #17
    Decide about the kind of language you are going to learn depending on the country you are planning to visit. It seems mandarin is the most popular language but Japanese is relative less difficult to learn.
     
    dairyman, Jun 16, 2008 IP
  18. crystak

    crystak Well-Known Member

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    #18
    I see, well thanks for the replies, it looks like Japanese might be easier apart from the Kanji characters but I doubt the Simplified Chinese characters would be much easier to learn.

    Yeah, thing is that China is grown in the world market at a staggering at the moment and even though Japanese market is strong, I personally think it will be overtaken in the next 50 years.

    I haven't got planned any visits or business over the next years as I'm still 18 but being able to learn a new language is always nice. Therefore it's hard to say which country I'm planning on visiting.
     
    crystak, Jun 16, 2008 IP
  19. bangalore

    bangalore Peon

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    #19
    Maybe it would be better and much easier for you to learn let's say French or Spanish.
     
    bangalore, Jun 16, 2008 IP
  20. makelanguages

    makelanguages Peon

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    #20
    i would like to learn mandarine.. its easier to learn i think,
     
    makelanguages, Jun 16, 2008 IP