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Yukinokesshou · 2009-03-18, 02:55

I think attitudes towards kanji will always be a point of disagreement between Chinese and Westerners trying to learn Japanese (with me belonging to the former category

). There's no denying that kanji makes reading Japanese a whole lot easier for Chinese people, and a whole lot more challenging for Westerners.

I wonder whether the Japanese themselves are divided on this matter? Perhaps Japanese adults and primary school pupils would have diametrically opposing attitudes. Hehehe

Incidentally, part of the reason why North Korea abandoned kanji/hanja is down to nationalism. Kanji/hanja and even vertical right-to-left writing were seen as vestiges of Japanese colonialism (not true) and Chinese dominance in the past (true, but no one ever forced Korea to use kanji/hanja; it was just the natural thing to do). I believe South Korea abandoned kanji/hanja as a matter of convenience and not nationalism.

2009-03-18, 02:55	Link #2152
Yukinokesshou ドジ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: In a house	I think attitudes towards kanji will always be a point of disagreement between Chinese and Westerners trying to learn Japanese (with me belonging to the former category ). There's no denying that kanji makes reading Japanese a whole lot easier for Chinese people, and a whole lot more challenging for Westerners. I wonder whether the Japanese themselves are divided on this matter? Perhaps Japanese adults and primary school pupils would have diametrically opposing attitudes. Hehehe Incidentally, part of the reason why North Korea abandoned kanji/hanja is down to nationalism. Kanji/hanja and even vertical right-to-left writing were seen as vestiges of Japanese colonialism (not true) and Chinese dominance in the past (true, but no one ever forced Korea to use kanji/hanja; it was just the natural thing to do). I believe South Korea abandoned kanji/hanja as a matter of convenience and not nationalism. Last edited by Yukinokesshou; 2009-03-18 at 03:09.