I plan to take Chinese lessons next month, so I want to know something first about Chinese characters. Since there are now two Chinese writing systems I can learn in Chinese lessons, how much does simplified Chinese differ from traditional? Seeing as there are thousands of characters in Chinese, they couldn't have changed all of them. So how many were "simplified"? Especially ones that are seen in common usage.

I’m getting a tattoo so I must know.

I've heard that Chinese is one of the most difficult languages in the world to learn. Despite that, I want to learn it. I have no idea where to start, and how to start. Do you have any recommendations on books about learning Chinese? Software? CDs? Anything? Where should I start, I suppose, is the fundamental question.

I am using Rossetta stone and the pinyin setting is not that difficult but simplified Chinese characters are difficult. Are there any tricks to learning simplified Chinese characters, I find it difficult that I can't see any patterns in it?

My friend learned 20 Chinese characters in 1 hour. 5 hours later he still can recite them, read them, and write them really fast. Does this make him a genius?

I've been taking Chinese with a tutor 1 hour and a half a week for about 3 months I know the basics and now I'm learning the characters. How long will it take me to speak Chinese fluently? I am fifteen.

What is the difference between jia ren and jia li in Chinese? Are they interchangeable? I got this question on an online Chinese test.

If PRC's influence grows stronger, would even Taiwan give up the traditional Chinese characters and switch to simplified? Would they completely be out of use? I personally love the traditional more than the simplified, so I wouldn't want them to go away.

First of all, you need to know how to read Chinese. I’m asking a friend of mine to buy me computer ram but he is Chinese. I used Google translate and tell me if he would understand this: 我的電腦只擁有 2個插槽，所以你需要購買 2 個2GB內存 My original English writing was this: My computer only has 2 ram slots so you need to buy 2 2GB ram. Will he understand the Chinese words and does it match the English one?

I have no idea what it is (Ap Chinese homework).

They both seem to signify possession, but how do you determine which one to use?

The Chinese character is... 籹 (cake) I know that it's written like, nǚ, but what is the pinyin? I read somewhere that is was nu3ru3. That can't be right. Can someone help? Thanks in advanced!

What are the differences between 号 and日? why sometimes when somebody ask time, can be answered with says 现在九点, but also can added with 钟 (刚好九点钟= It's 9 o'clock). ???

I am studying business Mandarin these days. When we answer the phone, what should we say to begin a conversation using proper business Mandarin? In English we say "Hello." Thank you!

pls give free explicating what is a foreigner. there are many worldover.

Thanks! Is this right? Ni xiele zhege zi cuo or ni zhege zi xiele xuo are either of these right?

Okay, I’ve been learning Chinese for a while and I know for a fact that if I can speak the word I can read the pinyin word. Is it possible to learn Chinese characters and not understand pinyin (Which seems impossible)? Because, if you wrote, "Nǐ hǎo, nǐ jīn tiān zěn yàng?”I’d be able to read that because of the words and because of the accent tones and say, "Hello, how are you today?" Answers please.