1. Logographic System: Chinese uses logographic characters, where each character represents a whole word or morpheme (meaningful unit). This is different from alphabetic languages where letters represent sounds and are combined to form words.
2. Vast Number of Characters: Chinese has thousands of characters, with estimates ranging from 3,000 to 50,000 depending on the criteria used. This makes learning the language challenging for non-native speakers.
3. Characters Have Multiple Meanings: Many characters have multiple meanings depending on the context. This can be confusing for learners, but it also allows for concise and nuanced communication.
4. Tone and Pronunciation: Chinese pronunciation is based on tones, where the same character can have different meanings based on the tone used. This adds another layer of complexity to spoken and written Chinese.
5. No Spaces Between Words: In written Chinese, words are not separated by spaces. This can make it difficult for beginners to distinguish where one word ends and another begins.
6. Traditional vs. Simplified Characters: There are two major writing systems: Traditional Chinese used in Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Macau; and Simplified Chinese used in mainland China and Singapore. While they have a shared origin, there are differences in the number and form of characters used.
7. Writing Direction: While written horizontally from left to right is common, traditional Chinese was historically written vertically from top to bottom and right to left.
8. Different Dialects: Mandarin is the most common dialect and the official language of China, but other dialects like Cantonese have their own distinct pronunciations and written forms.
9. The Writing System is Historically Rooted: The Chinese writing system is thousands of years old, evolving and changing over time. This long history contributes to its complexity and unique nature.
These are just some of the unusual features of the written form of Chinese language. Its complexity and unique character system make it both challenging and fascinating to study.