{"id":4570,"date":"2015-11-11T18:34:26","date_gmt":"2015-11-11T10:34:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.writtenchinese.com\/?p=4570"},"modified":"2022-06-04T15:08:06","modified_gmt":"2022-06-04T07:08:06","slug":"the-difference-between-written-and-spoken-chinese","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.writtenchinese.com\/the-difference-between-written-and-spoken-chinese\/","title":{"rendered":"The Difference Between Written and Spoken Chinese"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Very little is known about the origins of the Chinese written script, but many legends say that it was Cang Jie \u4ed3\u9889<\/a> (c\u0101ng ji\u00e9) and ambassador of the legendary Emperor Huang Di \u9ec4\u5e1d <\/a>(hu\u00e1ng d\u00ec) who first invented it. The story tells that Cang Jie, after observing marks left on the ground by an object dropped by a bird, believed that by using shapes and lines, he was able to depict everything on earth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Written and Spoken Chinese words<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In ancient China, Classical Chinese, the traditional style of written Chinese, was, for a while, largely separated from the spoken language. Now however, written and spoken Chinese are more alike, although compared with some other languages, there are still some obvious differences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s take a look at these words as an example:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201c\u8e53\u8df6<\/a>\u201d (li\u016b d\u00e1)\u2014\u2014\u201d\u6563\u6b65<\/a>\u201d (s\u00e0n b\u00f9)
\u201c\u804a<\/a>\u201d (li\u00e1o)\u2014\u2014\u201d\u8c08<\/a>\u201d (t\u00e1n)
\u201c\u4fe1<\/a>\u201d (x\u00ecn)\u2014\u2014\u201c\u51fd<\/a>\u201d (h\u00e1n)
\u201c\u5243\u5934<\/a>\u201d (t\u00ec t\u00f3u) \u2014\u2014\u201d\u7406\u53d1<\/a>\u201d (l\u01d0 f\u00e0)
\u201c\u8111\u74dc\u513f<\/a>\u201d (n\u01ceo gu\u0101r) \u2014\u2014\u201d\u8111\u7b4b<\/a>\u201d (n\u01ceo j\u012bn)
\u201c\u538b\u6839\u513f<\/a>\u201d (y\u00e0 g\u0113n r)\u2014\u2014\u201d\u6839\u672c<\/a>\u201d (g\u0113n b\u011bn)
\u201c\u5927\u4f19\u513f<\/a>\u201d (d\u00e0 hu\u01d2r)\u2014\u2014\u201d\u5927\u5bb6<\/a>\u201d (d\u00e0 ji\u0101)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The former words are often used in spoken Chinese, as they are more humorous and relax; the latter are more commonly used in written Chinese, which is more serious and elegant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some words in the style of Classical Chinese are still used in writing today, such as the following monosyllabic words: \u4e43 <\/a>(n\u01cei), \u5c1a<\/a> (sh\u00e0ng), \u5018<\/a> (t\u01ceng), \u82e5<\/a> (ru\u00f2). and two – syllable words, or bigrams, such as \u60e0\u5b58<\/a> (hu\u00ec c\u00fan),\u5782\u8be2<\/a> (chu\u00ed x\u00fan), \u5207\u5207<\/a> (qi\u00e8 qi\u00e8) and \u96c5\u6b63<\/a> (y\u01ce zh\u00e8ng).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In comparison, \u513f\u5316\u97f3<\/a> (\u00e9r hu\u00e0 y\u012bn), the addition of the \u2018r\u2019 \u513f<\/a> to certain words, is only part of the spoken language and is never found in formal written Chinese.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alternatively, there are also some conjunctive bigrams, such as \u4f46\u662f<\/a> (d\u00e0n sh\u00ec), \u867d\u7136<\/a> (su\u012b r\u00e1n), \u53ef\u662f<\/a> (k\u011b sh\u00ec), \u4ecd\u65e7<\/a> (r\u00e9ng ji\u00f9) and \u5982\u679c<\/a> (r\u00fa gu\u01d2) etc, that are often simplified to monosyllabic words using the initial character like, \u4f46<\/a> (d\u00e0n), \u867d<\/a> (su\u012b), \u53ef<\/a> (k\u011b), \u4ecd<\/a> (r\u00e9ng) and \u5982 <\/a>(r\u00fa). Even with only one character, the meaning is still understood based on context.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chinese Grammar<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In Chinese grammar, because of the specific context, spoken Chinese will not always follow the rules as strictly as written Chinese does. There are lots of short and elliptical sentences that are commonly spoken, and differ from the common sentence rules.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are some commonly seen examples:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Elliptical Sentences<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Example sentences:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

(\u4f60) \u600e\u4e48\u4e86\uff1f<\/a> ( (n\u01d0) z\u011bn me le) = What\u2019s wrong (with you)?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(\u6211\u7684) \u817f\u53d7\u4f24\u4e86\uff0c(\u6211) \u8d70\u4e0d\u52a8\u4e86\u3002<\/a>( (w\u01d2 de) tu\u01d0 sh\u00f2u sh\u0101ng le, (w\u01d2) z\u01d2u b\u00fa d\u00f2ng le)
(My) legs hurt, (I) can not walk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(\u8981\u662f) \u4f60\u4e0d\u53bb\u6211\u53bb\u3002<\/a> ( (y\u00e0o shi) n\u01d0 b\u00f9 q\u00f9 w\u01d2 q\u00f9.) = (If) you do not go, neither shall I.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(\u4e0d\u7ba1) \u8c01\u53bb\u90fd\u884c\u3002<\/a> ( (b\u00f9 gu\u01cen) sh\u00e9i q\u00f9 d\u014du x\u00edng.) = It is OK, (no matter) who goes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u5012 (\u4e00) \u676f\u8336 (\u7ed9) \u6211(\u559d)\u3002<\/a> (d\u00e0o (y\u012b) b\u0113i ch\u00e1 (g\u011bi) w\u01d2 h\u0113) = Please pour (a) cup of tea (for) me (to drink).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The reason why, in spoken Chinese these sentences are shortened, is that If the speaker spoke the words or character in the parentheses, it would make the sentence sound clumsy. The equivalent of these in English, might be the use of slang or contractions. For example, using \u2018dunno\u2019 instead of \u2018I don\u2019t know\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Simplification<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Example sentences:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u4e0a\u8f66\u8bf7\u6392\u961f\u3002(\u8981\u4e0a\u8f66\u7684\u8bdd\uff0c\u8bf7\u6392\u961f)<\/a> (sh\u00e0ng ch\u0113 q\u01d0ng p\u00e1i du\u00ec. (y\u00e0o sh\u00e0ng ch\u0113 de hu\u00e0, q\u01d0ng p\u00e1i du\u00ec.) = Please line up to get on. (If you want to get on the bus, please line up)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u4ed6\u4e00\u6559\u5c31\u4f1a\u3002(\u522b\u4eba\u4e00\u6559\uff0c\u4ed6\u5c31\u4f1a)<\/a> (t\u0101 y\u012b ji\u0101o ji\u00f9 hu\u00ec. (bi\u00e9 r\u00e9n y\u012b ji\u0101o t\u0101 ji\u00f9 hu\u00ec.) ) = He is quick to learn. (If some others teach him, he will soon to learn. )<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The example in the parentheses shows the semantic structure of the sentence. But in spoken Chinese, it is common to \u2018squeeze\u2019 the structure of the sentence, and express the same meaning simply.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Modal Particles to Express Emotion<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The structure of the spoken Chinese language can sometimes be loose, so in order to express a certain feeling, we add a modal particle, or alter the structure of the sentence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Example sentence: <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u4f60\u5440\uff0c\u8bf4\u8bdd\u4e0d\u7b97\u6570\uff01 (\u4f60\u8bf4\u8bdd\u4e0d\u7b97\u6570\uff01)<\/a> (n\u01d0 ya), shu\u014d hu\u00e0 b\u00f9 su\u00e0n sh\u00f9! (n\u01d0 shu\u014d hu\u00e0 b\u00f9 su\u00e0n sh\u00f9!) ) = You did not keep your word.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u4ed6\u4e0d\u4f4f\u90a3\u513f\u4e86\uff0c\u542c\u8bf4\u3002(\u542c\u8bf4\u4ed6\u4e0d\u4f4f\u90a3\u513f\u4e86\u3002)<\/a> (t\u0101 b\u00f9 zh\u00f9 n\u00e0r le, t\u012bng shu\u014d. (t\u012bng shu\u014d t\u0101 b\u00f9 zh\u00f9 n\u00e0r le) ) = I heard that he does not live there now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Special Formats: Idioms and Collocations<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

There are also some special expressional formats in spoken Chinese.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For example:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u52a8\u4e0d\u52a8<\/a> (d\u00f2ng bu d\u00f2ng): always<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u4ed6\u52a8\u4e0d\u52a8\u5c31\u6253\u4eba\u3002<\/a>(t\u0101 d\u00f2ng bu d\u00f2ng ji\u00f9 d\u01ce r\u00e9n.) = He is always beating others.
\u6709\u5b8c\u6ca1\u5b8c <\/a>(y\u01d2u w\u00e1n m\u00e9i w\u00e1n) = Is there no end of it?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u4f60\u4fe9\u5230\u5e95\u6709\u5b8c\u6ca1\u5b8c\u554a?<\/a> (n\u01d0 li\u01ceng d\u00e0o d\u01d0 y\u01d2u w\u00e1n m\u00e9i w\u00e1n a?) = Are you two finished?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u53ef\u4e0d\u662f<\/a> (k\u011b bu sh\u00ec) = Yes, Indeed \/ Exactly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u4ed6\u518d\u4e0d\u56de\u5bb6\u5c31\u5b8c\u86cb\u4e86\u3002<\/a>(t\u0101 z\u00e0i b\u00f9 hu\u00ed ji\u0101 ji\u00f9 w\u00e1n d\u00e0n le.) = If he still does not go home, he is done for.
\u53ef\u4e0d\u662f\u3002<\/a>(k\u011b bu sh\u00ec) = Indeed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u771f\u6709\u4e24\u4e0b\u5b50 <\/a>(zh\u0113n y\u01d2u li\u01ceng xi\u00e0 zi) = pretty good at (something)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u5728\u8fd9\u65b9\u9762\uff0c\u4f60\u771f\u6709\u4e24\u4e0b\u5b50\uff01<\/a>(z\u00e0i zh\u00e8 f\u0101ng mi\u00e0n n\u01d0 zh\u0113n y\u01d2u li\u01ceng xi\u00e0 zi) = You are pretty good at that!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pauses to Suggest Meaning<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Spoken Chinese can express different meanings depending on it\u2019s use of tone, pause or accent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Both sentences below use the same characters and pinyin but have two different meanings:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u6211\u60f3 \/ \u8d77\u6765\u4e86<\/a> (w\u01d2 xi\u01ceng q\u01d0 lai le.) = I want to get up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u6211 \/ \u60f3\u8d77\u6765\u4e86 <\/a>(w\u01d2 xi\u01ceng q\u01d0 lai le) = I remember now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The pauses (shown by the \u2018\/\u2019) created by the speaker would indicate to the listener to meaning of the statement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s important to note that like many other languages, written and spoken Chinese are not exclusively being written or spoken respectively. Depending on different social situations and people, you can decide to use either written Chinese or spoken Chinese. Spoken Chinese is often used in a letter or message to a close friend, whereas in a formal news broadcast, written Chinese would be used.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The examples above are just a few differences that separate spoken and written Chinese. If you have any questions or additional examples of differences, please leave us a comment below!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Very little is known about the origins of the Chinese written script, but many legends say that it was Cang Jie \u4ed3\u9889 (c\u0101ng ji\u00e9) and ambassador of the legendary Emperor Huang Di \u9ec4\u5e1d (hu\u00e1ng d\u00ec) who first invented it. The story tells that Cang Jie, after observing marks left on the ground by an object… Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":4571,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false}}},"categories":[142,84,3],"tags":[253,252,251],"class_list":["use-editor no-single","post-4570","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog","category-culture-lessons","category-learner-tips","tag-ancient-chinese","tag-cang-jie","tag-huang-di"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nThe Difference Between Written and Spoken Chinese<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Classical Chinese, the traditional style of written Chinese, was, for a while, separated from the spoken language. 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