WRITTEN CHINESE Meaning and
Definition
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Written Chinese refers to the standardized system of writing used to represent the Chinese language. It encompasses various scripts and characters that have developed over thousands of years and are used by Chinese speakers worldwide. The primary script used in written Chinese is known as Chinese characters or Han characters, which originated around 1200 BCE and underwent significant modifications over time.
Chinese characters are logograms, meaning that each character represents a specific word or concept rather than individual sounds. These characters are composed of various strokes, each having its own distinctive shape and order. A single character can consist of one or more strokes, and their combinations form the basis for thousands of characters in the written Chinese system.
Written Chinese is traditionally written in vertical columns, progressing from top to bottom and right to left. However, horizontal writing from left to right has become more common in modern usage, especially in simplified Chinese characters used in Mainland China and Singapore.
Apart from the Chinese characters, written Chinese also incorporates punctuation marks and other symbols. Mandarin Chinese, being the official language of China, Taiwan, and Singapore, is predominantly used in written Chinese, although other Chinese languages and dialects may also utilize these characters.
Overall, written Chinese is a complex and visually striking writing system that not only preserves the linguistic heritage of the Chinese people but also serves as a significant cultural symbol of China and its global diaspora.
Etymology of WRITTEN CHINESE
The phrase "written Chinese" refers to the system of writing used to represent the Chinese language. The etymology of this term can be broken down as follows:
1. Written: The term "written" is derived from the Old English word "writan", which means "to form letters, characters, or words on a surface with a pen, pencil, or similar instrument". It has Germanic origins, and its roots can be traced back to the Proto-Germanic word "writaną" and the Proto-Indo-European root "wreyd-", meaning "to score, scratch, or carve".
2. Chinese: The term "Chinese" originates from the Latin word "Sinae", which was used by the ancient Romans to refer to ancient China. This Latin word was derived from the Sanskrit word "Cīna", which was used to describe China in ancient Indian literature.
