At the opening of Singapore Centre for Chinese Language, Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew said the key to getting the younger generation to learn Mandarin effectively is to capture their interest
I just found out every digit is represented by at least three characters. Sometimes even four. For example, two can be written as 2, 二,贰, or 貳. The last two versions are for banking. If you use 二 on a check someone might stealthily modify it to 三. Hence more complicated versions of TWO were introduced to deter fraud. This is a really crazy language.
Speaking is easy but writing is hard. The Chinese mindlessly created way too many characters. For example there are different characters for the noun FISH (魚) and for the verb TO FISH (漁) even though both have the same pronunciation and tone. How about 做 and 作? There are also simplified characters for China and traditional versions for Taiwan. Madness!
I liked it at first but the older mean and fierce fuddyduddy teachers turned us off the language completely. They would call the children "stupid eggs' in Mandarin. One teacher tore up the papers, another taped the mouths and whacked the hands with the ruler. All were female teachers. NO explanations ..they don't bother and if they do it'll be in Mandarin which we barely understood.
Now China wants her people educated in English for business communication. Meetings are now in English.
I just found out every digit is represented by at least three characters. Sometimes even four. For example, two can be written as 2, 二,贰, or 貳. The last two versions are for banking. If you use 二 on a check someone might stealthily modify it to 三. Hence more complicated versions of TWO were introduced to deter fraud. This is a really crazy language.
real998877 1 year ago
@real998877
Lee Kuan Yew has wrong decision when promote mandarin.English together other language is more important.
And mandarin will make Singapore divide into small part with Tamil,malay,mandarin...
He is so old now.
BAIYUE1 1 year ago
Speaking is easy but writing is hard. The Chinese mindlessly created way too many characters. For example there are different characters for the noun FISH (魚) and for the verb TO FISH (漁) even though both have the same pronunciation and tone. How about 做 and 作? There are also simplified characters for China and traditional versions for Taiwan. Madness!
real998877 1 year ago
I liked it at first but the older mean and fierce fuddyduddy teachers turned us off the language completely. They would call the children "stupid eggs' in Mandarin. One teacher tore up the papers, another taped the mouths and whacked the hands with the ruler. All were female teachers. NO explanations ..they don't bother and if they do it'll be in Mandarin which we barely understood.
Now China wants her people educated in English for business communication. Meetings are now in English.
trini133 1 year ago