Top 5 Reasons to Learn Chinese

March 05, 2019

With over 80,000 Chinese characters, learning Chinese may seem like a very daunting task. But it’s actually a fairly easy language, once you’ve got the hang of the characters and tones. And in fact, only around 3,500 characters are used in the language on a day-to-day basis.

If you need a bit more convincing, keep reading to learn why you should learn Chinese. Here are the 5 top reasons why you should speak Chinese.


Why learn Chinese? Because there's a whole lot of people you can practice with!

China is home to the biggest population in the world. There are approximately 1.28 billion Chinese people. English is not widely spoken in China. In big cities such as Beijing and Shanghai, there are a lot more Chinese people that learn English. It is also becoming more popular to learn English as the new generation grow up. However, the most part of this 1.28 billion will not be able to speak a second language, so it’s greatly beneficial to learn Chinese and be able to converse with them!

Plus, if you travel to China being able to speak Chinese is a great benefit, since getting around otherwise can be quite tough! Unlike learning German or Spanish where many people speak English to a high level, you will be able to use your Chinese language on a day-to-day basis. It really comes in handy!

Why Learn Chinese? For the awesome food and diverse culture!

China is one of the best places in the world to travel to. It’s a big country. Massive, in fact. This means it’s also incredibly diverse. From the beautiful mountains in the south to ice festivals in the very north, there is something to offer for everybody.

Beijing, Shanghai, Xi’an… These are all cities you must visit when travelling to China, however they’re not all that China has to offer! The further outside of the big cities you travel, the deeper the culture and history. The more you explore, the more you find out there is to explore!

However, the further you go outside of the big tourist locations, the chance of finding somebody that speaks English significantly decreases. While you don’t NEED to be able to speak Chinese to travel to China, it certainly adds to the experience if you can.

Speaking Chinese while travelling China means you get to speak to people from all walks of life, helps you to book tickets, find accommodation, not get lost, and - most importantly - you can enjoy Chinese food!

Learning Chinese if only for the food is definitely worth it. China, with its diverse history and culture, has a massive variety of food. It’s great to know what you’re eating, and you can use your Chinese to make sure you’re getting the best local delicacy.

Plus, if you have any allergies or dietary requirements, being able to communicate this to Chinese restaurant staff is vital!

Why Learn Chinese? To be part of a booming economy!

China has become an economic superpower over the recent years. It may have slowed down, but its economy has grown rapidly in a very short time, attracting foreigners from all over the world. And it does keep growing.

China is full of opportunities and it is becoming more and more open to foreigners and foreign trade. If you’re after doing some business, China is your partner. Learning Chinese and understanding Chinese business culture is key to success regarding business in China.

Be a part of this economic growth by learning Chinese and benefiting in this economic boom!

Why Learn Chinese? To learn more about Chinese History

China is and has been home to some of the richest countries on the planet. Its history goes back thousands of years, and it’s incredibly unique.

Curious to know more? Read about the Lantern Festival and Chinese Valentine's Day!


You can learn more about the history and culture of this fascinating country by learning the language and delving deeper into the history. When you visit historical sites, you’ll also have the upper hand with your Chinese knowledge and be able to appreciate historical locations much more.

Chinese literature, including novels and poetry, is incredibly unique and if you get your Chinese up to a high level, you can enjoy learning more about Chinese history directly from the source.

Why learn Chinese? Simply for the joy of learning a fun and new language!

As I mentioned, the Chinese language may seem pretty scary at first - but it’s actually a really fun language. You can get very creative, and even if you only know a few characters and words at first, these go a very long way.

Chinese is the second most widely spoken language in the world, making it one of the best languages to learn. There are over 1.1 billion people around the world that speak Mandarin Chinese. That’s a whole lot of people you can get out and chat with!

What’s more, there are plenty of opportunities all over the world to practice. Not only in mainland China, but Mandarin Chinese is also spoken in other places such as Taiwan, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, Brunei, the Philippines, Mongolia, and Malaysia.

Better get started!