What is the Difference Between Chinese and Japanese Writing?

Chinese and Japanese writing systems have some similarities, but they also have distinct differences. Here are the main differences between Chinese and Japanese writing:

1. Characters: Chinese characters are extremely detailed and dense, with strokes that don't cross outside the square perimeter of any character, giving a line of script a consistent, uniform appearance. In contrast, Japanese writing has a more open and airy style of script. Japanese makes use of kanji (mostly similar to hanzi), but also has two syllabaries of its own: hiragana and katakana.
2. Text Formatting: When the text is written horizontally, it is more likely to be Chinese. Japanese writing, on the other hand, is often written vertically, with the column text read from top to bottom, starting at the top-right corner.
3. Punctuation: Both modern Chinese and Japanese use a period, but they have different commas. Chinese uses “，” and Japanese uses “、”.
4. Calligraphy Styles: Stroke order can vary between Chinese and Japanese, even if the end result is the same character. Starker differences can be found in Chinese and Japanese calligraphy styles, many of which are distinct to their native countries.

In summary, Chinese writing is characterized by detailed, dense characters, while Japanese writing has a more open and airy style, with the use of kanji, hiragana, and katakana. Text formatting and punctuation also help distinguish between the two writing systems.

Comparative Table: Chinese vs Japanese Writing

Here is a table comparing the differences between Chinese and Japanese writing:

While Chinese and Japanese writing systems share some similarities, they have distinct features and unique characteristics. The main differences lie in the writing systems used, pronunciation, and the origins of the characters.