Japanese can understand Chinese Ancient Text?

[梁铠赞]

I have a Japanese friend..she told me that she manage to read ancient chinese poems/text but find it harder to read modern Chinese articles...I wonder if it's true..:souka:

[epigene]

I have a Japanese friend..she told me that she manage to read ancient chinese poems/text but find it harder to read modern Chinese articles...I wonder if it's true..:souka:
Yes, it's true.

Japanese borrowed from ancient Chinese, so it's easier to understand than modern Chinese written in simplified characters.

It would be similar to Americans and British studying Shakespeare and Chaucer on the high school level. Japanese study ancient Chinese poetry, though on an introductory level, in high school.

Similarity doesn't end there--not all Japanese remember what they studied in high school! :blush:

[JimmySeal]

I have a feeling that most people who say they can read ancient Chinese mean that they read a few samplings in high school. I bet if you handed them a random bit of ancient Chinese, they would be lost.

[梁铠赞]

I can read ancient chinese..but I cant understand the meanings..haha..

[Mars Man]

I do know that when the older texts are given to almost all folks, there is some difficulty in reading. As for the newer shortened Chinese style, I have not idea. The few 'old Chinese' samples, as mentioned above, that are done in school don't seem to give most folks much reading ability.

One time when some friends of mine were here for a BBQ (and these were all people who were older than myself) I pulled out some books for the storage. There was only one lady who could read the texts--some of which were handwritten. She had studied that for a long period of time, and specialized in such writing. I'll see if I can get around to posting some examples here, some fine day...but it'll have to wait until after the JREF meet at my place on May 4th. MM

[uloocn]

I can read ancient chinese..but I cant understand the meanings..haha..
What ancient Chinese you have read? Maybe I understand the meanings.
From my point of view, there is little difference between ancient and nowadays Chinese in meaning.

[YAPONLUQ]

华人没学过日文也看懂一点日文。
没学过中文也日本人懂一点中文。
我第一次去中国时候一点也听不懂汉语，
那时我和中国人笔谈来沟通。
用汉语说不出来“银行”也日本人都会写“銀行”的。

没学过中文也看懂唐诗的大概意思。

[nhk9]

I have a feeling that most people who say they can read ancient Chinese mean that they read a few samplings in high school. I bet if you handed them a random bit of ancient Chinese, they would be lost.

Most Chinese can't understand fully Ancient Chinese (actually there are quite a few types of Ancient Chinese...) without advanced education, so I wouldn't be surprised if the average Japanese can't read Ancient Chinese.

Many Japanese students in grade school learn "kanbun" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kanbun). Using a systematic way of breaking down archaic Chinese passages, the Japanese can somehow make those passages look and sound more like Japanese.

[caster51]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kanbun

your link does not work because of kanbun):relief:

[lenajiang]

I can read ancient chinese..but I cant understand the meanings..haha..



I am very happy you can understand them! hehe
:-)

[包龙星]

I can read ancient chinese..but I cant understand the meanings..haha..
I have learnt chinese acient artical for 3 years...
Frankly,it's very difficult to both Chinese and foreigners..
There're too many different sects:blush: :blush: :blush: :blush:

[caster51]

I think Japanese can read it more than the chinese:bluush:

[franky]

华人没学过日文也看懂一点日文。
没学过中文也日本人懂一点中文。
我第一次去中国时候一点也听不懂汉语，
那时我和中国人笔谈来沟通。
用汉语说不出来“银行”也日本人都会写“銀行”的。
没学过中文也看懂唐诗的大概意思。


it si ture!
i knwow some japanese before i studied japanese!
:p

[kamikaze_sg]

I have a Japanese friend..she told me that she manage to read ancient chinese poems/text but find it harder to read modern Chinese articles...I wonder if it's true..:souka:
Why you don't believe your japanese friend? :(