I have a question regarding japanese, chinese, mandarin language?

Question

Iam going to learn Chinese Mandarin for school as a elective. I was wondering if I go to china or Japan or someplace like that I can talk to the locals speaking mandarin? I also wan't to understand japanese or chinese tv shows and music! So my question is what is the primary language that japanese, korean, chinese , etc? I think from my understanding it is mandarin but Iam not sure.Thanks all

Answer 1

All Asian peoples (chinese, japanese, korean, vietnamese, etc) who have what we Americans would consider "yellow" skintones and somewhat slanted eyes, can at least understand spoken Chinese.  Linguistically, Mandarin, Japanese, and Korean are all derived from the same historic Vietnamese tongue, which migrated north ca. 500 A.D.  Ideally, if you want to learn the others eventually, start by memorizing word roots of modern Vietnamese. It will give you the best foundation, and you'll be pleased to see that when you're done, you'll be able to understand bits and pieces of the others.  Also, it helps to spend time in Vietnam! Good Luck, you can do it!

Answer 2

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Japan speaks Japanese, Korea speaks Korean, only Beijing, China, Taiwan, and Singapore speaks Mandarin Chinese. If you go anywhere outside of there you won't be able to talk or understand anyone or anything.

Answer 3

hi there..

I really don't mean to disappoint you but, Japanese, Chinese and Korean people each has different language that is very different from one another. Japanese and Chinese (Mandarin) has similarities in some of their Kanji (the symbols for words, a sort of letters), but Korean has one that is completely different. So if you learn Chinese you probably won't understand Japanese or Korean.

Answer 4

The part about if you get to go there would be up to your school. We wouldn't know that. ask your teacher.  

Answer 5

i dont know the history chit chat but as far as im concerned, japanese people dont understand cantonese or mandarin. japanese people speak japanese, and occasionally english because its "cool"

stereotyping, much??