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Best language to learn after Chinese

Chinese gives you characters, tones and compact grammar, which unlock several neighbouring languages.

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Updated · by the 4ToSpeak team

4 languages to learn after Chinese, ranked

  1. 1. Japanese

    Some carries over

    You will recognise many kanji straight away, even if pronunciation and grammar are new.

    Hardest for English speakers · about 2,200 hours

    Learn Japanese · How long it takes

  2. 2. Korean

    Some carries over

    A big share of vocabulary comes from Chinese, and Hangul is quick to learn.

    Hardest for English speakers · about 2,200 hours

    Learn Korean · How long it takes

  3. 3. Vietnamese

    Some carries over

    Shares tones and a lot of Chinese-derived vocabulary, written in a Latin alphabet.

    Harder for English speakers · about 1,100 hours

    Learn Vietnamese · How long it takes

  4. 4. Thai

    A little carries over

    Tones and simple grammar will feel familiar.

    Harder for English speakers · about 1,100 hours

    Learn Thai · How long it takes

“Carries over” is a guide to how much vocabulary, grammar and sound you will recognise, not a measurement. Hours are for a native English speaker starting from zero; your head start will shorten them.

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FAQ

Questions, answered

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What is the best language to learn after Chinese?

After Chinese, the best language to learn next is Japanese. You will recognise many kanji straight away, even if pronunciation and grammar are new. Korean is the next best choice.

Which language is easiest to learn after Chinese?

Japanese is the easiest next step, with "some" carrying over. Based on difficulty bands for English speakers, it takes about 2,200 hours, and you start ahead because of Chinese.

Should I master Chinese before starting another language?

You do not need to master it. A comfortable conversational level (the point where you can hold a short chat without panic) is enough. Starting a similar language too early can blur the two together, so build a solid base first.

Can I learn Chinese and Japanese at the same time?

You can, but similar languages are easy to mix up. Most learners do better getting Chinese to a comfortable level and then adding Japanese, which will feel much faster than starting from scratch.

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