Written+vs+Spoken

Written vs Spoken Chinese

Written Chinese has grown out of classical Chinese, when written Chinese and spoken were quite different. Even today, there are many terms that are used in writing that are not used in speaking. As a non-native speaker (and writer) of Chinese, it is more important that you be able to read these than to use them, as people will understand your written Chinese even if you write the way you speak.

Written Chinese is terser and more economical than spoken.