This is such an interesting and digestible way to read a Chinese classic, albeit in English. I've been learning simplified for five years only, so the traditional characters are a huge barrier, but the sheer length and complexity of 红楼梦is also. I managed to watch a series a few years ago, but hasn't realised from that experience that 红楼梦 is an outstanding piece of literature. I mentioned this new translation coming out to my lecturer, 张老师，which she thought was incredible, so I will share a subscription link with her.
If you give it a little bit of time, you'll find that traditional and simplified characters are actually not as different as you think. It is harder to go from simplified to traditional than going the other way around - but, in the end, they're essentially the same. I'm planning on making a video about that in the next few weeks.
Keep going! The truth is that 紅樓夢 is not as difficult as its reputation indicates. You likely already know enough Chinese grammar and vocabulary to get the basics down, and learning some of the more complicated and advanced vocabulary really isn't all that hard.
In my opinion, the hardest part of the novel is understanding some of the subtle meanings - for example, why characters do certain things at certain times, or why certain words are used in certain contexts. The poetry is also challenging. But you can do it!
That's such a lovely reply. Thank you for your encouragement, Daniel. I'm doing a Bachelor of Languages (Chinese) at UNE in Australia; having to choose a second language I opted for Japanese, so have learnt a few traditional characters because kanji is mostly traditional. But I don't like Japanese, so am switching over to German as the system for conjugating verbs makes more sense to me!
:-P
I've ordered a few simplified Chinese versions of 红楼梦· to get my head around the basics of the story, with illustrations and in-line pinyin :-) I look forward to this adventure with you and the other subscribers.
This is such an interesting and digestible way to read a Chinese classic, albeit in English. I've been learning simplified for five years only, so the traditional characters are a huge barrier, but the sheer length and complexity of 红楼梦is also. I managed to watch a series a few years ago, but hasn't realised from that experience that 红楼梦 is an outstanding piece of literature. I mentioned this new translation coming out to my lecturer, 张老师，which she thought was incredible, so I will share a subscription link with her.
Thank you!
If you give it a little bit of time, you'll find that traditional and simplified characters are actually not as different as you think. It is harder to go from simplified to traditional than going the other way around - but, in the end, they're essentially the same. I'm planning on making a video about that in the next few weeks.
Keep going! The truth is that 紅樓夢 is not as difficult as its reputation indicates. You likely already know enough Chinese grammar and vocabulary to get the basics down, and learning some of the more complicated and advanced vocabulary really isn't all that hard.
In my opinion, the hardest part of the novel is understanding some of the subtle meanings - for example, why characters do certain things at certain times, or why certain words are used in certain contexts. The poetry is also challenging. But you can do it!
That's such a lovely reply. Thank you for your encouragement, Daniel. I'm doing a Bachelor of Languages (Chinese) at UNE in Australia; having to choose a second language I opted for Japanese, so have learnt a few traditional characters because kanji is mostly traditional. But I don't like Japanese, so am switching over to German as the system for conjugating verbs makes more sense to me!
:-P
I've ordered a few simplified Chinese versions of 红楼梦· to get my head around the basics of the story, with illustrations and in-line pinyin :-) I look forward to this adventure with you and the other subscribers.