What's simple about simplified Chinese writting?

Question

I think traditional hanzi are better. EAST 東, I can picture the SUN 日 rising in the east behind a TREE 木, but I can't picture that with the "simplified" hanzi 东. I can picture an EYE 目 over TWO LEGS儿 as SEEING見, but not with the "simplified" one 见. I can picture the chassis of a CAR with 車, but I can't picture anything with the "simplified" one 车. I can name numerous examples, the tradiotional hanzi may be more strokes than the "simplied" hanzi, but at least you can picture the thing you are talking about.

Why do they called them "Simplified hanzi"?

Answer 1

Simpllified as in, they have less stroke than the traditional.

Simplified are first used in China. Taiwan and most of the South East Asia are using the Traditional. But Singapore are slowly using Simplified in schools, however, some publication are still using traditional.

You are right to point out that most simplified had lost the meaning of the words. Chinese word are pictorial, and suppose to be able to understand the meaning of the word by looking at it. After simplification, all the meaning are gone. Just as you have mentioned.

Personally I can use both form, but I still prefer to read in traditional, but as for typing, it is easier to use the simplified. Nothing simple about it, you are very right.

Answer 2

♡I live in Japan, so I'm not too sure about the 'Simplified Chinese', but perhaps this site will help:
"Simplified characters forms are created by diminishing the number of strokes and simplifying the form from Traditional Chinese. A considerable number of characters were simplified, but some of the characters are identical between Simplified and Traditional Chinese. A small number of Simplified characters are not derived from Traditional Chinese in the usual way; and some Simplified characters are completely different in form from Traditional characters."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simplified_Chinese_character
Hope this helps!♡

Answer 3

I think it's only called simplified because of the 'simpler' strokes' and stroke counts.....you are right...at least with traditional you can guess at the meaning of a simplified character...but not the other way around...a student of chinese characters

Answer 4

because it's MUCH simpler to write and easier to remember than TRADITIONAL chinese.
But I agree, tradional hanzi gives you more "mental images".
but i'd rather stick to simplified.

Answer 5

Because it is.
It is simplified, not made easier.

I agree, like most 'language improvements' made by specialists, it is only simple in their brain.