Some Methods of Chinese Character Simplification

Traditional vs Simplified Chinese- There are several methods of simplifications, as follows:

1. Replacing the complicated element of a character with a simplified form.

2. Retaining a part of the traditional character and removing unnecessary elements.

3. Reverting to the ancient form that is simpler than its modern one.

4. Merging two characters that sound the same or similar.

The simplified Chinese characters still use the same pattern like the traditional ones.

a) The simpler substituted element isn’t a stand-alone character.

For examples:

• 單 【dān=simple】 → 单 【dān】
• 僉 【qiān=all】 → 佥 【qiān】
• 岡 【gāng=ridge】 → 冈 【gāng】
• 單 → 单
• 僉 → 佥
• 岡 → 冈

b) The simpler substituted element is a stand-alone character and has a different sound with the traditional character.

When it’s substituted, its phonetic element is changed to become the phonetic of the traditional character; 玉 【yù】becomes 国 【guó】. This method is also known as changing the phonetic element.

For examples:

Traditional Chinese → Simplified Chinese (Simpler Substituted Element)

• 國 【guó=country】 → 国 【guó】( 玉 【yù=jade】)
• 還 【hái=still, yet】 → 还【hái】 ( 不 【bù=no, not】 )
• 潔 【jié=clean】 → 洁 【jié】( 土 【tǔ=land】 and 口【kǒu=mouth】)

• 國 → 国 ( 玉 )
• 還 → 还 ( 不 )
• 潔 → 洁 ( 土and 口 )

c) The simpler substituted element is a stand-alone character and has a similar/same sound as the traditional one.

When it’s substituted, its meaning is changed such as when the meaning of 由 【yóu=cause】is changed to become 邮 【yóu=post】.

For examples:

Traditional Chinese → Simplified Chinese (Simpler Substituted Element)

• 郵 【yóu=mail】→ 邮 【yóu】( 由 【yóu=cause】)
• 樣 【yàng=shape】→ 样 【yàng】( 羊 【yáng=sheep】)
• 園 【yuán= garden】→ 园 【yuán】( 元 【yuán=primary】)

• 郵 → 邮 ( 由 )
• 樣 → 样 ( 羊 )
• 園 → 园 ( 元 )

For examples:

• 電 【diàn= electricity】 → 电【diàn】
• 點 【diǎn= a little】 → 点 【diǎn】
• 氣 【qì= air】 → 气 【qì】
• 電 → 电
• 點 → 点
• 氣 → 气

For examples:

• 涙 【lèi = tear 】 → 泪 【lèi= tear】
• 禮 【lǐ= courtesy】 → 礼 【lǐ= courtesy】
• 網 【wǎng=net 】 → 网 【wǎng=net】
• 涙 → 泪
• 禮 → 礼
• 網 → 网

Example 1:

First Character + Second Character → Merged into

麵 【miàn =noodle】+ 面 【miàn=face】→ 面【miàn=face, noodle】

Sample Words:

面條 【miàntiáo= noodles】

面子 【miànzi=face】

Example 2:

First Character + Second Character → Merged into

豐 【fēng =rich】+ 丰 【fēng=handsome】→ 丰【fēng=rich】

Sample Words:

丰富 【fēngfù=rich】

丰姿绰约 【fēngzīchuòyuē=graceful】

Example 3:

First Character + Second Character → Merged into

穀 【gǔ=crop】+ 谷 【gǔ= valley】 → 谷 【gǔ=crop, valley】

Sample Words:

五谷 【wǔgǔ=food crops】

山谷 【shāngǔ= mountain valley】

• 麵 + 面 → 面 e.g. 面條, 面子
• 豐 + 丰 → 丰 e.g. 丰富, 丰姿绰约
• 穀 + 谷 → 谷 e.g. 五谷, 山谷

NB: To type traditional or simplified Chinese characters using MS Word, you can use Simsun as the font style.

In part 2 of this series we will look at an additional five methods used to create simplified Chinese characters from traditional characters.