Simplified vs Traditional
Two writing standards for Chinese characters. Mainland China and Singapore use simplified; Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau use traditional.
Modern Chinese is written in two parallel character standards.
Simplified Chinese (简体字, jiǎntǐzì) is the form rolled out in mainland China starting in the 1950s, designed to reduce stroke counts and increase literacy. Singapore later adopted the same set. The character for “country” was simplified from 國 to 国; “horse” from 馬 to 马.
Traditional Chinese (繁體字, fántǐzì) preserves the older forms still used in Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau, and by many overseas Chinese communities. Calligraphy, classical literature, and historical documents are almost always traditional.
For Mandarin learners, the choice usually follows the destination: studying to live or work in mainland China? Simplified. Targeting Taiwan or Hong Kong? Traditional. Many readers learn one and become passively fluent in the other — most characters are recognisable across both.
HSK 3.0, and Bookverse’s Mandarin course, use simplified characters as the primary script.