Hi, everyone! We are back with another post, this time not about just one language, but three languages. We have all been seeing the recent rising interest in East Asian cultures, which is mainly because of the rise in fame of K-pop, K-dramas, anime or Chinese games or apps like Douyin or Xiaohongshu.
Let’s be honest… learning any of these languages would bring numerous benefits, especially now when they are being so seeked. As attractive as they are, they are also ones of the hardest languages to learn. So, the question that arises is, if you want to learn any of them, which one should you learn first? We are here to help you answer that question! Let’s look at each language and see which one would be right for
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1.General Comparison of Korean, Japanese, and Chinese
⟡ Writing Systems:
Korean: Korean has a pretty easy and logical alphabet called Hangul. It was specifically created to be easy to learn, and honestly, you can learn how to read Korean in just a few hours. Of course, mastering vocabulary and spelling takes time, but the writing system itself is very beginner-friendly.
Japanese: Has a bit of a complex writing system as you will have to learn 2 alphabets (hiragana and katakana) and also kanji (Chinese characters). All these three writing systems blend together in writing and there are no spaces between words either. You will have to learn words as a whole as a word could either be formed only from kanji or combined with the other alphabets. You will also have to take into account that one character can have more possible readings.
Chinese: Chinese does not have an alphabet. Instead, you need to learn characters from the very beginning. Each character represents a meaning and a sound, and there are thousands of them. This makes the writing system the hardest one out of the three, especially for beginners.
Easiest: Korean, without a doubt. Hangul is by far the easiest writing system to learn.
⟡Grammar:
Korean: Korean grammar can feel unfamiliar at first, especially because the sentence structure is very different from English. Verbs come at the end of the sentence, and there are many grammar particles to learn. However, once you understand the logic behind it, grammar patterns are very consistent.
Japanese: Japanese grammar is quite similar to Korean in terms of concepts and sentence structure. However, verb conjugations can be a bit more complicated, and politeness levels are very important. Choosing the correct form depending on the situation takes practice. Also, don’t remind us of the grammar structures that add slight, almost unnoticeable nuances to the sentence. They are a real headache. (╥﹏╥)
Chinese: Chinese grammar is surprisingly simple compared to Korean and Japanese. There are no verb conjugations, no gender, and no plural forms. Sentence structure is closer to English, which can make it feel more accessible at the beginning.
Tip: If grammar intimidates you, Chinese might feel simpler due to its lack of conjugations.
⟡Pronunciation
Korean: Korean pronunciation is generally manageable, but there are some sounds that don’t exist in English, especially the double consonants and subtle sound changes. Pronunciation rules can also change depending on word combinations.
Japanese: Is pretty easy, especially for English or Romance language speakers, since one hiragana or katakana character is like an English syllable (formed of 2-3 sounds). So no weird sounds that you can’t pronounce.
Chinese: Chinese pronunciation is the most difficult out of the three because it is a tonal language. The same syllable can have completely different meanings depending on the tone, which takes a lot of listening and practice to get right.
Easier: For beginners, Korean or Japanese can be easier than Chinese, which is a tonal language.
2. How to Choose Your First Language according to your
Interests and Motivation
Think about which culture fascinates you the most. Do you like singing along to K-pop or watching K-Dramas, watching Japanese anime or do you like Chinese animation or music? Choosing according to your passions will help you stay motivated when you hit certain hurdles on your way to fluency.
⟡ Learning Resources:
Korean: There a lot of Korean learning resources available online and even for free since K-pop and K-dramas have gotten super popular recently. You can also find lots of YouTube videos for learning the language.
Japanese: There are enough resources for learning Japanese, as well as Japanese textbooks, even if they might not be as many as for Korean.
Chinese: Chinese has many high-quality resources as well, especially structured textbooks and courses. However, learning characters often requires more discipline and repetition, which can feel overwhelming without proper guidance.
⟡ Difficulty Level:
Beginner-friendly: Korean is pretty easy as it has a logical script and less complex grammar than the other 2 languages.
Medium: Japanese sits somewhere in the middle. The combination of multiple writing systems and kanji makes it more demanding, and grammar can also be tricky at times.
Challenging: Chinese is generally considered the hardest due to tones and the character-based writing system.
⟡Practicality and Goals:
Are you planning to work or study in a specific country? Then, choosing that language would definitely be useful in the future. Also, look for the opportunities available in each country. You never know when the language you have learnt could bring you a scholarship or a job there.
⟡Time Commitment:
Korean: Korean usually requires the least time to reach a comfortable level, mainly because Hangul is easy to learn and many grammar points follow similar patterns.
Japanese: Japanese requires a larger time commitment, especially due to kanji and their multiple readings.
Chinese: Chinese demands consistent, long-term study because memorizing characters and mastering tones takes time and regular practice.
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Conclusion
There is no “best” language to learn first — only the best language for you. Korean might be the easiest starting point, Japanese offers a balanced challenge, and Chinese can be incredibly rewarding if you’re ready to commit.
What matters most is not which language you choose, but whether you stick with it. Learning any of these languages is a long journey, but it’s also one that can bring unforgettable experiences, new perspectives, and opportunities you never expected.
Whichever language you choose, enjoy the process and don’t be afraid to take it one step at a time. Also, any language you might choose, we will be here to help you with tips on how to learn it! (˶ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ˶)
Polyglot besties 
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