Classical Chinese

Classical Chinese or Literary Chinese is a traditional style of written Chinese using grammar and vocabulary very different from any modern spoken form of Chinese. Classical Chinese was used for almost all formal correspondence before the 20th century, not only in China but also in Korea, Vietnam and Japan. Among Chinese speakers, classical Chinese has been largely replaced by Vernacular Chinese (baihua), a style of writing that is much closer to modern spoken Chinese, while speakers of non-Chinese languages have largely abandoned Classical Chinese in favor of local vernaculars.

Related Topics:
Written Chinese - Grammar - Vocabulary - Modern spoken form of Chinese - 20th century - China - Korea - Vietnam - Japan - Vernacular Chinese

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Literary Chinese written for a Japanese audience is known as Kanbun.

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