For native Chinese speakers, learning ancient Chinese (古文, gǔwén) has always been an important part of their academic studies, and a necessary part for how to write Chinese. To learn Mandarin and being fluent in it is not sufficient to understand Chinese as a language. Ancient Chinese, also known as Classical Chinese, is the language found in historical texts, poetry, and classical literature (almost all!), and it differs significantly from the modern language in grammar, vocabulary, and syntax. Here, we will look at the difficulties that Chinese speakers encounter when studying ancient Chinese. Too, if you should be inclined to learn Mandarin online, you will see that there has been a trend to incorporate ancient Chinese into lessons. 

Complex Grammar 

One of the first struggles Chinese speakers face when learning Ancient Chinese is the complex and archaic grammar. Unlike Modern Chinese, which has relatively straightforward syntax and lacks many of the inflections found in Indo-European languages, Ancient Chinese features highly condensed sentences and flexible word order. In many cases, the subject, verb, and object may be implied or omitted altogether, forcing students to rely heavily on context to understand the meaning. 

For example, in Modern Chinese, a sentence like “I am going home” would be expressed clearly: “我回家” (Wǒ huí jiā). However, in Ancient Chinese, a sentence could be as short as “归” (guī), meaning “return” or “to return home,” without specifying the subject. This omission of crucial elements makes interpreting classical texts particularly challenging, even for native speakers. 

Vocabulary 

Another significant challenge is the vast difference in vocabulary between Modern and Ancient Chinese. Many words used in Ancient Chinese have fallen out of use or have evolved to take on completely different meanings over time. As a result, native speakers often struggle with understanding these archaic terms without extensive study or the use of dictionaries specifically designed for classical texts. For example, the word “子” (zǐ) in Modern Chinese means “child” or “son,” but in Ancient Chinese, it was also used as a term of respect to address scholars or elders. Similarly, “士” (shì), which today can mean “soldier” or “gentleman,” had broader connotations in ancient texts, referring to a learned man or scholar.  

Lack of Punctuation 

Modern Chinese, like most modern languages, uses punctuation to clarify meaning and separate clauses and sentences. However, in classical works, punctuation was not used, which means readers must interpret where one thought ends and another begins. We however will not dwell on this further, as punctuation has never really posted a problem to native speakers and is not considered necessary even nowadays. 

Poetic and Symbolic Language 

Ancient Chinese texts, especially poetry and philosophical writings, often employ highly symbolic and metaphorical language. While Modern Chinese also includes idiomatic expressions and metaphors, Classical Chinese takes this to a much higher level, frequently using subtle references and symbols that were well-understood in ancient times but can be obscure to contemporary readers. For instance, a poem might refer to “autumn winds” not just to describe the season, but as a symbol of aging or decline. Similarly, a reference to a “jade” might symbolize purity or virtue. Understanding these layers of meaning requires knowledge of historical and cultural contexts, which even native speakers may not be familiar with. As a result, interpreting classical poetry or philosophical texts can be a slow and demanding process. 

Different Script Styles 

While Modern Chinese uses simplified or traditional characters in a standardized format, Ancient Chinese was often written in various script styles, such as seal script (篆书, zhuànshū) or clerical script (隶书, lìshū). These older forms of writing can be difficult to recognize and interpret for native Chinese speakers accustomed to the regular forms of characters used today. Many characters in ancient scripts are more complex and stylized, and the evolution from these forms to modern simplified or traditional characters is not always obvious. Studying these script variations adds another layer of difficulty for learners. 

Philosophical and Historical Context 

Finally, many Ancient Chinese texts—especially those by Confucius, Laozi, and other philosophers—are deeply rooted in historical, philosophical, and cultural contexts. Without a strong understanding of the era in which a text was written, its intended meaning can be difficult to grasp. For example, texts from the Warring States period (475–221 BCE) often reflect the political and philosophical debates of that time, making them challenging for modern readers to fully understand without background knowledge. Native speakers of Chinese, who might not be familiar with the historical details or philosophical schools of thought from ancient times, need to invest significant time in learning about the cultural context to fully appreciate the nuances of these works. 

Conclusion 

Although native Chinese speakers already possess a good foundation in the language, learning Ancient Chinese still is not exactly easy. The differences in grammar, vocabulary, punctuation, and historical context do pose challenges. Whether for academic purposes or personally, mastering Classical Chinese requires study and a willingness to delve deeply into the linguistic and cultural aspects of ancient China.