Stop Asking 'Which Language Is the Hardest?' – You're Asking the Wrong Question From the Outset

Many people, before embarking on language learning, get stuck on one question: Chinese, Japanese, or Korean – which one is truly the hardest?

They scour the internet for 'difficulty rankings', watching gurus dissect grammar, pronunciation, and characters, as if tackling a complex maths problem to calculate which path requires the least effort.

But I want to tell you: you've been asking the wrong question from the very beginning.

Choosing a Language is Like Choosing a Mountain You Want to Climb

Imagine, learning a language is like choosing a mountain to ascend.

Someone tells you Mountain A has a flat path, and you can reach the summit in 600 hours; Mountain B is a bit steeper, taking 2,200 hours; and Mountain C is a perilous peak, possibly requiring tens of thousands of hours.

How would you choose?

Many people would instinctively choose Mountain A because it's 'the easiest'. But if you don't like the scenery along the way on Mountain A – no flowers or plants that capture your heart, no birds or beasts that pique your curiosity – can you truly persevere for those 600 hours? Chances are, every step would feel like completing a chore, tedious and long.

Now, consider Mountain C. Although it's high and perilous, the sunrise there is a sight you've always dreamt of, the legends of the mountain captivate you, and you can't wait to see the view from the summit.

At this point, the ascent itself is no longer a torment. You'll eagerly study the route, enjoy every moment of sweating, and even find joy in those rugged, stony paths. Because there's a light in your heart, and scenery in your eyes.

What Truly Drives You Forward is 'Passion', Not 'Ease'

Learning a language is the same. Those hundreds or thousands of hours of study time, in themselves, are meaningless. What truly matters is what sustains you throughout that long period?

Is it Korean dramas you can't get enough of and K-pop idols? Is it Japanese anime and literature that gets your pulse racing? Or is it Chinese history and culture that utterly fascinates you?

This is the question you should truly be asking yourself.

Stop fretting over which language has a more convoluted pronunciation, or which has more complex grammar. These are merely the 'terrain' along the way. As long as you have enough passion for the 'scenery', you'll always find a way to overcome the obstacles.

When you research a band's lyrics because you love them, or proactively look up new words because you want to understand a film, learning stops being 'studying' and becomes the joy of exploration.

You'll discover that those thousands of hours that once seemed out of reach will accumulate unnoticed, as you binge-watch one series after another and listen to song after song.

Don't Let 'Difficulty' Dictate Your Choice

So, forget about those 'difficulty rankings'.

Ask your heart: Which country's culture truly captivates you? Which country's films, music, food, or lifestyle excites you just thinking about it?
Choose your passion: Pick the one that resonates most with you. Don't be afraid if it's 'difficult', because passion will give you an endless supply of energy.
Enjoy the journey: Make learning a part of your life. Tell yourself, unapologetically, that those 600 hours of anime you watched weren't a waste of time, but immersive 'Japanese practice'.

The true reward isn't adding another line to your CV stating 'fluent in [language]', but rather, opening up an entirely new world for yourself in the process.

And when you're ready to start a real conversation and make friends with people from that country, tools like Lingogram can give you a helping hand. It can translate your conversations in real-time, meaning you don't have to wait for that 'perfect' day to immediately begin enjoying the fun of cross-language communication.

Ultimately, you'll understand that language isn't a fortress to be 'conquered', but a bridge to 'connect'.

Now, choose your mountain again – not the shortest one, but the one with the most beautiful scenery.