<p>I want to add another aspect to my economics major and have decided to add on a foreign language. I already speak spanish at a high level, so I want to learn something else. What is a more useful language, Mandarin Chinese or Japanese?</p>
<p>They’re both useful but Mandarin is probably more widely spoken</p>
<p>In terms of economics, definitely Mandarin. China is going to be very important to the future world economy, from what I understand.</p>
<p>ahem, i’m taking japanese (actually i just got back from class :D) and it seems to be useful so far. So there is my vote.</p>
<p>Well I should actually rephrase, to ask what language is more practical; there are many issues I have taken consideration into.</p>
<p>Mandarin
Pros:
Likely to be the next world power
More widely spoken
I have more Chinese friends/know more Chinese people so that could help me in learning the language.
Cons:
We are not as allied with China as we are with Japan, but hey who knows what can happen
Can know 2500 characters and not be able to read a news paper article.</p>
<p>Japanese
Pros
Alphabetic language in a sense, so it would be easier to learn
More interesting of a culture
More impressed with an outsider knowing their language than the Chinese
Cons
China is likely to be more influential
Less widely spoken
Less Japanese friends in case I ever need help with language, although two of my friends may take japanese</p>
<p>“Alphabetic language in a sense, so it would be easier to learn”</p>
<p>Until you get to Kanji. </p>
<p>And then it’s not ‘alphabetic’ at all. </p>
<p>I’ve studied a little bit of both-- but if I were an econ major, I’d take Chinese.</p>
<p>Chinese. American and Japanese culture are so intertwined that a lot more Japanese know English than Chinese know English.</p>