Learn Chinese or Japanese?

Which one might prove more useful in a career? I am majoring in Comparative Literary and Cultural Studies and have a choice between Japanese or Chinese for 2 years and Latin or classical Greek for a year. I know I will probably end up in customer service or entry level business, but which language would be more useful?

Chinese because China is rising to the top fast and many people are learning Chinese nowadays because it is very beneficial.

I am studying Chinese right now for that very reason.

Chinese is a very difficult language but it will be worth learning.

Good luck!

Hi hi,

Frankly speaking, it depends on your career inclination. Japanese business outlook may be somewhat describe as sunset compared to Chinese, but I believe there is a lot to learn from the Japanese too, culturally.

It is fair to say that Japanese is far more simpler than Chinese, where there are 4 tones. It is never for westerner to understand the differences, and the importance of tone. Many westerner after speaking Chinese for years still get the tone wrong. But because of the colour of their white skin, people generally are more forgiving. .

If given only 2 years, you may not be learning much about chinese, remember, the chinese word are pictorial, meaning, you will have to remember the 'drawing' of every word. (my Malay friends always joke saying, chinese word look like drawing, which is true.)

Cheers,

Considering the international situation, you will find China's influence on the world is more and more now. And Chinese is the most spoken language in the world.So Chinese is more useful.
Do you want to learn Chinese more?
There is a "Nihao Chinese" program which is a free trail on line!!!
Visit http://www.echineselearning.com/
You will find a surprise.

Well... Japanese and Chinese are two languages very very very hard to lear...I know that the children there need over 7 years for learning these languages... but I think that it's moreuseful chinese than japanese becuse you know that they are over one milion of persons...so... Good luck! Bye!

Chinese has larger market. Plus once you know Chinese, apparently you are about 50% closer to reading Japanese script since the Japanese use many Chinese characters in their language.