Should I learn Chinese or Japanese?

[USAcel]

Trying to decide which one to learn. Both seem like cool places, anyone have any insight into these countries? Which one is better in terms of geomax + QoL?

 

[Rance]

The biggest difference is that Chinese will give you global access to China, Taiwan, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, and diaspora communities in the West

Japanese is only useful in Japan

I would only recommend learning Japanese if you have a realistic plan to live in Japan for some extended period of time, want to focus your career around the language, or have an extreme interest in the culture

 

[USAcel]

The biggest difference is that Chinese will give you global access to China, Taiwan, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, and diaspora communities in the West

Japanese is only useful in Japan

I would only recommend learning Japanese if you have a realistic plan to live in Japan for some extended period of time, want to focus your career around the language, or have an extreme interest in the culture

Yeah I just want somewhere where I can geomax + travel. China seems better for geomax but japan seems to be a much more interesting place. Are you in China right now?

 

[Rance]

Yeah I just want somewhere where I can geomax + travel. China seems better for geomax but japan seems to be a much more interesting place. Are you in China right now?

Not in China now but I will be come August or September

I would agree that Japan is a top-tier travel destination, maybe the best in the world. Lived there about 2 years. So much to do. If you just plan on traveling as a tourist you can't miss. Geomaxxing opportunity is OK but generally requires speaking Japanese, at which point we're back to the question of how you want to invest your time.

If you just want to go for <6 months or so then I'd say go for Japan. If you plan on living somewhere for over a year I'd consider China for the dating + money + language advantages. And then, if you live somewhere like Shanghai or Qingdao, places like Tokyo are only a short weekend trip away.

 

[USAcel]

Not in China now but I will be come August or September

I would agree that Japan is a top-tier travel destination, maybe the best in the world. Lived there about 2 years. So much to do. If you just plan on traveling as a tourist you can't miss. Geomaxxing opportunity is OK but generally requires speaking Japanese, at which point we're back to the question of how you want to invest your time.

If you just want to go for <6 months or so then I'd say go for Japan. If you plan on living somewhere for over a year I'd consider China for the dating + money + language advantages. And then, if you live somewhere like Shanghai or Qingdao, places like Tokyo are only a short weekend trip away.

Yeah I want somewhere where I can visit for like 3-4 months a year, but never stay anything over that. How are the geomaxxing prospects in Japan compared to the West? Some people say it's shit and other people say it's amazing, idk what side to believe.

 

[Rance]

Yeah I want somewhere where I can visit for like 3-4 months a year, but never stay anything over that. How are the geomaxxing prospects in Japan compared to the West? Some people say it's shit and other people say it's amazing, idk what side to believe.

Your SMV in Japan compared to the West will swing wildly depending on your "looks archetype" as well as your Japanese proficiency.

I made a couple post here that go into more detail:

• https://geomax.me/threads/i-live-in-tokyo-ask-me-anything.6385/post-70718
• https://geomax.me/threads/i-live-in-tokyo-ask-me-anything.6385/post-70764

I would say your average white guy will increase his SMV by 0.5-1.0 points by going to Japan. It's a nice bonus and you'll see the effects on your dating life. Really shouldn't be your primary reason for going though or you might be disappointed.

 

[kamster]

learn both

 

[predeterminism]

Your SMV in Japan compared to the West will swing wildly depending on your "looks archetype" as well as your Japanese proficiency.

I made a couple post here that go into more detail:

• https://geomax.me/threads/i-live-in-tokyo-ask-me-anything.6385/post-70718
• https://geomax.me/threads/i-live-in-tokyo-ask-me-anything.6385/post-70764

I would say your average white guy will increase his SMV by 0.5-1.0 points by going to Japan. It's a nice bonus and you'll see the effects on your dating life. Really shouldn't be your primary reason for going though or you might be disappointed.

By 0.5 to 1 points don't listen to these seething deathnics OP

 

[Rance]

By 0.5 to 1 points don't listen to these seething deathnics OP

 

[predeterminism]

View attachment 10080

I'd say more like +5 points if white, and -3 points if ethnic

 

[Rance]

I'd say more like +5 points if white, and -3 points if ethnic

 

[BiggChungus]

if you arent going to follow through, neither. the benefit of speaking is negligible until you get fairly close to fluency in either, and they are pretty hard. the girls in china or japan that will sleep with you immediately wil sleep with you even if you dont speak, generally speaking

if you are planning on not really studying seriously, or not committed to at least 2 hours a day roughly, for 2 years, I would say just half ass it and learn basic thai or indonesian for better immediate results

 

[Mafumofu]

Learn Chinese, we don't need you increasing competition for japanmaxers

 

[Rance]

if you arent going to follow through, neither. the benefit of speaking is negligible until you get fairly close to fluency in either, and they are pretty hard. the girls in china or japan that will sleep with you immediately wil sleep with you even if you dont speak, generally speaking

if you are planning on not really studying seriously, or not committed to at least 2 hours a day roughly, for 2 years, I would say just half ass it and learn basic thai or indonesian for better immediate results

I don't agree with this. The breaking point for being able to date in Japan is very early, probably a strong N5 or weak N4 level. As long as you know basic vocabulary and grammar patterns you're leagues above everyone who can't speak. Being able to say I like this, do you want to go there, how often do you X, etc. will get you by. This is around where I was when I arrived in Japan and it was just enough. I'd say this would take around 3 months of 1 hour per day, or 5 months of 30 minutes per day.

That being said, my experience is that the more you know, the more enjoyment you will have.

I can also say I had a friend who lived here 5 years and didn’t really know any Japanese. He thought he was having fun, but honestly “he didn’t know what he didn’t know”. In other words, he missed out big time and just didn’t know it.