The fundamental gap between written Chinese and English

The fundamental gap between written Chinese and English

The fundamental gap between written Chinese and English is the number of words, basic units of written language. Chinese has about ten thousand words in a dictionary while the number of English is more than four hundred thousands. If you count a noun with plural and singular forms as two words, and a verb conjugation, together with prefixes and suffixes, the number of English word may be over a billion.  

The word in written language is similar to the pixel in digital imaging. The more pixels in an image, the closer the result can resemble the original. The more words in a language, the clearer the thought can be illustrated. The number of words is a significant criterion. It is clear evident when you compare the science books written in these two different languages. 

The basic units in written language are pictograms and words. Pictograms in writing enable humans to write and record history. Growing number of words emancipate thinking and enable humans to access and develop science.  

中英文之间真正的差距

中英文之间真正的差距是word数量的差距，或者说是基本单位数量的差距。中文字典里有大约一万个word，英文字典里有四十多万个。如果算上名词的单数和复数，动词各种不同的时态变化word的前缀和后缀，英文word总数可能超过一百万。

书面语言里的word有点像数码相机的像素。数码照片的像素越多，照片越清晰。书面语言的word越多，意思表达越清楚。word的数量至关重要。如果你比较中英文的科举书籍，这种差距非常明显。

书面语言的基本单位是象形文字和word，象形文字使人类有了书写记录历史。不断增加的word解放了人类的思想，使人类发现和发展了科学。