Is Chinese the Hardest Language in the World to Learn?

Have you ever thought the language you’re studying is the hardest in the world? You’re not alone. Many learners believe that their own struggles reflect a language’s overall difficulty. But how do we know which languages are truly the most challenging for English speakers?

Thanks to research from the Foreign Service Institute (FSI) of the U.S. Department of State, we now have a clearer picture. The FSI analyzed how long it takes for native English speakers to learn different languages and identified four top contenders for the title of “most difficult”: Chinese, Japanese, Arabic, and Korean.

But is one of these actually harder than the others?

What the Data Tells Us

Let’s look at what the FSI found. They group languages into categories based on the number of hours required to reach proficiency for English speakers:

• Category IV & V (Most Difficult):

  • Arabic

  • Chinese (Mandarin)

  • Japanese

  • Korean

These languages can take up to 2,200 hours of study to reach working proficiency—compared to 600–750 hours for more familiar languages like Spanish or French.

What Do People Say?

To explore further, we searched blogs using specific phrases like:

• “Chinese is the most difficult language to learn”

• “Japanese is the most difficult language to learn”

• “Arabic is the most difficult language to learn”

• “Korean is the most difficult language to learn”

Here’s what we found:

• Korean: 5 hits

• Arabic: 124 hits

• Japanese: 220 hits

• Chinese: 1,200 hits

Clearly, Chinese dominates public opinion when it comes to perceived language difficulty.

Why Is Chinese Considered So Hard?

There are several reasons:

• Pronunciation: Chinese tones are unfamiliar and tricky for English speakers.

• Writing system: Unlike Korean’s Hangul or Japanese’s Hiragana and Katakana, Chinese uses thousands of unique characters.

• Lack of alphabet: There’s no simple way to sound out new words.

• Minimal shared vocabulary with English

All of this adds up to a serious challenge—but not an impossible one.

Are People Still Studying Chinese?

Interestingly, yes! Despite its difficulty, more people are learning Chinese each year, as shown by Modern Language Association data:

Chinese shows significant growth, and Arabic grew even faster, though from a smaller base.

Should Kids Learn a Difficult Language Like Chinese?

Absolutely—especially if the experience is fun and age-appropriate. Children have incredible brain plasticity, which means they learn faster and with more ease than adults, even with complex languages.

If you want your child to enjoy learning Chinese, Korean, Arabic, or any other language, choose programs designed specifically for kids. Platforms like Dinolingo make language learning playful and rewarding through stories, songs, games, and interactive exercises.

Dinolingo supports over 50 languages and offers a flexible, gamified experience that works for children ages 2–14, whether they’re just starting or already bilingual. With options for offline learning and a parent dashboard to track progress, it’s a smart way to introduce even the “hardest” languages in a stress-free environment.

Final Thoughts

So, is Chinese the hardest language in the world? Based on public perception, blog searches, FSI rankings, and learner experiences—yes. But that doesn’t mean it’s too hard to learn. With consistent exposure, fun activities, and the right tools, children can learn any language—even Chinese—with joy and confidence.

Curious about how your child could start learning a new language today? Dinolingo is a great place to begin.