[brigandish]

> Japanese is hard to learn for a native English speaker but easy to learn for a Chinese

This isn't to detract from your overall point but I study Japanese and many of my fellow students are Chinese, they certainly don't find it easy, even with the advantage of being able to infer most kanji. Korean to Japanese might fit the example better.

[sdeframond]

Interesting. The few Chinese students I had in my Japanese class back at university were so much faster than the rest of us.

I agree than Korean to Japanese might be even closer.

[brigandish]

Well, if we assume that as they can read better they can prepare better, and that they’re relatively time rich as students; whereas in my group we all work, have families etc, it might be harder to make that advantage count?

Whatever the reason, I do envy their kanji skills!