Is it difficult to learn Chinese characters?

All educated Chinese can read Chinese characters, regardless of the dialect they may speak. However, the Chinese writing system is not nearly as easy to learn as other writing systems. Chinese characters are neither alphabetical nor phonetic. Each character represents a separate syllable, indicating both the meaning and the sound. Only after years and years of study can the proper amount of characters be memorized to achieve fluent literacy. There also exists a proper stroke order with regards to writing. Improper stoke order carries a stigma, and therefore Chinese teachers and parents keep a close eye on how children write, carefully correcting anyStrokes that fall out of sequence.
Why do foreign visitors learn Chinese characters? Chinese civilization has evolved for thousands of years around this remarkable and unique writing system. Moreover, traditional written Chinese and diversity of spoken forms are important factors in the development of Chinese society. Some foreigners study the language to communicate better while touring the country others study for business reasons. Nevertheless, the study of Chinese characters is a rewarding road which gives access to some of China's most enduring cultural achievements when you travel to China.
Language learners often wonder how many characters are necessary for one to become literate. Estimates may range from 3,000 to 5,000. Statistics show that the majority of the 50,000 to 60, 000 existing characters are not in common use.