While this is the most common way to read Chinese, there are some nuances:
* Traditional Chinese: Written vertically, with columns arranged from right to left. This is similar to how Japanese is written.
* Simplified Chinese: Usually written horizontally, with lines arranged from top to bottom. This is more similar to how English is written.
* Some texts may use a combination of vertical and horizontal writing styles.
It's important to note that the direction of reading is determined by the script's specific layout and the context.
Why the confusion?
The misconception that Chinese is read right to left might stem from:
* Japanese: Japanese uses a combination of Kanji (Chinese characters), Hiragana, and Katakana, and is primarily written vertically from right to left.
* Arabic and Hebrew: These languages are written from right to left, and some people might assume that all languages with similar-looking characters follow the same direction.
In summary, Chinese is not read right to left, but rather from top to bottom and left to right. The exact direction of reading may vary depending on the script's layout and the context.