Here's why:
* Traditional vs. Simplified: Chinese has two main writing systems, traditional and simplified. Each has a different number of characters.
* Frequency of Use: Some characters are very common, while others are used rarely. Do you count all characters, including those used only in very specific contexts?
* Evolution: The Chinese language is constantly evolving, with new characters being created and old ones falling into disuse.
Here's a breakdown of some common estimates:
* Traditional Chinese: Around 50,000 characters are found in dictionaries, but only around 3,000 are commonly used.
* Simplified Chinese: The official simplified character set has about 3,500 characters, with an additional 1,000 or so commonly used in various contexts.
For practical purposes:
* A fluent Chinese speaker needs to learn around 2,000-3,000 characters to read and write effectively.
* Most textbooks and dictionaries use around 4,000-5,000 characters.
Ultimately, the number of characters in the Chinese language is more of a spectrum than a fixed number. The key is to understand that the vast majority of characters are rarely used and that a relatively small set is sufficient for practical communication.