As a language expert with a deep understanding of linguistics and the intricacies of various languages, I can provide insights into the complexities of learning Korean, Japanese, and Chinese. Each language has its own set of challenges and unique features that can make it more or less accessible to learners, depending on their native language and personal aptitudes.

Korean is known for its Hangul alphabet, which is indeed one of the most straightforward writing systems to learn. It was created during the Joseon Dynasty in the 15th century with the intention of being easy to learn and use, particularly for the common people who were mostly illiterate at the time. The Hangul system is phonetic and consists of 14 basic consonants and 10 basic vowels that are combined to form syllabic blocks. This makes it relatively easy to read and write once you've mastered the basics.

Japanese has three writing systems: Hiragana, Katakana, and Kanji.
Hiragana and Katakana are syllabaries, similar to Hangul in that each character represents a syllable.
Kanji, on the other hand, are complex Chinese characters that represent both sound and meaning. Learning to read and write in Japanese can be quite challenging due to the large number of Kanji characters one must memorize. However, Japanese grammar is often considered simpler than that of Korean or Chinese, which could make it easier for some learners.

Chinese, particularly Mandarin, is a tonal language, which means that the pitch at which a syllable is pronounced can change its meaning. This is a significant challenge for speakers of non-tonal languages. Additionally, Chinese uses a logographic writing system, where each character represents a syllable and a meaning. There are thousands of characters to learn, and while a functional grasp of the language may only require knowledge of a few thousand, mastery involves knowing many more.

For reading and writing, Korean is by far the easiest due to its simple and logical alphabet.
Korean pronunciation is harder than Japanese for an English speaker, but it doesn't have tones, which is part of what makes it easier than Chinese.
Japanese has a more complex writing system, but its grammar might be more accessible to some learners.
Chinese presents a steep learning curve with its tonal nature and the vast number of characters to memorize.

Ultimately, the ease of learning a language is subjective and depends on various factors, including the learner's native language, their exposure to similar languages, and their personal learning style. For English speakers, Korean might be the easiest to pick up in terms of reading and writing, but Japanese and Chinese each have their own set of challenges and rewards.

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For reading and writing, Korean is by far the easiest. It uses an alphabet and quite a logical one that's easy to remember. Korean pronunciation is harder than Japanese for an English speaker, but it doesn't have tones, which is part of what makes it easier than Chinese.read more >>