Chinese-related language codes look confusing because Chinese can be classified along multiple independent axes:
- By language / variety (e.g. Mandarin, Minnan, Yue, Wu, Hakka)
- By historical period (e.g. Classical Chinese vs. modern languages)
- By region or usage standard (e.g. Taiwan, Macao, Hong Kong, Mainland China, Singapore)
- By writing system (e.g. Traditional vs. Simplified characters, Latin-based romanization)
Wikidata preserves all of these distinctions, even when they overlap in everyday usage.
Therefore, we need to guide users toward consistent and meaningful choices within a flattened table structure.
To-do
Chinese-related language codes look confusing because Chinese can be classified along multiple independent axes:
Wikidata preserves all of these distinctions, even when they overlap in everyday usage.
Therefore, we need to guide users toward consistent and meaningful choices within a flattened table structure.
To-do