How can you tell the difference between chinese and japanese

[redfoxer]

Apart from the obvious of it not making sense, how could you tell the difference between japanese text and chinese text. As they all use kanji. I was wondering if their are any tell-tail signs such as kana (is hirigana and katakana nihongo exclusive?)?

[clay]

Yes, Chinese will be nothing but Kanji, but Japanese will have Hiragana. That is the easiest way to tell. Also some kanji in Chinese are different from their Japanese cousins.

[dreamingxashley]

A simple test to determine if a length of text is Japanese or Chinese.

1. Do you smell smoke (your brain is burning!) when you try reading the text before you?
2. Does the amount of kanji before you make you question if there really is a dog?
3. Does it look totally unfamilar, as if monkeys were given pens and paper?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, then yes, you are indeed reading/looking at Chinese text.

[Kodi]

If it has lots of simple characters then its probably japanese. This is because it contains hirigana and katakans which are mostly very simple. They are used alot mixed with some kanji (more complicated looking). Learn hirigana a little and you will soon be able to easily tell the difference.