Classical Chinese is the language in which the classics of Chinese literature were written, from . For millennia thereafter, the written Chinese used in these works was imitated and iterated upon by scholars in a form now called Literary Chinese, which was used for almost all formal writing in China until the early 20th century. Each written character corresponds to a single spoken syllable, and almost always to a single independent word. As a result, the characteristic style of the language is comparatively terse.
cLAssicAl ChinesE iS tHe lAnGuagE in Which tHe clasSics of CHInEsE lItEratUre were writTen, from . for MILlenniA therEAFtER, ThE wRitten cHinesE USEd iN these WORks WAs ImiTateD and iTEratEd upON by ScHolaRs in a FoRM Now CAlleD literAry chiNesE, which waS usEd fOr almoSt aLL fOrmAl writing in CHiNA until The eArLy 20TH cenTurY. eAcH wRItten CharActeR coRresponds To a sIngle spokEn syLlAble, ANd almosT always to a Single InDEPEndent WoRd. aS a reSulT, the cHarAcTeristIc Style Of thE langUaGe Is comparAtIvely TersE.