How do Chinese people bear the huge burden of remembering all those visual characters, whenever they read something?

Chinese writing is indeed distinct from alphabetic systems, relying on thousands of unique characters, each representing a syllable or a concept. Here are some ways that Chinese speakers navigate the challenge of remembering these characters:

**Contextual Learning**: Many learners pick up characters through context, associating them with particular meanings, sentences, or situations. Over time, repeated exposure helps solidify their understanding.

**Radicals and Components**: Chinese characters often consist of smaller components known as radicals, which can convey meaning or phonetic information. Recognizing these can make it easier to remember and understand unfamiliar characters.

**Practice and Repetition**: Just like any language, practice is key. Regular writing, reading, and exposure to the language reinforce memory. Many learners use mnemonic devices or grouping techniques.

**Structured Education**: In China, formal education systematically introduces characters, often starting with simpler ones and gradually moving to more complex characters. This structured approach helps build a solid foundation.

**Digital Tools**: Many people use technology, like smartphones and computers, that can help with reading and writing characters. Predictive text and character recognition apps lessen the burden by providing support.

**Cultural Integration**: The use of characters is deeply integrated into Chinese culture. Literature, movies, and everyday conversation reinforce their familiarity and importance, leading to a natural acquisition of characters over time.

**Learning Methodologies**: Various methods, such as the "flow" technique (learning characters in context) and the “radical” technique (learning parts of characters), are used to facilitate memorization.

Overall, while the burden of memorizing characters is significant, the combination of educational practices, context, and cultural integration helps learners manage and effectively navigate the Chinese writing system.