Simplified characters are a form of writing used in the Chinese language that features fewer strokes than traditional characters. They were developed to increase literacy by making it easier for people to learn and write. Simplified characters are primarily used in Mainland China and Singapore. These characters maintain the same meanings as their traditional counterparts but are designed to be more straightforward. For example, the traditional character for "dragon" (龍) is simplified to 龍. This simplification helps learners and writers communicate more efficiently while preserving the essence of the language.