Myth check
You must memorize thousands of characters before speaking.
Speaking and listening can start with pinyin while characters grow in parallel.
Verdict
mostly_false
Why
Beginners progress faster when sound, meaning, and high-frequency characters reinforce each other.
You do not need full literacy to order food or introduce yourself.
Character study works best on words you already understand aloud.
Test the better framing with a short practice drill the same day you read this myth.
Better framing
Speak early; attach characters to known words instead of delaying all speaking.
Practice tip
Practice tip: after reading “You must memorize thousands of characters before speaking.”, do one concrete drill from the better framing—speak aloud for five minutes using related words or tones.