Myth check
Pinyin alone is enough forever.
Pinyin is an excellent bridge, but public signs, menus, and literacy need characters.
Verdict
mostly_false
Why
Relying only on pinyin limits reading and can freeze odd pronunciation habits.
Characters disambiguate homophones that pinyin collapses Keep evidence from your own listening and speaking practice, not from fear stories.
A mixed approach beats either extreme Keep evidence from your own listening and speaking practice, not from fear stories.
Test the better framing with a short practice drill the same day you read this myth.
Better framing
Use pinyin to learn sound, then graduate key words to characters.
Practice tip
Practice tip: after reading “Pinyin alone is enough forever.”, do one concrete drill from the better framing—speak aloud for five minutes using related words or tones.