From OpenAI:

Does China Have a Native Programming Language?

Not a dumb question at all! While most programming languages, including C++, are based on English syntax and keywords, there have been efforts in China to create programming languages that use Chinese characters.

1. Does China have a programming language that uses Chinese characters?

• Yes, there are a few languages that allow programming in Chinese. Some of the notable ones include:
• 易语言 (Yìyǔyán) or EPL (Easy Programming Language): A Chinese-based programming language designed to be more accessible to native speakers. It has syntax and keywords in Chinese.
• 文言 (Wényán): A classical Chinese programming language that looks like ancient Chinese writing. It's more of an experiment than a practical tool.
• 木兰 (Mùlán): A programming language developed in China to be written in Chinese, but its practical use is limited.
• 龙芯汇编 (Loongson Assembly): While not a full-fledged high-level language, it includes Chinese-labeled instructions for low-level coding.

2. Does a Chinese programmer need to learn English to write code?

• For professional software development, yes. Most widely used programming languages, including C, C++, Java, Python, and JavaScript, are based on English syntax and keywords.
• Variable names and comments can be in Chinese, but the core language structure is English-based.
• Many Chinese programmers learn English primarily for coding, even if they don't speak it fluently in conversation.

3. Why do most programming languages use English?

• The early development of programming was dominated by English-speaking researchers.
• ASCII (American Standard Code for Information Interchange) became the standard character encoding, making English the default.
• English is concise and widely understood in the tech world.

4. Are there efforts to create a fully Chinese-native programming language?

• There have been attempts, but none have gained widespread use. The global nature of software development makes English-based programming more practical.
• Even in China, most programmers prefer C++, Python, and Java over Chinese-based languages because of industry standards and better documentation.

Bottom Line:

A Chinese programmer doesn't necessarily need to learn spoken English fluently, but they do need to understand English-based syntax, keywords, and programming concepts. While some Chinese-specific languages exist, they are not widely used in professional software development.