While Pinyin is a helpful tool for learning Chinese pronunciation, it is not a substitute for learning to read Chinese characters. All written items, such as newspapers, books, signs, and websites, are written in Chinese characters, which serve as the written representation of the language. Learning Chinese characters can make it much easier for you to read and understand the language. It can also give you access to a lot of information and cultural resources that you wouldn't have if you only knew Pinyin.