traditional refers to the standard writing system of chinese culture, which has evolved over the last 2500 years. (note - in chinese language, this is usually referred to as 繁體字, literally "many" or "complex" script - as compared to 簡體字, literally "simple script"). in some chinese societies (typically those not in Peoples Republic of China), traditional chinese can also be called 正體字 which literally means "formal" or "correct" script. the simplified script standard evolved from writing 'shorthand' chinese. the communist chinese government (people's republic of china) created and standardized the "simplified script", drawing from convention as well as further simplifying characters. there is a history of this on wikipedia which can go much more into detail. when you see "traditional chinese" it refers to the chinese writing system which has existed since 2000-3000 years ago, and is still in use in places like Taiwan (Republic of China), Macau, Hong Kong, and overseas chinese communities in the west. it is known as "traditional" because it's contrasted with the system which the PRC government (the communist chinese government in mainland China) established about 50 years back, which has not replaced the traditional writing system as the main system of writing in other cultures not ruled by that government. something the other answers have not noted, which you may not realize, is that many characters in the "simplified system" are the same as in the "traditional system" (i'd say somewhere around 30-50% are the same in each, examples： 人，一， 二，你，好， and many many more). the “繁” character, which means complex in "繁體字“（ traditional or complex script), looks pretty complicated right? well, it's the same in simplified chinese! so really, the only way to know this is to have learned, or to consult a dictionary.

It's all the same. :P Let's see if I can get -10 for my answer! hahahah

The difference is as described. Traditional characters are the older form, and generally have more strokes, and look a lot snazzier and cooler. Simplified characters have less strokes, look a bit more rigid, and are not very beautiful. Not all characters have been simplified. The simplified characters were introduced around 1955 in Mainland China. The traditional characters are still in use in Hong Kong and Taiwan, and pretty much in all Chinese districts overseas. E,g. London Soho is covered with traditional characters. Unless you've studied Chinese characters for a while, you won't be able to tell them apart.

okay, let me tell me the different of the 2 writing my friend. traditional: more strokes simplified: less strokes so now for sum it up. in the same words we 'll write more strokes in traditional and less strokes in simplified charecters. Ex: 龍=龙 讀=读 說=说 誰=谁 來=来 蘭=兰 歲=岁 some letters in simplified could be a big change, while some just changed little bit. and again, the simplified letters are pretty new thing (they just invent in just a few decades it was changed since letter-revolution of china in 1969-1979,if i remember well) and again: all of simplified if we really make them in to a categories. they are not over 120 simplified words categories only. so, once you remember this 120 word, if well know all the simplified letters by heart. i hope it does help.!!

现在在中国我们都用简体字，台湾的话用繁体字的多，则么区分的话，用语言很难表达，要靠你平时的积累。