The writing system that uses characters instead of letters is known as a logographic system. In this system, each character or symbol represents a word or a concept rather than individual phonetic sounds like in alphabetic systems. A prominent example of a logographic writing system is Chinese, where characters can represent entire words or meanings. Logographic systems often require extensive memorization, as each character may have a unique pronunciation and meaning. While they can convey complex ideas succinctly, these systems might be challenging to learn for non-native speakers due to their vast number of symbols.