China Language: What Do They Speak in China?
The official language of China is Mandarin Chinese. In Mandarin Chinese, the country is called 中国. Mandarin Chinese is used in government, education, media and everyday life across the country.
🗣️ Language at a Glance
About the Mandarin Chinese Language
Modern Standard Mandarin is based on the speech of Beijing and was promoted as Putonghua, the common speech, across China from the 1950s; Taiwan's standard, Guoyu, is essentially the same language. Behind it stands the oldest continuously used writing system in the world, with a written tradition stretching back over 3,000 years to the oracle bones of the Shang dynasty. Mandarin is an official language of the United Nations. Mandarin belongs to the Sinitic branch of the Sino-Tibetan family, alongside Cantonese, Shanghainese and Hokkien. These sister languages share the writing tradition but are mutually unintelligible in speech. The wider family also includes Tibetan and Burmese.
The Chinese character (Hanzi) script: How Mandarin Chinese is Written
Mandarin is written in Chinese characters, where each character represents a syllable and a meaning rather than a sound. Reading a newspaper takes roughly 2,500 to 3,000 characters. Mainland China and Singapore use simplified characters introduced in the 1950s, while Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau keep the traditional forms. The pinyin romanisation system, using the Latin alphabet, is how Mandarin is typed and taught.
Is Mandarin Chinese a Tonal Language?
Yes, Mandarin is a tonal language with four tones plus a neutral tone. The classic example is the syllable ma, which can mean mother, hemp, horse or scold depending purely on the pitch contour.
🗨️ Useful Mandarin Chinese Phrases
A few everyday phrases in Mandarin Chinese, written in a simple romanized pronunciation so you can read them aloud. Tones and exact sounds vary by region, so treat these as a starting point.
How Hard is Mandarin Chinese to Learn?
The US Foreign Service Institute places Mandarin in its hardest category, around 2,200 class hours, mainly because of the characters and the tones. The grammar, in a pleasant surprise, is one of the simplest of any major language: no conjugation, no gender, no plurals and no tenses in the European sense.
Language Tips for Visitors to China
The official language of China is Mandarin Chinese, which may be unfamiliar to many international travellers. While English speakers can often be found in larger cities and tourist-heavy areas, it is advisable to learn a few basic phrases before your trip. Locals greatly appreciate any effort to use the local language, even if imperfect. Simple greetings, thank-yous and asking for directions in Mandarin Chinese will go a long way. The country is officially known as 中国 in Mandarin Chinese, and the international dialling code is +86.
🌍 Other Countries Where Mandarin Chinese is Spoken
Mandarin Chinese is not exclusive to China; it is also spoken in these countries:
Frequently Asked Questions about Language in China
What language do they speak in China?
The official language of China is Mandarin Chinese.
Is English spoken in China?
English is not an official language in China. The main language is Mandarin Chinese. English may be spoken in tourist areas.
What is China called in its own language?
China is called "中国" in Mandarin Chinese.
What writing system does Mandarin Chinese use?
Mandarin Chinese is written in the Chinese character (Hanzi) script. Mandarin is written in Chinese characters, where each character represents a syllable and a meaning rather than a sound. Reading a newspaper takes roughly 2,500 to 3,000 characters. Mainland China and Singapore use simplified characters introduced in the 1950s, while Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau keep the traditional forms. The pinyin romanisation system, using the Latin alphabet, is how Mandarin is typed and taught.
Is Mandarin Chinese a tonal language?
Yes, Mandarin is a tonal language with four tones plus a neutral tone. The classic example is the syllable ma, which can mean mother, hemp, horse or scold depending purely on the pitch contour.
How do you say hello in Mandarin Chinese?
"Hello" in Mandarin Chinese is "ni hao (nee how)".
Is Mandarin Chinese hard to learn?
The US Foreign Service Institute places Mandarin in its hardest category, around 2,200 class hours, mainly because of the characters and the tones. The grammar, in a pleasant surprise, is one of the simplest of any major language: no conjugation, no gender, no plurals and no tenses in the European sense.
How many official languages does China have?
China has one official language: Mandarin Chinese.
Do I need to speak Mandarin Chinese to visit China?
It is not required but learning basic phrases in Mandarin Chinese is strongly recommended and appreciated.
What is the calling code for China?
The international dialling code for China is +86.
What is the population of China?
China has a population of approximately 1.41B, all of whom use Mandarin Chinese as the official language.