Chinese, Mandarin

A language of China

ISO 639-3

Alternate Names

Beifang Fangyan, Beijinghua, Mandarin, Northern Chinese, Standard Chinese, Zhongguohua

Autonym

普通话‎ (Putonghua)

Population

1,082,000,000 in China, all users. L1 users: 904,000,000 in China (2017), increasing. 70% of Chinese language users speak a Mandarin dialect as L1. L2 users: 178,000,000. Total users in all countries: 1,116,596,640 (as L1: 917,868,640; as L2: 198,728,000).

Location

Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region: northwest; Guizhou province; Hubei province: except southeast corner; Hunan province: northwest; Sichuan and Yunnan provinces. Widespread north of Changjiang river, from Jiujiang (Jiangxi) to Zhenjiang (Jiangsu).

Language Maps

China

Eastern Central Myanmar

Northern Myanmar

Mongolia

Taiwan

Language Status

1 (National). De facto national language.

Classification

Sino-Tibetan, Chinese

Dialects

Huabei Guanhua (Northern Mandarin), Xibei Guanhua (Northwestern Mandarin), Xinan Guanhua (Southwestern Mandarin), Jinghuai Guanhua (Eastern Mandarin, Jiangxia Guanhua, Lower Yangtze Mandarin). Speakers of Kokang variety in Myanmar are reportedly most similar to the dialect spoken in Yunnan Province, China. A member of macrolanguage Chinese [zho].

Typology

SVO; prepositions; noun head final; 6 full (concrete meaning) word classes; no articles; passives; 24 consonants, 8 vowels, 6 diphthongs; tonal (4 phonemic tones).

Language Use

Vigorous. All domains. Used by all. Also use English [eng], French [fra], Japanese [jpn], Russian [rus], Vietnamese [vie]. Also use Korean [kor], in predominantly Korean-speaking provinces.

Language Development

Literacy rate in L2: 91% (2000 census, Han nationality). Official language taught in all schools in mainland China and Taiwan. Taught in secondary schools. Fully developed. Bible: 1874–1983.

Language Resources

OLAC resources in and about Chinese, Mandarin

Writing

Bopomofo script [Bopo], used since 1913, revised in 1920 and 1932, mainly used in Taiwan. Braille script [Brai]. Han script, Simplified variant [Hans], used since 1956, official in Mainland China (1956) and Singapore (1969), also used elsewhere. Han script, Traditional variant [Hant], used since mid-19th century, official in Taiwan, also used elsewhere. Latin script [Latn].

Other Comments

There are Mandarin speakers in all 56 official nationalities of China, but the majority in China are classified under Han, Manchu and Hui nationalities. Traditional religion, Buddhist, Christian, Confucianist, Daoist, Muslim.

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Australia

Language nameChinese, Mandarin

Population Full

597,000 in Australia (2016 census).

Location

Widespread.

Status

5* (Dispersed).

Language Use

Also use English [eng].

Other Comments

Non-indigenous. Many Chinese people migrated to Australia during the 1850s gold rushes.

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Brunei

Language nameChinese, Mandarin

Population Full

13,200 in Brunei (2004 J. Leclerc).

Location

Major cities.

Status

5* (Dispersed).

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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China–Hong Kong

Language nameChinese, Mandarin

Population Full

3,421,000 in China–Hong Kong, all users. L1 users: 131,000 in China–Hong Kong (2016 census). L2 users: 3,290,000 (2016 census).

Status

1 (National). De facto national language.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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China–Macao

Language nameChinese, Mandarin

Population Full

362,800 in China–Macao, all users. L1 users: 34,800 in China–Macao (2016 census). L2 users: 328,000 (2016 census).

Status

1 (National). De facto national language. Statutory provincial language in Macao Special Administrative Region (1999, Basic Law, Article 9).

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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China–Taiwan

Language nameChinese, Mandarin

Population Full

19,710,000 in China–Taiwan, all users. L1 users: 4,710,000 in China–Taiwan (2015). L2 users: 15,000,000.

Location

Major cities.

Alternate Names

Mandarin

Dialects

Taibei Mandarin.

Status

1 (National). De facto national language.

Language Use

Many also use Min Nan Chinese [nan], especially 30–50-year-olds.

Language Development

Kuoyu taught in all schools.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous. Traditional religion, Buddhist, Christian.

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Indonesia

Language nameChinese, Mandarin

Population Full

466,000 in Indonesia (2005 J. Leclerc), increasing.

Location

Scattered.

Status

3 (Wider communication).

Language Use

Also use Indonesian [ind].

Other Comments

Non-indigenous. Mandarin is sometimes taught in ‘National Plus’ schools with English and Indonesian.

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Malaysia

Language nameChinese, Mandarin

Population Full

1,230,000 in Malaysia, all users. L1 users: Recent census figures do not detail the number of Mandarin speakers. L2 users: 1,230,000 (2015).

Location

Scattered, especially urban areas.

Status

1 (National). Statutory national working language (1996, Education Act, No. 550, Articles 2 and 18).

Language Use

Positive attitudes. All also use Hakka Chinese [hak].

Language Development

Taught in primary and secondary schools.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous. Primarily urban, in commerce.

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Mongolia

Language nameChinese, Mandarin

Population Full

43,700 in Mongolia (2016). 11,300 ethnic Khoton speak a form of Mandarin Chinese [cmn].

Location

Uvs province: Tarialan and Ulaangom districts.

Alternate Names

Hoton, Hui, Hui-Zu, Hytad, Khoton, Mandarin, Northern Chinese, Qotong, Xui

Status

5* (Dispersed).

Language Use

Also use Halh Mongolian [khk].

Language Development

Literacy rate in L2: High literacy rate in Halh, or Mandarin.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous. Traditional religion.

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Myanmar

Language nameChinese, Mandarin

Population Full

994,000 in Myanmar (Leclerc 2017d).

Location

Shan state: large China border area, Kokang Self-Administered Zone in Laukkai and Konkyan townships, and Muse township.

Alternate Names

Tayok

Dialects

Kokang (Kokant).

Status

5 (Dispersed).

Language Use

Vigorous. All domains. Used by all. Positive attitudes. Also use Burmese [mya]. Used as L2 by Burmese [mya], Drung [duu], Parauk Wa [prk], Rumai Palaung [rbb], Tai Loi [tlq], Tai Nüa [tdd].

Other Comments

Non-indigenous. The Kokang have been given a Self-Administered Zone. The Kokang dialect in Myanmar is most similar to the dialect spoken in Yunnan Province, China. Buddhist, Daoist.

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Philippines

Language nameChinese, Mandarin

Population Full

500 in Philippines. Ethnic population: All ethnic Chinese are 53,300 (1990 census).

Location

Major cities.

Status

3 (Wider communication).

Language Use

Used as L2 by Ibatan [ivb].

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Singapore

Language nameChinese, Mandarin

Population Full

2,840,000 in Singapore, all users. L1 users: 1,960,000 in Singapore (2016 census). L2 users: 880,000.

Status

1 (National). Statutory national language (1963, Constitution (amended), Article 153A(1)).

Language Use

Use is increasing. Some also use English [eng]. Some also use Chinese [zho], various varieties and other local minority languages.

Language Development

Literacy rate in L1: 65% (2001 census). Taught in primary and secondary schools.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous. 2,505,209 ethnic Chinese (2000 census).

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Thailand

Language nameChinese, Mandarin

Population Full

5,880 in Thailand (1984). There are 112,000 people who use Chinese at home (2010 census), the majority being Mandarin with some Yue Chinese [yue] speakers.

Location

Krung Thep province: dispersed through provincial towns and south in Kra peninsula.

Dialects

Ho (Cin Haw, Haw, Hui, Hui-Tze, Hwei, Panghse, Pantha, Panthe, Pathee, Western Mandarin, Yunnanese).

Status

5* (Dispersed).

Other Comments

Non-indigenous. Traditional religion, Muslim.

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Ethnologue

Chinese, Mandarin

Primary tabs

A language of China

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