What is the Difference Between Chinese and Mandarin?

Chinese and Mandarin are not the same thing, but they are closely related. Chinese is a language family, while Mandarin is one of the dialects within the Chinese language family, alongside Shanghainese, Cantonese, Hakka, and many more. There are at least 200 dialects spoken in China. Here are the key differences between Chinese and Mandarin:

• Language Family: Chinese is a branch of the Sino-Tibetan language family, which is made up of hundreds of mutually unintelligible languages or dialects.
• Official Language: Mandarin, also known as Putonghua, is the official language in China and is taught in schools throughout the country. It is also the world's second most spoken language, following only English.
• Tones: Mandarin has fewer tones compared to other Chinese dialects. For example, Mandarin has four tones, while Cantonese has six or even nine tones if you include the checked tones.

In summary, Chinese is a language family that encompasses many different dialects, with Mandarin being one of the most widely spoken and official dialects in China.

Comparative Table: Chinese vs Mandarin

Chinese and Mandarin are often used interchangeably, but they have distinct differences. Chinese refers to a branch of the Sino-Tibetan language family, which consists of hundreds of mutually unintelligible languages or dialects, while Mandarin is a group of Chinese dialects spoken across north and southwestern China, as well as Taiwan, Singapore, and Malaysia. Here is a table summarizing the differences between Chinese and Mandarin:

Regarding the different written forms, Traditional Chinese is used in Taiwan and Hong Kong, while Simplified Chinese is used in mainland China and Singapore.