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'''Mandarin''' is the standard dialect of spoken Chinese. It is referred to as ''Pǔtōnghuà'' in China, ''Guóyǔ'' in Taiwan, and ''Huáyǔ'' in Singapore. In its modern form, Mandarin is based on the dialect of Beijing. Localisms, such as the final ''r'' sound favored by Beijing residents, are not part of the standard form.

'''Mandarin''' is the standard dialect of spoken Chinese. It is referred to as ''Pǔtōnghuà'' in China, ''Guóyǔ'' in Taiwan, and ''Huáyǔ'' in Singapore. In its modern form, Mandarin is based on the dialect of Beijing. Localisms, such as the final ''r'' sound favored by Beijing residents, are not part of the standard form. Although each city in China has a distinct accent, the language in the northern and central regions is of a single language type, or "regional speech" (''fāngyán''). In the South, Cantonese is spoken. This is a separate ''fāngyán'', and in many ways it is a different language than Mandarin.

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{{language box

|t=普通話

|t=普通話

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|w=p`u-t`ung-hua

}}

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In imperial times, people in different parts of the empire communicated with each other using written [[Classical Chinese]] (''wényán wén''). By the [[Tang dynasty]] (618–907), spoken and written Chinese had diverged into separate languages. At the end of the Tang, China was divided into northern and southern states. The Mongols conquered China in the thirteenth century. They treated North and South China as two units within their larger empire. For example, [[Marco Polo]] writes of "Cathay" (North China) and "Manzi" (South China). He does not use any expression that corresponds to the modern concept of "China." By the time China was reunited by the [[Ming dynasty]] in 1368, North and South had drifted far apart.

In imperial times, people in different parts of the empire communicated with each other using written [[Classical Chinese]] (''wényán wén''). By the [[Tang dynasty]] (618–907), spoken and written Chinese had diverged into separate languages. At the end of the Tang, China was divided into northern and southern states. The Mongols conquered both states in the thirteenth century. They treated North China and South China as two units within their larger empire. For example, [[Marco Polo]] writes of "Cathay" (North China) and "Manzi" (South China). He does not use any expression that corresponds to the modern concept of "China." By the time China was reunited by the [[Ming dynasty]] in 1368, North and South had drifted far apart.

The first Ming emperor selected the Lower Yangtse dialect of Nanjing to serve as the basis of a [[lingua franca]]. This is a dialect of the North Chinese type, so it is generally understood in both North and Central China. The imperial lingua franca is referred to as ''Guānhuà'' ("officials' speech"). The word "Mandarin," first recorded in Portuguese in 1524, refers to a Chinese official.  

The first Ming emperor selected the Lower Yangtse dialect of Nanjing to serve as the basis of an imperial [[lingua franca]]. This dialect was referred to as ''Guānhuà'', or "officials' speech". The word "Mandarin," first recorded in Portuguese in 1524, refers to a Chinese official. The Chinese word ''guān'' was translated into English as "Mandarin," so the word refers to the dialect as well.

Classical Chinese continued to be used for formal writing. But various works of popular literature, such as the novel ''The Golden Lotus'' (1610), were written in the Lower Yangtse dialect. In the late nineteenth century, the dialect of Beijing displaced that of Nanjing. Although the dialects of the two cities are mutually intelligible, there is considerable divergence.

Classical Chinese continued to be used for formal writing. But various works of popular literature, such as the novel ''The Golden Lotus'' (1610), were written in the Lower Yangtse dialect. In the late nineteenth century, the dialect of Beijing displaced that of Nanjing. Although the dialects of the two cities are mutually intelligible, there is considerable divergence.