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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. Although each city in China has a distinct accent, the spoken language in the northern and central regions is of a single language type. In contrast, the dialects spoken in the South, such as Cantonese, are not intelligible to Mandarin speakers.

'''Mandarin''' is the most widely spoken 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 spoken language in the northern and central regions is of a single type. In contrast, the dialects spoken in the South, such as Cantonese, are not intelligible to Mandarin speakers.

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{{language box

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|t=普通話

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

}}

}}

In imperial times, Chinese of different regions communicated with each other using written [[Classical Chinese]]. 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.

In imperial times, Chinese of different regions communicated with each other using written [[Classical Chinese]]. 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 separate nations 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 speech 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. ''Guān'' was translated as "Mandarin," so the word came to refer to the dialect as well.

The first Ming emperor selected the speech 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. ''Guān'' was translated as "Mandarin," so the word came to refer to the dialect as well.