Languages in China

Standard Chinese is commonly called Putonghua and written 普通话. It is based on Mandarin speech and serves as the principal common spoken language in schools, nationwide media, and many public settings. Written Chinese mainly uses Chinese characters, called Hanzi and written 汉字. The standard written language can be shared by people whose home speech sounds very different. Mandarin is often used abroad as a broad name for Standard Chinese. In China, Putonghua is the clearer name for the standardized national form, while Mandarin also refers to a larger family of related varieties. Many people use another Chinese variety at home or locally, such as Cantonese, Shanghainese, Hokkien-related speech, Hakka, or a regional Mandarin form. These are not merely different accents in every case and may be difficult for other Chinese speakers to understand. China's recognized ethnic communities include speakers of languages from several language families. Some areas use minority languages in cultural life, local communication, media, or education alongside Standard Chinese. Chinese Sign Language and local signing practices support communication within Deaf communities. Access to interpretation and specialized education can vary by place and institution. Foreign languages are taught in schools and private settings, with English being especially common in education and international work. Actual speaking ability varies greatly, so visitors should not assume that English will always be available. Language learning in China often combines pronunciation, listening, speaking, character recognition, reading, and writing. A learner's priorities should reflect daily needs, because conversational survival and academic literacy require different plans.