putonghua: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, academic, and official. Used in contexts of language policy, education, and sinology.
Quick answer
What does “putonghua” mean?
The official, standardized form of the Chinese language, based on the Beijing dialect, used in mainland China.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The official, standardized form of the Chinese language, based on the Beijing dialect, used in mainland China.
The official spoken language of the People's Republic of China, serving as a national lingua franca to facilitate communication across different dialect regions. It is taught in schools and used in media and official contexts.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is identical in both varieties. The word is a loanword from Chinese, and its use and meaning are consistent.
Connotations
Neutral, technical, or policy-related. More likely to be used in academic, linguistic, or official writing about China.
Frequency
Very low frequency in general English. Found primarily in texts about Chinese language, culture, or politics.
Grammar
How to Use “putonghua” in a Sentence
Learn + PutonghuaSpeak + PutonghuaUse + PutonghuaTeach + PutonghuaVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “putonghua” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The government aims to Putonghua-ise the education system in minority regions.
adjective
British English
- She is a certified Putonghua instructor.
American English
- He took the official Putonghua proficiency test.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used when discussing language training for employees working in or with mainland China.
Academic
Central term in linguistics, sinology, and education studies discussing China's language policy.
Everyday
Rare. Might be used by language learners or people discussing their experiences in China.
Technical
The precise term for the standardized linguistic system as defined by the government of the PRC.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “putonghua”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “putonghua”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “putonghua”
- Using 'Putonghua' to refer to any form of Mandarin Chinese worldwide (it is specific to mainland China).
- Misspelling as 'Putongua' or 'Putunghua'.
- Using it in a non-capitalised form, as it is a proper noun.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Putonghua is a form of Mandarin. 'Mandarin' is a broader category of related Chinese dialects. Putonghua is the standardised, official form of Mandarin used in mainland China.
Cantonese is the primary daily language. However, Putonghua is taught in schools and its use is increasing, especially in business and tourism, but it is not the dominant spoken language.
It literally means 'common speech' (普通 pǔtōng 'common' + 话 huà 'speech').
In informal contexts, 'Chinese' often refers to Putonghua. However, in precise or academic contexts, 'Chinese' encompasses many languages/varieties, so 'Putonghua' is the correct term for the mainland standard.
The official, standardized form of the Chinese language, based on the Beijing dialect, used in mainland China.
Putonghua is usually formal, academic, and official. used in contexts of language policy, education, and sinology. in register.
Putonghua: in British English it is pronounced /ˌpuːtɒŋˈhwɑː/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌpuːtɔːŋˈhwɑː/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “The promotion of Putonghua”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'PUTting ON a GUise of HArmony' – Putonghua puts on a common, harmonious speech for the nation.
Conceptual Metaphor
A NATIONAL BRIDGE or a STANDARDISED TOOL. It is conceptualised as something that connects disparate regions (bridge) or as an official instrument for communication (tool).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary distinguishing feature of Putonghua?