wats the difference between chinese n mandarin. which 1 do u suggest me to learn? thanks
2007-04-15 01:30:01 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Languages
The word Chinese is used as the name of a large number of extremely different and often mutually completely unintelligible languages. There is one national/official language in China. It is often called Mandarin, or Mandarin Chinese. When western people use the word Chinese, they typically mean Mandarin. When Chinese people use the word, the word refers to whatever language they are speaking. The government of China officially identifies all languages within the Chinese language superfamily as being dialects of Mandarin. This is a political distinction. For example, I once met a northern Chinese man who lived in Canton for 30 years, and yet he told me that he could still understand almost nothing. The languages are very different. Mandarin is by far the most useful Chinese language, in a general sense. On the other hand, if you intend to work or live solely in Canton or Shanghai, you might find one of these languages to be much more useful. Mandarin is the most refined of the languages, the most universally spoken (it is basically identical with the national language of Taiwan, for example), and it is the easiest Chinese language to learn.
2007-04-15 03:38:52 · answer #1 · answered by Fred 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Mandarin is Chinese; it's deemed the official dialect by the government. The other important Chinese dialect is Cantonese, used in Hong Kong. But most people learning Chinese tend to lean towards the former.
2007-04-15 01:43:10 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Huh? I thought it was the same. lol
Anywayz. I think Mandarin because Chinese is probably from the main origin of the early days and it'll probably be alot harder, so do Mandarin first and then learn Chinese. Im learning Mandarin rite now, I think it's better. =]
2007-04-15 01:45:34 · answer #3 · answered by Cassandra S. 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There is not one Chinese language. There are scores and some are mutually unintelligible.
Mandarin is the "official" dialect.
2007-04-15 01:43:15 · answer #4 · answered by Hi y´all ! 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Um.... eastern and chinese language sound completely, completely, unconfusably distinctive. chinese language has tones, so once you pay attention it, the speaker's voice is going up and down. eastern is plenty greater fluid, and makes use of "less demanding" (this is a very undesirable thank you to place it) sounds.
2016-10-03 00:39:48 · answer #5 · answered by linnon 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋