What is the difference between Chinese and Mandarin?

Some people use Chinese and Mandarin interchangeably. It seems that some people do not realize that there are differences between the two. Chinese is the term used in order to describe the people of China. There are also some people who use the term “Chinese” in order to describe the language that people in China speak but actually, Mandarin may be the more formal term.

This is not the only language that people speak in China but this is one of the most well-known languages that even people from other parts of the world would like to learn it. Take note that spoken and written Chinese is also very different from each other.

Chinese refers to the common language spoken in China. It is the general term for the dialect in China. It is like an umbrella that covers dialects spoken in China. Mandarin, on the other hand, is a form of Chinese. It is the standard Chinese language, as it is labeled as the official language of China.

It is used in formal settings such as schools, government, and the media. Mandarin is the most spoken Chinese language. Also, Mandarin is based on Beijing dialect, and the accent of Mandarin in Beijing is considered the standard pronunciation.