What is the most widely used Chinese language?

8 Comments

1. Elena S says:

   September 29, 2009 at 9:29 am

   there is no one "most widely used"….
   Chinese language is the official language China…
   but most of the population speak their local dialects…
   as for Cantonese, it’s a regional language in the south of China and HK…
   there isn’t anything insane, it’s just a myth they all speak same way…
   Cantonese is harder coz there are fewer learning materials and due to the Traditional characters used…
2. !!! says:

   September 29, 2009 at 9:29 am

   Mandarin is the most common.
   Cantonese is harder.
3. erlampo says:

   September 29, 2009 at 9:29 am

   Mandarin has far more native speakers and is the official language of China, Taiwan, and Singapore. Learn Mandarin; then Cantonese if you must (and of course you could). Cantonese is more difficult (more tones).
4. Matt says:

   September 29, 2009 at 9:29 am

   Mandarin is more common, so there are more resources out there for people who want to learn, making it easier to learn. Cantonese is an awesome language though, and you could definitely learn both. Cantonese is harder in my opinion.
5. bryan_q says:

   September 29, 2009 at 9:29 am

   Learning both is possible if you are in Guangzhou.
   Learning one doesn’t guarantee you’ll learn the other.
   Nothing is hard.
   Cantonese has more tones than Mandarin, but that doesn’t necessarily make it harder.

   Most useful? Where would you be using it? If in China/Taiwan, then Mandarin. If in countries which used to borrow the Chinese language, like Japan, Korea, Vietnam, etc… then Cantonese, Shanghainese or other southern dialects would help but not much…

   If in Hong Kong or elsewhere, please use Cantonese or other southern dialects which is much more preferable over Mandarin.

   Cantonese is used almost everywhere outside Mainland China or Taiwan.

   But like I said, it depends on your goal or location. Depending on the area, you might or might not be able to find enough speakers of Cantonese or Mandarin, etc…

   Singapore: You will find speakers of Hokkien but in Chinese schools they learned Simplified Chinese like in China, but teach Mandarin.

   You will find both speakers in Malaysia, Indonesia, US, Canada, etc…

   "Cantonese is harder coz there are fewer learning materials and due to the Traditional characters used…"
   Wrong! Cantonese is only harder because it has more tones than Mandarin!!! Cantonese speakers in Mainland China uses Simplified Chinese, not Traditional!!!

   "It’s no doubt that Mandarin is the most widely spoken language in China. Mandarin is the official language and China’s increasingly powerful stature and more business opportunities relating to the Chinese language means it has become one of the world’s most important business tools."
   Powerful stature? hmmm…. I’ll bet 100 dollars on it that it’s "powerful status".

   "However, Cantonese is only used in the Southeast of China!Moreover, Cantonese is more difficult and complex than Mandarin! Mandarin has 4 tones, however Cantonese has 7 tone!" Wrong!!! Cantonese is not just used in Southeast China!!! It’s used overseas and in many communities all over the world, way earlier than Mandarin!!! Cantonese has 9, yes, 9 tones, not 7!!!
6. Shi says:

   September 29, 2009 at 9:29 am

   Mandarin is the official language. But in different areas they speak dialects. Just speak Mandarin or putonghua, most people can understand you.
7. Hongjing L says:

   September 29, 2009 at 9:29 am

   It’s no doubt that Mandarin is the most widely spoken language in China. Mandarin is the official language and China’s increasingly powerful stature and more business opportunities relating to the Chinese language means it has become one of the world’s most important business tools.
   However, Cantonese is only used in the Southeast of China!Moreover, Cantonese is more difficult and complex than Mandarin! Mandarin has 4 tones, however Cantonese has 7 tone!
   So my idea is you can choose mandarin, if you have a good command of mandarin, you can communicate with others freely! However, cantonese is not understand by all Chinese people!
   Hope i can help you!
8. coolpix135 says:

   September 29, 2009 at 9:29 am

   Learn Mandarin. More people can understand you if you speak Mandarin rather than Cantonese.
   Cantonese is harder.
   You could learn both if you were really determined, but it might be too much.