What is the official chinese language?

I always thought the official chinese language was mandarin, but people have told me that it is called "chinese". Who is correct?

Liang Wen Jun says:

August 23, 2009 at 5:43 pm

Chinese refers to all the dialects as a whole. Mandarin is a dialect. Mandarin is the standard dialect which most chinese people learn, and it is the official language of china, taiwan, singapore.
probablygraham says:

August 23, 2009 at 5:43 pm

Basically you’re both right.
It is called the Chinese language but it is Mandarin.

http://www.travelchinaguide.com/essential/language.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_language
smile4theazn says:

August 23, 2009 at 5:43 pm

Mandarin Chinese is the official "Chinese language" of China. This is the one dialect that everyone will at least understand, in China (for the new generation).

If you ask me, "Chinese" is a rather general expression, for there are many dialects of Chinese (perhaps you’ve heard of Cantonese or Shanghainese?)

Learn Chinese Now