View source for Varieties of Chinese

{{Short description|none}}
{{for|the varieties of Han Chinese people|Han Chinese subgroups}}
{{redirect|Spoken Chinese|other languages spoken in China|Languages of China}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}}
{{Infobox language family
| name = Chinese
| altname = Sinitic
| region = [[China]], [[Taiwan]], [[Singapore]], [[Malaysia]]
| familycolor = Sino-Tibetan
| listclass = hlist
| fam2 = [[Sinitic languages|Sinitic]]
| ancestor = [[Old Chinese]]
| ancestor2 = [[Eastern Han Chinese]]
| ancestor3 = [[Middle Chinese]]{{efn|The colloquial layers of many varieties, particularly Min varieties, reflect features that predate Middle Chinese.{{sfnp|Norman|1988|pp=211–214}}{{sfnp|Pulleyblank|1984|p=3}}}}
| child1 = [[Gan Chinese|Gan]]
| child2 = [[Hakka Chinese|Hakka]]
| child3 = [[Huizhou Chinese|Hui]]
| child4 = [[Jin Chinese|Jin]]
| child5 = [[Mandarin Chinese|Mandarin]]
| child6 = [[Min Chinese|Min]]
| child7 = [[Pinghua|Ping]]
| child8 = [[Wu Chinese|Wu]]
| child9 = [[Xiang Chinese|Xiang]]
| child10 = [[Yue Chinese|Yue]]
| child11 = Unclassified {{hlist|class=inline
  | [[Badong Yao language|Badong Yao]]
  | [[Danzhou dialect|Danzhou]]
  | [[Mai Chinese|Mai]]
  | [[Maojia dialect|Maojia]]
  | [[Shaozhou Tuhua]]
  | [[She Chinese|She]]
  | [[Waxiang Chinese|Waxiang]]
  | [[Xiangnan Tuhua]]
  | [[Yeheni language|Yeheni]]
  }}
| iso5 = zhx
| glotto = sini1245
| glottorefname = Sinitic
| lingua = 79-AAA
| map = Map of sinitic languages cropped-en.svg
| mapcaption = Primary branches of Chinese according to the ''[[Language Atlas of China]]''.{{sfnp|Wurm|Li|Baumann|Lee|1987|loc=Map A2}} The Mandarin area extends into [[Yunnan]] and [[Xinjiang]] (not shown).
| module = {{Infobox Chinese|child=yes|headercolor={{Infobox language/family-color|Sino-Tibetan}}
 | showflag = p
 | order = st
 | title = Han language
 | s = {{linktext|汉语}}
 | t = {{linktext|漢語}}
 | l = [[Han Chinese|Han]] language
 | p = Hànyǔ
 | bpmf = ㄏㄢˋ ㄩˇ
 | gr = Hannyeu
 | w = {{tone superscript|Han4-yu3}}
 | mi = {{IPAc-cmn|h|an|4|.|yu|3}}
 | myr = Hàn-yǔ
 | tp = Hàn-yǔ
 | h = Hon Ngi
 | j = hon3 jyu5
 | y = hon yúh
 | gd = hon<sup>3</sup> yü<sup>5</sup>
 | ci = {{IPA|yue|hɔ̄ːn.jy̬ː|}}
 | buc = Háng-ngṳ̄
 | poj = Hàn-gí, Hàn-gú
 | wuu = hoe3 nyiu2
 }}
}}

There are hundreds of local [[Chinese language]] varieties{{efn|Also known as the [[Sinitic languages]], from Late Latin ''{{linktext|Sīnae}}'', "the Chinese". In 1982, [[Paul K. Benedict]] proposed a subgroup of Sino-Tibetan called "Sinitic" comprising [[Bai language|Bai]] and Chinese.{{sfnp|Wang|2005|p=107}} The precise affiliation of Bai remains uncertain,{{sfnp|Wang|2005|p=122}} but the term "Sinitic" is usually used as a synonym for Chinese, especially when viewed as a language family.{{sfnp|Mair|1991|p=3}}}} forming a branch of the [[Sino-Tibetan languages|Sino-Tibetan language family]], many of which are not [[Mutual intelligibility|mutually intelligible]]. Variation is particularly strong in the more mountainous southeast part of mainland China. The varieties are typically classified into several groups: [[Mandarin Chinese|Mandarin]], [[Wu Chinese|Wu]], [[Min Chinese|Min]], [[Xiang Chinese|Xiang]], [[Gan Chinese|Gan]], [[Jin Chinese|Jin]], [[Hakka Chinese|Hakka]] and [[Yue Chinese|Yue]], though some varieties remain unclassified. These groups are neither [[clade]]s nor individual languages defined by mutual intelligibility, but reflect common phonological developments from [[Middle Chinese]].

Chinese varieties have the greatest differences in their [[phonology]], and to a lesser extent in [[vocabulary]] and [[syntax]]. Southern varieties tend to have fewer initial consonants than northern and central varieties, but more often preserve the Middle Chinese final consonants. All have phonemic [[Tone (linguistics)|tones]], with northern varieties tending to have fewer distinctions than southern ones. Many have [[tone sandhi]], with the most complex patterns in the coastal area from [[Zhejiang]] to eastern [[Guangdong]].

[[Standard Chinese]] takes its phonology from the Beijing dialect, with vocabulary from the Mandarin group and grammar based on literature in the [[Written vernacular Chinese|modern written vernacular]]. It is one of the official [[languages of China]] and one of the [[Languages of Singapore|four official languages]] of [[Singapore]]. It has become a [[pluricentric language]], with differences in pronunciation and vocabulary between the three forms. It is also one of the [[Official languages of the United Nations|six official languages]] of the [[United Nations]].

== History ==
At the end of the 2nd millennium&nbsp;BC, a form of Chinese was spoken in a compact area along the lower [[Wei River]] and middle [[Yellow River]]. Use of this language expanded eastwards across the [[North China Plain]] into [[Shandong]], and then southwards into the [[Yangtze River]] valley and the hills of south China. Chinese eventually replaced many of the languages previously dominant in these areas, and forms of the language spoken in different regions began to diverge.{{sfnp|Norman|1988|p=183}} During periods of political unity there was a tendency for states to promote the use of a [[standard language]] across the territory they controlled, in order to facilitate communication between people from different regions.{{sfnp|Norman|1988|pp=183, 185}}

The first evidence of dialectal variation is found in the texts of the [[Spring and Autumn period]] (771–476&nbsp;BC). Although the [[Zhou dynasty|Zhou]] royal domain was no longer politically powerful, its speech still represented a model for communication across China.{{sfnp|Norman|1988|p=183}} The ''[[Fangyan (book)|Fangyan]]'' (early 1st century AD) is devoted to differences in vocabulary between regions.{{sfnp|Norman|1988|p=185}} Commentaries from the [[Eastern Han]] (25–220 AD) provide significant evidence of local differences in pronunciation. The ''[[Qieyun]]'', a [[rime dictionary]] published in 601, noted wide variations in pronunciation between regions, and was created with the goal of defining a standard system of pronunciation for reading the classics.{{sfnp|Ramsey|1987|pp=116–117}} This standard is known as [[Middle Chinese]], and is believed to be a [[diasystem]], based on a compromise between the reading traditions of the northern and southern capitals.{{sfnp|Norman|1988|pp=24–25}}

The [[North China Plain]] provided few barriers to migration, which resulted in relative linguistic homogeneity over a wide area. Contrastingly, the mountains and rivers of southern China contain all six of the other major Chinese dialect groups, with each in turn featuring great internal diversity, particularly in [[Fujian]].{{sfnp|Norman|1988|pp=183–190}}{{sfnp|Ramsey|1987|p=22}}

=== Standard Chinese ===
{{main|Standard Chinese}}
Until the mid-20th century, most Chinese people spoke only their local language. As a practical measure, officials of the [[Ming dynasty|Ming]] and [[Qing dynasty|Qing]] dynasties carried out the administration of the empire using a [[Mandarin (late imperial lingua franca)|common language based on Mandarin varieties]], known as {{tlit|zh|Guānhuà}} ({{lang|zh-Hant|官話}}/{{lang|zh-Hans|官话}} 'officer speech'). While never formally defined, knowledge of this language was essential for a career in the imperial bureaucracy.{{sfnp|Norman|1988|p=136}}

In the early years of the [[Republic of China (1912–1949)|Republic of China]], [[Literary Chinese]] was replaced as the written standard by [[written vernacular Chinese]], which was based on northern dialects. In the 1930s, a standard national language with pronunciation based on the [[Beijing dialect]] was adopted, but with vocabulary drawn from a range of Mandarin varieties, and grammar based on literature in the modern written vernacular.{{sfnp|Ramsey|1987|pp=3–15}} Standard Chinese is the official spoken language of the [[People's Republic of China]] and Taiwan, and is one of the [[Languages of Singapore|official languages]] of Singapore.{{sfnp|Bradley|1992|pp=309–312}} It has become a [[pluricentric language]], with differences in pronunciation and vocabulary between the three forms.{{sfnp|Bradley|1992|pp=313–318}}{{sfnp|Chen|1999|pp=46–49}}

Standard Chinese is much more widely studied than any other variety of Chinese, and its use is now dominant in public life on the mainland.{{sfnp|Norman|1988|p=247}} Outside of China and Taiwan, the only varieties of Chinese commonly taught in university courses are Standard Chinese and [[Cantonese]].{{sfnp|Norman|1988|p=187}}

=== Comparison with Romance ===
Local varieties from different areas of China are often mutually unintelligible, differing at least as much as different [[Romance languages]] and perhaps even as much as [[Indo-European languages]] as a whole.{{sfnp|Norman|1988|p=1}}{{sfnp|Yan|2006|p=2}} As with the Romance languages descended from [[Latin language|Latin]], the ancestral language was spread by imperial expansion over [[substrate language]]s 2000 years ago, by the [[Qin dynasty|Qin]] and [[Han dynasty|Han]] empires in China, and the [[Roman Empire]] in Europe. [[Medieval Latin]] remained the standard for scholarly and administrative writing in Western Europe for centuries, influencing local varieties much like [[Literary Chinese]] did in China. In both cases, local forms of speech diverged from both the literary standard and each other, producing [[dialect continua]] with mutually unintelligible varieties separated by long distances.{{sfnp|Norman|1988|p=187}}{{sfnp|Ramsey|1987|p=7}}

However, a major difference between China and Western Europe is the historical reestablishment of political unity in 6th century China by the [[Sui dynasty]], a unity that has persisted with relatively brief interludes until the present day. Meanwhile, Europe remained politically decentralized, and developed numerous independent states. Vernacular writing using the Latin alphabet supplanted Latin itself, and states eventually developed their own [[standard language]]s. In China, Literary Chinese was predominantly used in formal writing until the early 20th century. Written Chinese, read with different local pronunciations, continued to serve as a source of vocabulary for the local varieties. The new standard [[written vernacular Chinese]], the counterpart of spoken Standard Chinese, is similarly used as a literary form by speakers of all varieties.{{sfnp|Norman|1988|pp=2–3}}{{sfnp|Ramsey|1987|pp=16–18}}

==Classification==
{{further|List of varieties of Chinese}}
Dialectologist [[Jerry Norman (sinologist)|Jerry Norman]] estimated that there are hundreds of mutually unintelligible varieties of Chinese.{{sfnp|Norman|2003|p=72}} These varieties form a [[dialect continuum]], in which differences in speech generally become more pronounced as distances increase, although there are also some sharp boundaries.{{sfnp|Norman|1988|pp=189–190}}

However, the rate of change in mutual intelligibility varies immensely depending on region. For example, the varieties of Mandarin spoken in all three northeastern Chinese provinces are mutually intelligible, but in the province of Fujian, where Min varieties predominate, the speech of neighbouring counties or even villages may be mutually unintelligible.{{sfnp|Norman|1988|p=188}}

===Dialect groups===

{{pie chart
| caption = Proportions of first-language speakers{{sfnp|Xiong|Zhang|2012|pp=3, 125}}
| label1 = [[Mandarin Chinese|Mandarin]] | color1 = #ac8761 | value1 = 65.7 <!-- 798.585 million -->
| label2 = [[Min Chinese|Min]] | color2 = #b1bab6 | value2 = 6.2 <!-- 75 million -->
| label3 = [[Wu Chinese|Wu]] | color3 = #c8c8a8 | value3 = 6.1 <!-- 73.79 million -->
| label4 = [[Yue Chinese|Yue]] | color4 = #bf6e7b | value4 = 5.6 <!-- 68 million -->
| label5 = [[Jin Chinese|Jin]] | color5 = #96642c | value5 = 5.2 <!-- 63.05 million -->
| label6 = [[Gan Chinese|Gan]] | color6 = #fbd98d | value6 = 3.9 <!-- 48 million -->
| label7 = [[Hakka Chinese|Hakka]] | color7 = #eeb36a | value7 = 3.5 <!-- 42.2 million -->
| label8 = [[Xiang Chinese|Xiang]] | color8 = #a5ae87 | value8 = 3.0 <!-- 36.37 million -->
| label9 = [[Huizhou Chinese|Huizhou]] | color9 = #9b987f | value9 = 0.3 <!-- 3.3 million -->
| label10 = [[Pinghua]], others | color10 = #946565 | value10 = 0.6 <!-- 7.78 million -->
| others = yes
}}
Classifications of Chinese varieties in the late 19th century and early 20th century were based on impressionistic criteria. They often followed river systems, which were historically the main routes of migration and communication in southern China.{{sfnp|Kurpaska|2010|pp=36–41}} The first scientific classifications, based primarily on the evolution of Middle Chinese voiced initials, were produced by [[Wang Li (linguist)|Wang Li]] in 1936 and [[Li Fang-Kuei]] in 1937, with minor modifications by other linguists since.{{sfnp|Kurpaska|2010|pp=41–53}} The conventionally accepted set of seven dialect groups first appeared in the second edition (1980) of [[Yuan Jiahua]]'s dialectology handbook:{{sfnp|Norman|1988|p=181}}{{sfnp|Kurpaska|2010|pp=53–55, 61, 215}}

;[[Mandarin Chinese|Mandarin]]
:This is the group spoken in northern and southwestern China and has by far the most speakers. This group includes the Beijing dialect, which forms the basis for [[Standard Chinese]], called ''Putonghua'' or ''Guoyu'' in Chinese, and often also translated as "Mandarin" or simply "Chinese". In addition, the [[Dungan language]] of [[Kyrgyzstan]] and [[Kazakhstan]] is a Mandarin variety written in the [[Cyrillic script]].
;[[Wu Chinese|Wu]]
:These varieties are spoken in [[Shanghai]], most of [[Zhejiang]] and the southern parts of [[Jiangsu]] and [[Anhui]]. The group comprises hundreds of distinct spoken forms, many of which are not mutually intelligible. The [[Suzhou dialect]] is usually taken as representative, because [[Shanghainese]] features several atypical innovations.{{sfnp|Yan|2006|p=90}} Wu varieties are distinguished by their retention of voiced or murmured [[obstruent]] initials ([[stop consonant|stops]], [[affricate consonant|affricates]] and [[fricative consonant|fricatives]]).{{sfnp|Norman|1988|pp=199–200}}
;[[Gan Chinese|Gan]]
:These varieties are spoken in [[Jiangxi]] and neighbouring areas. The [[Nanchang dialect]] is taken as representative. In the past, Gan was viewed as closely related to [[Hakka Chinese|Hakka]] because of the way Middle Chinese voiced initials became voiceless aspirated initials as in Hakka, and were hence called by the umbrella term "Hakka–Gan dialects".{{sfnp|Kurpaska|2010|pp=46, 49–50}}{{sfnp|Yan|2006|p=148}}
;[[Xiang Chinese|Xiang]]
:The Xiang varieties are spoken in [[Hunan]] and southern [[Hubei]]. The [[New Xiang]] varieties, represented by the [[Changsha dialect]], have been significantly influenced by Southwest Mandarin, whereas [[Old Xiang]] varieties, represented by the [[Shuangfeng dialect]], retain features such as voiced initials.{{sfnp|Norman|1988|pp=207–209}}
;[[Min Chinese|Min]]
:These varieties originated in the mountainous terrain of Fujian and eastern [[Guangdong]], and form the only branch of Chinese that cannot be directly derived from Middle Chinese. It is also the most diverse, with many of the varieties used in neighbouring counties—and, in the mountains of western Fujian, even in adjacent villages—being mutually unintelligible.{{sfnp|Norman|1988|p=188}} Early classifications divided Min into Northern and Southern subgroups, but a survey in the early 1960s found that the primary split was between inland and coastal groups.{{sfnp|Kurpaska|2010|p=49}}{{sfnp|Norman|1988|p=233}} Varieties from the coastal region around [[Xiamen]] have spread to Southeast Asia, where they are known as [[Hokkien]] (named from a dialectical pronunciation of "Fujian"), and Taiwan, where they are known as [[Taiwanese Hokkien|Taiwanese]].{{sfnp|Norman|1988|pp=232–233}} Other offshoots of Min are found in [[Hainan]] and the [[Leizhou Peninsula]], with smaller communities throughout southern China.{{sfnp|Norman|1988|p=233}}
;[[Hakka Chinese|Hakka]]
:The [[Hakka people|Hakka]] (literally "guest families") are a group of [[Han Chinese]] living in the hills of northeastern Guangdong, southwestern Fujian and many other parts of southern China, as well as Taiwan and parts of Southeast Asia such as Singapore, [[Malaysia]] and [[Indonesia]]. The [[Meixian dialect]] is the prestige form.{{sfnp|Norman|1988|p=224}} Most Hakka varieties retain the full complement of nasal endings, {{IPA|-m -n -ŋ}} and stop endings {{IPA|-p -t -k}}, though there is a tendency for Middle Chinese velar codas -ŋ and -k to yield dental codas -n and -t after front vowels.{{sfnp|Norman|1988|p=217}}
;[[Yue Chinese|Yue]]
:These varieties are spoken in Guangdong, [[Guangxi]], [[Hong Kong]] and [[Macau]], and have been carried by immigrants to Southeast Asia and many other parts of the world. The [[prestige variety]] and by far most commonly spoken variety is [[Cantonese]], from the city of [[Guangzhou]] (historically called "Canton"), which is also the native language of the majority in Hong Kong and Macau.{{sfnp|Norman|1988|p=215}} [[Taishanese]], from the coastal area of [[Jiangmen]] southwest of Guangzhou, was historically the most common Yue variety among overseas communities in the West until the late 20th century.{{sfnp|Ramsey|1987|p=98}} Not all Yue varieties are mutually intelligible. Most Yue varieties retain the full complement of Middle Chinese word-final consonants ({{IPA|/p/, /t/, /k/, /m/, /n/ and /ŋ/}}) and have rich inventories of tones.{{sfnp|Norman|1988|p=217}}

The ''[[Language Atlas of China]]'' (1987) follows a classification of [[Li Rong (linguist)|Li Rong]], distinguishing three further groups:{{sfnp|Wurm|Li|Baumann|Lee|1987}}{{sfnp|Kurpaska|2010|pp=55–56}}
;[[Jin Chinese|Jin]]
:These varieties, spoken in [[Shanxi]] and adjacent areas, were formerly included in Mandarin. They are distinguished by their retention of the Middle Chinese [[entering tone]] category.{{sfnp|Yan|2006|pp=60–61}}
;[[Huizhou Chinese|Huizhou]]
:The Hui dialects, spoken in southern [[Anhui]], share different features with Wu, Gan and Mandarin, making them difficult to classify. Earlier scholars had assigned to them one or other of these groups, or to a group of their own.{{sfnp|Yan|2006|pp=222–223}}{{sfnp|Kurpaska|2010|pp=43–44, 48, 69, 75–76}}
;[[Pinghua]]
:These varieties are descended from the speech of the earliest Chinese migrants to [[Guangxi]], predating the later influx of Yue and Southwest Mandarin speakers. Some linguists treat them as a mixture of Yue and Xiang.{{sfnp|Yan|2006|p=235}}

Some varieties remain unclassified, including the [[Danzhou dialect]] (northwestern [[Hainan]]), [[Mai Chinese|Mai]] (southern Hainan), [[Waxiang Chinese|Waxiang]] (northwestern [[Hunan]]), [[Xiangnan Tuhua]] (southern Hunan), [[Shaozhou Tuhua]] (northern Guangdong), and the forms of Chinese spoken by the [[She people]] ([[She Chinese]]) and the [[Miao people]].{{sfnp|Kurpaska|2010|pp=72–73}}{{sfnp|Xiong|Zhang|2012|pp=161, 188, 189, 195}}{{sfnp|Cao|2008a|p=9}}
She Chinese, Xiangnan Tuhua, Shaozhou Tuhua and unclassified varieties of southwest Jiangxi appear to be related to Hakka.{{sfnp|Nakanishi|2010}}{{sfnp|Coblin|2019|p=438–443}}

Most of the vocabulary of the [[Bai language]] of [[Yunnan]] appears to be related to Chinese words, though many are clearly loans from the last few centuries. Some scholars have suggested that it represents a very early branching from Chinese, while others argue that it is a more distantly related [[Sino-Tibetan language]] overlaid with two millennia of loans.{{sfnp|Ramsey|1987|pp=290–291}}{{sfnp|Norman|2003|pp=73, 75}}{{sfnp|Wang|2005}}

===Dialect geography===
[[File:Map of northern features in Chinese dialects.svg|thumb|right|upright=1.25|Map of the spread of 16 features identified by Norman as characteristic of northern dialects. Areas with all these features are shown in darkest blue; those with none in darkest red. The central dialects lie in between.{{sfnp|Norman|1988|p=182}}{{sfnp|Norman|2003|pp=73, 76}}{{sfnp|Cao|2008a|loc=Maps 4, 52, 66, 73}}{{sfnp|Cao|2008b|loc=Maps 5, 52, 79, 109, 134, 138}}{{sfnp|Cao|2008c|loc=Maps 3, 28, 38, 41, 76}}]]
[[Jerry Norman (sinologist)|Jerry Norman]] classified the traditional seven dialect groups into three zones: Northern (Mandarin), Central (Wu, Gan, and Xiang) and Southern (Hakka, Yue, and Min).{{sfnp|Norman|1988|pp=182–183}}
He argued that the dialects of the Southern zone are derived from a standard used in the Yangtze valley during the [[Han dynasty]] (206 BC – 220 AD), which he called Old Southern Chinese, while the Central zone was a transitional area of dialects that were originally of southern type, but overlain with centuries of Northern influence.{{sfnp|Norman|1988|pp=182–183}}{{sfnp|Norman|2003|pp=73, 76}}
[[Hilary Chappell]] proposed a refined model, dividing Norman's Northern zone into Northern and Southwestern areas, and his Southern zone into Southeastern (Min) and Far Southern (Yue and Hakka) areas, with Pinghua transitional between Southwestern and Far Southern areas.{{sfnp|Chappell|2015b|pp=45–51}}

The long history of migration of peoples and interaction between speakers of different dialects makes it difficult to apply the [[tree model]] to Chinese.{{sfnp|Norman|2003|p=76}}
Scholars account for the transitional nature of the central varieties in terms of [[wave model]]s. Iwata argues that innovations have been transmitted from the north across the [[Huai River]] to the [[Lower Yangtze Mandarin]] area and from there southeast to the Wu area and westwards along the [[Yangtze River]] valley and thence to southwestern areas, leaving the hills of the southeast largely untouched.{{sfnp|Iwata|2010|pp=102–108}}

Some [[dialect boundaries]], such as between Wu and Min, are particularly abrupt, while others, such as between Mandarin and Xiang or between Min and Hakka, are much less clearly defined.{{sfnp|Norman|1988|pp=189–190}}
Several east-west [[isogloss]]es run along the Huai and Yangtze Rivers.{{sfnp|Iwata|1995|pp=211–212}}
A north-south barrier is formed by the [[Tianmu Mountain|Tianmu]] and [[Wuyi Mountains]].{{sfnp|Iwata|1995|pp=215–216, 218}}

===Intelligibility testing===
Most assessments of mutual intelligibility of varieties of Chinese in the literature are impressionistic.{{sfnp|Tang|van Heuven|2009|pp=713–714}}
Functional intelligibility testing is time-consuming in any language family, and usually not done when more than 10 varieties are to be compared.{{sfnp|Tang|van Heuven|2009|p=712}}
However, one 2009 study aimed to measure intelligibility between 15 Chinese provinces. In each province, 15 university students were recruited as speakers and 15 older rural inhabitants recruited as listeners. The listeners were then tested on their comprehension of isolated words and of particular words in the context of sentences spoken by speakers from all 15 of the provinces surveyed.{{sfnp|Tang|van Heuven|2009|pp=715–717}}
The results demonstrated significant levels of unintelligibility between areas, even within the Mandarin group. In a few cases, listeners understood fewer than 70% of words spoken by speakers from the same province, indicating significant differences between urban and rural varieties. As expected from the wide use of [[Standard Chinese]], speakers from Beijing were understood more than speakers from elsewhere.{{sfnp|Tang|van Heuven|2009|pp=718–722}}
The scores supported a primary division between northern groups (Mandarin and Jin) and all others, with Min as an identifiable branch.{{sfnp|Tang|van Heuven|2009|pp=721–722}}

===Terminology===
Because speakers share a [[written vernacular Chinese|standard written form]], and have a common cultural heritage with long periods of political unity, the varieties are popularly perceived among native speakers as variants of a single Chinese language,{{sfnp|Norman|1988|pp=1–2}} and this is also the official position.{{sfnp|Liang|2014|p=14}} Conventional English-language usage in Chinese linguistics is to use ''dialect'' for the speech of a particular place (regardless of status), with regional groupings like Mandarin and Wu called ''dialect groups''.{{sfnp|Norman|2003|p=72}}{{sfnp|Ramsey|1987|pp=87}}

Reflecting its internal diversity, Chinese is usually considered a language family within the Sino-Tibetan phylum.{{sfnp|Norman|1988|p=1}}{{sfnp|Chappell|2015a|p=3}} Estimates of the number of languages implied by the criterion of mutual intelligibility range from dozens to hundreds, but no one has attempted to delimit them consistently.{{sfnp|Handel|2017|p=85}}{{sfnp|Kurpaska|2010|p=33}} Some authors refer to each of the eight main groups such as Wu or Yue as a "language", but each of these groups contains mutually unintelligible varieties.{{sfnp|Norman|2003|p=72}}{{sfnp|Arcodia|Basciano|2021|p=10}} [[ISO 639-3]] and the ''[[Ethnologue]]'' assign language codes to each of the top-level groups listed above except Min and Pinghua, whose subdivisions are assigned seven and two codes respectively.{{sfnp|Eberhard|Simons|Fennig|2024}} Some linguists refer to the local varieties as languages, numbering in the hundreds.{{sfnp|Chappell|2015a|p=8}}

The Chinese term {{tlit|zh|fāngyán}} {{linktext|方言|lang=zh}}, literally 'place speech', was the title of the [[Fangyan (book)|first work of Chinese dialectology]] in the [[Han dynasty]], and has had a range of meanings in the millennia since.{{sfnp|Mair|1991|pp=3–6}} It is used for any regional subdivision of Chinese, from the speech of a village to major branches such as Mandarin and Wu, regardless of intelligibility.{{sfnp|Handel|2017|p=85}}{{sfnp|Kurpaska|2010|p=2}} Linguists writing in Chinese often qualify the term to distinguish different levels of classification.{{sfnp|Kurpaska|2010|p=63}} All these terms have customarily been translated into English as ''dialect'', a practice that has been criticized as confusing and inconsistent with typical usage.{{sfnp|DeFrancis|1984|p=57}}{{sfnp|Mair|2013|p=736}} [[John DeFrancis]] proposed the neologism ''regionalect'' to serve as a translation for {{tlit|zh|fāngyán}} when referring to the top-level groups, which are mutually unintelligible.{{sfnp|DeFrancis|1984|pp=57, 67}} [[Victor Mair]] coined the term ''topolect'' as a translation for all uses of {{tlit|zh|fāngyán}}.{{sfnp|Mair|1991|p=7}} The latter term appears in ''[[The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language]]''.{{sfnp|Mair|2013|p=736}}

==Phonology==
[[File:Chinese syllable tree.svg|thumb|right|Traditional Chinese syllable structure]]
The usual unit of analysis is the syllable, traditionally analysed as consisting of an initial [[consonant]], a final and a [[tone (linguistics)|tone]].{{sfnp|Norman|1988|pp=138–139}} In general, southern varieties have fewer initial consonants than northern and central varieties, but more often preserve the Middle Chinese final consonants.{{sfnp|Norman|1988|pp=212–213}} Some varieties, such as Cantonese, Hokkien and [[Shanghainese]], include [[syllabic nasal]]s as independent syllables.{{sfnp|Ramsey|1987|p=101}}

=== Initials ===
In the 42 varieties surveyed in the ''[[Great Dictionary of Modern Chinese Dialects]]'', the number of initials (including a zero initial) ranges from 15 in some southern dialects to a high of 35 in [[Chongming dialect]], spoken in [[Chongming Island]], [[Shanghai]].{{sfnp|Kurpaska|2010|pp=186–188}}

{| class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto 1em auto"
|+ Initials of selected varieties{{sfnp|Yan|2006|pp=69, 90, 127}}{{sfnp|Norman|1988|pp=139, 236}}
! colspan="2" |
! rowspan="8" style="padding: 0px" |
! scope="colgroup" colspan="5" | [[Fuzhou dialect|Fuzhou]] ([[Min Chinese|Min]])<!-- minimal inventory -->
! rowspan="8" style="padding: 0px" |
! scope="colgroup" colspan="6" | [[Suzhou dialect|Suzhou]] ([[Wu Chinese|Wu]])<!-- voiced initials -->
! rowspan="8" style="padding: 0px" |
! scope="colgroup" colspan="7" | [[Beijing dialect|Beijing]] ([[Mandarin Chinese|Mandarin]])<!-- retroflex initials -->
|-
! scope="rowgroup" rowspan="3" | [[Stop consonant|Stops]] and<br />[[Affricate consonant|affricates]]
! scope="row" | <small>voiceless aspirated</small>
| {{IPA|pʰ}}|| {{IPA|tʰ}}|| {{IPA|tsʰ}}|| {{IPA|kʰ}}||
| {{IPA|pʰ}}|| {{IPA|tʰ}}|| {{IPA|tsʰ}}|| {{IPA|tɕʰ}}|| {{IPA|kʰ}}||
| {{IPA|pʰ}}|| {{IPA|tʰ}}|| {{IPA|tsʰ}}|| {{IPA|tɕʰ}}|| {{IPA|tʂʰ}}|| {{IPA|kʰ}}||
|-
! scope="row" | <small>voiceless unaspirated</small>
| {{IPA|p}}|| {{IPA|t}}|| {{IPA|ts}}|| {{IPA|k}}||
| {{IPA|p}}|| {{IPA|t}}|| {{IPA|ts}}|| {{IPA|tɕ}}|| {{IPA|k}}||
| {{IPA|p}}|| {{IPA|t}}|| {{IPA|ts}}|| {{IPA|tɕ}}|| {{IPA|tʂ}}|| {{IPA|k}}||
|-
! scope="row" | <small>voiced</small>
| colspan="5" |
| {{IPA|b}}  || {{IPA|d}}  ||     || {{IPA|dʑ}}  || {{IPA|ɡ}}   ||
| colspan="7" |
|-
! scope="rowgroup" rowspan="2" | [[Fricative consonant|Fricatives]]
! scope="row" | <small>voiceless</small>
|    ||    || {{IPA|s}}   || {{IPA|x}}   ||
|  {{IPA|f}}  ||    || {{IPA|s}}   || {{IPA|ɕ}}   ||     || {{IPA|h}}
|  {{IPA|f}}  ||    || {{IPA|s}}   || {{IPA|ɕ}}   || {{IPA|ʂ}}   || {{IPA|x}}  ||
|-
! scope="row" | <small>voiced</small>
| colspan="5" |
| {{IPA|v}}  ||    || {{IPA|z}}   || {{IPA|ʑ}}   ||     || {{IPA|ɦ}}
| colspan="4" |
| rowspan="2" |{{IPA|ɻ}}/{{IPA|ʐ}}
| colspan="2" |
|-
! scope="rowgroup" colspan="2" | [[Sonorant]]s
| || {{IPA|l}}  || || || ∅
| || {{IPA|l}}  || || || || ∅
| || {{IPA|l}}  || || || || ∅
|-
! scope="rowgroup" colspan="2" | [[Nasal consonant|Nasals]]
| {{IPA|m}}  || {{IPA|n}}  ||     || {{IPA|ŋ}}   ||
| {{IPA|m}}  || {{IPA|n}}  ||     || {{IPA|ɲ}}   || {{IPA|ŋ}}   ||
| {{IPA|m}}  || {{IPA|n}}  ||     ||     ||     ||    ||
|}

[[File:Map of the degree of palatalization in Chinese dialects.svg|thumb|right|upright=1.25|Extent of the palatal merger in the core Chinese-speaking area{{sfnp|Cao|2008a|loc=Map 66}}]]
The initial system of the [[Fuzhou dialect]] of northern Fujian is a minimal example.{{sfnp|Yan|2006|p=127}} With the exception of {{IPA|/ŋ/}}, which is often merged with the zero initial, the initials of this dialect are present in all Chinese varieties, although several varieties do not distinguish {{IPA|/n/}} from {{IPA|/l/}}. However, most varieties have additional initials, due to a combination of innovations and retention of distinctions from Middle Chinese:
* Most non-Min varieties have a [[Voiceless labiodental fricative|labiodental fricative]] {{IPA|/f/}}, and sometimes its voiced counterpart {{IPA|/v/}}, which developed from Middle Chinese [[bilabial stop]]s in certain environments.{{sfnp|Norman|1988|p=211}}{{sfnp|Handel|2017|pp=104–106}} In similar environments, Middle Chinese ''m-'' developed into {{IPA|/w/}}.{{sfnp|Handel|2017|pp=105–106}}
* The voiced initials of Middle Chinese are retained in Wu dialects such as Suzhou and [[Shanghai dialect|Shanghai]], as well as [[Old Xiang]] dialects and a few Gan dialects, but have merged with voiceless initials elsewhere.{{sfnp|Norman|1988|pp=199–200, 207}}{{sfnp|Yan|2006|pp=91, 108–109, 152}} [[Southern Min]] varieties have an unrelated series of voiced initials resulting from devoicing of nasal initials in syllables without nasal finals.{{sfnp|Norman|1988|pp=235–236}}
* The Middle Chinese [[Retroflex consonant|retroflex]] initials are retained in many Mandarin dialects, including Beijing but not southwestern and southeastern Mandarin varieties.{{sfnp|Norman|1988|p=193}}
* In many northern and central varieties there is [[Palatalization (sound change)|palatalization]] of dental affricates, [[Velar consonant|velars]] (as in Suzhou), or both. In many places, including Beijing, palatalized dental affricates and palatalized velars have merged to form a new palatal series.{{sfnp|Norman|1988|pp=182, 193, 200, 205}}

{{gallery
| title = Maps of the distributions of various initial consonants in the core Chinese-speaking area
| mode = packed
|File:Map of distribution of the velar nasal initial in Chinese dialects.svg|velar nasal initial ({{IPA|ŋ}}){{sfnp|Cao|2008a|loc=Map 43}}
|File:Map of distribution of stop initials in 飞蜂浮 in Chinese dialects.svg|retained bilabial stops where Beijing has ''f-''{{sfnp|Cao|2008a|loc=Map 51}}
|File:Map of distribution of nasal initial in 问 in Chinese dialects.svg|retained ''m-'' where Beijing has ''w-''{{sfnp|Cao|2008a|loc=Map 52}}
|File:Map of distribution of voiced initials in Chinese dialects.svg|voiced obstruent initials{{sfnp|Cao|2008a|loc=Map 40}}
|File:Map of distribution of retroflex initials in Chinese dialects.svg|retroflex initials{{sfnp|Cao|2008a|loc=Map 45}}
|File:Map of distribution of nasal initial in 熱 in Chinese dialects.svg|retained ''n-'' where Beijing has ''r-''{{sfnp|Cao|2008a|loc=Map 73}}
}}

=== Finals ===
[[File:Map of distribution of stop codas in Chinese dialects.svg|thumb|right|upright=1.25|Distribution of stop codas{{sfnp|Cao|2008a|loc=Map 124}}]]
Chinese finals may be analysed as an optional medial [[semivowel|glide]], a main vowel and an optional coda.{{sfnp|Norman|1988|pp=28, 141}}

Conservative vowel systems, such as those of [[Gan dialects]], have high vowels {{IPA|/i/}}, {{IPA|/u/}} and {{IPA|/y/}}, which also function as medials, mid vowels {{IPA|/e/}} and {{IPA|/o/}}, and a low {{IPA|/a/}}-like vowel.{{sfnp|Yan|2006|pp=150–151}} In other dialects, including Mandarin dialects, {{IPA|/o/}} has merged with {{IPA|/a/}}, leaving a single mid vowel with a wide range of [[allophone]]s.{{sfnp|Norman|1988|pp=141, 198}} Many dialects, particularly in northern and central China, have apical or retroflex vowels, which are [[syllabic fricative]]s derived from high vowels following sibilant initials.{{sfnp|Norman|1988|p=194}} In many [[Wu dialects]], vowels and final glides have [[monophthong]]ized, producing a rich inventory of vowels in open syllables.{{sfnp|Norman|1988|pp=200–201}} Reduction of medials is common in [[Yue dialects]].{{sfnp|Norman|1988|pp=216–217}}

The Middle Chinese codas, consisting of glides {{IPA|/j/}} and {{IPA|/w/}}, nasals {{IPA|/m/}}, {{IPA|/n/}} and {{IPA|/ŋ/}}, and stops {{IPA|/p/}}, {{IPA|/t/}} and {{IPA|/k/}}, are best preserved in southern dialects, particularly Yue dialects such as Cantonese.{{sfnp|Norman|1988|p=217}} In some Min dialects, nasals and stops following open vowels have shifted to nasalization and glottal stops respectively.{{sfnp|Norman|1988|p=237}} In Jin, [[Lower Yangtze Mandarin]] and Wu dialects, the stops have merged as a final [[glottal stop]], while in most northern varieties they have disappeared.{{sfnp|Norman|1988|pp=193, 201–202}} In [[Mandarin dialects]] final {{IPA|/m/}} has merged with {{IPA|/n/}}, while some central dialects have a single nasal coda, in some cases realized as a [[nasal vowel|nasalization]] of the vowel.{{sfnp|Norman|1988|pp=193, 201}}

===Tones===
[[File:Map of number of tone categories in Chinese dialects.svg|thumb|right|upright=1.25|Variation in the number of tone categories{{sfnp|Cao|2008a|loc=Map 1}}]]
All varieties of Chinese, [[Areal feature|like neighbouring languages]] in the [[Mainland Southeast Asia linguistic area]], have phonemic [[tone (linguistics)|tones]]. Each syllable may be pronounced with between three and seven distinct pitch contours, denoting different morphemes. For example, the Beijing dialect distinguishes {{tlit|zh|mā}} ({{lang|zh-hans|妈}}/{{lang|zh-hant|媽}} 'mother'), {{tlit|zh|má}} ({{lang|zh-hans|麻}} 'hemp'), {{tlit|zh|mǎ}} ({{lang|zh-hans|马}}/{{lang|zh-hant|馬}} 'horse) and {{tlit|zh|mà}} ({{lang|zh-hans|骂}}/{{lang|zh-hant|罵}} 'to scold'). The number of tonal contrasts varies between dialects, with Northern dialects tending to have fewer distinctions than Southern ones.{{sfnp|Norman|1988|p=9}}

The tonal categories of modern varieties can be related by considering their derivation from the [[four tones of Middle Chinese]], though cognate tonal categories in different dialects are often realized as quite different pitch contours.{{sfnp|Norman|1988|p=54}} Middle Chinese had a three-way tonal contrast in syllables with vocalic or nasal endings. The traditional names of the tonal categories are 'level'/'even' ({{lang|zh-hans|平}} {{tlit|zh|píng}}), 'rising' ({{lang|zh-hans|上}} {{tlit|zh|shǎng}}) and 'departing' ({{lang|zh-hans|去}} {{tlit|zh|qù}}). Syllables ending in a [[stop consonant]] {{IPA|/p/}}, {{IPA|/t/}} or {{IPA|/k/}} ([[checked syllable]]s) had no tonal contrasts but were traditionally treated as a fourth tone category, 'entering' ({{lang|zh-hans|入}} {{tlit|zh|rù}}), corresponding to syllables ending in nasals {{IPA|/m/}}, {{IPA|/n/}}, or {{IPA|/ŋ/}}.{{sfnp|Norman|1988|pp=34–36}}

The tones of Middle Chinese, as well as similar systems in neighbouring languages, experienced a [[tone split]] conditioned by syllabic onsets. Syllables with voiced initials tended to be pronounced with a lower pitch, and by the late [[Tang dynasty]], each of the tones had split into two registers conditioned by the initials, known as "upper" ({{lang|zh-hans|阴}}/{{lang|zh-hant|陰}} {{tlit|zh|yīn}}) and "lower" ({{lang|zh-hans|阳}}/{{lang|zh-hant|陽}} {{tlit|zh|yáng}}).{{sfnp|Norman|1988|pp=53–54}} When voicing was lost in all dialects except in the Wu and Old Xiang groups, this distinction became phonemic, yielding eight tonal categories, with a six-way contrast in unchecked syllables and a two-way contrast in checked syllables.{{sfnp|Norman|1988|p=53}} [[Standard Cantonese|Cantonese]] maintains these eight tonal categories and has developed an additional distinction in checked syllables.{{sfnp|Norman|1988|pp=217–218}} (The latter distinction has disappeared again in many varieties.)

However, most Chinese varieties have reduced the number of tonal distinctions.{{sfnp|Norman|1988|p=54}} For example, in Mandarin, the tones resulting from the split of Middle Chinese rising and departing tones merged, leaving four tones. Furthermore, final stop consonants disappeared in most Mandarin dialects, and such syllables were distributed amongst the four remaining tones in a manner that is only partially predictable.{{sfnp|Norman|1988|pp=194–195}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; margin:1em auto 1em auto"
|+ Tonal categories and [[tone letter|pitch contours]] in colloquial layers
|-
! colspan="2" rowspan="3" |
! scope="colgroup" colspan="13" | Middle Chinese tone and initial
|-
! scope="colgroup" colspan="3" | level
! scope="colgroup" colspan="3" | rising
! scope="colgroup" colspan="3" | departing
! scope="colgroup" colspan="4" | entering
|-
! scope="col" | vl. !! scope="col" | n. !! scope="col" | vd.
! scope="col" | vl. !! scope="col" | n. !! scope="col" | vd.
! scope="col" | vl. !! scope="col" | n. !! scope="col" | vd.
! scope="colgroup" colspan="2" | vl. !! scope="col" | n. !! scope="col" | vd.
|-
! scope="row" | Jin{{sfnp|Norman|1988|pp=195–196, 272}}
! scope="row" | Taiyuan
| colspan="3" | 1 {{Chinese tone letter|11}}
| colspan="2" | 3 {{Chinese tone letter|53}}
| colspan="4" | 5 {{Chinese tone letter|55}}
| colspan="3" | 7 {{Chinese tone letter|21}}
| 8 {{Chinese tone letter|54}}
|-
! scope="rowgroup" rowspan="4" | Mandarin{{sfnp|Norman|1988|pp=195–196, 272}}
! scope="row" | Xi'an
| 1 {{Chinese tone letter|31}}
| colspan="2" | 2 {{Chinese tone letter|24}}
| colspan="2" | 3 {{Chinese tone letter|42}}
| colspan="4" | 5 {{Chinese tone letter|55}}
| colspan="3" | 1
| 2
|-
! scope="row" | Beijing
| 1 {{Chinese tone letter|55}}
| colspan="2" | 2 {{Chinese tone letter|35}}
| colspan="2" | 3 {{Chinese tone letter|214}}
| colspan="4" | 5 {{Chinese tone letter|51}}
| colspan="2" | 1,2,3,5 || 5 || 2
|-
! scope="row" | Chengdu
| 1 {{Chinese tone letter|44}}
| colspan="2" | 2 {{Chinese tone letter|31}}
| colspan="2" | 3 {{Chinese tone letter|53}}
| colspan="4" | 5 {{Chinese tone letter|13}}
| colspan="4" | 2
|-
! scope="row" | Yangzhou
| 1 {{Chinese tone letter|21}}
| colspan="2" | 2 {{Chinese tone letter|35}}
| colspan="2" | 3 {{Chinese tone letter|31}}
| colspan="4" | 5 {{Chinese tone letter|55}}
| colspan="4" | 7 {{Chinese tone letter|4}}
|-
! scope="rowgroup" rowspan="2" | Xiang{{sfnp|Yan|2006|pp=108, 116–117}}
! scope="row" | Changsha
| 1 {{Chinese tone letter|33}}
| colspan="2" | 2 {{Chinese tone letter|13}}
| colspan="2" | 3 {{Chinese tone letter|41}}
| 6
| 5 {{Chinese tone letter|55}}
| colspan="2" | 6 {{Chinese tone letter|21}}
| colspan="4" | 7 {{Chinese tone letter|24}}
|-
! scope="row" | Shuangfeng
| 1 {{Chinese tone letter|44}}
| colspan="2" | 2 {{Chinese tone letter|23}}
| colspan="2" | 3 {{Chinese tone letter|21}}
| 6
| 5 {{Chinese tone letter|35}}
| colspan="2" | 6 {{Chinese tone letter|33}}
| colspan="4" | 2, 5
|-
! scope="row" | Gan{{sfnp|Yan|2006|pp=162–163}}
! scope="row" | Nanchang
| 1 {{Chinese tone letter|42}}
| colspan="2" | 2 {{Chinese tone letter|24}}
| colspan="2" | 3 {{Chinese tone letter|213}}
| 6
| 5 {{Chinese tone letter|45}}
| colspan="2" | 6 {{Chinese tone letter|21}}
| colspan="2" | 7 {{Chinese tone letter|5}}
| colspan="2" | 8 {{Chinese tone letter|21}}
|-
! scope="rowgroup" rowspan="3" | Wu{{sfnp|Norman|1988|p=202}}
! scope="row" | Suzhou
| 1 {{Chinese tone letter|44}}
| colspan="2" | 2 {{Chinese tone letter|24}}
| colspan="2" | 3 {{Chinese tone letter|41}}
| 6
| 5 {{Chinese tone letter|513}}
| colspan="2" | 6 {{Chinese tone letter|31}}
| colspan="2" | 7 {{Chinese tone letter|44}}
| colspan="2" | 8 {{Chinese tone letter|23}}
|-
! scope="row" | Shanghai
| 1 {{Chinese tone letter|42}}
| colspan="2" | 2 {{Chinese tone letter|24}}
| colspan="2" | 3 {{Chinese tone letter|35}}
| 2
| 3
| colspan="2" | 2
| colspan="2" | 7 {{Chinese tone letter|55}}
| colspan="2" | 8 {{Chinese tone letter|23}}
|-
! scope="row" | Wenzhou
| 1 {{Chinese tone letter|44}}
| colspan="2" | 2 {{Chinese tone letter|31}}
| 3 {{Chinese tone letter|45}}
| colspan="2" | 4 {{Chinese tone letter|24}}
| 5 {{Chinese tone letter|42}}
| colspan="2" | 6 {{Chinese tone letter|11}}
| colspan="2" | 7 {{Chinese tone letter|23}}
| colspan="2" | 8 {{Chinese tone letter|12}}
|-
! scope="row" | Min{{sfnp|Norman|1988|pp=238–239}}
! Xiamen
| 1 {{Chinese tone letter|55}}
| colspan="2" | 2 {{Chinese tone letter|24}}
| colspan="2" | 3 {{Chinese tone letter|51}}
| 6
| 5 {{Chinese tone letter|11}}
| colspan="2" | 6 {{Chinese tone letter|33}}
| colspan="2" | 7 {{Chinese tone letter|32}}
| colspan="2" | 8 {{Chinese tone letter|55}}
|-
! scope="row" | Hakka{{sfnp|Norman|1988|pp=225–226}}
! scope="row" | Meixian
| 1 {{Chinese tone letter|44}}
| colspan="2" | 2 {{Chinese tone letter|12}}
| 3 {{Chinese tone letter|31}}
| 1,3
| 1
| colspan="3" | 5 {{Chinese tone letter|42}}
| colspan="2" | 7 {{Chinese tone letter|21}}
| colspan="2" | 8 {{Chinese tone letter|44}}
|-
! scope="row" | Yue{{sfnp|Yan|2006|p=198}}
! scope="row" | Guangzhou
| 1 {{Chinese tone letter|53}},{{Chinese tone letter|55}}
| colspan="2" | 2 {{Chinese tone letter|21}}
| 3 {{Chinese tone letter|35}}
| colspan="2" | 4 {{Chinese tone letter|23}}{{efn|Some words of literary origin with voiced initials shifted to category 6.{{sfnp|Norman|1988|p=218}}}}
| 5 {{Chinese tone letter|33}}
| colspan="2" | 6 {{Chinese tone letter|22}}
| 7a {{Chinese tone letter|55}} || 7b {{Chinese tone letter|33}}
| colspan="2" | 8 {{Chinese tone letter|22}}
|}

In Wu, voiced obstruents were retained, and the tone split never became phonemic: the higher-pitched allophones occur with initial voiceless consonants, and the lower-pitched allophones occur with initial voiced consonants.{{sfnp|Norman|1988|p=202}} (Traditional Chinese classification nonetheless counts these as different tones.) Most Wu dialects retain the tone categories of Middle Chinese, but in Shanghainese several of these have merged.

Many Chinese varieties exhibit [[tone sandhi]], in which the realization of the tone of a syllable is affected by the tones of adjacent syllables in a compound word or phrase. For example, in [[Standard Chinese]] a third tone changes to a second tone when followed by another third tone.{{sfnp|Norman|1988|pp=146–147}} Particularly complex sandhi patterns are found in Wu dialects and coastal Min dialects.{{sfnp|Norman|1988|pp=202, 239}}

In northern varieties, many particles or suffixes are weakly stressed or atonic syllables. These are much rarer in southern varieties. Such syllables have a reduced pitch range that is determined by the preceding syllable.{{sfnp|Norman|1988|pp=148–149, 195}}

==Vocabulary==
Most [[morpheme]]s in Chinese varieties are monosyllables descended from [[Old Chinese]] words, and have cognates in all varieties:

{| class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto 1em auto"
|+ Colloquial pronunciations of cognate morphemes{{sfnp|Beijing University|1989}}{{efn|name=tone-numbers|The tone numbers of {{section link||Tones}} are used to facilitate comparison between dialects.}}
|-
! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Word
! scope="col" | [[Jin Chinese|Jin]]
! scope="colgroup" colspan="4" | [[Mandarin Chinese|Mandarin]]
! scope="colgroup" colspan="2" | [[Xiang Chinese|Xiang]]
! scope="col" | [[Gan Chinese|Gan]]
! scope="colgroup" colspan="2" | [[Wu Chinese|Wu]]
! scope="colgroup" colspan="2" | [[Min Chinese|Min]]
! scope="col" | [[Hakka Chinese|Hakka]]
! [[Yue Chinese|Yue]]
|-
! scope="col" | <small>[[Taiyuan dialect|Taiyuan]]</small>
! scope="col" | <small>[[Xi'an dialect|Xi'an]]</small>
! scope="col" | <small>[[Beijing dialect|Beijing]]</small>
! scope="col" | <small>[[Chengdu dialect|Chengdu]]</small>
! scope="col" | <small>[[Yangzhou]]</small>
! scope="col" | <small>[[Changsha dialect|Changsha]]</small>
! scope="col" | <small>[[Shuangfeng dialect|Shuangfeng]]</small>
! scope="col" | <small>[[Nanchang dialect|Nanchang]]</small>
! scope="col" | <small>[[Suzhou dialect|Suzhou]]</small>
! scope="col" | <small>[[Wenzhou dialect|Wenzhou]]</small>
! scope="col" | <small>[[Fuzhou dialect|Fuzhou]]</small>
! scope="col" | <small>[[Xiamen dialect|Xiamen]]</small>
! scope="col" | <small>[[Meixian dialect|Meixian]]</small>
! scope="col" | <small>[[Cantonese|Guangzhou]]</small>
|-
| {{linktext|人}} 'person' || {{IPA|zəŋ}}<sup>1</sup> || {{IPA|ʐẽ}}<sup>2</sup> || {{IPA|ʐən}}<sup>2</sup> || {{IPA|zən}}<sup>2</sup> || {{IPA|lən}}<sup>2</sup> || {{IPA|ʐən}}<sup>2</sup> || {{IPA|ɲiɛn}}<sup>2</sup> || {{IPA|ɲin}}<sup>5</sup> || {{IPA|ɲin}}<sup>2</sup> || {{efn|name=person|The colloquial layers of southern Wu and coastal Min varieties use cognates of {{linktext|lang=zh|儂}} for 'person'.{{sfnp|Cao|2008b|loc=Map 39}}}} || {{efn|name=person}} || {{efn|name=person}} || {{IPA|ɲin}}<sup>2</sup> || {{IPA|jɐn}}<sup>2</sup>
|-
| {{linktext|男}} 'man' || {{IPA|næ̃}}<sup>1</sup> || {{IPA|næ̃}}<sup>2</sup> || {{IPA|nan}}<sup>2</sup> || {{IPA|nan}}<sup>2</sup> || {{IPA|liæ̃}}<sup>2</sup> || {{IPA|lan}}<sup>2</sup> || {{IPA|læ̃}}<sup>2</sup> || {{IPA|lan}}<sup>5</sup> || {{IPA|nø}}<sup>2</sup> || {{IPA|nø}}<sup>2</sup> || {{IPA|naŋ}}<sup>2</sup> || {{IPA|lam}}<sup>2</sup> || {{IPA|nam}}<sup>2</sup> || {{IPA|nam}}<sup>2</sup>
|-
| {{linktext|女}} 'woman' || {{IPA|ny}}<sup>3</sup> || {{IPA|mi}}<sup>3</sup> || {{IPA|ny}}<sup>3</sup> || {{IPA|ɲy}}<sup>3</sup> || {{IPA|ly}}<sup>3</sup> || {{IPA|ɲy}}<sup>3</sup> || {{IPA|ɲy}}<sup>3</sup> || {{IPA|ɲy}}<sup>3</sup> || {{IPA|ɲy}}<sup>6</sup> || {{IPA|ɲy}}<sup>4</sup> || {{IPA|ny}}<sup>3</sup> || {{IPA|lu}}<sup>3</sup> || {{IPA|ŋ}}<sup>3</sup> || {{IPA|nøy}}<sup>4</sup>
|-
| {{linktext|魚}} 'fish' || {{IPA|y}}<sup>1</sup> || {{IPA|y}}<sup>2</sup> || {{IPA|y}}<sup>2</sup> || {{IPA|y}}<sup>2</sup> || {{IPA|y}}<sup>2</sup> || {{IPA|y}}<sup>2</sup> || {{IPA|y}}<sup>2</sup> || {{IPA|ɲiɛ}}<sup>5</sup> || {{IPA|ŋ}}<sup>2</sup> || {{IPA|ŋøy}}<sup>2</sup> || {{IPA|ŋy}}<sup>2</sup> || {{IPA|hi}}<sup>2</sup> || {{IPA|ŋ}}<sup>2</sup> || {{IPA|jy}}<sup>2</sup>
|-
| {{linktext|蛇}} 'snake' || {{IPA|sɤ}}<sup>1</sup> || {{IPA|ʂɤ}}<sup>2</sup> || {{IPA|ʂɤ}}<sup>2</sup> || {{IPA|se}}<sup>2</sup> || {{IPA|ɕɪ}}<sup>2</sup> || {{IPA|sa}}<sup>2</sup> || {{IPA|ɣio}}<sup>2</sup> || {{IPA|sa}}<sup>5</sup> || {{IPA|zo}}<sup>2</sup> || {{IPA|zei}}<sup>2</sup> || {{IPA|sie}}<sup>2</sup> || {{IPA|tsua}}<sup>2</sup> || {{IPA|sa}}<sup>2</sup> || {{IPA|ʃɛ}}<sup>2</sup>
|-
| {{linktext|肉}} 'meat' || {{IPA|zuəʔ}}<sup>7</sup> || {{IPA|ʐou}}<sup>5</sup> || {{IPA|ʐou}}<sup>5</sup> || {{IPA|zəu}}<sup>2</sup> || {{IPA|ləʔ}}<sup>7</sup> || {{IPA|ʐəu}}<sup>7</sup> || {{IPA|ɲu}}<sup>5</sup> || {{IPA|ɲiuk}}<sup>8</sup> || {{IPA|ɲioʔ}}<sup>8</sup> || {{IPA|ɲiəu}}<sup>8</sup> || {{IPA|nyʔ}}<sup>8</sup> || {{IPA|hɪk}}<sup>8</sup> || {{IPA|ɲiuk}}<sup>7</sup> || {{IPA|juk}}<sup>8</sup>
|-
| {{linktext|骨}} 'bone' || {{IPA|kuəʔ}}<sup>7</sup> || {{IPA|ku}}<sup>1</sup> || {{IPA|ku}}<sup>3</sup> || {{IPA|ku}}<sup>2</sup> || {{IPA|kuəʔ}}<sup>7</sup> || {{IPA|ku}}<sup>7</sup> || {{IPA|kəu}}<sup>2</sup> || {{IPA|kut}}<sup>7</sup> || {{IPA|kuɤʔ}}<sup>7</sup> || {{IPA|ky}}<sup>7</sup> || {{IPA|kauʔ}}<sup>7</sup> || {{IPA|kut}}<sup>7</sup> || {{IPA|kut}}<sup>7</sup> || {{IPA|kuɐt}}<sup>7a</sup>
|-
| {{linktext|眼}} 'eye' || {{IPA|nie}}<sup>3</sup> || {{IPA|ɲiã}}<sup>3</sup> || {{IPA|iɛn}}<sup>3</sup> || {{IPA|iɛn}}<sup>3</sup> || {{IPA|iæ̃}}<sup>3</sup> || {{IPA|ŋan}}<sup>3</sup> || {{IPA|ŋæ̃}}<sup>3</sup> || {{IPA|ŋan}}<sup>3</sup> || {{IPA|ŋɛ}}<sup>6</sup> || {{IPA|ŋa}}<sup>4</sup> || {{IPA|ŋiaŋ}}<sup>3</sup> || {{IPA|gɪŋ}}<sup>3</sup> || {{IPA|ɲian}}<sup>3</sup> || {{IPA|ŋan}}<sup>4</sup>
|-
| {{linktext|耳}} 'ear' || {{IPA|ɚ}}<sup>3</sup> || {{IPA|ɚ}}<sup>3</sup> || {{IPA|ɚ}}<sup>3</sup> || {{IPA|ɚ}}<sup>3</sup> || {{IPA|a}}<sup>3</sup> || {{IPA|ɤ}}<sup>3</sup> || {{IPA|e}}<sup>3</sup> || {{IPA|ə}}<sup>3</sup> || {{IPA|ɲi}}<sup>6</sup> || {{IPA|ŋ}}<sup>4</sup> || {{IPA|ŋei}}<sup>5</sup> || {{IPA|hi}}<sup>6</sup> || {{IPA|ɲi}}<sup>3</sup> || {{IPA|ji}}<sup>4</sup>
|-
| {{linktext|鼻}} 'nose' || {{IPA|pieʔ}}<sup>8</sup> || {{IPA|pi}}<sup>2</sup> || {{IPA|pi}}<sup>2</sup> || {{IPA|pi}}<sup>2</sup> || {{IPA|pieʔ}}<sup>7</sup> || {{IPA|pi}}<sup>2</sup> || {{IPA|bi}}<sup>6</sup> || {{IPA|pʰit}}<sup>8</sup> || {{IPA|bɤʔ}}<sup>8</sup> || {{IPA|bei}}<sup>6</sup> || {{IPA|pei}}<sup>6</sup> || {{IPA|pʰi}}<sup>6</sup> || {{IPA|pʰi}}<sup>5</sup> || {{IPA|pei}}<sup>6</sup>
|-
| {{linktext|日}} 'sun, day' || {{IPA|zəʔ}}<sup>7</sup> || {{IPA|ɚ}}<sup>1</sup> || {{IPA|ʐʅ}}<sup>5</sup> || {{IPA|zɿ}}<sup>2</sup> || {{IPA|ləʔ}}<sup>7</sup> || {{IPA|ɲʅ}}<sup>7</sup> || {{IPA|i}}<sup>2</sup> || {{IPA|ɲit}}<sup>8</sup> || {{IPA|ɲɪʔ}}<sup>8</sup> || {{IPA|ɲiai}}<sup>8</sup> || {{IPA|niʔ}}<sup>8</sup> || {{IPA|lit}}<sup>8</sup> || {{IPA|ɲit}}<sup>7</sup> || {{IPA|jat}}<sup>8</sup>
|-
| {{linktext|月}} 'moon, month' || {{IPA|yəʔ}}<sup>7</sup> || {{IPA|ye}}<sup>1</sup> || {{IPA|ye}}<sup>5</sup> || {{IPA|ye}}<sup>2</sup> || {{IPA|yəʔ}}<sup>7</sup> || {{IPA|ye}}<sup>7</sup> || {{IPA|ya}}<sup>5</sup> || {{IPA|ɲyɔt}}<sup>8</sup> || {{IPA|ŋɤʔ}}<sup>8</sup> || {{IPA|ɲy}}<sup>8</sup> || {{IPA|ŋuɔʔ}}<sup>8</sup> || {{IPA|geʔ}}<sup>8</sup> || {{IPA|ɲiat}}<sup>8</sup> || {{IPA|jyt}}<sup>8</sup>
|-
| {{linktext|年}} 'year' || {{IPA|nie}}<sup>1</sup> || {{IPA|ɲiæ̃}}<sup>2</sup> || {{IPA|niɛn}}<sup>2</sup> || {{IPA|ɲiɛn}}<sup>2</sup> || {{IPA|liẽ}}<sup>2</sup> || {{IPA|ɲiẽ}}<sup>2</sup> || {{IPA|ɲɪ̃}}<sup>2</sup> || {{IPA|ɲiɛn}}<sup>5</sup> || {{IPA|ɲiɪ}}<sup>2</sup> || {{IPA|ɲi}}<sup>2</sup> || {{IPA|nieŋ}}<sup>2</sup> || {{IPA|nĩ}}<sup>2</sup> || {{IPA|ɲian}}<sup>2</sup> || {{IPA|nin}}<sup>2</sup>
|-
| {{linktext|山}} 'mountain' || {{IPA|sæ̃}}<sup>1</sup> || {{IPA|sæ̃}}<sup>1</sup> || {{IPA|ʂan}}<sup>1</sup> || {{IPA|san}}<sup>1</sup> || {{IPA|sæ̃}}<sup>1</sup> || {{IPA|san}}<sup>1</sup> || {{IPA|sæ̃}}<sup>1</sup> || {{IPA|san}}<sup>1</sup> || {{IPA|sɛ}}<sup>1</sup> || {{IPA|sa}}<sup>1</sup> || {{IPA|saŋ}}<sup>1</sup> || {{IPA|suã}}<sup>1</sup> || {{IPA|san}}<sup>1</sup> || {{IPA|ʃan}}<sup>1</sup>
|-
| {{linktext|水}} 'water' || {{IPA|suei}}<sup>3</sup> || {{IPA|fei}}<sup>3</sup> || {{IPA|ʂuei}}<sup>3</sup> || {{IPA|suei}}<sup>3</sup> || {{IPA|suəi}}<sup>3</sup> || {{IPA|ɕyei}}<sup>3</sup> || {{IPA|ɕy}}<sup>3</sup> || {{IPA|sui}}<sup>3</sup> || {{IPA|sɥ}}<sup>3</sup> || {{IPA|sɿ}}<sup>3</sup> || {{IPA|tsy}}<sup>3</sup> || {{IPA|tsui}}<sup>3</sup> || {{IPA|sui}}<sup>3</sup> || {{IPA|ʃøy}}<sup>3</sup>
|-
| {{linktext|紅}} 'red' || {{IPA|xuŋ}}<sup>1</sup> || {{IPA|xuoŋ}}<sup>2</sup> || {{IPA|xuŋ}}<sup>2</sup> || {{IPA|xoŋ}}<sup>2</sup> || {{IPA|xoŋ}}<sup>2</sup> || {{IPA|xən}}<sup>2</sup> || {{IPA|ɣən}}<sup>2</sup> || {{IPA|fuŋ}}<sup>5</sup> || {{IPA|ɦoŋ}}<sup>2</sup> || {{IPA|ɦoŋ}}<sup>2</sup> || {{IPA|øyŋ}}<sup>2</sup> || {{IPA|aŋ}}<sup>2</sup> || {{IPA|fuŋ}}<sup>2</sup> || {{IPA|huŋ}}<sup>2</sup>
|-
| {{linktext|綠}} 'green' || {{IPA|luəʔ}}<sup>7</sup> || {{IPA|lou}}<sup>1</sup> || {{IPA|ly}}<sup>5</sup> || {{IPA|nu}}<sup>2</sup> || {{IPA|lɔʔ}}<sup>7</sup> || {{IPA|lou}}<sup>7</sup> || {{IPA|ləu}}<sup>2</sup> || {{IPA|liuk}}<sup>8</sup> || {{IPA|loʔ}}<sup>7</sup> || {{IPA|lo}}<sup>8</sup> || {{IPA|luɔʔ}}<sup>8</sup> || {{IPA|lɪk}}<sup>8</sup> || {{IPA|liuk}}<sup>8</sup> || {{IPA|luk}}<sup>8</sup>
|-
| {{linktext|黃}} 'yellow' || {{IPA|xuɒ̃}}<sup>1</sup> || {{IPA|xuaŋ}}<sup>2</sup> || {{IPA|xuaŋ}}<sup>2</sup> || {{IPA|xuaŋ}}<sup>2</sup> || {{IPA|xuɑŋ}}<sup>2</sup> || {{IPA|uan}}<sup>2</sup> || {{IPA|ɒŋ}}<sup>2</sup> || {{IPA|uɔŋ}}<sup>5</sup> || {{IPA|ɦuɒŋ}}<sup>2</sup> || {{IPA|ɦuɔ}}<sup>2</sup> || {{IPA|uɔŋ}}<sup>2</sup> || {{IPA|hɔŋ}}<sup>2</sup> || {{IPA|vɔŋ}}<sup>2</sup> || {{IPA|wɔŋ}}<sup>2</sup>
|-
| {{linktext|白}} 'white' || {{IPA|piəʔ}}<sup>7</sup> || {{IPA|pei}}<sup>2</sup> || {{IPA|pai}}<sup>2</sup> || {{IPA|pe}}<sup>2</sup> || {{IPA|pɔʔ}}<sup>7</sup> || {{IPA|pɤ}}<sup>7</sup> || {{IPA|pia}}<sup>2</sup> || {{IPA|pʰak}}<sup>7</sup> || {{IPA|bɒʔ}}<sup>8</sup> || {{IPA|ba}}<sup>8</sup> || {{IPA|paʔ}}<sup>8</sup> || {{IPA|peʔ}}<sup>8</sup> || {{IPA|pʰak}}<sup>8</sup> || {{IPA|pak}}<sup>8</sup>
|-
| {{linktext|黑}} 'black' || {{IPA|xəʔ}}<sup>7</sup> || {{IPA|xei}}<sup>1</sup> || {{IPA|xei}}<sup>1</sup> || {{IPA|xe}}<sup>2</sup> || {{IPA|xəʔ}}<sup>7</sup> || {{IPA|xa}}<sup>7</sup> || {{IPA|ɕia}}<sup>2</sup> || {{IPA|hɛt}}<sup>8</sup> || {{IPA|hɤʔ}}<sup>7</sup> || {{IPA|xe}}<sup>7</sup> || {{IPA|xaiʔ}}<sup>7</sup> || {{IPA|hɪk}}<sup>7</sup> || {{IPA|hɛt}}<sup>7</sup> || {{IPA|hɐk}}<sup>7a</sup>
|-
| {{linktext|上}} 'above' || {{IPA|sɒ̃}}<sup>5</sup> || {{IPA|ʂaŋ}}<sup>5</sup> || {{IPA|ʂaŋ}}<sup>5</sup> || {{IPA|saŋ}}<sup>5</sup> || {{IPA|sɑŋ}}<sup>5</sup> || {{IPA|san}}<sup>6</sup> || {{IPA|ɣiaŋ}}<sup>6</sup> || {{IPA|sɔŋ}}<sup>6</sup> || {{IPA|zɒŋ}}<sup>6</sup> || {{IPA|ji}}<sup>6</sup> || {{IPA|suɔŋ}}<sup>6</sup> || {{IPA|tsiũ}}<sup>6</sup> || {{IPA|sɔŋ}}<sup>5</sup> || {{IPA|ʃœŋ}}<sup>6</sup>
|-
| {{linktext|下}} 'below' || {{IPA|ɕia}}<sup>5</sup> || {{IPA|xa}}<sup>5</sup> || {{IPA|ɕia}}<sup>5</sup> || {{IPA|ɕia}}<sup>5</sup> || {{IPA|xɑ}}<sup>5</sup> || {{IPA|xa}}<sup>6</sup> || {{IPA|ɣo}}<sup>6</sup> || {{IPA|ha}}<sup>6</sup> || {{IPA|ɦo}}<sup>6</sup> || {{IPA|ɦo}}<sup>4</sup> || {{IPA|a}}<sup>6</sup> || {{IPA|e}}<sup>6</sup> || {{IPA|ha}}<sup>2</sup> || {{IPA|ha}}<sup>6</sup>
|-
| {{linktext|中}} 'middle' || {{IPA|tsuŋ}}<sup>1</sup> || {{IPA|pfəŋ}}<sup>1</sup> || {{IPA|tʂuŋ}}<sup>1</sup> || {{IPA|tsoŋ}}<sup>1</sup> || {{IPA|tsoŋ}}<sup>1</sup> || {{IPA|tʂən}}<sup>1</sup> || {{IPA|tan}}<sup>1</sup> || {{IPA|tsuŋ}}<sup>1</sup> || {{IPA|tsoŋ}}<sup>1</sup> || {{IPA|tɕyoŋ}}<sup>1</sup> || {{IPA|touŋ}}<sup>1</sup> || {{IPA|taŋ}}<sup>1</sup> || {{IPA|tuŋ}}<sup>1</sup> || {{IPA|tʃuŋ}}<sup>1</sup>
|-
| {{linktext|大}} 'big' || {{IPA|ta}}<sup>5</sup> || {{IPA|tuo}}<sup>5</sup> || {{IPA|ta}}<sup>5</sup> || {{IPA|ta}}<sup>5</sup> || {{IPA|tai}}<sup>5</sup> || {{IPA|tai}}<sup>6</sup> || {{IPA|du}}<sup>6</sup> || {{IPA|tʰɔ}}<sup>6</sup> || {{IPA|dəu}}<sup>6</sup> || {{IPA|dəu}}<sup>6</sup> || {{IPA|tuai}}<sup>6</sup> || {{IPA|tua}}<sup>6</sup> || {{IPA|tʰai}}<sup>5</sup> || {{IPA|tai}}<sup>6</sup>
|-
| {{linktext|小}} 'small' || {{IPA|ɕiau}}<sup>3</sup> || {{IPA|ɕiau}}<sup>3</sup> || {{IPA|ɕiau}}<sup>3</sup> || {{IPA|ɕiau}}<sup>3</sup> || {{IPA|ɕiɔ}}<sup>3</sup> || {{IPA|ɕiau}}<sup>3</sup> || {{IPA|ɕiɤ}}<sup>3</sup> || {{IPA|ɕiɛu}}<sup>3</sup> || {{IPA|siæ}}<sup>3</sup> || {{IPA|sai}}<sup>3</sup> || {{IPA|sieu}}<sup>3</sup> || {{IPA|sio}}<sup>3</sup> || {{IPA|siau}}<sup>3</sup> || {{IPA|ʃiu}}<sup>3</sup>
|}

All varieties use cognates of {{tlit|zh|lái}} ({{linktext|来}}) and {{tlit|zh|qù}} ({{linktext|去}}) for 'come' and 'go' respectively.
The verbs {{tlit|zh|zǒu}} ({{linktext|走}}) and {{tlit|zh|xíng}} ({{linktext|行}}) originally meant 'run' and 'walk' respectively, senses that are retained in the south. In the north, the former has shifted to become the main word for 'walk', and a new verb {{tlit|zh|pǎo}} ({{linktext|跑}}) is used for 'run'.
Cognates of the old verb for 'stand', {{tlit|zh|lì}} ({{linktext|立}}), are now limited to scattered areas of northern and central China, having been replaced in the north by cognates of {{tlit|zh|zhàn}} ({{linktext|站}}) and in the south by cognates of {{tlit|zh|jì}} ({{linktext|踦}}).{{sfnp|Norman|1988|p=197}}

{{gallery
| title = Maps of the distributions of selected verbs in the core Chinese-speaking area
| mode = packed
| captionstyle = text-align:left;
|File:Map of distribution of words for walk in Chinese dialects.svg|'to walk':{{sfnp|Cao|2008b|loc=Map 138}}
{{legend|#ee7576|~ {{lang|zh|走}} {{tlit|zh|zǒu}}}}
{{legend|#94cf92|~ {{lang|zh|行}} {{tlit|zh|xíng}}}}
{{legend|#ffb266|~ {{lang|zh|躅}} {{tlit|zh|zhuó}}}}
{{legend|#c9997e|other}}
|File:Map of distribution of words for stand in Chinese dialects.svg|'to stand':{{sfnp|Cao|2008b|loc=Map 134}}
{{legend|#ee7576|~ {{lang|zh|站}} {{tlit|zh|zhàn}}}}
{{legend|#94cf92|~ {{lang|zh|徛}} {{tlit|zh|jì}}}}
{{legend|#ffb266|~ {{lang|zh|立}} {{tlit|zh|lì}}}}
{{legend|#c9997e|other}}
|File:Map of distribution of words for say in Chinese dialects.svg|'to say':{{sfnp|Cao|2008b|loc=Map 123}}
{{legend|#ee7576|~ {{lang|zh|說}} {{tlit|zh|shuō}}}}
{{legend|#ffb266|~ {{lang|zh|話}} {{tlit|zh|huà}}}}
{{legend|#94cf92|~ {{lang|zh|講}} {{tlit|zh|jiǎng}}}}
{{legend|#c9997e|other}}
|File:Map of distribution of words for eat in Chinese dialects.svg|'to eat':{{sfnp|Cao|2008b|loc=Map 84}}
{{legend|#ee7576|~ {{lang|zh|吃}} {{tlit|zh|chī}}}}
{{legend|#ffb266|~ {{lang|zh|喫}} {{tlit|zh|chī}}}}
{{legend|#c194c7|~ {{lang|zh|食}} {{tlit|zh|shí}}}}
{{legend|#c9997e|other}}
|File:Map of distribution of words for drink in Chinese dialects.svg|'to drink':{{sfnp|Cao|2008b|loc=Map 85}}
{{legend|#87b1d4|~ {{lang|zh|喝}} {{tlit|zh|hē}}}}
{{legend|#ee7576|~ {{lang|zh|吃}} {{tlit|zh|chī}}}}
{{legend|#ffb266|~ {{lang|zh|喫}} {{tlit|zh|chī}}}}
{{legend|#c194c7|~ {{lang|zh|食}} {{tlit|zh|shí}}}}
{{legend|#94cf92|~ {{lang|zh|飲}} {{tlit|zh|yǐn}}}}
{{legend|#c9997e|other}}
}}

Southern varieties also include distinctive [[stratum (linguistics)|substrata]] of vocabulary of non-Chinese origin. Some of these words may have come from [[Tai–Kadai languages|Tai–Kadai]] and [[Austroasiatic languages|Austroasiatic]] languages.{{sfnp|Norman|1988|pp=17–19, 213–214, 219, 231–232}}

== Grammar ==

Chinese varieties generally lack [[inflectional morphology]] and instead express grammatical categories using analytic means such as [[grammatical particle|particles]] and [[preposition]]s.{{sfnp|Chappell|Li|2016|pp=606–607}}
There are major differences between northern and southern varieties, but often some northern areas share features found in the south, and vice versa.{{sfnp|Yue|2017|p=114}}

=== Constituent order ===

[[File:Map of animal gender markers in Chinese dialects.svg|thumb|right|Variation in the placement of animal gender markers{{sfnp|Cao|2008c|loc=Map 76}}]]
The usual unmarked word order in Chinese varieties is [[subject–verb–object]], with other orders used for emphasis or contrast.{{sfnp|Yue|2017|p=130}}
Modifiers usually precede the word they modify, so that adjectives precede nouns.{{sfnp|Chappell|Li|2016|p=606}}
Instances in which the modifier follows the head are mainly found in the south,
and are attributed to substrate influences from languages formerly dominant in the area, especially [[Kra–Dai languages]].{{sfnp|Yue-Hashimoto|1993|p=1}}
* Adverbs generally precede verbs, but in some southern varieties certain kinds of adverb follow the verb.{{sfnp|Yue-Hashimoto|1993|pp=1–2}}
* In the north, animal gender markers are prefixed to the noun, as in Beijing {{tlit|zh|mǔjī}} ({{lang|zh|母鸡}}/{{linktext|lang=zh|母雞}}) 'hen' and {{tlit|zh|gōngjī}} ({{lang|zh|公鸡}}/{{linktext|lang=zh|公雞}}) 'rooster', but most southern varieties use the reverse order, while others use different orders for different words.{{sfnp|Yue-Hashimoto|1993|pp=2–4}}
* Compounds consisting of an attributive following a noun are less common, but some are found in the south as well as a few northern areas.{{sfnp|Yue-Hashimoto|1993|pp=4–5}}

=== Nominals ===

Nouns in Chinese varieties are generally not marked for number.{{sfnp|Yue|2017|p=114}}
As in languages of the [[Mainland Southeast Asia linguistic area]], Chinese varieties require an intervening [[Chinese classifier|classifier]] when a noun is preceded by a [[demonstrative]] or numeral.{{sfnp|Chappell|Li|2016|pp=607–608}}
The inventory of classifiers tends to be larger in the south than in the north, where some varieties use only the general classifier cognate with {{tlit|zh|ge}} {{lang|zh-Hans|个}}/{{linktext|lang=zh|個}}.{{sfnp|Yue|2017|p=115}}

First- and second-person pronouns are cognate across all varieties. For third-person pronouns, Jin, Mandarin, and Xiang varieties have cognate forms, but other varieties generally use forms that originally had a velar or glottal initial:{{sfnp|Norman|1988|pp=182, 214}}

{| class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto 1em auto"
|+ Personal pronouns{{efn|name=tone-numbers}}
|-
! rowspan="2" |
! scope="col" | [[Jin Chinese|Jin]]{{sfnp|Beijing University|1989}}
! scope="colgroup" colspan="4" | [[Mandarin Chinese|Mandarin]]{{sfnp|Norman|1988|p=196}}
! scope="colgroup" colspan="2" | [[Xiang Chinese|Xiang]]{{sfnp|Norman|1988|p=208}}
! scope="col" | [[Gan Chinese|Gan]]{{sfnp|Norman|1988|p=205}}
! scope="colgroup" colspan="2" | [[Wu Chinese|Wu]]{{sfnp|Norman|1988|p=203}}
! scope="colgroup" colspan="2" | [[Min Chinese|Min]]{{sfnp|Norman|1988|p=234}}
! scope="col" | [[Hakka Chinese|Hakka]]{{sfnp|Norman|1988|p=227}}
! scope="col" | [[Yue Chinese|Yue]]{{sfnp|Norman|1988|p=220}}
|-
! scope="col" | <small>Taiyuan</small>
! scope="col" | <small>Xi'an</small>
! scope="col" | <small>Beijing</small>
! scope="col" | <small>Chengdu</small>
! scope="col" | <small>Yangzhou</small>
! scope="col" | <small>Changsha</small>
! scope="col" | <small>Shuangfeng</small>
! scope="col" | <small>Nanchang</small>
! scope="col" | <small>Suzhou</small>
! scope="col" | <small>Wenzhou</small>
! scope="col" | <small>Fuzhou</small>
! scope="col" | <small>Xiamen</small>
! scope="col" | <small>Meixian</small>
! scope="col" | <small>Guangzhou</small>
|-
| 'I' || {{IPA|ɣɤ}}<sup>3</sup> || {{IPA|ŋə}}<sup>3</sup> || {{IPA|uo}}<sup>3</sup> || {{IPA|ŋo}}<sup>3</sup> || {{IPA|o}}<sup>3</sup> || {{IPA|ŋo}}<sup>3</sup> || {{IPA|aŋ}}<sup>3</sup> || {{IPA|ŋɔ}}<sup>3</sup> || {{IPA|ŋəu}}<sup>6</sup> || {{IPA|ŋ}}<sup>4</sup> || {{IPA|ŋuai}}<sup>3</sup> || {{IPA|gua}}<sup>3</sup> || {{IPA|ŋai}}<sup>2</sup> || {{IPA|ŋo}}<sup>4</sup>
|-
| 'you' || {{IPA|ni}}<sup>3</sup> || {{IPA|ni}}<sup>3</sup> || {{IPA|ni}}<sup>3</sup> || {{IPA|ni}}<sup>3</sup> || {{IPA|liɪ}}<sup>3</sup> || {{IPA|n}}<sup>3</sup>, {{IPA|ɲi}}<sup>3</sup> || {{IPA|n}}<sup>3</sup> || {{IPA|li}}<sup>3</sup>, {{IPA|n}}<sup>3</sup> || {{IPA|ne}}<sup>6</sup> || {{IPA|ɲi}}<sup>4</sup> || {{IPA|ny}}<sup>3</sup> || {{IPA|li}}<sup>3</sup> || {{IPA|ɲi}}<sup>2</sup>, {{IPA|n}}<sup>2</sup> || {{IPA|nei}}<sup>4</sup>
|-
| 'he/she' || {{IPA|tʰa}}<sup>1</sup> || {{IPA|tʰa}}<sup>1</sup> || {{IPA|tʰa}}<sup>1</sup> || {{IPA|tʰa}}<sup>1</sup> || {{IPA|tʰa}}<sup>1</sup> || {{IPA|tʰa}}<sup>1</sup> || {{IPA|tʰo}}<sup>1</sup> || {{IPA|tɕʰiɛ}}<sup>3</sup> || {{IPA|li}}<sup>1</sup> || {{IPA|gi}}<sup>2</sup> || {{IPA|i}}<sup>1</sup> || {{IPA|i}}<sup>1</sup> || {{IPA|ki}}<sup>2</sup> || {{IPA|kʰøy}}<sup>4</sup>
|}

[[File:Map of distribution of subordination markers in Chinese dialects.svg|thumb|right|Distribution of attributive markers:{{sfnp|Cao|2008c|loc=Map 41}}
{{legend|#ee7576|cognate of {{lang|zh|的}} {{tlit|zh|de}}}}
{{legend|#94cf92|classifier}}]]
Plural personal pronouns may be marked with a suffix, noun or phrase in different varieties. The suffix {{tlit|zh|men}} {{lang|zh-Hans|们}}/{{linktext|lang=zh|們}} is common in the north, but several different suffixes are use elsewhere.{{sfnp|Yue|2017|p=115}}
In some varieties, especially in the Wu area, different suffixes are used for first, second and third person pronouns.{{sfnp|Yue|2017|p=116}}
[[Grammatical case|Case]] is not marked, except in varieties in the [[Qinghai–Gansu sprachbund]].{{sfnp|Yue|2017|p=116}}

The forms of demonstratives vary greatly, with few cognates between different areas.{{sfnp|Yue|2017|p=117}}
A two-way distinction between proximal and distal is most common, but some varieties have a single neutral demonstrative, while others distinguish three or more on the basis of distance, visibility or other properties.{{sfnp|Chen|2015|p=81}} An extreme example is found in a variety spoken in [[Yongxin County]], Jiangxi, where five grades of distance are distinguished.{{sfnp|Chen|2015|p=106}}

Attributive constructions typically have the form NP/VP + {{gcl|ATTR}} + NP, where the last noun phrase is the head and the attributive marker is usually a cognate of {{tlit|zh|de}} {{linktext|lang=zh|的}} in the north or a classifier in the south.{{sfnp|Yue|2017|p=150}}
The latter pattern is also common in the languages of Southeast Asia.{{sfnp|Chappell|Li|2016|p=623}}
A few varieties in the Jiang–Huai, Wu, southern Min and Yue areas feature the old southern pattern of a zero attributive marker.{{sfnp|Yue|2017|p=150}}
[[Nominalization]] of verb phrases or predicates is achieved by following them with a marker, usually the same as the attributive marker, though some varieties use a different marker.{{sfnp|Yue-Hashimoto|1993|pp=227–232}}

=== Major sentence types ===

All varieties have transitive and intransitive verbs.
Instead of adjectives, Chinese varieties use [[stative verb]]s, which can function as predicates but differ from intransitive verbs in being modifiable by degree adverbs.{{sfnp|Yue|2017|p=121}}
[[Ditransitive]] sentences vary, with northern varieties placing the indirect object before the direct object and southern varieties using the reverse order.{{sfnp|Yue-Hashimoto|1993|p=111}}

{{flexbox|min-width=22em
|{{fs interlinear|lang1=zh|indent=3
 |top=Beijing:{{sfnp|Yue|2017|p=141}}
 |我 给/給 你 一 本 书/書。
 |Wǒ gěi nǐ yī běn shū.
 |1SG give 2SG one CL book
 |'I give you a book.'
 }}
|{{fs interlinear|lang1=hak|ipa2=yes|italics2=no|indent=3
 |top=Meixian (Hakka):{{sfnp|Yue|2017|p=141}}
 |我 分 本 书/書 分 你。
 |ŋai<sup>2</sup> pun<sup>1</sup> pun<sup>3</sup> su<sup>1</sup> pun<sup>1</sup> n<sup>2</sup>
 |1SG give CL book give 2SG
 |'I give you a book.'
 }}
|{{fs interlinear|lang1=gan|ipa2=yes|italics2=no|indent=3
 |top=Xinyu (Gan):{{sfnp|Yue|2017|p=141}}
 |我 把 本 书/書 你。
 |ŋɔ pa pən sɿ ɲɪ
 |1SG give CL book 2SG
 |'I give you a book.'
 }}
}}

[[File:Map of distribution of copulas in Chinese dialects.svg|thumb|right|Distribution of copulas:{{sfnp|Cao|2008c|loc=Map 38}}
{{legend|#ee7576|cognate of {{lang|zh|是}} {{tlit|zh|shì}}}}
{{legend|#94cf92|cognate of {{lang|zh|係}} {{tlit|zh|xì}}}}]]
All varieties have [[copula (linguistics)|copular]] sentences of the form NP1 + {{gcl|COP}} + NP2, though the copula varies.{{sfnp|Yue-Hashimoto|1993|p=23}}
Most Yue and Hakka varieties use a form cognate with {{tlit|zh|xì}} {{linktext|lang=zh|係}} 'to connect'.{{sfnp|Norman|1988|p=223}}
All other varieties use a form cognate with {{tlit|zh|shì}} {{linktext|lang=zh|是}}, which was a [[demonstrative]] in Classical Chinese but began to be used as a copula from the Han period.{{sfnp|Yue|2017|p=131}}{{sfnp|Norman|1988|p=125}}

All varieties form [[existential sentence]]s with a verb cognate with {{tlit|zh|yǒu}} {{linktext|lang=zh|有}}, which can also be used as a transitive verb indicating possession.{{sfnp|Yue-Hashimoto|1993|p=31}}
Most varieties use a locative verb cognate to {{tlit|zh|zài}} {{linktext|lang=zh|在}}, but Min, Wu and Yue varieties use several different forms.{{sfnp|Yue-Hashimoto|1993|pp=32–33}}

All varieties allow sentences of the form NP + VP1 + {{gcl|COMP}} + VP2, with a verbal complement VP2 containing a stative verb describing the manner or extent of the main verb.{{sfnp|Yue|2017|pp=153–154}}
In northern varieties, the marker is a cognate of {{tlit|zh|de}} {{linktext|lang=zh|得}}, but many southern varieties distinguish between manner and extent complements using different markers.{{sfnp|Yue-Hashimoto|1993|pp=173–178}}
Standard Chinese does not allow an object to co-occur with a verbal complement, but other varieties permit an object between the marker and the complement.{{sfnp|Yue-Hashimoto|1993|pp=173–174}}

A characteristic feature of Chinese varieties is ''in situ'' questions:{{sfnp|Chappell|Li|2016|p=608}}
* [[Wh-question|Open questions]] are formed by replacing the desired information with an [[interrogative word]], though the words vary between different areas.{{sfnp|Yue|2017|pp=135–136}}
* [[Yes–no question]]s are formed by appending a particle to the sentence. This particle is a cognate of {{tlit|zh|ma}} {{lang|zh-Hans|吗}}/{{linktext|lang=zh|嗎}} in the north, but varies between other varieties.{{sfnp|Yue-Hashimoto|1993|p=49}}

Other question forms are also common:
* Most varieties have neutral questions employing the form V + {{gcl|NEG}} + V, repeating the same verb.{{sfnp|Yue-Hashimoto|1993|p=42}} When the verb takes an object, some northwestern Mandarin varieties tend to place it after the first occurrence of the verb, while other Mandarin varieties and most southern varieties place it after the second occurrence.{{sfnp|Yue-Hashimoto|1993|pp=44–47}}
* Most varieties form [[disjunctive question]]s by placing a conjunction between the alternatives, though some also use particles to mark the disjuncts.{{sfnp|Yue|2017|pp=136–137}} Standard Chinese is unusual in allowing a form with no conjunction.{{sfnp|Yue-Hashimoto|1993|p=49}}

=== Verb phrases ===

[[File:Map of distribution of comparative constructions in Chinese dialects.svg|thumb|right|Distribution of comparative constructions:{{sfnp|Cao|2008c|loc=Map 98}}
{{legend|#ee7576|phrase before verb}}
{{legend|#94cf92|phrase after verb}}
{{legend|#c194c7|adverbial or no marker}}
]]
A sentence is negated by placing a marker before the verb. [[Old Chinese]] had two families of negation markers starting with {{IPA|*p-}} and {{IPA|*m-}}, respectively.{{sfnp|Norman|1988|pp=97–98}} Northern and Central varieties tend to use a word from the first family, cognate with Beijing {{tlit|zh|bù}} {{linktext|lang=zh|不}}, as the ordinary negator.{{sfnp|Norman|1988|p=182}} A word from the second family is used as an existential negator 'have not', as in Beijing {{tlit|zh|méi}} {{linktext|lang=zh|沒}} and Shanghai {{tlit|wuu|m<sup>2</sup>}}.{{sfnp|Norman|1988|pp=196, 200, 204}} In Mandarin varieties this word is also used for 'not yet', whereas in Wu and other groups a different form is typically used.{{sfnp|Norman|1988|pp=196–197, 203–204}} In Southern varieties, negators tend to come from the second family. The ordinary negators in these varieties are all derived from a [[syllabic nasal]] {{IPA|*m̩}}, though it has a level tone in Hakka and Yue and a rising tone in Min. Existential negators derive from a proto-form {{IPA|*mau}}, though again the tonal category varies between groups.{{sfnp|Norman|1988|p=213}}

Many Chinese varieties allow a [[modal verb|modal auxiliary verb]] before the main verb, connoting a [[modality (linguistics)|modality]] of possibility, necessity or volition. These auxiliaries are derived from [[grammaticalization|grammaticalized]] verbs, and vary between varieties.{{sfnp|Chappell|Peyraube|2016|pp=297–312}}

Chinese varieties generally indicate the roles of nouns with respect to verbs using [[preposition]]s derived from grammaticalized verbs.{{sfnp|Chappell|Li|2016|p=607}}{{sfnp|Norman|1988|p=92}}
Varieties differ in the set of prepositions used, with northern varieties tending to use a substantially larger inventory, including disyllabic and trisyllabic prepositions.{{sfnp|Li|2001|pp=341–343}}
In northern varieties, the preposition {{tlit|zh|bǎ}} {{linktext|lang=zh|把}} may be used to move the object before the verb (the "disposal" construction).{{sfnp|Yue|2017|pp=141–142}}
Similar structures using several different prepositions are used in the south, but tend to be avoided in more colloquial speech.{{sfnp|Yue-Hashimoto|1993|pp=143, 146}}
Comparative constructions are expressed with a prepositional phrase before the stative verb in most northern and central varieties, as well as Northern Min and Hakka, while other southern varieties retain the older form in which the prepositional phrase follows the stative verb.{{sfnp|Yue|2017|pp=147–148}}
The preposition is usually {{tlit|zh|bǐ}} {{linktext|lang=zh|比}} in the north, with other forms used elsewhere.{{sfnp|Yue-Hashimoto|1993|p=159}}
Some Southern Min varieties use an adverbial comparative.{{sfnp|Chappell|2015b|p=40}}
{{flexbox|min-width=20em
|{{fs interlinear|lang1=zh|indent=3
 |abbreviations=CMP:comparative 
 |top=Beijing:{{sfnp|Yue|2017|p=148}}
 |他 比 我 高。
 |tā bǐ wǒ gāo.
 |3SG CMP 1SG tall
 |'He/she is taller than me.'
 }}
|{{fs interlinear|lang1=yue|ipa2=yes|italics2=no|indent=3
 |abbreviations=CMP:comparative
 |top=Guangzhou:{{sfnp|Yue|2017|p=148}}
 |佢 高 过/過 你。
 |kʰøy<sup>4</sup> kow<sup>1</sup> kwɔ<sup>5</sup> ŋɔ<sup>4</sup>.
 |3SG tall CMP 1SG
 |'He/she is taller than me.'
 }}
|{{fs interlinear|lang1=nan|ipa2=yes|italics2=no|indent=3
 |abbreviations=CMP:comparative
 |top=Xiamen:{{sfnp|Yue|2017|p=148}}
 |伊 較 躼 我。
 |i<sup>1</sup> kʰaʔ<sup>7</sup> lo<sup>3</sup> gua<sup>3</sup>.
 |3SG more tall 1SG
 |'He/she is taller than me.'
 }}
}}

Chinese varieties tend to indicate [[grammatical aspect|aspect]] using markers following the main verb.{{sfnp|Yue|2017|p=124}}
The markers, usually derived from verbs, vary widely in both their forms and their degree of grammaticalization, from independent verbs, through complements to bound suffixes.{{sfnp|Yue|2017|p=124}}
Southern varieties tend to have richer aspect systems making more distinctions than northern ones.{{sfnp|Yue-Hashimoto|1993|p=69}}

==Sociolinguistics==

===Language policy===
[[File:Standard Chinese promotion school.jpg|thumb|A school in Guangdong with writing "Please speak Standard Chinese. Please write [[Simplified Chinese|standard characters]]" on the wall.]]

====Mainland China====
{{unreferenced section|date=November 2008}}
Within mainland China, there has been a persistent [[Promotion of Putonghua]] drive; for instance, the education system is entirely Mandarin-medium from the second year onward. However, usage of local dialect is tolerated and socially preferred in many informal situations. In Hong Kong, [[written Cantonese]] is not used in formal documents, and within the PRC a character set closer to Mandarin tends to be used. At the national level, differences in dialect generally do not correspond to political divisions or categories, and this has for the most part prevented dialect from becoming the basis of [[identity politics]].

Historically, many of the people who promoted [[Chinese nationalism]] were from southern China and did not natively speak Mandarin, and even leaders from northern China rarely spoke with the standard accent. {{Citation needed span|text=For example, [[Mao Zedong]] often emphasized his origins in [[Hunan]] in speaking, rendering much of what he said incomprehensible to many Chinese.|date=December 2018|reason=}} [[Chiang Kai-shek]] and [[Sun Yat-sen]] were also from [[South China|southern China]], and this is reflected in their conventional English names reflecting Cantonese pronunciations for their given names, and differing from their [[pinyin]] spellings {{tlit|zh|[[Chiang Kai-shek|Jiǎng Jièshí]]}} and {{tlit|zh|[[Sun Yat-sen|Sūn Yìxiān]]}}. One consequence of this is that China does not have a well-developed tradition of spoken political rhetoric, and most Chinese political works are intended primarily as written works rather than spoken works. Another factor that limits the political implications of dialect is that it is very common within an [[Chinese kin|extended family]] for different people to know and use different dialects.

====Taiwan====
{{Further|Languages of Taiwan}}
Before 1945, most of the population of Taiwan were [[Han Chinese]], some of whom spoke Japanese, in addition to [[Taiwanese Hokkien]] or [[Hakka Chinese|Hakka]], with a minority of [[Taiwanese aborigines]], who spoke [[Formosan languages]].{{sfnp|Hsieh|2007|pp=12–13}} When the [[Kuomintang]] [[Chinese Nationalist Party retreat to Taiwan|retreated to the island]] after losing the [[Chinese Civil War]] in 1949, they brought a substantial influx of speakers of Northern Chinese (and other dialects from across China), and viewed the use of Mandarin as part of their claim to be a legitimate government of the whole of China.{{sfnp|Hsieh|2007|p=15}} Education policy promoted the use of Mandarin over the local languages, and was implemented especially rigidly in elementary schools, with punishments and public humiliation for children using other languages at school.{{sfnp|Hsieh|2007|p=15}}

From the 1970s, the government promoted adult education in Mandarin, required Mandarin for official purposes, and encouraged its increased use in broadcasting.{{sfnp|Hsieh|2007|pp=16–17}} Over a 40-year period, these policies succeeded in spreading the use and prestige of Mandarin through society at the expense of the other languages.{{sfnp|Hsieh|2007|p=17}} They also aggravated social divisions, as Mandarin speakers found it difficult to find jobs in private companies but were favored for government positions.{{sfnp|Hsieh|2007|p=17}} From the 1990s, Taiwanese languages ([[Taiwanese Hokkien]], [[Taiwanese Hakka]] and the [[Formosan languages]]) were offered in elementary and middle schools, first in [[Yilan County, Taiwan|Yilan county]], then in other areas governed by elected [[Democratic Progressive Party]] (DPP) politicians, and finally throughout the island.{{sfnp|Hsieh|2007|pp=20–21}}

====Singapore====
{{further|Languages of Singapore}}
When Singapore became independent in 1965, the island nation was extremely linguistically diverse. Over 75% of the population were ethnically Chinese. In the 1957 census, they gave their native languages as [[Hokkien]] (39.8%), [[Teochew dialect|Teochew]] (22.6%), Cantonese (20%), Hainanese (6.8%), Hakka (6.1%) and six other Chinese varieties (4.7%).{{sfnp|Bokhorst-Heng|1998|p=201}}{{sfnp|Bokhorst-Heng|1999|p=236}} The official languages of the new state were defined as English, Standard Chinese (locally called Mandarin or {{tlit|zh|Huáyǔ}} {{lang|zh|华语}}), Malay and Tamil.{{sfnp|Wee|2006|p=345}} In 1966, the Singaporean government implemented a [[bilingual]] education policy, under which students learned both English and the official language identified with their ethnicity. For [[Chinese Singaporeans]] this was Mandarin, even though hardly any of them spoke it natively.{{sfnp|Bokhorst-Heng|1998|p=201}}{{sfnp|Bokhorst-Heng|1999|pp=237–238}} The government argued that Mandarin was more economically valuable, and speaking Mandarin would help Chinese Singaporeans retain their heritage, as Mandarin contains a cultural repository of values and traditions that are identifiable to all Chinese, regardless of dialect group.{{sfnp|Wee|2006|p=345}}

The ''Goh Report'', an evaluation of Singapore's education system by [[Goh Keng Swee]] in 1976, found that the bilingual policy was failing, with less than 40% of the student population managing to attain minimum levels of [[Linguistic competence|competence]] in two languages. The home use of non-Mandarin varieties was identified as the major case of this failure.{{sfnp|Bokhorst-Heng|1999|p=238}} [[Lee Kuan Yew]], then [[Prime Minister of Singapore|Prime Minister]], argued that the culture, prosperity and security of the nation were at risk.{{sfnp|Bokhorst-Heng|1998|p=202}}

The government response was a massive Speak Mandarin Campaign, launched by Lee Kuan Yew in 1979, aiming to discourage use of other Chinese varieties.{{sfnp|Bokhorst-Heng|1998|p=203}} The stated motivations were make the bilingual education policy effective, to promote the cultural cohesion of Chinese Singaporeans, and to provide them with a common language that was neutral between existing varieties and would also be useful outside Singapore.{{sfnp|Bokhorst-Heng|1998|p=204}}{{sfnp|Bokhorst-Heng|1999|p=243}} In 1980, the government announced that all Chinese students would be required to register with names in pinyin rather than other varieties, but a majority of parents refused to comply, and the policy was abandoned in 1991.{{sfnp|Liang|2014|p=27}} Nevertheless, the relentless official pressure and denigration of "dialects", together with the rise of Standard Chinese in China, had the desired effect. The proportion of Chinese homes mostly using non-Mandarin varieties had fallen below 20% by 2010, with similar falls in the three main groups.{{sfnp|Liang|2014|pp=28–29}}

From 1987, all education has been in English, with the designated other official language taught as a second language.{{sfnp|Bokhorst-Heng|1999|p=238}} Since 1994, the Campaign has tended to focus on promoting Mandarin to the increasingly numerous English-speaking Chinese Singaporeans.{{sfnp|Bokhorst-Heng|1998|p=203}}

===Bilingualism and code-switching===
{{Multiple issues|section=yes|
{{More citations needed section|date=September 2023}}
{{Expand section|Info on Taiwan, e.g. for Hakka-Mandarin and Hokkien-Mandarin|date=December 2018}}
}}
In southern China (not including Hong Kong and Macau), where the difference between Standard Chinese and local dialects is particularly pronounced, well-educated Chinese are generally fluent in Standard Chinese, and most people have at least a good passive knowledge of it, in addition to being native speakers of the local dialect. The choice of dialect varies based on the social situation. Standard Chinese is usually considered more formal and is required when speaking to a person who does not understand the local dialect. The local dialect (be it non-Standard Chinese or non-Mandarin altogether) is generally considered more intimate and is used among close family members and friends and in everyday conversation within the local area. Chinese speakers will frequently [[Code-switching|code switch]] between Standard Chinese and the local dialect. Parents will generally speak to their children in the local variety, and the relationship between dialect and Mandarin appears to be mostly stable, even a [[diglossia]]. Local dialects are valued as symbols of regional cultures.{{sfnp|Chen|1999|p=57}}

People generally are tied to the hometown and therefore the hometown dialect, instead of a broad linguistic classification. For example, a person from Wuxi may claim that he speaks Wuxi dialect, even though it is similar to Shanghainese (another Wu dialect). Likewise, a person from Xiaogan may claim that he speaks Xiaogan dialect. Linguistically, Xiaogan dialect is a dialect of Mandarin, but the pronunciation and diction are quite different from spoken Standard Chinese.

Knowing the local dialect is of considerable social benefit, and most Chinese who permanently move to a new area will attempt to pick up the local dialect. Learning a new dialect is usually done informally through a process of [[Language immersion|immersion]] and recognizing [[sound shifts]]. Generally the differences are more pronounced lexically than grammatically. Typically, a speaker of one dialect of Chinese will need about a year of immersion to understand the local dialect and about three to five years to become [[Fluency|fluent]] in speaking it. Because of the variety of dialects spoken, there are usually few formal methods for learning a local dialect.

Due to the variety in Chinese speech, Mandarin speakers from each area of China are very often prone to fuse or "translate" words from their local language into their Mandarin conversations. In addition, each area of China has its recognizable accents while speaking Mandarin. Generally, the nationalized standard form of Mandarin pronunciation is only heard on news and radio broadcasts. Even in the streets of Beijing, the flavor of Mandarin varies in pronunciation from the Mandarin heard on the media.

In Taiwan, as most people at least understand, if not speak, Taiwanese Hokkien, Taiwanese Mandarin has acquired many loanwords from Hokkien. Some of these are directly implanted into Mandarin, as in the case of "蚵仔煎," "oyster omelet", which most Taiwanese people would call by its Hokkien name (ô-á-tsian) rather than its Mandarin one (é-zǐ-jiān). In other cases, Mandarin creates new words to imitate Hokkien ones, as in the case of "哇靠," ("damn") from the Hokkien "goák-hàu", but pronounced in Mandarin as "wā-kào".

While most Taiwanese people understand Hokkien, far fewer understand or speak Hakka, and Taiwanese Mandarin therefore contains fewer Hakka loanwords. Formerly, there was a misconception among linguists that language in Taiwan was primarily tied to ethnicity (i.e., Minnan people speak Hokkien, Hakka people speak Hakka, and Indigenous people speak the language corresponding to their tribe). Researchers later realized that, although it is true that most Minnan people speak Hokkien, most Hakka people also speak Hokkien and many of them do not speak Hakka. Hokkien remains the most prestigious language other than Mandarin and English in Taiwan. Although Hokkien, Hakka, and Taiwan's many Indigenous languages have now been elevated to the status of national languages, it is notable that there is a clear de facto gradient of valuation of these languages. For instance, on the Taipei metro when nearing the next station, a passenger will hear these languages in the following order: Mandarin, English, Hokkien, Hakka, sometimes followed by Japanese and Korean.

==See also==
* [[Languages of China]]
* [[List of varieties of Chinese]]
* ''[[Linguistic Atlas of Chinese Dialects]]''
* [[Protection of the Varieties of Chinese]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

== References ==
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{{Reflist|20em}}

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  | isbn = 978-0-19-872379-0
  | postscript = .
  }}
* {{Citation
  | surname = Coblin | given = W. South | author-link = Weldon South Coblin
  | title = Common Neo-Hakka: A Comparative Reconstruction
  | year = 2019 | publisher = Taipei: Institute of Linguistics, Academia Sinica
  | series = Language and linguistics Monograph Series | volume = 63
  | isbn = 978-986-54-3228-7
  | postscript = .
  }}
* {{Citation
  | surname = DeFrancis | given = John
  | author-link = John DeFrancis
  | title = The Chinese Language: Fact and Fantasy
  | title-link = The Chinese Language: Fact and Fantasy
  | location = Honolulu | publisher = [[University of Hawaiʻi Press]] | year = 1984
  | isbn = 978-0-8248-1068-9
  | postscript = .
  }}
* {{Citation
  | editor-surname1 = Eberhard | editor-given1 = David M.
  | editor-surname2 = Simons | editor-given2 = Gary F.
  | editor-surname3 = Fennig | editor-given3 = Charles D.
  | title = Ethnologue: Languages of the World
  | location = Dallas, TX | publisher = SIL International | edition = 27th | year = 2024
  | url = http://www.ethnologue.com
  | postscript = .
  }}
* {{Citation
  | surname = Handel | given = Zev
  | chapter = The Sinitic languages: phonology | pages = 85–113
  | title = The Sino-Tibetan Languages
  | editor1-given = Graham | editor1-surname = Thurgood
  | editor2-given = Randy J. | editor2-surname = LaPolla
  | publisher = Routledge | edition = 2nd | year = 2017
  | isbn = 978-1-138-78332-4
  | postscript = .
  }}
* {{Citation
  | surname = Hsieh | given = Hsiu-Mei
  | title = Exploring teachers' views about native language instruction and education in Taiwanese elementary schools
  | type = PhD thesis | publisher = University of Texas at Austin | year = 2007
  | hdl = 2152/3598 | hdl-access = free
  | postscript = .
  }}
* {{Citation
  | surname = Iwata | given = Ray
  | title = Linguistic geography of Chinese dialects: Project on Han dialects (PHD)
  | journal = Cahiers de Linguistique Asie Orientale
  | volume = 24 | issue = 2 | year = 1995 | pages = 195–227
  | doi = 10.3406/clao.1995.1475 | doi-access = free
  | postscript = .
  }}
* {{Citation
  | surname = Iwata | given = Ray | author-mask = 3
  | title = Chinese Geolinguistics: History, Current Trend and Theoretical Issues
  | journal = Dialectologia | volume = Special issue I | year = 2010 | pages = 97–121
  | url = http://www.raco.cat/index.php/Dialectologia/article/download/242105/324717
  | postscript = .
  }}
* {{Citation
  | surname = Kurpaska | given = Maria
  | title = Chinese Language(s): A Look Through the Prism of "The Great Dictionary of Modern Chinese Dialects"
  | publisher = [[Walter de Gruyter]] | year = 2010 | isbn = 978-3-11-021914-2
  | postscript = .
  }}
* {{citation
  | surname = Li | given = Ying-Che
  | chapter = Aspects of historical-comparative syntax: functions of prepositions in Taiwanese and Mandarin
  | pages = 340–368
  | editor-given = Hilary M. | editor-surname = Chappell | editor-link = Hilary Chappell
  | title = Sinitic grammar: synchronic and diachronic perspectives
  | publisher = Oxford University Press | year = 2001 | isbn = 978-0-19-829977-6
  | postscript = .
  }}
* {{Citation
  | surname = Liang | given = Sihua
  | title = Language Attitudes and Identities in Multilingual China: A Linguistic Ethnography
  | publisher = Springer | year = 2014
  | isbn = 978-3-319-12618-0
  | postscript = .
  }}
* {{Citation
  | surname = Mair | given = Victor H. | author-link = Victor H. Mair
  | title = What Is a Chinese 'Dialect/Topolect'? Reflections on Some Key Sino-English Linguistic terms
  | url = http://sino-platonic.org/complete/spp029_chinese_dialect.pdf
  | journal = Sino-Platonic Papers | volume = 29 | year = 1991 | pages = 1–31
  | postscript = .
  }}
* {{Citation
  | surname = Mair | given = Victor H. | author-link = Victor H. Mair | author-mask = 3
  | chapter = The Classification of Sinitic Languages: What Is 'Chinese'?
  | chapter-url = http://www.ling.sinica.edu.tw/Files/LL/Docments/Monographs/Breaking%20Down%20the%20Barriers/ISCLB-35-Mair%20130419.pdf
  | pages = 735–754
  | title = Breaking Down the Barriers: Interdisciplinary Studies in Chinese Linguistics and Beyond
  | editor-given1 = Guangshun | editor-surname1 = Cao
  | editor-given2 = Redouane | editor-surname2 = Djamouri
  | editor-given3 = Hilary | editor-surname3 = Chappell
  | editor-given4 = Thekla | editor-surname4 = Wiebusch
  | place = Taipei | publisher = Institute of Linguistics, Academia Sinica | year = 2013
  | isbn = 978-986-03-7678-4
  | postscript = .
  | access-date = 15 April 2018
  | archive-date = 16 April 2018
  | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180416012634/http://www.ling.sinica.edu.tw/Files/LL/Docments/Monographs/Breaking%20Down%20the%20Barriers/ISCLB-35-Mair%20130419.pdf
  | url-status = dead
  }}
* {{citation
  | surname = Nakanishi | given = Hiroki
  | script-title = zh:论畬话的归属 | title = Lùn Shēhuà de guīshǔ | language = zh
  | trans-title = On the genetic affiliation of Shehua
  | journal = [[Journal of Chinese Linguistics]] | year = 2010 | volume = 24 | pages = 247–267
  | jstor = 23825447
  | postscript = .
  }}
* {{Citation
  | surname = Norman | given = Jerry | author-link = Jerry Norman (sinologist)
  | title = Chinese
  | publisher = Cambridge University Press | year = 1988
  | isbn = 978-0-521-29653-3
  | postscript = .
  }}
* {{Citation
  | surname = Norman | given = Jerry | author-mask = 3
  | chapter = The Chinese dialects: phonology | pages = 72–83
  | editor-given1 = Graham | editor-surname1 = Thurgood | editor-link1 = Graham Thurgood
  | editor-given2 = Randy J. | editor-surname2 = LaPolla | editor-link2 = Randy LaPolla
  | title = The Sino-Tibetan languages | publisher = Routledge | year = 2003
  | isbn = 978-0-7007-1129-1
  | postscript = .
  }}
* {{Citation
  | surname = Pulleyblank | given = Edwin George | author-link = Edwin G. Pulleyblank
  | title = Middle Chinese: A Study in Historical Phonology
  | location = Vancouver | publisher = University of British Columbia Press | year = 1984
  | isbn = 978-0-7748-0192-8
  | postscript = .
  }}
* {{Citation
  | surname = Ramsey | given = S. Robert
  | title = The Languages of China
  | publisher = Princeton University Press | year = 1987 | isbn = 978-0-691-01468-5
  | postscript = .
  }}
* {{citation
  | surname1 = Tang | given1 = Chaoju
  | surname2 = van Heuven | given2 = Vincent J.
  | title = Mutual intelligibility of Chinese dialects experimentally tested
  | journal = Lingua | volume = 119 | issue = 5 | year = 2009 | pages = 709–732
  | doi = 10.1016/j.lingua.2008.10.001
  | hdl = 1887/14919 | hdl-access = free
  | postscript = .
  }}
* {{Citation
  | surname = Wang | given = Feng
  | title = On the genetic position of the Bai language
  | journal =  Cahiers de Linguistique Asie Orientale | year = 2005 | volume = 34 | issue = 1 | pages = 101–127
  | doi = 10.3406/clao.2005.1728
  | postscript = .
  }}
* {{Citation
  | surname1 = Wurm | given1 = Stephen Adolphe | author-link1 = Stephen Wurm
  | surname2 = Li | given2 = Rong | author-link2 = Li Rong (linguist)
  | surname3 = Baumann | given3 = Theo
  | surname4 = Lee | given4 = Mei W.
  | title = Language Atlas of China
  | title-link = Language Atlas of China
  | publisher = Longman | year = 1987 | isbn = 978-962-359-085-3
  | postscript = .
  }}
* {{citation
  | title = Zhōngguó yǔyán dìtú jí: Hànyǔ fāngyán juǎn
  | script-title = zh:中国语言地图集:汉语方言卷 | language = zh
  | trans-title = Language Atlas of China: Chinese dialects
  | title-link = Language Atlas of China 
  | editor1-surname = Xiong | editor1-given = Zhenghui
  | editor2-surname = Zhang | editor2-given = Zhenxing
  | publisher = The Commercial Press | location = Beijing | year = 2012
  | edition = 2nd
  | isbn = 978-7-10-007054-6
  | postscript = .
  }}
* {{Citation
  | surname = Wee | given = Lionel
  | title = The semiotics of language ideologies in Singapore
  | journal = Journal of Sociolinguistics | year = 2006
  | volume = 10 | issue = 3 | pages = 344–361
  | doi = 10.1111/j.1360-6441.2006.00331.x
  | postscript = .
  }}
* {{Citation
  | surname = Yan | given = Margaret Mian
  | title = Introduction to Chinese Dialectology
  | publisher = LINCOM Europa | year = 2006 | isbn = 978-3-89586-629-6
  | postscript = .
  }}
* {{Citation
  | surname = Yue-Hashimoto | given = Anne | author-link = Anne Oi-kan Yue
  | title = Comparative Chinese Dialectal Grammar: Handbook for Investigators
  | location = Paris
  | publisher = École des hautes études en sciences sociales, Centre de recherches linguistiques sur l'Asie orientale
  | year = 1993
  | isbn = 978-2-910216-00-9
  | postscript = .
  }}
* {{Citation
  | surname = Yue | given = Anne O.
  | chapter = The Sinitic languages: grammar | pages = 114–163
  | title = The Sino-Tibetan Languages
  | editor1-given = Graham | editor1-surname = Thurgood
  | editor2-given = Randy J. | editor2-surname = LaPolla
  | publisher = Routledge | edition = 2nd | year = 2017
  | isbn = 978-1-138-78332-4
  | postscript = .
  }}
{{Refend}}

== Further reading ==
{{Refbegin|30em|indent=yes}}
* {{citation
  | surname = Ao | given = Benjamin
  | title = Comparative reconstruction of proto-Chinese revisited
  | journal = Language Sciences | volume = 13 | number = 3/4 | year = 1991 | pages = 335–379
  | doi = 10.1016/0388-0001(91)90022-S
  | ref = none
  | postscript = .
  }}
* {{citation
  | title = Chain shifts in Chinese historical phonology: problems of motivation and functionality
  | given = Stephen P. | surname = Baron
  | journal = Cahiers de Linguistique Asie Orientale
  | year = 1983 | volume = 12 | number = 1 | pages = 43–63
  | doi = 10.3406/clao.1983.1125 | doi-access = free
  | ref = none
  | postscript = .
  }}
* {{Citation
  | surname = Ben Hamed | given = Mahé
  | title = Neighbour-nets portray the Chinese dialect continuum and the linguistic legacy of China's demic history
  | journal = Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences
  | volume = 272 | number = 1567 | year = 2005 | pages = 1015–1022
  | doi = 10.1098/rspb.2004.3015 | pmc = 1599877 | pmid = 16024359 | jstor = 30047639
  | ref = none
  | postscript = .
  }}
* {{Citation
  | surname1 = Ben Hamed | given1 = Mahé | author1-mask = 3
  | surname2 = Wang | given2 = Feng 
  | title = Stuck in the forest: Trees, networks and Chinese dialects
  | journal = Diachronica | volume = 23 | issue = 1 | year = 2006 | pages = 29–60
  | url = https://www.academia.edu/9369570
  | doi = 10.1075/dia.23.1.04ham
  | ref = none
  | postscript = .
  }}
* {{Citation
  | surname = Branner | given = David Prager
  | title = Problems in Comparative Chinese Dialectology – the Classification of Miin and Hakka
  | series = Trends in Linguistics series | volume = 123
  | publisher = Mouton de Gruyter | location = Berlin | year = 2000 | isbn = 978-3-11-015831-1
  | ref = none
  | postscript = .
  }}
* {{Citation
  | surname = Chappell | given = Hilary
  | chapter = Synchrony and diachrony of Sinitic languages: A brief history of Chinese dialects
  | pages = 3–28
  | chapter-url = http://crlao.ehess.fr/docannexe/file/1722/brief_history_of_chinese_dialects.pdf
  | title = Sinitic grammar: synchronic and diachronic perspectives
  | location = Oxford | publisher = Oxford University Press
  | year = 2001 | isbn = 978-0-19-829977-6
  | editor-given = Hilary | editor-surname = Chappell
  | ref = none
  | postscript = .
  }}
* {{Citation
  | surname1 = Chappell | given1 = Hilary | author-mask = 3
  | surname2 = Li | given2 = Ming
  | surname3 = Peyraube | given3 = Alain
  | title = Chinese linguistics and typology: the state of the art
  | journal = Linguistic Typology | volume = 11 | issue = 1
  | year = 2007 | pages = 187–211
  | url = https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/halshs-00149611/document  | doi = 10.1515/LINGTY.2007.014
  | s2cid = 123103670
  | ref = none
  | postscript = .
  }}
* {{Citation
  | surname = Chen | given = Matthew Y.
  | title = Tone Sandhi: Patterns Across Chinese Dialects
  | publisher = Cambridge University Press | year = 2000
  | isbn = 0-521-65272-3
  | ref = none
  | postscript = .
  }}
* {{Citation
  | surname = Escure | given = Geneviève
  | title = Creole and Dialect Continua: standard acquisition processes in Belize and China (PRC)
  | publisher = John Benjamins | year = 1997 | isbn = 978-90-272-5240-1
  | ref = none
  | postscript = .
  }}
* {{Citation
  | surname = Francis | given = Norbert
  | title = Language and dialect in China
  | url = http://ling.auf.net/lingbuzz/003228
  | journal = Chinese Language and Discourse | volume = 7 | number = 1 | year = 2016 | pages = 136–149
  | doi = 10.1075/cld.7.1.05fra
  | ref = none
  | postscript = .
  | url-access = subscription
  }}
* {{Citation
  | surname = Groves
  | given = Julie M.
  | title = Language or Dialect – or Topolect? A Comparison of the Attitudes of Hong Kongers and Mainland Chinese towards the Status of Cantonese
  | url = http://sino-platonic.org/complete/spp179_cantonese.pdf
  | journal = Sino-Platonic Papers | volume = 179 | year = 2008 | pages = 1–103
  | ref = none
  | postscript = .
  }}
* {{Citation
  | given = Zev
  | surname = Handel
  | chapter = The Classification of Chinese: Sinitic (The Chinese Language Family)
  | pages = 34–44
  | title = The Oxford Handbook of Chinese Linguistics
  | editor-given1 = William S. Y.
  | editor-surname1 = Wang
  | editor-given2 = Chaofen
  | editor-surname2 = Sun
  | publisher = Oxford University Press
  | year = 2015
  | isbn = 978-0-19-985633-6
  | ref = none
  | postscript = .
  }}
* {{Citation
  | surname = Hannas
  | given = William C.
  | title = Asia's Orthographic Dilemma
  | publisher = University of Hawaiʻi Press | year = 1997
  | isbn = 978-0-8248-1892-0
  | ref = none
  | postscript = .
  }}
* {{citation
  | surname = Norman | given = Jerry
  | chapter = Common Dialectal Chinese | pages = 233–254
  | editor-given = David Prager | editor-surname = Branner
  | title = The Chinese Rime Tables: Linguistic Philosophy and Historical-Comparative Phonology
  | series = Studies in the Theory and History of Linguistic Science, Series IV: Current Issues in Linguistic Theory
  | volume = 271
  | location = Amsterdam | publisher = John Benjamins | year = 2006
  | isbn = 978-90-272-4785-8
  | postscript = .
  | ref = none
  }}
* {{citation
  | title = On distinguishing Hakka and non-Hakka dialects
  | given = Laurent | surname = Sagart | author-link = Laurent Sagart
  | journal = Journal of Chinese Linguistics | volume = 26 | number = 2 | year = 1998 | pages = 281–302
  | jstor = 23756757
  | postscript = .
  | ref = none
  }}
* {{Citation
  | surname = Simmons | given = Richard VanNess
  | title = Chinese Dialect Classification: A comparative approach to Harngjou, Old Jintarn, and Common Northern Wu
  | publisher = John Benjamins | year = 1999
  | isbn = 978-90-272-8433-4
  | postscript = .
  | ref = none
  }}
* {{Citation
  | editor-surname = Simmons | editor-given = Richard VanNess | editor-mask = 3
  | title = Studies in Colloquial Chinese and Its History : Dialect and Text
  | publisher = Hong Kong University Press | year = 2022
  | isbn = 978-988-8754-09-0
  | ref = none
  | postscript = .
  }}
* {{Citation
  | surname = Tam | given = Gina Anne
  | title = Dialect and Nationalism in China, 1860–1960
  | publisher = Cambridge University Press | year = 2020
  | isbn = 978-1-108-77640-0 | doi = 10.1017/9781108776400
  | ref = none
  | postscript = .
  }}
* {{Citation | last = Hatano | first = Tarō | author-mask = Hatano Tarō (波多野太郎) 
   | script-title = ja:中国方志所錄方言滙編 | language = ja
   | trans-title  = Compilation of Chinese dialects in local chronicles
   | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=6EozAAAAIAAJ 
   | year=1966 | publisher=Yokohama shiritsu daigaku kiyō | oclc = 50634504 }}
* {{Citation
  | surname1 = Chen | given1 = Xiaojin | author1-mask = Chen Xiaojin (陈晓锦)
  | surname2 = Gan  | given2 = Yu'en   | author2-mask = Gan Yu'en (甘于恩)
  | script-title = zh:东南亚华人社区汉语方言概要 | language = zh
  | trans-title = Summary of Local Chinese Dialects in Southeast Asian Overseas Communities
  | publisher = World Publishing | location = Guangzhou | year = 2010
  | isbn = 978-7-510-08769-1
  | ref = none
  | postscript = .
  }}
{{Refend}}

==External links==
* {{citation | title = Hànyǔ Fāngyīn Zìhuì | script-title = zh:汉語方音字汇 | trans-title = Dictionary of Chinese dialect pronunciations | publisher = Beijing University | year = 1962 | ref = none | postscript = . }}
** {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051018151521/http://www.lang.cityu.edu.hk/chinese/doc.html |date=18 October 2005 |title=DOC (Dialects of China or Dictionary on Computer) files }}, compiled by William Wang and Chin-Chuan Cheng (archived from the originals at City University of Hong Kong)
** {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150627111238/https://www.dylwhs.talktalk.net/download/doc.htm |date=27 June 2015 |title=HTML version | ref = none | postscript = , }} compiled by Dylan W.H. Sung
** [https://starling.rinet.ru/cgi-bin/response.cgi?root=config&morpho=0&basename=\data\china\doc Chinese Dialects]: search interface to the DOC database, at StarLing
* {{citation | title = Hànyǔ Fāngyīn Cíhuì | script-title = zh:汉語方音词汇 | trans-title = Chinese dialect vocabularies | publisher = Beijing University | year = 1964 | ref = none | postscript = . }}
** CLDF dataset (Version v4.0). Zenodo. {{doi|10.5281/zenodo.3534942}}
* {{citation | title = Fāngyán diàochá zìbiǎo | script-title = zh:方言调查字表 | trans-title = Dialect survey character table | edition = revised | year = 1981 | author = Institute of Linguistics, [[Chinese Academy of Social Sciences]] | location = Beijing | publisher = Commercial Press | url = https://www.chtr.org.tw/0/0t.pdf | ref = none | postscript = . }}
* [https://chinesedialectgeography.jp/ Chinese Dialect Geography] – linguistic maps and commentaries from {{citation | title = Interpretive maps of Chinese dialects | editor-given = Ray | editor-surname = Iwata | location = Tokyo | publisher = Hakuteisha Press | year = 2009 | ref = none | postscript = . }}
* [https://dylansung.tripod.com/chinese/index.html Technical Notes on the Chinese Language Dialects], by Dylan W.H. Sung (Phonology and Official Romanization Schemes)

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Varieties of Chinese}}
[[Category:Varieties of Chinese| ]]
[[Category:Dialects by language|Chinese]]