Mandarin dialect

Mandarin is a major Chinese language, often called a dialect but technically a distinct language within the Chinese language family. It is the most widely spoken language globally, with over a billion speakers. Mandarin has a standardized form based on the Beijing dialect and is used as the official language of China and Taiwan. It uses Chinese characters for writing and a tonal system, meaning pitch changes can alter word meanings. While "Mandarin" refers to this specific language, it is one part of the larger Chinese language group, which includes many other dialects and regional varieties.