What do you know about Chinese Dialect?
fānɡ yán 方言 dialect
kǒu yīn hěn zhònɡ 口音很重 strong accent
bù yí yànɡ 不一样 not the same
tīnɡ bù dǒnɡ 听不懂 can't understand
qǐnɡ shuō màn yì diǎn 。
请 说 慢 一 点。Please speak slowly.
The vast majority of people, if asked what language is spoken in China, would say: That’s a no-brainer: Chinese, of course! Some might know enough to differentiate between Mandarin Chinese and Cantonese. But the truth is far more complex than that.
In general, Chinese dialects can be roughly classified into one of the seven large groups: Putonghua (Mandarin), Gan, Kejia (Hakka), Min, Wu, Xiang, and Yue (Cantonese). Each language group contains a large number of dialects.For instance, Wu includes the dialects of Shanghai, Suzhou, and Hangzhou etc.
Mandarin, or Putonghua, can be heard all over China as it is the official language. However, it is thought of as a northern dialect as it is mainly based off of the Beijing dialect.Mandarin Chinese is known as 普通话 (Pǔtōnghuà), the“common speech,”and it has only been the official language of China since the 1930s, when the country established it as the standard dialect and began pushing to make this a reality nationwide.
The Gan dialect can be heard in western parts of China. It is spoken particularly heavily in and near Jiangxi province.
Kejia, or Hakka, is the language of Hakka people who are spread out across pockets in Taiwan, Guangdong, Jiangxi, Guizhou, and beyond.
Min is spoken in China's southern coastal province—Fujian. It is the most diverse dialect, meaning within the dialect group there are still many different variations on word pronunciation.
Around the Yangtze Delta and Shanghai, the Wu dialect can be heard. In fact, Wu is also referred to as Shanghainese.
Xiang is a southern dialect concentrated in Hunan province.
Cantonese, or Yue, is also a southern dialect. It is spoken in Guangdong, Guangxi, Hong Kong, and Macau.
Despite the large differences among Chinese dialects, there is one thing in common—they all share the same writing system based on Chinese characters. However, the same character is pronounced differently depending on which dialect one speaks. Even though the dialects from the seven groups are quite different, a non-Mandarin speaker usually can speak some Mandarin, even if with a strong accent.
Finally, a practical point: Understanding the differences between dialects will also prepare you for your next trip to China. Don’t be alarmed if you find yourself in a province of China where you don’t understand anything, even if you have studied Mandarin. For those interested in the Chinese language, the diversity and beauty of dialects should be a motive for you to immerse yourself in not just Mandarin, but in local dialects and regional life as well. Exposure is essential to discovering the many nuances of local culture and life.
Supervisor: Crystal Huang
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