The varieties of spoken Chinese in China (CLICK double rectangle image to the right for a larger map.)Various styles of Chinese calligraphy.
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Chinese

Chinese (汉语/漢語, Pinyin: Hànyǔ; 华语/華語, Huáyǔ; or 中文, Zhōngwén) is a language (or language family) that forms part of the Sino-Tibetan family of languages. more...

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About one-fifth of the people in the world speak some form of Chinese as their native language.

In general, all varieties of Chinese are tonal and analytic. However, Chinese is also distinguished for a high level of internal diversity. Regional variation between different variants/dialects is comparable to the Romance language family; many variants of spoken Chinese are different enough to be mutually incomprehensible. It could be argued that there are more native "Romance" (Italian, French, Spanish, Portuguese, etc.) speakers than "Chinese" speakers. There are between six and twelve main regional groups of Chinese (depending on classification scheme), of which the most populous by far is Mandarin (c. 800 million), followed by Wu (c. 90 million), and Cantonese (c. 80 million). The identification of the varieties of Chinese as "languages" or "dialects" is a controversial issue. If Chinese is classified as a single language rather than a group of languages, it is the most widely spoken language in the world.

The standardized form of spoken Chinese is based on the Beijing dialect, a member of the Mandarin group; it is described in the article "Standard Mandarin". Standard Mandarin is the official language of the People's Republic of China and the Republic of China on Taiwan, as well as one of four official languages of Singapore (together with English, Malay, and Tamil). Chinese—de facto, Standard Mandarin—is one of the six official languages of the United Nations (alongside English, Arabic, French, Russian, and Spanish). Spoken in the form of Standard Cantonese, Chinese is one of the official languages of Hong Kong (together with English) and of Macau (together with Portuguese).

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		antique chinese faux tortoiseshell with carved dragon 5 piece.
		antique chinese faux tortoiseshell with carved dragon 5 piece. 
		Early 19Th Century Rose Medallion Bread & Butter Plates (6) *No Reserve*
		Early 19Th Century Rose Medallion Bread & Butter Plates (6) *No Reserve*

		1890-1910 Antique Chinese Kwan-Yin Figure Celedon Nr
		1890-1910 Antique Chinese Kwan-Yin Figure Celedon Nr 
		Early 19Th Century Rose Medallion Teapot With Lid *No Reserve*
		Early 19Th Century Rose Medallion Teapot With Lid *No Reserve*

		Antique Bronze Chinese ancient art Exquisite collection Old coins Dao Bi
		Antique Bronze Chinese ancient art Exquisite collection Old coins Dao Bi 
		old Chinese Hetian jade Hand Carved,pendant 
		old Chinese Hetian jade Hand Carved,pendant

		Antique Chinese Blanc De Chine Vase with Double Lion'S Heads
		Antique Chinese Blanc De Chine Vase with Double Lion'S Heads 
		Antique Chinese Ox Bone Plaque , Wood Stand
		Antique Chinese Ox Bone Plaque , Wood Stand

		Fine qing Dynasty period Rose flowers birds vase
		Fine qing Dynasty period Rose flowers birds vase 
		Chinese Beautiful Cizhou kiln Porcelain Teapots
		Chinese Beautiful Cizhou kiln Porcelain Teapots

		Tibetan Buddhist bronze Maitreya Buddha statue 10 cm 
		Tibetan Buddhist bronze Maitreya Buddha statue 10 cm 
		Antique Bronze Chinese ancient art Exquisite collection Old coins 
		Antique Bronze Chinese ancient art Exquisite collection Old coins

		Pretty Pink & Celadon Green Chinese Japanese? Tea Caddy
		Pretty Pink & Celadon Green Chinese Japanese? Tea Caddy 
		Chinese Rare Famille Rose Porcelain Figure Vase
		Chinese Rare Famille Rose Porcelain Figure Vase

		
					A Chinese Bronze Censer And Four Vases Silver Inlaid 19th Century - Qing Dynasty
				
		A Chinese Bronze Censer And Four Vases Silver Inlaid 19th Century - Qing Dynasty 
		Collectibles Nepal Tibetan A pair bronze Manjushri & Vishvabhadra buddha statues
		Collectibles Nepal Tibetan A pair bronze Manjushri & Vishvabhadra buddha statues

		Antique Chinese Trunk /Chest Hand Carved & Made Camphor Wood Circa 1916
		Antique Chinese Trunk /Chest Hand Carved & Made Camphor Wood Circa 1916 
		Oriental Chinese Verdigris Bronze Teapot - 8 Wise Men
		Oriental Chinese Verdigris Bronze Teapot - 8 Wise Men

		Antique Bronze Chinese ancient art Exquisite collection Old coins Qindynasty
		Antique Bronze Chinese ancient art Exquisite collection Old coins Qindynasty 
		Chinese vintage/antiqu​e black silk hat embroidered with flowers green tassels
		Chinese vintage/antiqu​e black silk hat embroidered with flowers green tassels

		Chinese antique excellent blue and white Porcelain lad jar
		Chinese antique excellent blue and white Porcelain lad jar 
		Hand Carved Ox Bone Chinese Vase - Etched Scene of a Buddha
		Hand Carved Ox Bone Chinese Vase - Etched Scene of a Buddha

		Congressman Tom Lantos, a Congressman gift pen refill original, 
		Congressman Tom Lantos, a Congressman gift pen refill original, 
		Nepal Tibetan Asian Bronze Statue No Reserve
		Nepal Tibetan Asian Bronze Statue No Reserve

		Chinese rare attractive copper gold-plating sheep 
		Chinese rare attractive copper gold-plating sheep 
		P463 Natural White agate snuff bottle natural pattern
		P463 Natural White agate snuff bottle natural pattern

		Beautiful Chinese Bowl Da Quing Quianlong Nia Zhi C1960-1990 
		Beautiful Chinese Bowl Da Quing Quianlong Nia Zhi C1960-1990 
		C2 Chinese blue and white porcelain wine pot ( flagon )
		C2 Chinese blue and white porcelain wine pot ( flagon )

		Old Lucky Laughing Buddha Buddhist Chinese Collectible Statue Asian Art Culture
		Old Lucky Laughing Buddha Buddhist Chinese Collectible Statue Asian Art Culture 
		C4 Chinese celadon vase porcelain monochrome glaze vase
		C4 Chinese celadon vase porcelain monochrome glaze vase

		Mount Athos Moneastery Greece - Inside Hand Painted Snuff Bottle Seal Signed
		Mount Athos Moneastery Greece - Inside Hand Painted Snuff Bottle Seal Signed 
		Chinese Beautiful Kiln change Porcelain Vase
		Chinese Beautiful Kiln change Porcelain Vase

		Chinese Silver Metal Art - Decorative Scene - Flowers in a Vase - Oriental
		Chinese Silver Metal Art - Decorative Scene - Flowers in a Vase - Oriental 
		 Chinese antique a pair splendid famille rose porcelain general jar
		Chinese antique a pair splendid famille rose porcelain general jar

		Early 19Th Century Rose Medallion Dessert / Salad Plates (8) *No Reserve*
		Early 19Th Century Rose Medallion Dessert / Salad Plates (8) *No Reserve* 
		C3 Chinese blue and white porcelain Vase collection
		C3 Chinese blue and white porcelain Vase collection

		1950s Small Paper Hand Fan Love Birds Butterfly
		1950s Small Paper Hand Fan Love Birds Butterfly 
		 Chinese antique excellent blue and white porcelain phoenix general jar
		Chinese antique excellent blue and white porcelain phoenix general jar

		 Chinese antique excellent blue and white porcelain landscape jar
		Chinese antique excellent blue and white porcelain landscape jar 
		fine Estate Chinese painting Birds artist reign marks color ink paper
		fine Estate Chinese painting Birds artist reign marks color ink paper

		P464 Chinese Ancient painting snuff bottle beautiful
		P464 Chinese Ancient painting snuff bottle beautiful 
		Asian 1940's Jewelry Box , Wood, Brass and Jade
		Asian 1940's Jewelry Box , Wood, Brass and Jade

		Chinese antique excellent blue and white Porcelain figure general jar
		Chinese antique excellent blue and white Porcelain figure general jar 
		C5 Chinese rose porcelain colorized porcelain big Vase 
		C5 Chinese rose porcelain colorized porcelain big Vase
Click to see more Chinese items at ebay.com
Prices current as of last update, 05/17/12 7:49am.

See also...
Baskets, Chinese, Asian Antiques
Bowls, Chinese, Asian Antiques
Boxes, Chinese, Asian Antiques
Cabinets, Chinese, Asian Antiques
Chairs, Chinese, Asian Antiques
Chests, Chinese, Asian Antiques
Glasses, Cups, Chinese, Asian Antiques
Necklaces, Pendants, Chinese, Asian Antiques
Other Items, Chinese, Asian Antiques
Paintings, Scrolls, Chinese, Asian Antiques
Plates, Chinese, Asian Antiques
Pots, Chinese, Asian Antiques
Snuff Bottles, Chinese, Asian Antiques
Statues, Chinese, Asian Antiques
Tables, Chinese, Asian Antiques
Vases, Chinese, Asian Antiques

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