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).

Read more at Wikipedia.org


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China Old Antique Bronze Tiger Man Statue VesselChina Old Antique Bronze Tiger Man Statue Vessel Original Chinese Wood Foo Dog Figurine, Foo LionOriginal Chinese Wood Foo Dog Figurine, Foo Lion $35.00
Gh034 Chinese Hanging Scroll Kwanyin PaintingGh034 Chinese Hanging Scroll Kwanyin Painting $22.99 Jepara shipwreck Song celadon bowl (curved cloud motif)Jepara shipwreck Song celadon bowl (curved cloud motif) $199.00
Old Antique Bronze Horse Swallow StatueOld Antique Bronze Horse Swallow Statue Gh026 Hand Painted China Scroll Eagle Hunting PaintingGh026 Hand Painted China Scroll Eagle Hunting Painting $22.99
Ming Longquan celadon dishMing Longquan celadon dish $139.00 Chinese Porcelain famille rose Plate of Landscape FormChinese Porcelain famille rose Plate of Landscape Form $189.90
Old Antique Bronze Elephant Pot CollectionOld Antique Bronze Elephant Pot Collection Tang Dynasty Jade HorseTang Dynasty Jade Horse $650.00
Old Antique Bronze Man Drum StatueOld Antique Bronze Man Drum Statue Table Lamp AntiqueTable Lamp Antique $50.00
10.5 x 3.5 Cloisonne Bowl w/ Swallow + Chrysanthemums10.5 x 3.5 Cloisonne Bowl w/ Swallow + Chrysanthemums $174.99 China Old Antique Bronze 3-Leg Warehouse VesselChina Old Antique Bronze 3-Leg Warehouse Vessel
Vintage China Antique Bronze 2-Face Man Statue CollectiVintage China Antique Bronze 2-Face Man Statue Collecti Yixing Zisha Clay Chinese Gongfu Teapot 165ml Xt01 TeaYixing Zisha Clay Chinese Gongfu Teapot 165ml Xt01 Tea $21.99
Beautiful Silk Brocade RobeBeautiful Silk Brocade Robe $69.00 Vintage Small Chinese Cloisonne DishVintage Small Chinese Cloisonne Dish
Old Antique Bronze Man Horse Vehicle StatueOld Antique Bronze Man Horse Vehicle Statue Old Chinese Tangram Atlas Pattern BookOld Chinese Tangram Atlas Pattern Book $220.00
Yuan celadon dish with impressed floral motifYuan celadon dish with impressed floral motif $139.90 Gh045 Hand Painted Chinese Scroll Lotus Ink PaintingGh045 Hand Painted Chinese Scroll Lotus Ink Painting $14.99
Old Antique Bronze Bird Statue PotOld Antique Bronze Bird Statue Pot Gh051 Hand Painted Chinese Scroll Horse Theme PaintingGh051 Hand Painted Chinese Scroll Horse Theme Painting $14.99
Super Dehua Colorful Porcelain Kid on LotusSuper Dehua Colorful Porcelain Kid on Lotus Rare Old Chinese Ancestors Tablets Atlas Pattern BookRare Old Chinese Ancestors Tablets Atlas Pattern Book $150.00
Gh027 Chinese Hanging Scroll Mumbletypeg Theme PaintingGh027 Chinese Hanging Scroll Mumbletypeg Theme Painting $12.99 Gh059 Chinese Scroll Center Zhaojun Outside FrontierGh059 Chinese Scroll Center Zhaojun Outside Frontier $9.99
Green Cloisonne Enamel Ginger Jar Luscious FloralsGreen Cloisonne Enamel Ginger Jar Luscious Florals $99.99 Fine Big *LiangZhu* White Jade Carved Disk *Bi* Fine Big *LiangZhu* White Jade Carved Disk *Bi* $345.00
China Old Antique Bronze Bird Statue PotChina Old Antique Bronze Bird Statue Pot Super Dehua Colorful Porcelain Lovely Kid On LotusSuper Dehua Colorful Porcelain Lovely Kid On Lotus
17/18C Kangxi Style Chinese Blue & White Vase ,19Cent ?17/18C Kangxi Style Chinese Blue & White Vase ,19Cent ? $49.99 Yuan qingbai small bowlYuan qingbai small bowl $139.90
Chinese Bronze Hand Warmer, Copper, MetalChinese Bronze Hand Warmer, Copper, Metal $155.00 Old Antique Bronze Pig and Bird Pot CollectionOld Antique Bronze Pig and Bird Pot Collection
Old Antique Bronze Palace Lamp People Statue CollectionOld Antique Bronze Palace Lamp People Statue Collection Old Antique Bronze Rhinoceros Pot Statues CollectionOld Antique Bronze Rhinoceros Pot Statues Collection
Gh054 Hand Painted Chinese Scroll Cock Gourd PaintingGh054 Hand Painted Chinese Scroll Cock Gourd Painting $14.99 Gh036 Hand Painted Chinese Scroll Kwanyin PaintingGh036 Hand Painted Chinese Scroll Kwanyin Painting $22.99
Yuan qingbai potYuan qingbai pot $269.90
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Prices current as of last update, 07/31/10 2:59am.

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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