普通話

See also: 普通话

Chinese

		ordinary, plain, average, nothing special, general; common; universal ordinary, plain, average, nothing special, general; common; universal; widespread	spoken words; speech; dialect spoken words; speech; dialect; language; talk; conversation; what someone said
trad. (普通話)		普通	話
simp. (普通话)		普通	话

Etymology

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

The term appeared in Chinese and Japanese publications in the second half of the 19th century. The connotation “national language” probably originated under Japanese influence. It has been in official use in the People’s Republic of China since the mid-1950s.

Pronunciation

• Mandarin

  (Standard)

  (Pinyin): pǔtōnghuà

  (Zhuyin): ㄆㄨˇ ㄊㄨㄥ ㄏㄨㄚˋ

  (Chengdu, Sichuanese Pinyin): pu³ tong¹ hua⁴

• Cantonese

  (Guangzhou–Hong Kong, Jyutping): pou² tung¹ waa^6-2

  (Taishan, Wiktionary): pu² huung¹ va^5*

• Hakka

  (Sixian, PFS): phû-thûng-fa

  (Hailu, HRS): pu^ˋ tung^ˋ fa^ˇ

  (Meixian, Guangdong): pu¹ tung¹ fa⁴

• Eastern Min (BUC): pū-tŭng-uâ
• Puxian Min (Pouseng Ping'ing): pou³ torng¹ ua⁵
• Southern Min

  (Hokkien, POJ): phó͘-thong-ōe / phó͘-thong-ōa / phú-thong-goee

  (Teochew, Peng'im): pou² tong¹ uê⁷

• Wu (Shanghai, Wugniu): ⁵phu-thon-gho

---

• Mandarin
  • (Standard Chinese)⁺
    • Hanyu Pinyin: pǔtōnghuà
    • Zhuyin: ㄆㄨˇ ㄊㄨㄥ ㄏㄨㄚˋ
    • Tongyong Pinyin: pǔtonghuà
    • Wade–Giles: pʻu³-tʻung¹-hua⁴
    • Yale: pǔ-tūng-hwà
    • Gwoyeu Romatzyh: puutonghuah
    • Palladius: путунхуа (putunxua)
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /pʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰʊŋ⁵⁵ xu̯ä⁵¹/
  • (Chengdu)
    • Sichuanese Pinyin: pu³ tong¹ hua⁴
    • Scuanxua Ladinxua Xin Wenz: putungxua
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /pʰu⁵³ tʰoŋ⁵⁵ xua²¹³/
• Cantonese
  • (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)⁺
    • Jyutping: pou² tung¹ waa^6-2
    • Yale: póu tūng wá
    • Cantonese Pinyin: pou² tung¹ waa^6-2
    • Guangdong Romanization: pou² tung¹ wa^6-2
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /pʰou̯³⁵ tʰʊŋ⁵⁵ waː²²⁻³⁵/
  • (Taishanese, Taicheng)
    • Wiktionary: pu² huung¹ va^5*
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /pʰu⁵⁵ hɵŋ³³ va³²⁻³²⁵/
• Hakka
  • (Sixian, incl. Miaoli and Neipu)
    • Pha̍k-fa-sṳ: phû-thûng-fa
    • Hakka Romanization System: pu^ˊ tung^ˊ fa
    • Hagfa Pinyim: pu¹ tung¹ fa⁴
    • Sinological IPA: /pʰu²⁴⁻¹¹ tʰuŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ fa⁵⁵/
  • (Hailu, incl. Zhudong)
    • Hakka Romanization System: pu^ˋ tung^ˋ fa^ˇ
    • Sinological IPA: /pʰu⁵³ tʰuŋ⁵³ fa¹¹/
  • (Meixian)
    • Guangdong: pu¹ tung¹ fa⁴
    • Sinological IPA: /pʰu⁴⁴ tʰʊŋ⁴⁴⁻³⁵ fa⁵³/
• Eastern Min
  • (Fuzhou)
    • Bàng-uâ-cê: pū-tŭng-uâ
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /pʰu³³⁻²¹ ^(tʰ-)luŋ⁵⁵⁻⁵³ ^(Ø-)ŋuɑ²⁴²/
• Puxian Min
  • (Putian)
    • Pouseng Ping'ing: pou³ torng¹ ua⁵ [Phonetic: pou⁵ lorng⁵ ngua⁵]
    • Báⁿ-uā-ci̍: pô-to̤ng-uā
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /pʰɔu⁴⁵³⁻¹¹ ^(tʰ-)lɒŋ⁵³³⁻¹¹ ^(Ø-)ŋua¹¹/
  • (Xianyou)
    • Pouseng Ping'ing: pou³ torng¹ ua⁵ [Phonetic: pou⁵ lorng⁵ ngua⁵]
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /pʰɔu³³²⁻²¹ ^(tʰ-)lɒŋ⁵⁴⁴⁻²¹ ^(Ø-)ŋua²¹/
• Southern Min
  • (Hokkien: Xiamen, Quanzhou, General Taiwanese)
    • Pe̍h-ōe-jī: phó͘-thong-ōe
    • Tâi-lô: phóo-thong-uē
    • Phofsit Daibuun: phoftong'oe
    • Sinological IPA (Quanzhou): /pʰɔ⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ tʰɔŋ³³ ue⁴¹/
    • Sinological IPA (Kaohsiung): /pʰɔ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ tʰɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ ue³³/
    • Sinological IPA (Xiamen): /pʰɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tʰɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² ue²²/
    • Sinological IPA (Taipei): /pʰɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tʰɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ ue³³/
  • (Hokkien: Zhangzhou, Penang)
    • Pe̍h-ōe-jī: phó͘-thong-ōa
    • Tâi-lô: phóo-thong-uā
    • Phofsit Daibuun: phoftong'oa
    • Sinological IPA (Penang): /pʰɔ⁴⁴⁵⁻⁴⁴ tʰɔŋ³³⁻²¹ ua²¹/
    • Sinological IPA (Zhangzhou): /pʰɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tʰɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² ua²²/
  • (Hokkien: Longyan)
    • Pe̍h-ōe-jī: phú-thong-goee
    • Tâi-lô: phú-thong-guee
    • Sinological IPA (Longyan): /pʰu²¹ tʰoŋ³³⁴ ɡuɛ³³⁴/
  • (Teochew)
    • Peng'im: pou² tong¹ uê⁷
    • Pe̍h-ōe-jī-like: phóu thong uē
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /pʰou⁵²⁻³⁵ tʰoŋ³³⁻²³ ue¹¹/
• Wu
  • (Northern: Shanghai)
    • Wugniu: ⁵phu-thon-gho
    • MiniDict: phu^去 thon gho
    • Wiktionary Romanisation (Shanghai): ²phu-thon-hho
    • Sinological IPA (Shanghai): /pʰu³³ tʰoŋ⁵⁵ ɦo²¹/

Noun

普通話

1. common language

   《請講普通話》／《请讲普通话》  ―  “Qǐng jiǎng pǔtōnghuà”  ―  Mind Your Language (a British sitcom)

   • 1936, 胡繩, 江南話新文字概論, page 41:

     方案的規定，是拿上海普通話做標準的 [MSC, trad.]
     方案的规定，是拿上海普通话做标准的 [MSC, simp.]

     fāng'àn de guīdìng, shì ná shànghǎi pǔtōnghuà zuò biāozhǔn de [Pinyin]

     the rules of this scheme are created with Shanghai's common speech (=Shanghainese) as the standard

2. (chiefly Mainland China, recently in Hong Kong) Standard Mandarin Chinese; Standard Chinese

   標準的普通話／标准的普通话  ―  biāozhǔn de pǔtōnghuà  ―  standard Mandarin

   你會說普通話嗎？ [MSC, trad.]
   你会说普通话吗？ [MSC, simp.]

   Nǐ huì shuō pǔtōnghuà ma? [Pinyin]

   Can you speak Mandarin?

   他在家說方言，在學校說普通話。 [MSC, trad.]
   他在家说方言，在学校说普通话。 [MSC, simp.]

   Tā zài jiā shuō fāngyán, zài xuéxiào shuō pǔtōnghuà. [Pinyin]

   He speaks the local dialect at home and Standard Mandarin at school.

   • 推廣「普通話」；逐步採用拼音文字。 [MSC, trad.]
     推广「普通话」；逐步采用拼音文字。 [MSC, simp.]

     From: 1957 July, Chou You-Kuang "Chinese gets a Latin alphabet" in The UNESCO Courier p. 19

     Tuīguǎng “pǔtōnghuà”; zhúbù cǎiyòng pīnyīn wénzì. [Pinyin]

     Popularize the "common speech"; gradually begin using the phonetic alphabet.

3. (usually in contrast with 國語／国语 (guóyǔ, “Taiwanese Mandarin”)) Mandarin as spoken in Mainland China; Putonghua

Usage notes

• In mainland China, Standard Mandarin is usually called 中文 (Zhōngwén) or 普通話／普通话 (pǔtōnghuà), while 國語／国语 (guóyǔ) may also be used colloquially, especially in regions where non-Mandarin varieties are spoken. 漢語／汉语 (Hànyǔ) is also commonly used in formal situations and by ethnic minorities to contrast it with their own ethnic language.
• In Taiwan, it is most commonly referred to as 中文 (Zhōngwén) or 國語／国语 (guóyǔ) when speaking Mandarin; while 華語／华语 (Huáyǔ) is often used when distinguishing Mandarin from the other national languages, such as Taiwanese and Hakka; when speaking Taiwanese and Hakka; and in foreign-facing contexts.
• In Hong Kong and Macau, it has usually been called 國語／国语, but 普通話／普通话 is becoming more common with further immigration from and integration with mainland China.
• In Singapore, Malaysia and much of South East Asia, it is most commonly referred to as 華語／华语 (Huáyǔ).

Synonyms

Dialectal synonyms of 普通話 (“Modern Standard Chinese; Standard Mandarin”) [map]

Variety	Location	Words edit
Classical Chinese		國語
Formal (Written Standard Chinese)		現代標準漢語, 普通話, 國語, 華語
Northeastern Mandarin	Beijing	普通話
	Taiwan	中文, 國語, 華語
	Ulanhot	漢語
	Malaysia	華語, 華文
	Singapore	華語, 華文
	Olginsky (Mikhaylovka)	中國話
Lanyin Mandarin	Ürümqi	漢語
Southwestern Mandarin	Guilin	普通話
	Oudomxay	中國話
Cantonese	Guangzhou	普通話, 普語
	Hong Kong	普通話, 國語
	Macau	普通話, 國語
	Taishan	普通話
	Nanning	普通話
	Kuala Lumpur (Guangfu)	華語
	Singapore (Guangfu)	華語
	Ho Chi Minh City (Guangfu)	普通話, 國語 dated
Gan	Nanchang	國語 dated
Hakka	Miaoli (N. Sixian)	華語
	Pingtung (Neipu; S. Sixian)	華語
	Hsinchu County (Zhudong; Hailu)	華語
	Taichung (Dongshi; Dabu)	華語
	Hsinchu County (Qionglin; Raoping)	華語
	Yunlin (Lunbei; Zhao'an)	華語
Eastern Min	Fuzhou	普通話, 國語 dated
	Sitiawan (Gutian)	華文
Southern Min	Xiamen	普通話, 國語, 華語
	Quanzhou	普通話
	Jinjiang	國語
	Zhangzhou	普通話
	Tainan	華語, 國語 GT
	Penang (Hokkien)	華語, 唐儂話
	Singapore (Hokkien)	華語, 唐儂話
	Manila (Hokkien)	國語, 國語話, 華語, 普通話
	Longyan	普通話
	Chaozhou	普通話
	Shantou	普通話
	Shantou (Chaoyang)	普通話
	Singapore (Teochew)	華語, 唐儂話
Wu	Shanghai	普通閒話
	Suzhou	普通閒話
	Ningbo	普通閒話
Note	GT - General Taiwanese (no specific region identified)

Hypernyms

• 官話／官话 (guānhuà), 北方話／北方话 (běifānghuà): Guanhua, a group of Northern Chinese dialects including Putonghua

Hyponyms

• 南普 (nánpǔ)
• 地普 (dìpǔ)
• 地瓜腔 (dìguāqiāng)
• 塑料普通話 / 塑料普通话 (sùliào pǔtōnghuà)
• 塑普 (sùpǔ)
• 夾壯 / 夹壮 (jiāzhuàng)
• 川普 (Chuānpǔ)
• 廣普 / 广普 (guǎngpǔ)
• 彎管子普通話 / 弯管子普通话 (wānguǎnzi pǔtōnghuà)
• 椒鹽普通話 / 椒盐普通话
• 港普 (gǎngpǔ)
• 滬普 / 沪普
• 潮普
• 煲冬瓜
• 閩普 / 闽普 (mǐnpǔ)
• 靈橋牌普通話 / 灵桥牌普通话

Derived terms

• 塑料普通話 / 塑料普通话 (sùliào pǔtōnghuà)
• 彎管子普通話 / 弯管子普通话 (wānguǎnzi pǔtōnghuà)
• 普通話水平測試 / 普通话水平测试 (Pǔtōnghuà Shuǐpíng Cèshì)
• 椒鹽普通話 / 椒盐普通话
• 靈橋牌普通話 / 灵桥牌普通话

Related terms

• 中國話／中国话 (Zhōngguóhuà)
• 中文 (Zhōngwén)
• 國語／国语 (guóyǔ)
• 官話／官话 (guānhuà)
• 漢語／汉语 (Hànyǔ)
• 華語／华语 (Huáyǔ)

Descendants

Sino-Xenic (普通話):

• → Japanese: 普(ふ)通(つう)話(わ) (futsūwa)
• → Korean: 보통화(普通話) (botonghwa)
• → Vietnamese: phổ thông thoại (普通話)

→ English: p'u-t'ung-hua, Putonghua

References

• 李如龙 [Li, Ru-long]; 刘福铸 [Liu, Fu-zhu]; 吴华英 [Wu, Hua-ying]; 黄国城 [Huang, Guo-cheng] (2019), 莆仙方言调查报告 [Investigation Report on Puxian Dialect] (overall work in Mandarin and Puxian Min), Xiamen University Press, →ISBN, page 36.

Japanese

Kanji in this term
普	通	話
ふ Grade: S	つう Grade: 2	わ Grade: 2
goon		kan'yōon

Etymology

Orthographic borrowing from Chinese 普通話／普通话 (pǔtōnghuà, literally “common speech”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ɸɯ̟t͡sɨːβ̞a̠]
• (Tokyo) ふつうわ [fùtsúúwá] (Heiban – [0])

Noun

普(ふ)通(つう)話(わ) • (futsūwa) 

1. (uncommon, scholarly) Putonghua, Standard Mandarin

Synonyms

• 北京語(ペキンご) (pekingo, literally “Pekingese”), 中国語(ちゅうごくご) (chūgokugo, literally “Chinese”)

Korean

Hanja in this term
普	通	話

Noun

普通話 • (botonghwa) (hangeul 보통화)

1. hanja form^? of 보통화 (“Mandarin, Putonghua”)

Vietnamese

chữ Hán Nôm in this term
普	通	話

Noun

普通話

1. chữ Hán form of phổ thông thoại (“Mandarin, Putonghua”)