中文 Zhōngwén Chinese (written) language
How to remember 中文: 中 middle + 文 culture = Chinese (written) language.
Characters
How it is used
- The Chinese language, spoken or written - 我在学中文 (wǒ zài xué Zhōngwén) I'm learning Chinese.
- 中文 emphasizes the written language/culture and works broadly; 汉语 (Hànyǔ) stresses the spoken Han tongue and is common in textbooks.
- For 'Mandarin' specifically vs dialects, say 普通话 (pǔtōnghuà).
Example sentences
- 学中文的学生只有他们几个。 Xué zhōngwén de xuéshēng zhǐyǒu tāmen jǐgè.They are the only students who study Chinese.
- 中文很难学。 Zhōngwén hěn nán xué.Chinese is very difficult.
- 他会讲中文，而且讲得很好。 Tā huì jiǎng zhōngwén, érqiě jiǎng de hěn hǎo.Not only can he speak Chinese, but he speaks it very well.