mandarin
Mandarin (name) means the official language of China and Taiwan, the most widely spoken variety of Chinese. Example: “She spent a year in Beijing learning Mandarin.”
How to use mandarin
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishMost often means either the main Chinese language or a small orange citrus fruit; less commonly, an adjective for pompous, official-sounding language.
Word forms
more mandarin comparative, mandarins plural, most mandarin superlative
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She spent a year in Beijing learning _____.
Etymology
Traces back through Portuguese and Malay to Sanskrit mantrin ("counselor, minister"). The word originally referred to Chinese imperial officials, and both the "esoteric official language" sense and the citrus fruit sense (named for the fruit's orange, official-style robes) developed from that.
Rhymes for mandarin
See all rhymes for mandarin →Frequently asked questions
What does “mandarin” mean?
The word “mandarin” means the official language of China and Taiwan, the most widely spoken variety of Chinese. In plain terms, most often means either the main Chinese language or a small orange citrus fruit; less commonly, an adjective for pompous, official-sounding language.
How do you pronounce “mandarin”?
“Mandarin” is pronounced MAN-duh-rihn (/ˈmæn.də.ɹɪn/ in IPA).
How do you use “mandarin” in a sentence?
Here is “mandarin” used in a sentence: “She spent a year in Beijing learning Mandarin.”
What part of speech is “mandarin”?
Depending on how it is used, “mandarin” can be a name, a noun and an adjective.
Where does the word “mandarin” come from?
The word “mandarin” comes from Portuguese.
Is “mandarin” a common word?
“Mandarin” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “mandarin” have?
“Mandarin” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the official language of China and Taiwan, the most widely spoken variety of Chinese.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include mandarin: