name Uncommon

mandarin

MAN-duh-rihn

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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.”

name

The official language of China and Taiwan, the most widely spoken variety of Chinese.

"She spent a year in Beijing learning Mandarin."

noun

A small, sweet, easy-to-peel citrus fruit, or the tree it grows on.

"He packed a couple of mandarins for a snack."

adj

Deliberately complex, formal, or elevated in a way associated with officialdom or scholarly elites.

"The report was written in dense, mandarin bureaucratic language."

How to use mandarin

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishMost often means either the main Chinese language or a small orange citrus fruit; less commonly, an adjective for pompous, official-sounding language.

Easily confused with

tangerine → clementine →

Common pairings

speak Mandarin a mandarin orange mandarin bureaucracy

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C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

Word forms

Plural: mandarins
Comparative: more mandarin
Superlative: most mandarin

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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.

Origin: Portuguese

Rhymes for mandarin

sarin Karin Marin Darin heparin Gagarin

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.

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Vocabulary lists that include mandarin:

Words with Portuguese origins