표준 중국어, also known as 보통화 or 만다린, is the official language of 중국 and is widely spoken in 대만 and 싱가포르. It is based on the 베이징 방언 and serves as a lingua franca among the diverse linguistic groups in 중국. This language uses simplified characters, which were introduced to increase literacy. 표준 중국어 is taught in schools and used in government, media, and business, making it essential for communication across the country. Its phonetic system, known as 병음, helps learners pronounce words correctly.