The most widely spoken language in China is Mandarin Chinese, also known as Putonghua or Standard Chinese. Mandarin is the official language of the People's Republic of China and is used in governmental, educational, and media contexts. It is the most spoken language in the world, with over a billion native speakers. Mandarin has a tonal quality, with tones that can change the meaning of words based on pronunciation. Its extensive use in various regions of China reflects the country’s rich cultural diversity, as numerous dialects and languages exist. As China plays a growing role in global affairs, the importance of Mandarin continues to rise internationally.