Christa Posted February 16, 2018 at 10:06 AM Report Share Posted February 16, 2018 at 10:06 AM Hi everybody, I find that the word I most hear these days for "Chinese" is "中文". Typically, this is used to refer to both spoken and written language. I was wondering though, given the meaning of 文, was this originally used only to refer to the written language? Does anyone know? Christina Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zander1 Posted February 21, 2018 at 10:55 AM Report Share Posted February 21, 2018 at 10:55 AM On 16/02/2018 at 10:06 AM, Christa said: I find that the word I most hear these days for "Chinese" is "中文" Interesting, because I'd say I very really hear 中文 for Chinese, when I'm speaking to people I'd say the vast majority of the time they would say 汉语 with the occasional 中国话 (if they're very old). 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavyJonesLocker Posted February 21, 2018 at 02:30 PM Report Share Posted February 21, 2018 at 02:30 PM 3 hours ago, zander1 said: Interesting, because I'd say I very really hear 中文 for Chinese, when I'm speaking to people I'd say the vast majority of the time they would say 汉语 with the occasional 中国话 (if they're very old). Where are you based zander? Certainly in North china you hear 中文 far more. I get asked almost few days in Beijing 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christa Posted February 22, 2018 at 10:22 AM Author Report Share Posted February 22, 2018 at 10:22 AM 19 hours ago, DavyJonesLocker said: 23 hours ago, zander1 said: Interesting, because I'd say I very really hear 中文 for Chinese, when I'm speaking to people I'd say the vast majority of the time they would say 汉语 with the occasional 中国话 (if they're very old). Where are you based zander? Certainly in North china you hear 中文 far more. I get asked almost few days in Beijing Yes, I'd also like to know where you are. Also, is anyone else in a region where 中文 isn't the dominant term for spoken Chinese? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZC Posted February 22, 2018 at 01:07 PM Report Share Posted February 22, 2018 at 01:07 PM 2 hours ago, Christa said: Also, is anyone else in a region where 中文 isn't the dominant term for spoken Chinese? I’m in Shanghai and I hear it less often than 汉语 but lit it’s at most a 60-40 split (and also it might be because I’m super foreign and bad at the language and I tend to use 汉语 more so people could think I don’t know 中文） 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tomsima Posted February 22, 2018 at 02:05 PM Report Share Posted February 22, 2018 at 02:05 PM 湖北 is around 80% 中文 (zongwen, most regular in conversation) 10% 漢語 (sounds more international, modern perhaps) 10% 中國話 (countryside style) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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