List of varieties of Chinese


The following is a list of Sinitic languages and their dialects. For a traditional dialectological overview, see also varieties of Chinese.

Classification

Linguists classify these varieties as the Sinitic branch of the Sino-Tibetan language family. Within this broad classification, there are between seven and fourteen dialect groups, depending on the classification.
The conventionally accepted set of seven dialect groups first appeared in the second edition of the dialectology handbook edited by Yuan Jiahua.
In order of decreasing number of speakers, they are:
  1. Guan
  2. Wu
  3. Yue
  4. Min
  5. Hakka
  6. Xiang
  7. Gan
The revised classification of Li Rong, used in the Language Atlas of China added three further groups split from these:
  1. Mandarin → Jin
  2. Wu → Huizhou
  3. Yue → Pinghua
  4. Min
  5. Hakka
  6. Xiang
  7. Gan

    Summary

The number of speakers derived from statistics or estimates and were rounded:
NumberBranchNative SpeakersDialects
1Mandarin850,000,00051
2Wu95,000,00037
3Yue80,000,00052
4Jin70,000,0006
5Min60,000,00061
6Hakka55,000,00010
7Xiang50,000,00025
8Gan30,000,0009
9Huizhou7,000,00013
10Pinghua3,000,0002
TotalChinese1,300,000,000266

List of languages and dialects

In addition to the varieties listed below, it is customary to speak informally of dialects of each province. These designations do not generally correspond to classifications used by linguists, but each nevertheless has characteristics of its own.

Gan

Mandarin

The number of speakers derived from statistics or estimates and were rounded:
NumberBranchNative SpeakersDialects
1Beijing35,000,0007
2Ji–Lu110,000,0004
3Jianghuai80,000,0006
4Jiao–Liao35,000,0004
5Lan–Yin10,000,0003
6Northeastern100,000,0004
7Southwestern280,000,00011
8Zhongyuan200,000,00011
TotalMandarin850,000,00050

Hui

Sometimes subcategory of Wu.

Jin

Sometimes a subcategory of Mandarin.

Hakka

Wu

Xiang

.
New Xiang is orange, Old Xiang yellow, and Chen-Xu Xiang red. Non-Xiang languages are Gan, Hakka, Xiangnan Tuhua, Waxianghua, and Southwestern Mandarin.

Yue

Pinghua

The non-Min dialects of Hainan were once considered Yue, but are now left unclassified:

Mixed languages

In addition to the varieties within the Sinitic branch of Sino-Tibetan, a number of mixed languages also exist that comprise elements of one or more Chinese varieties with other languages.

List in the ''Atlas''

The extensive 1987 Language Atlas of China groups Chinese local varieties into the following units:
In the list below, local dialects are not listed. Groups are in bold, subgroups are numbered, and clusters are bulleted.
;Northeastern Mandarin
  1. Jishen
  2. *Jiaoning
  3. *Tongxi
  4. *Yanji
  5. Hafu
  6. *Zhaofu
  7. *Changjin
  8. Heisong
  9. *Nenke
  10. *Jiafu
  11. *Zhanhua
;Jilu Mandarin
  1. Baotang
  2. *Laifu
  3. *Dingba
  4. *Tianjin
  5. *Jizun
  6. *Luanchang
  7. *Fulong
  8. Shiji
  9. *Zhaoshen
  10. *Xingheng
  11. *Liaotai
  12. Canghui
  13. *Huangle
  14. *Yangshou
  15. *Juzhao
  16. *Zhanghuan
;Beijing Mandarin
  1. Jingshi
  2. Huaicheng
  3. Chaofeng
  4. Shike
;Jiaoliao Mandarin
  1. Qingzhou
  2. Denglian
  3. Gaihuan
;Central Plains Mandarin
  1. Zhengcao
  2. Cailu
  3. Luoxu
  4. Xinbeng
  5. Fenhe
  6. *Pingyang
  7. *Jiangzhou
  8. *Xiezhou
  9. Guanzhong
  10. Qinlong
  11. Longzhong
  12. Nanjiang
;Lanyin Mandarin
  1. Jincheng
  2. Yinwu
  3. Hexi
  4. Tami
;Southwestern Mandarin
  1. Chengyu
  2. Dianxi
  3. *Yaoli
  4. *Baolu
  5. Qianbei
  6. Kungui
  7. Guanchi
  8. *Minjiang
  9. *Renfu
  10. *Yamian
  11. *Lichuan
  12. Ebei
  13. Wutian
  14. Cenjiang
  15. Qiannan
  16. Xiangnan
  17. Guiliu
  18. Changhe
;Jianghuai Mandarin
  1. Hongchao
  2. Tairu
  3. Huangxiao
;
  1. Hubeihua
  2. Henanhua
  3. Nanping dialect
  4. Yangyu dialect
  5. Junhua
  6. Longmen dialect
;Jin
  1. Bingzhou
  2. Lüliang
  3. *Fenzhou
  4. *Xingxi
  5. Shangdang
  6. Wutai
  7. Dabao
  8. Zhanghu
  9. Hanxin
  10. *Cizhang
  11. *Huoji
  12. Zhiyan
;Wu
  1. Taihu
  2. *Piling
  3. *Suhujia
  4. *Tiaoxi
  5. *Hangzhou
  6. *Linshao
  7. *Yongjiang
  8. Taizhou
  9. Oujiang
  10. Wuzhou
  11. Chuqu
  12. *Chuzhou
  13. *Longqu
  14. Xuanzhou
  15. *Tongjin
  16. *Taigao
  17. *Shiling
;Hui
  1. Jishe
  2. Xiuyi
  3. Qide
  4. Yanzhou
  5. Jingzhan
;Gan
  1. Changjing
  2. Yiliu
  3. Jicha
  4. Fuguang
  5. Yingyi
  6. Datong
  7. Leizi
  8. Dongsui
  9. Huaiyue
;Xiang
  1. Changyi
  2. Loushao
  3. Jixu
;Yue
  1. Guangfu
  2. Yongxun
  3. Gaoyang
  4. Siyi
  5. Goulou
  6. Wuhua
  7. Qinlian
;Pinghua
  1. Guibei
  2. Guinan
;Hakka
  1. Yuetai
  2. *Jiaying
  3. *Xinghua
  4. *Xinhui
  5. *Shaonan
  6. Yuezhong
  7. Huizhou
  8. Yuebei
  9. Tingzhou
  10. Ninglong
  11. Yugui
  12. Tonggu
;Southern Min
  1. Quanzhang
  2. Datian
  3. Chaoshan
  4. Teochew
;Puxian
;Eastern Min
  1. Houguan
  2. Funing
;Northern Min
;Central Min
;Qiongwen
  1. Fucheng
  2. Wenchang
  3. Wanning
  4. Yaxian
  5. Changgan
;Leizhou
;Shaojiang
;Unclassified topolects