Meanings
alternative Kuo-Yü · alternative Kuoyu
- The standardized spoken Chinese language, also referred to as Standard Mandarin. The term remains in common use in the Republic of China (Taiwan) and colloquially in Hong Kong (along with Putonghua). In mainland China, Guoyu or Taiwan Guoyu is used to refer to Taiwanese Mandarin (standard), as opposed to mainland standard Mandarin.
Synonyms: Mandarin, Mandarin Chinese, Standard Mandarin, Standard Spoken Chinese, Standard Chinese, Putonghua
- historicalThe language the Emperor of China spoke.
Synonyms & antonyms
proper nounThe standardized spoken Chinese language, also referred to as Standard Mandarin. The term remains in common use in the Republic of China (Taiwan) and colloquially in Hong Kong (along with Putonghua). In mainland China, Guoyu or Taiwan Guoyu is used to refer to Taiwanese Mandarin (standard), as opposed to mainland standard Mandarin.
Origin
From Mandarin 國語／国语 (guóyǔ, literally “nation-language” or “country-language”).
Full word history & related roots →Cite this entry
Guoyu. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Guoyu
“Guoyu.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Guoyu. Accessed November 3, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Guoyu,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Guoyu.
Source: Guoyu on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.