中文 (Zhōng wén) — Chinese language in Mandarin
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#1174 most common word · HSK 4 · CEFR B1
Pinyin colour key: tone 1 (high flat), tone 2 (rising), tone 3 (dipping), tone 4 (falling), neutral.
Tone breakdown
中文 is pronounced Zhōng wén. Tap any syllable’s row to hear the whole word.
In a sentence
wǒ zài dàxué xuéxí Zhōng wén。
I study Chinese language at university.
Hear it, then say it right
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Start freeFrequently asked questions
What does 中文 mean?+
中文 (Zhōng wén) means "Chinese language" in Mandarin Chinese.
How do you pronounce 中文?+
中文 is pronounced Zhōng wén. It uses the tone 1 (high flat), then the tone 2 (rising). Tap the character on this page to hear native audio.
How common is 中文 in Mandarin?+
中文 is the #1174 most frequent word in spoken Mandarin, so it is one of the first words worth learning.
Where 中文 fits
Every HSK 4 word with tone-coloured pinyin and audio.
Words at a similar frequency
Master the tones first
What each tone sounds like and why it matters.
Why some tones change in connected speech.
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Browse more on the Mandarin vocabulary hub, or read how to learn Mandarin tones.