Answers
Apr 18, 2012 - 01:51 PM
Dear Lauer, both are interchangable, but I'd like to explain the nuance that each one has. Zhōngguó cái and Hànyǔ shū both mean "Chinese language book". (Cái = Resource, learning material; Shū = book -- so both are words for "book"). Now with the nuances... "Zhōngguó" literally means "Middle Country" (Zhōng = Middle; Guó = Country), which is China's ancient name because the Chinese thought China to be at the center of the then known world. "Hànyǔ" literally means "The language of the Han" (Hàn= Han people; yǔ= Tongue, language). The Han people are the racial majority of China comprising about 90% of its population, so it's also taken as to mean "Chinese". Of course, many Han people speak many different languages, but since one of the main Han dialects, Mandarin, has been made the "Official" language of China, it has made thus the Han's language to be the national language.
So you can use both and you'll be understood in any case. Hope this helps!
So you can use both and you'll be understood in any case. Hope this helps!
Apr 24, 2012 - 12:55 PM
i think Zhong1 guo2 would indicate chinese as in the country or the culture, whereas Han4yu3 indicates the Chinese language.