How do you pronounce 普通话?

普通话 is pronounced "pǔ tōng huà" in Mandarin Chinese. It is made up of 3 syllables.

What HSK level is 普通话?

普通话 is an HSK 4 word on the new HSK exam syllabus. It is HSK 3 on the old exam, HSK 4 on the new one.

What characters make up 普通话?

普通话 is made up of the characters 普, 通, 话. Each character has its own meaning and can appear in other words.

How do you write 普通话?

You can practice writing 普通话 using our stroke order tool.

普通话 (pǔ tōng huà), Mandarin (common language)

Q: What does 普通话 mean in Chinese?

普通话 (pǔ tōng huà) means "Mandarin (common language); Putonghua (common speech of the Chinese language); ordinary speech" in Chinese. The new HSK exam tests it at HSK 4.

普通话

pǔ tōng huà

Mandarin (common language); Putonghua (common speech of the Chinese language); ordinary speech

HSK 4 Was HSK 3

Traditional: 普通話

Characters in This Word

普通话

Definitions

Mandarin (common language)
Putonghua (common speech of the Chinese language)
ordinary speech

Example Sentences

我会说普通话。

Wǒ huì shuō pǔtōnghuà

I can speak Mandarin

Related Words

口语(kǒu yǔ)· colloquial speech

→

俗语(sú yǔ)· common saying

→

国语(Guó yǔ)· Chinese language (Mandarin), emphasizing its national nature

→

官话(guān huà)· "officialese"

→

HSK levels

New HSK exam: HSK 4
HSK 2.0: HSK 3
HSK Lord study list: HSK 2 list

普通话: HSK 3 on the old exam, HSK 4 on the new one. See where your old level lands

New exam levels follow the CLEC syllabus released 15 November 2025. The first official sitting is announced for 13 December 2026. HSK 7-9 is one advanced band.

On the new HSK 4 exam

Studying for HSK 4? Keep 普通话 with the rest of your level.

HSK Lord schedules your reviews so each word comes back right before you would forget it. Free to start, and it picks up where you are.

Start studying free The words new HSK 4 adds

Frequently Asked Questions

Reviewed by RJ Murray, Founder, HSK Lord.