Mandarin, Cantonese, and Min Nan are the three types of Chinese (also known as Hokkien or Taiwanese). Mandarin is the official language of China. It is also called Putonghua or Standard Chinese. More than a billion people speak Mandarin. It is a standard language used in China's government, media, schools, and other official institutions, and it is based on the northern dialect of Chinese. Cantonese is primarily spoken in southern China, particularly in Guangdong province and surrounding areas, as well as in Hong Kong and Macau. It is a tonal language like Mandarin, but has a different set of tones and grammar rules. Minnan is mostly spoken in the southern province of Fujian, Taiwan, and some places in Southeast Asia. It's a distinct language with its own syntax, vocabulary, pronunciation, and intonation. There are several more dialects of Chinese, including Wu, Hakka, and Shanghainese, among others. Each dialect has its own distinct features and is frequently associated with a specific region or community within China or the Chinese diaspora.