Mandarin
Noun: 1. A high-ranking government official or bureaucrat: Historically, this refers specifically to a senior public official in imperial China, selected through a rigorous examination system. In modern usage, it can refer to any powerful senior bureaucrat or administrator, often implying a somewhat rigid or traditionalist attitude. 2. The standard spoken language of China: The official language of China, based on the dialect of Beijing. It is also known as Standard Chinese or Putonghua. 3. A type of small, sweet citrus fruit: A small, loose-skinned, typically orange-colored citrus fruit, known for being easy to peel and having sweet segments. 4. A member of an elite intellectual or cultural group: Someone considered part of a powerful, established, and sometimes conservative elite in a particular field (e.g., the literary mandarins). 5. The tree that bears the mandarin fruit: A small evergreen tree (Citrus reticulata) native to Southeast Asia, which produces mandarin oranges.
- As a high-ranking official:
- The imperial mandarin was responsible for tax collection in the province.
- Critics accused the department of being run by faceless mandarins resistant to change.
- As the Chinese language:
- She is fluent in Mandarin and Cantonese.
- The announcement was broadcast in Mandarin.
- As a citrus fruit:
- Would you like a mandarin for your lunch?
- The salad was garnished with mandarin segments.
- As a member of an elite:
- The policy was criticized by the mandarins of the economics profession.
- Mandarin collar: A short, unfolded, stand-up shirt collar, inspired by traditional Chinese clothing.
- Her dress featured an elegant Mandarin collar.
- Mandarin duck: A strikingly colorful species of duck () native to East Asia, often symbolizing love and fidelity in Chinese culture.
- A pair of mandarin ducks swam on the pond.
- Mandarin Chinese: Another term for the standard Chinese language.
- Mandarin orange: A common synonym for the citrus fruit.
- Mandarinism: (Rare) The style, attitudes, or practices characteristic of mandarins (officials or elites).
- For the official: bureaucrat, administrator, functionary, official.
- For the language: Standard Chinese, Putonghua, Guoyu.
- For the fruit: tangerine, clementine, satsuma (these are specific varieties of mandarin).
- Mandarin sleeve: A long, loose sleeve that is wide at the wrist.
- To speak Mandarin: To use the standard Chinese language.
- Mandarin dialect: While historically used, this term is now often considered inaccurate or imprecise by linguists when referring to Standard Mandarin, as it is a standardized language, not merely a local dialect. The preferred terms are "Mandarin" or "Standard Mandarin."
- the dialect of Chinese spoken in Beijing and adopted as the official language for all of China
- a somewhat flat reddish-orange loose skinned citrus of China
- a high public official of imperial China
- any high government official or bureaucrat
- a member of an elite intellectual or cultural group
- shrub or small tree having flattened globose fruit with very sweet aromatic pulp and thin yellow-orange to flame-orange rind that is loose and easily removed; native to southeastern Asia