What is the primary language spoken in China?

Mandarin is the primary language spoken in China because it is the official state language and is used in government, education, and media. As part of the Sino-Tibetan language family, Mandarin has the largest number of native speakers in the world, which reflects its significance in Chinese culture and society. It serves as a unifying language among the diverse population of China, where many regional dialects and languages exist.

Although Cantonese and other dialects are important within specific regions, particularly in southern China and Hong Kong, they are not as widely spoken across the entire country as Mandarin. English and Spanish do not have the same level of usage or significance within China as Mandarin does, making Mandarin the clear choice as the primary language.