Mandarin (Putonghua):
* Standard Mandarin: The official language of China, spoken by a majority of the population.
* Beijing Mandarin: The dialect spoken in Beijing, often considered the most prestigious.
* Tianjin Mandarin: Spoken in Tianjin, known for its unique pronunciation and vocabulary.
* Sichuan Mandarin: Spoken in Sichuan province, characterized by its unique tones and vocabulary.
* Xi'an Mandarin: Spoken in Xi'an, the ancient capital of China, with a strong influence from the ancient language.
Wu:
* Shanghai Wu: Spoken in Shanghai, known for its distinctive intonation and grammar.
* Suzhou Wu: Spoken in Suzhou, known for its elegant and melodic sounds.
* Hangzhou Wu: Spoken in Hangzhou, known for its rapid pronunciation and distinctive vocabulary.
Min:
* Fujian Min: Spoken in Fujian province, with various sub-dialects like Hokkien (Min Nan), Teochew (Chaoshan), and Hainanese.
* Taiwanese Min: Spoken in Taiwan, largely Hokkien and Teochew, with influences from other dialects.
* Min Bei: Spoken in the northern part of Fujian, known for its close relationship with Mandarin.
Yue (Cantonese):
* Cantonese: The most famous dialect outside of China, spoken in Guangdong and Guangxi provinces.
* Hong Kong Cantonese: A sub-dialect spoken in Hong Kong, with slight differences in pronunciation and vocabulary.
* Macau Cantonese: Another sub-dialect spoken in Macau, with influences from Portuguese.
Hakka:
* Hakka: A dialect group spoken by people of Han Chinese origin who migrated throughout China.
* Meizhou Hakka: Spoken in Meizhou, Guangdong province, with distinct pronunciation and vocabulary.
* Taiwan Hakka: Spoken by Hakka communities in Taiwan.
Gan:
* Gan: Spoken in Jiangxi province, known for its strong nasal sounds.
* Nanchang Gan: The main dialect of Gan, spoken in Nanchang, the capital of Jiangxi.
Jin:
* Jin: Spoken in Shanxi and Hebei provinces, with a strong influence from Mandarin.
* Taiyuan Jin: The main dialect of Jin, spoken in Taiyuan, the capital of Shanxi.
Others:
* Xiang: Spoken in Hunan province, known for its unique tones and grammar.
* Hunan Xiang: The main dialect of Xiang, spoken in Changsha, the capital of Hunan.
This is just a small sampling of the many dialects spoken in China. It's important to note that within each dialect family, there are many sub-dialects and variations.
The differences between dialects can range from subtle pronunciation variations to significant differences in grammar and vocabulary.