Here's why:
* Mutual intelligibility: While dialects can sound very different, speakers of many Chinese dialects can often understand each other to some degree. They share a common writing system and many core vocabulary words.
* A single standard language: Mandarin is the official standard language of China, and it is based on the Beijing dialect. It's the most widely spoken dialect, with over 900 million speakers.
* Dialects are variations: While dialects have their own unique features, they are considered variations of the same language, just like American English and British English.
However, it is important to acknowledge the diversity of Chinese dialects. There are dozens of major dialects, each with its own pronunciation, vocabulary, and grammatical nuances. Some dialects, like Cantonese and Wu, are so different from Mandarin that they are considered mutually unintelligible.
So, while there's one Chinese language, there are many distinct and vibrant dialects that enrich the cultural landscape of China.