Meanings
-
1
noun
the major group of Chinese varieties spoken across much of China, especially Standard Mandarin
She studied Mandarin before beginning her research in Beijing.
-
2
noun
a small, sweet citrus fruit with a loose orange skin
He peeled a mandarin and divided it into segments.
-
3
noun
historical: a high-ranking official in imperial China
The provincial mandarin supervised tax collection on behalf of the emperor.
-
4
noun
often disapproving: a powerful senior bureaucrat or an influential member of an intellectual or cultural elite
The policy was shaped by a small circle of Whitehall mandarins.
Thesaurus
Etymology
Through Portuguese mandarim and Malay menteri from Sanskrit mantrin, 'counsellor or minister,' based on mantra, 'counsel.' English first used mandarin for an imperial Chinese official, then for the language associated with the administration. The citrus name arose from the fruit's resemblance in color to mandarins' robes.