Law of the People's Republic of China on the Standard Spoken and Written Chinese Language (Revised in 2025)
Law of the People's Republic of China on the Standard Spoken and Written Chinese Language (Revised in 2025)
Law of the People's Republic of China on the Standard Spoken and Written Chinese Language (Revised in 2025)
Order of the President of the People's Republic of China No. 66
December 27, 2025
The Law of the People's Republic of China on the Standard Spoken and Written Chinese Language, revised and adopted at the 19th Session of the Standing Committee of the 14th National People's Congress on December 27, 2025, is hereby issued and shall take effect on January 1, 2026.
Xi Jinping, President of the People's Republic of China
Law of the People's Republic of China on the Standard Spoken and Written Chinese Language
(Adopted at the 18th Session of the Standing Committee of the 9th National People's Congress on October 31, 2000, and revised at the 19th Session of the Standing Committee of the 14th National People's Congress on December 27, 2025)
Contents
Chapter I General Provisions
Chapter II Use of the Standard Spoken and Written Chinese Language
Chapter III Administration and Supervision
Chapter IV Legal Liability
Chapter V Supplementary Provisions
Chapter I General Provisions
Article 1 This Law is enacted in accordance with the Constitution, to promote the normalization and standardization of the standard spoken and written Chinese language and its sound development, better give play to its role in social life and in promoting economic and cultural exchanges among all ethnic groups and regions, forge a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation, and strengthen cultural confidence.
Article 2 For the purposes of this Law, the standard spoken and written Chinese language refers to Putonghua (Mandarin Chinese) and the standardized Chinese characters, which are the legally designated spoken and written language for nationwide use.
Article 3 The State promotes and popularizes the standard spoken and written Chinese language.
Article 4 Citizens have the right to learn and use the standard spoken and written Chinese language. No organization or individual may obstruct citizens from learning and using the standard spoken and written Chinese language.
The State provides conditions for citizens to learn and use the standard spoken and written Chinese language.
Article 5 The spoken and written Chinese language undertakings shall adhere to the leadership of the Communist Party of China.
The use of the standard spoken and written Chinese language shall be conducive to safeguarding State sovereignty and national dignity, to national unity and ethnic solidarity, to fostering and promoting the core socialist values, to inheriting and developing fine traditional Chinese culture and building a shared spiritual homeland of the Chinese nation, and to advancing socialist material and cultural-ethical progress.
Article 6 The State formulates norms and standards for the standard spoken and written Chinese language, administers its social application, supports its teaching and scientific research, advances the informatization, digitalization, and intelligent development of the standard spoken and written Chinese language, and promotes its normalization, enrichment, and development.
Article 7 People's governments at or above the county level shall incorporate spoken and written language undertakings into relevant plans for national economic and social development and include the necessary funds for spoken and written language work in their budgets at the corresponding levels.
People's governments at all levels and their relevant authorities shall take measures to promote and popularize the standard spoken and written Chinese language.
The State strengthens safeguards for promoting and popularizing the standard spoken and written Chinese language in ethnic minority areas, rural areas, and remote areas.
Article 8 Organizations and individuals that have made outstanding contributions to the undertakings concerning the standard spoken and written Chinese language shall be commended and rewarded in accordance with relevant national regulations.
The third week of September each year shall be designated as the national publicity week for the promotion and popularization of the standard spoken and written Chinese language.
Article 9 All ethnic groups have the freedom to use and develop their own spoken and written languages.
The use of the spoken and written languages of ethnic minorities shall be governed by the relevant provisions of the Constitution, the Law on Regional Ethnic Autonomy, and other laws.
Chapter II Use of the Standard Spoken and Written Chinese Language
Article 10 State agencies shall use the standard spoken and written Chinese language as the official language, except where otherwise provided by law.
Article 11 Schools and other educational institutions shall use the standard spoken and written Chinese language as the basic language in education and teaching.
Teaching materials used by schools and other educational institutions shall conform to the norms and standards of the standard spoken and written Chinese language.
......
Order of the President of the People's Republic of China No. 66
December 27, 2025
The Law of the People's Republic of China on the Standard Spoken and Written Chinese Language, revised and adopted at the 19th Session of the Standing Committee of the 14th National People's Congress on December 27, 2025, is hereby issued and shall take effect on January 1, 2026.
Xi Jinping, President of the People's Republic of China
Law of the People's Republic of China on the Standard Spoken and Written Chinese Language
(Adopted at the 18th Session of the Standing Committee of the 9th National People's Congress on October 31, 2000, and revised at the 19th Session of the Standing Committee of the 14th National People's Congress on December 27, 2025)
Contents
Chapter I General Provisions
Chapter II Use of the Standard Spoken and Written Chinese Language
Chapter III Administration and Supervision
Chapter IV Legal Liability
Chapter V Supplementary Provisions
Chapter I General Provisions
Article 1 This Law is enacted in accordance with the Constitution, to promote the normalization and standardization of the standard spoken and written Chinese language and its sound development, better give play to its role in social life and in promoting economic and cultural exchanges among all ethnic groups and regions, forge a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation, and strengthen cultural confidence.
Article 2 For the purposes of this Law, the standard spoken and written Chinese language refers to Putonghua (Mandarin Chinese) and the standardized Chinese characters, which are the legally designated spoken and written language for nationwide use.
Article 3 The State promotes and popularizes the standard spoken and written Chinese language.
Article 4 Citizens have the right to learn and use the standard spoken and written Chinese language. No organization or individual may obstruct citizens from learning and using the standard spoken and written Chinese language.
The State provides conditions for citizens to learn and use the standard spoken and written Chinese language.
Article 5 The spoken and written Chinese language undertakings shall adhere to the leadership of the Communist Party of China.
The use of the standard spoken and written Chinese language shall be conducive to safeguarding State sovereignty and national dignity, to national unity and ethnic solidarity, to fostering and promoting the core socialist values, to inheriting and developing fine traditional Chinese culture and building a shared spiritual homeland of the Chinese nation, and to advancing socialist material and cultural-ethical progress.
Article 6 The State formulates norms and standards for the standard spoken and written Chinese language, administers its social application, supports its teaching and scientific research, advances the informatization, digitalization, and intelligent development of the standard spoken and written Chinese language, and promotes its normalization, enrichment, and development.
Article 7 People's governments at or above the county level shall incorporate spoken and written language undertakings into relevant plans for national economic and social development and include the necessary funds for spoken and written language work in their budgets at the corresponding levels.
People's governments at all levels and their relevant authorities shall take measures to promote and popularize the standard spoken and written Chinese language.
The State strengthens safeguards for promoting and popularizing the standard spoken and written Chinese language in ethnic minority areas, rural areas, and remote areas.
Article 8 Organizations and individuals that have made outstanding contributions to the undertakings concerning the standard spoken and written Chinese language shall be commended and rewarded in accordance with relevant national regulations.
The third week of September each year shall be designated as the national publicity week for the promotion and popularization of the standard spoken and written Chinese language.
Article 9 All ethnic groups have the freedom to use and develop their own spoken and written languages.
The use of the spoken and written languages of ethnic minorities shall be governed by the relevant provisions of the Constitution, the Law on Regional Ethnic Autonomy, and other laws.
Chapter II Use of the Standard Spoken and Written Chinese Language
Article 10 State agencies shall use the standard spoken and written Chinese language as the official language, except where otherwise provided by law.
Article 11 Schools and other educational institutions shall use the standard spoken and written Chinese language as the basic language in education and teaching.
Teaching materials used by schools and other educational institutions shall conform to the norms and standards of the standard spoken and written Chinese language.
......