The fundamental difference between Mandarin used in mainland China and Mandarin used in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao lies in some of the particular terms and vocabularies, especially in the field of politics, literature and religion.

Sometimes daily conversational expressions might differ as well whereas the essential syntax remains quite similar. In terms of spoken discourse, one of the most prominent features of Mandarin Chinese, the four tones system, is basically identical between the two dialects of Mandarin.