Mandarin Chinese and Sichuanese are the two most commonly spoken languages in Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan Province. The native language is Sichuanese, often specifically referred to as the Chengdu dialect, which is a prominent branch of Southwestern Mandarin spoken by over 100 million people globally. While it shares approximately 48 percent of its vocabulary with Standard Mandarin and uses the same written characters, it is distinguished by unique tonal patterns, a lack of retroflex consonants, and a "buzzing" sound created by its specific phonology. In daily life, Sichuanese is the dominant tongue for social interaction, local business, and cultural expressions like Sichuan Opera. However, due to national education and media standards, Standard Mandarin is used exclusively in formal settings, workplaces, and schools, meaning nearly all residents are bilingual. While signs are primarily in Chinese, major tourist attractions increasingly provide information in English to accommodate international visitors.