noun
Standard Chinese; Modern Standard Mandarin; Putonghua
Refers specifically to the standardized form of Mandarin Chinese used in mainland China, often contrasted with regional dialects or other Chinese varieties.
中国では、学校で普通話を教えている。
In China, they teach Standard Chinese in schools.
彼は普通話と広東語の両方を話せる。
He can speak both Standard Chinese and Cantonese.
国語 is the term used in Taiwan for the standard Mandarin, similar to 普通話 but with some lexical and pronunciation differences.
From Chinese 普通話 (Pǔtōnghuà), literally 'common speech'. The Japanese reading is on'yomi.