It is estimated that it takes 4 times longer for a native English speaker to become proficient in Chinese than it does to reach a similar level in French or Spanish. Therefore, it would seem that, for the next generation at least, Mandarin will not replace English as the global language.

Does Mandarin surpass English?

Mandarin Chinese already has the most native speakers of any language. And, China may soon pass the United States as the world's largest economy. The study of the Chinese language is increasing in the United States and around the world. ... But he does not think Chinese will overtake English any time soon.

Is Mandarin more important than English?

English is universally accepted as the most important language for children to learn — but Mandarin is catching up, according to new research. U.K. market research firm YouGov polled more than 25,000 adults across 23 countries on which language was the most important to learn in 2019.