1. A member of one of nine ranks of public officials in the Chinese Empire. 2. A powerful government official or bureaucrat. 3. A member of an elite group, especially one having influence in intellectual or literary circles. 4. Capitalized: the official national language of China. 5. A citrus tree, Citrus reticulata, that is native to China. 6. Of or relating to a mandarin. 7. Marked by refined or ornate language. More...