The construction of national common language is an important issue in that of modern nation. From ‘Guanhua’ in the late Qing dynasty to ‘Guoyu’ in the republic of China, and then to ‘Putonghua’ in the late Anti-Japanese War and after the founding of new China, these names not only have a close connection but also reflect the different functional differences. Now, the construction of national common language in ethnic areas and the unification of cross-strait languages have become new national strategies. Adopting again ‘Guoyu’ names and assigning new meanings from the perspective of national identity can help to strengthen national identity, promote national unity and cross-strait reunification, and regulate language use.