Chinese

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[edit] English

[edit] Pronunciation

[edit] Noun

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Singular
Chinese

Plural
countable and uncountable; plural Chinese

Chinese (countable and uncountable; plural Chinese)

  1. (uncountable) The class of Sino-Tibetan dialects including Mandarin, Wu, Cantonese, Min Nan and others. Abbreviation: Chin or Chin.
  2. (uncountable) The logographic writing system shared by this language family.
    • Hong Kong uses traditional Chinese.
  3. (uncountable) Mandarin, the main language spoken in China.
  4. (used as a plural and always preceded by the) The people of China.
    • The Chinese have an incredible history.
  5. All people of Chinese descent or self-identity
    • The Chinese are present in all parts of the world.
  6. (countable) A person born in China.
    • The place was empty till two Chinese walked in.
  7. (British, countable, informal) A Chinese meal.
    • We're going out tonight for a Chinese.
  8. (North American, uncountable, informal) Chinese food.
    • Do you care for Chinese tonight?

[edit] Usage notes

  • A determiner is required in the sense of "the Chinese people".

[edit] Synonyms

  • (language): Chinese language
  • (writing system): Chinese writing system
  • (Mandarin): Mandarin, Mandarin Chinese
  • (the people of China): Chinese people
  • (person born in China): Chinaman (of a man only; now considered offensive), Chinee (archaic, informal), Chink (person or people who comes from China or its descent; ethinic slur; derogatory)
  • (Chinese meal): Chinese meal
  • (Chinese food): Chinese food

[edit] Derived terms

terms derived from Chinese

[edit] Related terms

[edit] Translations

the language
writing system of Chinese
Mandarin
the people
person born in China
US informal: Chinese food
The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables, removing any numbers. Numbers do not necessarily match those in definitions. See instructions at Help:How to check translations.
Translations to be checked

Original note: "Note: The translations for the language apply for the the people for all languages above except the following:"
These translations were given for the sense "the people". It is insufficient to say "see above" because this makes the tables dependent on one another and relies on both being kept up to date and in synch. Further, many of these translations give singular and plural forms or singular forms alone, when they should probably give plural forms only.

[edit] Adjective

Chinese (comparative more Chinese, superlative most Chinese)

Positive
Chinese

Comparative
more Chinese

Superlative
most Chinese
  1. Of China, its languages or people
  2. Unexpected, as used in the phrases Chinese whispers, Chinese burn, Chinese auction.

[edit] Synonyms

  • (of China, its language or people): Sinic, Sino- (prefix)

[edit] Translations

relating to China

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

[edit] Dutch

[edit] Pronunciation

[edit] Noun

Chinese f. (plural Chinesen)

  1. female person from China

[edit] Related terms

  • China n. (China)
  • Chinees m. (person from China, male or female)
  • Chinees n. (the Chinese language)

[edit] German

[edit] Noun

Chinese m. (genitive Chinesen, plural Chinesen)

  1. male person from China

[edit] Related terms

  • Chinesin f. (female person from China)
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