ܨܝܢܐ

Assyrian Neo-Aramaic

ܨܝܢܐ

ܐܬܐ ܕܨܝܢܐ

Alternative forms

• ܨܝܼܢ (ṣīn)
• ܟ̰ܝܼܢܵܐ (čīnā)

Etymology

Originally borrowed from Persian چین (čin), but reborrowed from Arabic الصِّين (aṣ-ṣīn), both from Middle Persian 𐭰𐭩𐭭 (cyn), from Sanskrit चीन (Cīna), itself derived from Old Chinese 秦 (*zin, “Qin”).

Pronunciation

• (standard) IPA^(key): [sˤiːnɑː]

Proper noun

ܨܝܼܢܵܐ • (ṣīnā) f

2. China (a country in East Asia; official name: People's Republic of China)
3. A nation or civilization occupying the country around the Yellow, Yangtze, and Pearl Rivers in East Asia, taken as a whole under its various dynasties.

Usage notes

Although ܟ̰ܝܼܢܵܐ (čīnā) is the most common form in the spoken language, there is a push for ܨܝܼܢܵܐ (ṣīnā) to be used more often, especially in writing. Due to it being ambiguous with ܟܝܵܢܵܐ (kyānā, “nature”) in unvocalised writing.

Related terms

• ܨܝܼܢܵܝܵܐ (ṣīnāyā, “Chinese”)
• ܨܝܼܢܵܐܝܼܬ (ṣīnāˀīt, “Chinese language”)