中國

See also: 中国

Chinese

		central; middle; inside	region; country; nation region; country; nation; state
trad. (中國)		中	國
simp. (中国)		中	国
anagram		國中／国中
Literally: “central country; middle country”.

Pronunciation

• Mandarin

  (Standard)

  (Pinyin): Zhōngguó

  (Zhuyin): ㄓㄨㄥ ㄍㄨㄛˊ

  (Chengdu, Sichuanese Pinyin): Zong¹ gue²

  (Xi'an, Guanzhong Pinyin): Bvěnggui

  (Dungan, Cyrillic and Wiktionary): Җунгуй (Žunguy, I-II) / Җунгуә (Žunguə, I-II)

• Cantonese

  (Guangzhou–Hong Kong, Jyutping): zung¹ gwok³

  (Taishan, Wiktionary): zuung¹ gok²

• Hakka

  (Sixian, PFS): Chûng-koet

  (Hailu, HRS): zhung^ˋ gued

  (Meixian, Guangdong): zung¹ guêd⁵

  (Changting, Changting Pinyin): zhong¹ gue²

• Eastern Min (BUC): Dṳ̆ng-guók

• Puxian Min (Pouseng Ping'ing): doeng¹ gorh⁶ / dyoeng¹ gorh⁶ / dieng¹ gorh⁶
• Southern Min

  (Hokkien, POJ): Tiong-kok

  (Teochew, Peng'im): dong¹ gog⁴

• Wu (Shanghai, Wugniu): ¹tson-koq₇

---

• Mandarin
  • (Standard Chinese)⁺
    • Hanyu Pinyin: Zhōngguó
    • Zhuyin: ㄓㄨㄥ ㄍㄨㄛˊ
    • Tongyong Pinyin: Jhongguó
    • Wade–Giles: Chung¹-kuo²
    • Yale: Jūng-gwó
    • Gwoyeu Romatzyh: Jonggwo
    • Palladius: Чжунго (Čžungo)
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ ku̯ɔ³⁵/
  • (Chengdu)
    • Sichuanese Pinyin: Zong¹ gue²
    • Scuanxua Ladinxua Xin Wenz: Zunggue
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /t͡soŋ⁵⁵ kuɛ²¹/
  • (Xi'an)
    • Guanzhong Pinyin: Bvěnggui
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /p͡fəŋ²¹ kuei/
  • (Dungan)
    • Cyrillic and Wiktionary: Җунгуй (Žunguy, I-II) / Җунгуә (Žunguə, I-II)
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /ʈ͡ʂuŋ²⁴ kuei⁵¹/, /ʈ͡ʂuŋ²⁴ kuə⁵¹/

    (Note: Dungan pronunciation is currently experimental and may be inaccurate.)

• Cantonese
  • (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)⁺
    • Jyutping: zung¹ gwok³
    • Yale: jūng gwok
    • Cantonese Pinyin: dzung¹ gwok⁸
    • Guangdong Romanization: zung¹ guog³
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ kʷɔːk̚³/
  • (Taishanese, Taicheng)
    • Wiktionary: zuung¹ gok²
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /t͡sɵŋ³³ kɔk̚⁵⁵/
• Hakka
  • (Sixian, incl. Miaoli and Neipu)
    • Pha̍k-fa-sṳ: Chûng-koet
    • Hakka Romanization System: zung^ˊ gued^ˋ
    • Hagfa Pinyim: zung¹ gued⁵
    • Sinological IPA: /t͡suŋ²⁴ ku̯et̚²/
  • (Hailu, incl. Zhudong)
    • Hakka Romanization System: zhung^ˋ gued
    • Sinological IPA: /t͡ʃuŋ⁵³ kuet⁵/
  • (Meixian)
    • Guangdong: zung¹ guêd⁵
    • Sinological IPA: /t͡sʊŋ⁴⁴⁻³⁵ kuɛt̚¹/
  • (Changting)
    • Changting Pinyin: zhong¹ gue²
    • Sinological IPA: /t͡ʃoŋ³³ kue²⁴/
• Eastern Min
  • (Fuzhou)
    • Bàng-uâ-cê: Dṳ̆ng-guók
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /tyŋ⁵⁵⁻⁵³ ^(k-)ŋuɔʔ²⁴/
• Puxian Min
  • (Putian)
    • Pouseng Ping'ing: doeng¹ gorh⁶ [Phonetic: doeng² ngorh⁶]
    • Báⁿ-uā-ci̍: De̤ng-go̤h
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /tœŋ⁵³³⁻¹³ ^(k-)ŋɒʔ²¹/
  • (Xianyou)
    • Pouseng Ping'ing: dyoeng¹ gorh⁶ [Phonetic: dyoeng² ngorh⁶]
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /tyøŋ⁵⁴⁴⁻²⁴ ^(k-)ŋɒʔ²/
  • (Fengting)
    • Pouseng Ping'ing: dieng¹ gorh⁶ [Phonetic: dieng² ngorh⁶]
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /tieŋ⁵⁴⁴⁻²⁴ ^(k-)ŋɒʔ²/
• Southern Min
  • (Hokkien: Xiamen, Quanzhou, Zhangzhou, General Taiwanese, Philippines, Penang)
    • Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Tiong-kok
    • Tâi-lô: Tiong-kok
    • Phofsit Daibuun: diongkog
    • Sinological IPA (Quanzhou, Philippines): /tiɔŋ³³ kɔk̚⁵/
    • Sinological IPA (Penang): /tiɔŋ³³⁻²¹ kɔk̚³/
    • Sinological IPA (Taipei, Kaohsiung): /tiɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ kɔk̚³²/
    • Sinological IPA (Xiamen, Zhangzhou): /tiɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² kɔk̚³²/
  • (Teochew)
    • Peng'im: dong¹ gog⁴
    • Pe̍h-ōe-jī-like: tong kok
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /toŋ³³⁻²³ kok̚²/
• Wu
  • (Northern: Shanghai)
    • Wugniu: ¹tson-koq₇
    • MiniDict: tson^平 koh^入
    • Wiktionary Romanisation (Shanghai): ¹tson-koq₄
    • Sinological IPA (Shanghai): /t͡soŋ⁵⁵ koʔ²¹/

---

• Middle Chinese: trjuwng kwok

Rime
Character	中	國
Reading #	1/2	1/1
Initial (聲)	知 (9)	見 (28)
Final (韻)	東 (2)	德 (132)
Tone (調)	Level (Ø)	Checked (Ø)
Openness (開合)	Open	Closed
Division (等)	III	I
Fanqie	陟弓切	古或切
Baxter	trjuwng	kwok
Reconstructions
Zhengzhang Shangfang	/ʈɨuŋ/	/kwək̚/
Pan Wuyun	/ʈiuŋ/	/kʷək̚/
Shao Rongfen	/ȶiuŋ/	/kuək̚/
Edwin Pulleyblank	/ʈuwŋ/	/kwək̚/
Li Rong	/ȶiuŋ/	/kuək̚/
Wang Li	/ȶĭuŋ/	/kuək̚/
Bernhard Karlgren	/ȶi̯uŋ/	/kwək̚/
Expected Mandarin Reflex	zhōng	guo
Expected Cantonese Reflex	zung1	gwak1

• Old Chinese

  (Baxter–Sagart): /*truŋ  [C.q]ʷˤək/

  (Zhengzhang): /*tuŋ  kʷɯːɡ/

Baxter–Sagart system 1.1 (2014)
Character	中	國
Reading #	1/2	1/1
Modern Beijing (Pinyin)	zhōng	guó
Middle Chinese	‹ trjuwng ›	‹ kwok ›
Old Chinese	/*truŋ/	/*[C.q]ʷˁək/
English	center	state (n.)
Notes for Old Chinese notations in the Baxter–Sagart system: * Parentheses "()" indicate uncertain presence; * Square brackets "[]" indicate uncertain identity, e.g. *[t] as coda may in fact be *-t or *-p; * Angle brackets "<>" indicate infix; * Hyphen "-" indicates morpheme boundary; * Period "." indicates syllable boundary.

Zhengzhang system (2003)
Character	中	國
Reading #	1/2	1/1
No.	17407	5547
Phonetic component	中	或
Rime group	終	職
Rime subdivision	0	0
Corresponding MC rime	中	國
Old Chinese	/*tuŋ/	/*kʷɯːɡ/

Etymology 1

Rubbing of the He Zun bronze vessel inscription with English annotations. The red highlighted characters are "中或" (Zhongguo), the earliest known written reference to "China" (Central Region).

Earliest attested on the Western Zhou bronze vessel He zun. See Names of China#Zhongguo.

隹珷王既克大邑商，則廷告于天，曰：余其宅兹中或，自之辥民。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, trad.]

---

隹珷王既克大邑商，则廷告于天，曰：余其宅兹中或，自之辥民。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, simp.]

From: He zun inscription

Wéi wǔwáng jì kè Dàyìshāng, zé tíng gào yú Tiān, yuē: yú qí zhái zī Zhōngguó, zì zhī yì mín. [Pinyin]

It was King Wu who, having conquered the Great City Shang, then solemnly announced to Heaven, saying: ‘I shall dwell in this central region, and from here govern the people.’

Proper noun

中國

Proper noun

中國

1. China (a country in Asia; capital: Beijing)

   中國和平崛起／中国和平崛起  ―  Zhōngguó hépíng juéqǐ  ―  China's peaceful rise

   中國社會科學院／中国社会科学院  ―  Zhōngguó shèhuìkēxuéyuàn  ―  the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences

   中國典籍英譯／中国典籍英译  ―  Zhōngguó diǎnjí yīngyì  ―  English translations of Chinese classics

   干涉中國內政／干涉中国内政  ―  gānshè Zhōngguó nèizhèng  ―  to interfere in China's internal affairs

   中國的首都是北京。 [MSC, trad.]
   中国的首都是北京。 [MSC, simp.]

   Zhōngguó de shǒudū shì Běijīng. [Pinyin]

   The capital of China is Beijing.

   他現在在中國旅行。 [MSC, trad.]
   他现在在中国旅行。 [MSC, simp.]

   Tā xiànzài zài Zhōngguó lǚxíng. [Pinyin]

   He's travelling around China right now.

   你喜歡中國文學嗎？ [MSC, trad.]
   你喜欢中国文学吗？ [MSC, simp.]

   Nǐ xǐhuān Zhōngguó wénxué ma? [Pinyin]

   Do you like Chinese literature?

   • 皇天既付中國民，越厥疆土于先王。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, trad.]

     ---

     皇天既付中国民，越厥疆土于先王。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: 《尚書·周書·梓材》

     Huángtiān jì fù zhōngguó mín, yuè jué jiāngtǔ yú xiānwáng. [Pinyin]

     August Heaven has already entrusted the people of China, together with its territory, to the former kings.

   • 民亦勞止，汔可小康。惠此中國，以綏四方。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, trad.]

     ---

     民亦劳止，汔可小康。惠此中国，以绥四方。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: 《詩經·大雅·民勞》

     Mín yì láo zhǐ, qì kě xiǎokāng. Huì cǐ zhōngguó, yǐ suí sìfāng. [Pinyin]

     The people are indeed weary — may they find some small ease. Show kindness to this China, so as to bring peace to the four quarters.

   • 德以柔中國，刑以威四夷。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, trad.]

     ---

     德以柔中国，刑以威四夷。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: 《左傳·僖公二十五年》

     Dé yǐ róu zhōngguó, xíng yǐ wēi sìyí. [Pinyin]

     Virtue serves to pacify China; punishment, to overawe the Four Barbarians.

   • 今居中國，去人倫，無君子，如之何其可也？ [Pre-Classical Chinese, trad.]

     ---

     今居中国，去人伦，无君子，如之何其可也？ [Pre-Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: 《孟子·告子下》

     Jīn jū zhōngguó, qù rénlún, wú jūnzǐ, rú zhī hé qí kě yě? [Pinyin]

     If one now dwells in China yet does away with human relations and has no gentlemen, how could that be acceptable?

   • 中國有人焉，非陰非陽，處於天地之間，直且爲人，將反於宗。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, trad.]

     ---

     中国有人焉，非阴非阳，处于天地之间，直且为人，将反于宗。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: 《莊子·知北游》

     Zhōngguó yǒu rén yān, fēi yīn fēi yáng, chù yú tiāndì zhī jiān, zhí qiě wèi rén, jiāng fǎn yú zōng. [Pinyin]

     In China there is a person — neither yin nor yang — dwelling between Heaven and Earth; merely human for the time being, he shall return to the Origin.

   • 蓋聞中國有至仁焉，德洋而恩普，物靡不得其所，今獨曷為遺己。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]

     ---

     盖闻中国有至仁焉，德洋而恩普，物靡不得其所，今独曷为遗己。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: 1st century BCE, Sima Qian, 史記·司馬相如列傳

     Gài wén Zhōngguó yǒu zhì rén yān, dé yáng ér ēn pǔ, wù mǐ bù dé qí suǒ, jīn dú hé wèi yí jǐ. [Pinyin]

     We have heard that in China there is the utmost benevolence — its virtue vast and its grace universal, so that nothing fails to find its proper place. Why, then, have we alone been forsaken?

   • 戎狄交侵，暴虐中國。中國被其苦，詩人始作，疾而歌之。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]

     ---

     戎狄交侵，暴虐中国。中国被其苦，诗人始作，疾而歌之。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: 1st century, Ban Gu, 漢書·匈奴傳

     Róngdí jiāo qīn, bàonüè Zhōngguó. Zhōngguó bèi qí kǔ, shīrén shǐ zuò, jí ér gē zhī. [Pinyin]

     The Rong and Di invaded in turn, cruelly oppressing China. China suffered their afflictions; the poets began to compose, singing of them with indignation.

   • 雖夷狄之邦，而俎豆之象存。中國失禮，求之四夷，猶信。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]

     ---

     虽夷狄之邦，而俎豆之象存。中国失礼，求之四夷，犹信。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: 3rd century, Chen Shou, 三國志·東夷傳

     Suī yídí zhī bāng, ér zǔdòu zhī xiàng cún. Zhōngguó shī lǐ, qiú zhī sìyí, yóu xìn. [Pinyin]

     Though these be lands of barbarians, vestiges of the ritual traditions yet survive. "When China loses the rites, seek them among the Four Barbarians" — this indeed holds true.

   • 伏以佛者，夷狄之一法耳，自後漢時流入中國，上古未嘗有也。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]

     ---

     伏以佛者，夷狄之一法耳，自后汉时流入中国，上古未尝有也。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: 819, Han Yu, 論佛骨表

     Fú yǐ Fó zhě, yídí zhī yī fǎ ěr, zì Hòuhàn shí liúrù Zhōngguó, shànggǔ wèicháng yǒu yě. [Pinyin]

     We humbly submit that Buddhism is merely a creed of the barbarians, which entered China during the Later Han; in high antiquity it was entirely unknown.

   • 問者曰：四夷、十國，皆非中國之有也，四夷之封爵朝貢則書，而十國之不書何也？曰：以中國而視夷狄，夷狄之可也。以五代之君而視十國，夷狄之則未可也。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]

     ---

     问者曰：四夷、十国，皆非中国之有也，四夷之封爵朝贡则书，而十国之不书何也？曰：以中国而视夷狄，夷狄之可也。以五代之君而视十国，夷狄之则未可也。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: 11th century, Ouyang Xiu, Historical Records of the Five Dynasties

     Wènzhě yuē: Sìyí, Shíguó, jiē fēi Zhōngguó zhī yǒu yě, Sìyí zhī fēngjué cháogòng zé shū, ér Shíguó zhī bù shū hé yě? Yuē: yǐ Zhōngguó ér shì yídí, yídí zhī kě yě. Yǐ Wǔdài zhī jūn ér shì Shíguó, yídí zhī zé wèikě yě. [Pinyin]

     Someone asks: "The Four Barbarians and the Ten Kingdoms all lie outside China's domain. The investitures and tributes of the Four Barbarians are recorded, yet those of the Ten Kingdoms are not — why?" The reply: "From the standpoint of China, treating barbarians as barbarians is acceptable. But from the standpoint of the Five Dynasties' rulers, treating the Ten Kingdoms as barbarians would not be."

   • 唐人到彼，皆不與之言及中國糞壅之事，恐為所鄙。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]

     ---

     唐人到彼，皆不与之言及中国粪壅之事，恐为所鄙。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: c. 1300, 周達觀 (Zhou Daguan), 真臘風土記 (The Customs of Cambodia)

     Tángrén dào bǐ, jiē bù yǔ zhī yánjí Zhōngguó fèn yōng zhī shì, kǒng wéi suǒ bǐ. [Pinyin]

     When Chinese go there, they never speak to them of the practice of manure fertilization in China, for fear of being despised.

   • 國之語音，異乎中國，與文字不相流通，故愚民有所欲言，而終不得伸其情者多矣。 [Korean Literary Sinitic, trad.]

     From: c. 1446, Sejong the Great, 訓民正音 (Hunminjeongeum)

     The speech of our country differs from that of China and does not correspond to the written characters. Therefore, among the ignorant people, many who have something they wish to say are in the end unable to express their feelings.

   • 自我朝入主中土，君臨天下，并蒙古極邊諸部落俱歸版圖，是中國之疆土開拓廣遠，乃中國臣民之大幸，何得尚有華夷中外之分論哉！ [Classical Chinese, trad.]

     ---

     自我朝入主中土，君临天下，并蒙古极边诸部落俱归版图，是中国之疆土开拓广远，乃中国臣民之大幸，何得尚有华夷中外之分论哉！ [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: c. 1730, Yongzheng Emperor, 大義覺迷錄

     Zì wǒ cháo rùzhǔ zhōngtǔ, jūnlín tiānxià, bìng Ménggǔ jíbiān zhū bùluò jù guī bǎntú, shì Zhōngguó zhī jiāngtǔ kāituò guǎngyuǎn, nǎi Zhōngguó chénmín zhī dàxìng, hédé shàngyǒu huáyí zhōngwài zhī fēnlùn zāi! [Pinyin]

     Since Our dynasty entered and took possession of the Central Land and came to rule all under Heaven, uniting the remotest Mongol tribes within our realm, the territory of China has been expanded far and wide. This is the great fortune of China's subjects — how can one still draw distinctions between Hua and Yi, inner and outer?

Usage notes

This word referred to various states and regions throughout history:

• Western Zhou Dynasty [1046–771 BCE]:

  the region controlled by the Western Zhou Dynasty, covering the Guanzhong Plain in Shaanxi, as well as the basin between the Yellow River and the Luo River.

• Eastern Zhou Dynasty [770–221 BCE]:

  all of the upper reaches of the Yellow River.

• Since Qin Dynasty [221 BCE–1911 CE]:

  the land controlled by the imperial regime of the Central Plain - i.e. the ancestors of modern China.

• After the Xinhai Revolution [1911 CE]:

  shorthand for 中華民國／中华民国 (Zhōnghuá Mínguó).

• After the founding of the People's Republic of China [1949 CE]:

  shorthand for 中華人民共和國／中华人民共和国 (Zhōnghuá Rénmín Gònghéguó).

Synonyms

• (China):

edit

• 世界工廠 / 世界工厂 (shìjiè gōngchǎng) ( Internet slang)
• 中 (abbreviation)
• 中共 (Zhōnggòng) (Taiwan, derogatory)
• 中共國 / 中共国 (zhōnggòngguó) (derogatory)
• 中原 (Zhōngyuán)
• 中國 / 中国 (Zhōngguó)
• 中華 / 中华 (Zhōnghuá)
• 九州 (Jiǔzhōu) (literary)
• 兲朝 (Tiāncháo) (derogatory, Internet slang)
• 唐山 (Tángshān)
• 域中 (yùzhōng) (literary, figurative)
• 大朝 (archaic)
• 天下 (tiānxià) (lofty)
• 天朝 (Tiāncháo) (historical or Internet slang)
• 契弟 (qìdì) (Hong Kong, Internet slang, derogatory)
• 德祐 (Déyòu) (Myanmar)
• 支那 (Zhīnà) (obsolete, now usually derogatory or offensive)
• 東大 / 东大 (Dōngdà) (Internet slang, humorous)
• 桃花石 (Táohuāshí) (obsolete)
• 牆國 / 墙国 (qiángguó) (Taiwan, derogatory, sarcastic)
• 猜拿 (Cāiná) (transliteration of English China)
• 祖國 / 祖国 (zǔguó)
• 神土 (historical)
• 神州 (Shénzhōu) (literary)
• 種花家 / 种花家 (Zhònghuājiā) (slang, humorous)
• 終國 / 终国 (derogatory)
• 脂那 (Zhīnà) (obsolete)
• 至那 (Zhìnà) (obsolete)
• 芝麻 (Hong Kong, offensive, Internet slang)
• 華 / 华 (abbreviation)
• 華夏 / 华夏 (Huáxià)
• 虫國 (chóngguó) (Hong Kong, offensive, Internet slang)
• 蚛蟈 / 蚛蝈 (Hong Kong, offensive, Internet slang)
• 諸夏 / 诸夏 (Zhūxià)
• 諸華 / 诸华 (Zhūhuá)
• 貴支 / 贵支 (guìzhī) (Mainland China, Internet slang, neologism, derogatory, sarcastic, offensive)
• 贏國 / 赢国 (Hong Kong, humorous, derogatory, sarcastic)
• 赤縣 / 赤县 (Chìxiàn) (literary)
• 赤縣神州 / 赤县神州 (Chìxiàn Shénzhōu) (literary)
• 震旦 (Zhèndàn) (archaic)

Derived terms

• 中國中心主義 / 中国中心主义 (Zhōngguó zhōngxīn zhǔyì)
• 中國之春 / 中国之春
• 中國人 / 中国人 (Zhōngguórén)
• 中國人民的老朋友 / 中国人民的老朋友 (Zhōngguó rénmín de lǎopéngyou)
• 中國人民解放軍 / 中国人民解放军 (Zhōngguó Rénmín Jiěfàngjūn)
• 中國佬 / 中国佬 (zhōngguólǎo)
• 中國僑聯 / 中国侨联 (Zhōngguó Qiáolián)
• 中國內地 / 中国内地 (Zhōngguó nèidì)
• 中國共產黨 / 中国共产党 (Zhōngguó Gòngchǎndǎng)
• 中國化 / 中国化 (zhōngguóhuà)
• 中國圖 / 中国图 (zhōngguótú)
• 中國城 / 中国城 (zhōngguóchéng)
• 中國大陸 / 中国大陆 (Zhōngguó dàlù)
• 中國威脅論 / 中国威胁论 (Zhōngguó wēixiélùn)
• 中國字 / 中国字 (zhōngguózì)
• 中國學 / 中国学 (Zhōngguóxué)
• 中國崩潰論 / 中国崩溃论 (Zhōngguó bēngkuìlùn)
• 中國工農紅軍 / 中国工农红军 (Zhōngguó Gōngnóng Hóngjūn)
• 中國式 / 中国式 (Zhōngguóshì)
• 中國性 / 中国性 (zhōngguóxìng)
• 中國文字 / 中国文字
• 中國本土 / 中国本土 (Zhōngguó běntǔ)
• 中國海 / 中国海 (Zhōngguóhǎi)
• 中國特色 / 中国特色 (Zhōngguó tèsè)
• 中國畫 / 中国画 (Zhōngguóhuà)
• 中國科大 / 中国科大 (Zhōngguó Kēdà)
• 中國科學院 / 中国科学院
• 中國結 / 中国结 (zhōngguójié)
• 中國芒 / 中国芒 (zhōngguómáng)
• 中國菜 / 中国菜 (Zhōngguócài)
• 中國話 / 中国话 (Zhōngguóhuà)
• 中國語 / 中国语 (Zhōngguóyǔ)
• 中國超新星 / 中国超新星
• 中國通 / 中国通 (Zhōngguótōng)
• 中國風 / 中国风 (zhōngguófēng)
• 中媒 (zhōngméi)
• 新中國 / 新中国 (Xīnzhōngguó)
• 自由中國 / 自由中国 (Zìyóu Zhōngguó)
• 舊中國 / 旧中国 (Jiùzhōngguó)
• 赤色中國 / 赤色中国

Noun

中國

1. (Classical) royal court; imperial court; imperial household; imperial government
2. (Classical) central part of a country (historically, commonly known as the capital city or the main region, where an emperor or other ruler resides)

   • 惠此中國，以綏四方。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, trad.]
     惠此中国，以绥四方。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: The Classic of Poetry, c. 11^th – 7^th centuries BCE, translated based on James Legge's version

     Huì cǐ zhōngguó, yǐ suí sìfāng. [Pinyin]

     Let us cherish this centre of the kingdom,
     To secure the repose of the four quarters of it.

   • 我欲中國而授孟子室。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     我欲中国而授孟子室。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: Mencius, c. 4^th century BCE, translated based on James Legge's version

     Wǒ yù zhōngguó ér shòu Mèngzǐ shì. [Pinyin]

     I wish to give Mencius a house, somewhere in the middle of the kingdom.

3. (Classical) the Central Plain (area on the lower reaches of the Yellow River which formed the cradle of Chinese civilization)

   • 欲辟土地，朝秦楚，莅中國而撫四夷也。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     欲辟土地，朝秦楚，莅中国而抚四夷也。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: Mencius, c. 4^th century BCE

     Yù pì tǔdì, cháo Qín Chǔ, lì Zhōngguó ér fǔ sìyí yě. [Pinyin]

     You wish to enlarge your territories, to have Qin and Chu wait at your court, to rule the Middle Kingdom, and to attract to you the barbarous tribes that surround it.

   • 吾聞中國之君子，明乎禮義而陋於知人心。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     吾闻中国之君子，明乎礼义而陋于知人心。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: Zhuangzi, circa 3^rd – 2^nd centuries BCE

     Wú wén Zhōngguó zhī jūnzǐ, míng hū lǐyì ér lòu yú zhī rénxīn. [Pinyin]

     I have heard that the superior men of these Middle States understand the (subjects of) ceremony and righteousness, but are deplorably ignorant of the minds of men.

   • 江左地促，不如中國；若使阡陌條暢，則一覽而盡。故紆餘委曲，若不可測。 [Literary Chinese, trad.]
     江左地促，不如中国；若使阡陌条畅，则一览而尽。故纡余委曲，若不可测。 [Literary Chinese, simp.]

     From: Liu Yiqing (editor), A New Account of the Tales of the World, 5^th century CE

     Jiāngzuǒ dì cù, bùrú Zhōngguó; ruò shǐ qiānmò tiáochàng, zé yī lǎn ér jìn. Gù yūyú wěiqū, ruò bùkě cè. [Pinyin]

     (please add an English translation of this usage example)

4. (Classical) people of the Central Plain

   • 金人所以立劉豫於河南，蓋欲荼毒中原，以中國攻中國。 [Literary Chinese, trad.]
     金人所以立刘豫于河南，盖欲荼毒中原，以中国攻中国。 [Literary Chinese, simp.]

     From: 1345 CE, Toqto'a (lead editor), History of Song

     Jīn rén suǒyǐ lì Liú Yù yú Hénán, gài yù túdú Zhōngyuán, yǐ Zhōngguó gōng Zhōngguó. [Pinyin]

     (please add an English translation of this usage example)

Synonyms

• (royal court):

edit

• 上國 / 上国 (shàngguó) (as termed by vassal states)
• 世 (shì) (literary, or in compounds)
• 公家 (gōngjiā)
• 公庭 (gōngtíng)
• 國家 / 国家 (guójiā) (Classical Chinese)
• 朝廷 (cháotíng)
• 王室 (wángshì)
• 王家 (wángjiā)
• 王朝 (wángcháo)
• 皇室 (huángshì)
• 皇朝 (huángcháo)

• (central part of a country): (archaic) 國中／国中 (guózhōng)
• (the Central Plain): 中土 (Zhōngtǔ), 中原 (Zhōngyuán), 中州 (Zhōngzhōu)

Descendants

Sino-Xenic (中國):

• → Japanese: 中(ちゅう)国(ごく) (Chūgoku)
• → Korean: 중국(中國) (Jungguk)
• → Vietnamese: Trung Quốc (中國)

Others:

• → Bouyei: Zungyguef
• → Danish: riget i midten (calque)
• → English: Zhongguo, Middle Kingdom (calque)
• → Finnish: Keskustan valtakunta (calque)
• → French: Empire du Milieu (calque)
• → German: Reich der Mitte (calque)
• → Hlai: Dongxgok (via Hainanese)
• → Indonesian: Tiongkok (via Hokkien)
• → Kazakh: جۇڭگو, Жұңго (Jūñgo) (Cyrillic)
• → Kyrgyz: Жуңго (Juŋgo)
• → Lü: ᦷᦋᧂᧈᦷᦅᧉ (tsong¹ko²)
• → Manchu: ᡩᡠᠯᡳᠮᠪᠠᡳ
  ᡤᡠᡵᡠᠨ (dulimbai gurun) (calque)
• → Mongolian: (calque)

  Cyrillic script: Дундад улс (Dundad uls)

  Mongolian script: ᠳᠤᠮᠳᠠᠳᠤ
  ᠤᠯᠤᠰ (dumdadu ulus)

• → Nuosu: ꍏꇩ (zho guop)
• → Pela: tʃuŋ³⁵kɔ³¹
• → Portuguese: Reino Médio, Reino do Meio (calque)
• → Tibetan: ཀྲུང་གོ (krung go)
  • Dzongkha: ཀྲུང་ཀོ (krung ko)
• → Uyghur: جۇڭگو (junggo), Җуңго (Junggo) (Cyrillic)
• Wutunhua: zhungo
• → Zhuang: Cunghgoz, Cungguek

Etymology 2

Orthographic borrowing from Japanese 中(ちゅう)国(ごく) (Chūgoku), from Chinese 中國 (MC trjuwng kwok, “the central part of a country”).

Proper noun

中國

1. (～地方, ～地區) the Chūgoku region of Japan

   • 這裡的中國是指日本的中國地方，即指本州西部的岡山、廣島、山口、島根、鳥取5縣。 [MSC, trad.]
     这里的中国是指日本的中国地方，即指本州西部的冈山、广岛、山口、岛根、鸟取5县。 [MSC, simp.]

     From: 2004, 于沛, 中国社会科学院世界历史研究所学术论文集（1964-2004）：古代中世纪卷[1]

     Zhèlǐ de Zhōngguó shì zhǐ Rìběn de Zhōngguó Dìfāng, jí zhǐ Běnzhōu xībù de Gāngshān, Guǎngdǎo, Shānkǒu, Dǎogēn, Niǎoqǔ 5 xiàn. [Pinyin]

     Here, 中國 / 中国 (Zhōngguó) refers to the Chūgoku region of Japan, or the five prefectures of Okayama, Hiroshima, Yamaguchi, Shimane, and Tottori that lay in the western region of Honshū.

Etymology 3

Semantic loan from Sanskrit मध्यदेशे m sg (madhyadeśe, locative, literally “in the Middle Country”) (Aṣṭasāhasrikā Prajñāpāramitā; see Karashima, 2010) or मध्येषु जनपदेषु m pl (madhyeṣu janapadeṣu, “in [the] central countries”) (Abhidharmakośakārikā); as opposed to the 邊地／边地 (biāndì, “borderlands; frontiers”), from Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit प्रत्यन्तिम (pratyantima) / प्रत्यन्त (pratyanta) or Pali paccantima. Cognate to the Pali majjhimesu janapadesu (locative, literally “in the middlemost countries”) in the text parallel to the Ekottara Āgama in the Pali Canon.

Noun

中國

1. (Buddhism) "central countries"; lands with advanced civilization and other conditions helpful for teaching Buddhism

   • 何以故？菩薩受生必在中國，利根智慧言詞辯了，善知語義是佛法器，善知沙門、婆羅門等。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     何以故？菩萨受生必在中国，利根智慧言词辩了，善知语义是佛法器，善知沙门、婆罗门等。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: 大般若波羅蜜多經

     Héyǐ gù? Púsà shòushēng bì zài zhōngguó, lì gēn zhìhuì yáncí biàn le, shàn zhī yǔyì shì fófǎ qì, shàn zhī shāmén, póluómén děng. [Pinyin]

     Why is this? The rebirth of a bodhisattva must be in the central regions of a country, his faculties will be sharp and he distinguishes all wise words. He knows well that semantics are the tools of the Buddhadharma, and he knows well śramaṇas, brahmins, and others.

Japanese

Kanji in this term
中	國
ちゅう Grade: 1	こく > ごく Jinmeiyō
on'yomi

For pronunciation and definitions of 中國 – see the following entry.

【中国ちゅうごく】 [proper noun] China [proper noun] (historical or contemporary) any of several kingdoms, empires, or states of the Chinese people [proper noun] (especially in contemporary usage) short for 中華人民共和国 (Chūka Jinmin Kyōwakoku), the People's Republic of China [noun] the central part of a country, historically, commonly known as the capital city or the main region, where an emperor or other ruler resides [noun] something within a country [noun] (historical) under the 律令 (Ritsuryō) system, a province of the third rank according to a four-rank system based on population and area [noun] (historical) under the 律令 (Ritsuryō) system, a province of the second rank according to the distance from the capital city [noun] collective term for the 山陽道 (San'yōdō) and 山陰道 (San'indō) regions of Japan [proper noun] short for 中国地方 (Chūgoku chihō): the Chūgoku region of Japan 【中国なかくに】 [proper noun] a surname

(This term, 中國, is the kyūjitai of the above term.)

Korean

Hanja in this term
中	國

Proper noun

中國 • (Jungguk) (hangeul 중국)

1. hanja form^? of 중국 (“China”)

Middle Korean

Etymology

Orthographic borrowing from Middle Chinese 中國 (MC trjuwng kwok, literally “central country”).

Pronunciation

• (Morphophonemic) IPA^(key): ⫽tjùŋkúk⫽
• Dongguk Jeongun: [듀ᇰ귁〮]

Proper noun

中(듀ᇰ)國(국〮) (TYWÙNG.KWÚK)

1. China (a country in Asia)
   • 1459, Hunminjeong'eum eonhae (訓民正音諺解 / 훈민정음언해) ^[2]:

     나랏〮 말〯ᄊᆞ미〮 中(듀ᇰ)國(귁〮)에〮 달아〮 文(문)字(ᄍᆞᇰ〮)와〮로〮 서르 ᄉᆞᄆᆞᆺ디〮 아니〮ᄒᆞᆯᄊᆡ〮

     nàlá-s mǎlssòm-í TYWÙNG.KWÚYK-éy tàlG-á MWÙN.CCÓNG-wá-lwó sèlù sòmòs-tí àníhò-lssóy

     The language of the country is different from [that of] China and does not match the [Chinese] script

Descendants

• Korean: 중국 (jungguk), 즁국 (jungguk), 듕국 (dyungguk)

Vietnamese

chữ Hán Nôm in this term
中	國

Proper noun

中國

1. chữ Hán form of Trung Quốc (“China”)

Zhuang

Proper noun

中國

1. Sawndip form of Cunghgoz