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China

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary
See also: china, chinâ, and čhína

English

 China (disambiguation) on Wikipedia

Etymology 1

English Wikipedia has an article on:
Wikipedia
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A reconstruction of the extent of various Chinese realms since the Zhou.

From Portuguese China,[1][2] from possibly Venetan Cina probably under influence from Old French Chin,[3] from Classical Persian چین (čīn) under influence from Medieval Latin Sina (China), from Middle Persian 𐭰𐭩𐭭 (Čīn, China), from Sanskrit चीन (cīna, the Chinese; China) of uncertain etymology. It is usually thought to be derived from Chinese (Qín) (sm Qín, mc d͡ziɪn, oc *zin, "Qin"), the westernmost ancient Chinese state,[4][5][6] but other theories have been proposed, including derivation from  / (jìn) (sm Jìn, mc t͡siɪn, oc *ʔsins, "Jin"), another important ancient state;[7]  / (jīng) (sm Jīng, mc kˠiæŋ, oc *keŋ, "Chu"), the southernmost ancient Chinese state;[8] or Zina, the endonym of the people of the Yelang kingdom.[8] See "Names of China" and "Chinas" at Wikipedia. As a female name, usually derived via china (porcelain) and china doll, ultimately from the same source.

Alternative forms

Pronunciation

  • (UK, US) enPR: chī'nə, IPA(key): /ˈt͡ʃaɪnə/, [ˈt͡ʃ(ʰ)aɪ̯nə]
  • enPR: chīʹnu̇[9]
    • Audio (UK):(file)
    • Audio (US, female voice):(file)
    • Audio (US, male voice):(file)
  • Rhymes: -aɪnə

Proper noun

China (usually uncountable, plural Chinas)

  1. A cultural region and civilization in East Asia, occupying the region around the Yellow, Yangtze, and Pearl Rivers, taken as a whole under its various dynasties.
    China has 5000 years of history.
    • 1555, Peter Martyr, translated by Richard Eden, The Decades of the Newe Worlde..., folio 230 verso:
      The great China, whose kyng is thought... the greatest prince in the worlde.
    • 1693, Robert Morden, “Of China”, in Geography Rectified; or a Description of the World[6], 3rd edition, →OCLC, page 438:
      All China is divided into 15 Provinces, which are bigger than large Kingdoms.
    • 1884 December 10, Mark Twain [pseudonym; Samuel Langhorne Clemens], The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn: (Tom Sawyer’s Comrade) [], London: Chatto & Windus, [], →OCLC:
      If he tells them to build a palace forty miles long, out of di'monds, and fill it full of chewing gum, or whatever you want, and fetch an emperor's daughter from China for you to marry, they've got to do it—and they've got to do it before sun-up next morning, too.
  2. A large country in East Asia, occupying the region around the Yellow, Yangtze, and Pearl Rivers; the People's Republic of China, since 1949.
    • 1971 December 6, “A Size-up of President Nixon: Interview with Mike Mansfield, Senate Democratic Leader”, in US News & World Report, page 61:
      'Only a Nixon' Could Go to China
    • 2017, Donald J. Trump, speech at Make America Great Again Rally, Harrisburg, PA
      And I met with the President of China at great length in Florida, and we had long, long talks—hours and hours and hours.
    China is 75 years old as of October 1, 2024.
    • 2025 February 1, Kevin Liptak, “With stiff tariffs he promised now in place, Trump opens a new trade war”, in CNN[7]:
      Saturday’s tariffs are unlikely to be Trump’s last. The president said himself said in the Oval Office that additional tariffs could come by mid-February on chips, pharmaceuticals, steel, aluminum, copper, oil and gas imports – along with tariffs on the European Union – all threats that few would discount given his willingness to follow through on the North American and China tariffs on Saturday.
  3. Synonym of mainland China.
    The gambling winnings were transferred from Macau to China.
  4. (historical) Any of the empires occupying similar territory to that of the modern nation of China, ruled under various dynasties up through the early 20th century.
  5. (historical) The Republic of China prior to 1949, and sometimes after that time, particularly up through the early 1970's or so (when the People's Republic of China assumed the United Nations seat allocated to china).
  6. (rare) A female given name.
    • 2001, Susan Wittig Albert, chapter 1, in Bloodroot, Berkley Publishing Group, →ISBN, page 3:
      My name is China Bayles. I'm the owner of Thyme and Seasons and the co-owner, with Ruby Wilcox, of a new tearoom called Thyme for Tea.
    • 2014, Neil D. A. Stewart, The Glasgow Coma Scale, Constable & Robinson, →ISBN, page 159:
      'What's her name, this girl?' The fight had hoarsened Lynne's voice, and the words came out strangely staccato - a wooden doll that had just learned to speak.
      'China,' he mumbled, feeling an obscure desire to invent a pseudonym for her.
      'What an interesting name.'
      Angus struck the table edge hard. 'Aw, don't gies it.'
      'I don't know what you mean. Or is it a nickname? Fragile, is she?'
  7. An unincorporated community in Jefferson County, Indiana, United States.
  8. A town in Kennebec County, Maine, United States.
  9. An unincorporated community in Howell County, Missouri, United States.
  10. A hamlet in Delaware County, New York, United States.
  11. A small city in Jefferson County, Texas, United States.
  12. A municipality and town in Nuevo León, Mexico.
Synonyms
Meronyms
Derived terms
Descendants
Translations

Noun

China (countable and uncountable, plural Chinas)

  1. Alternative letter-case form of china: porcelain tableware.
  2. (obsolete) A Chinese person.
  3. (obsolete) Alternative form of cheyney: woollen stuff; items made or filled with cheyney.
  4. Clipping of China rose, various flowers.
  5. (botany, beverages) Clipping of China tea.
  6. (rhyming slang) Alternative form of china: a mate, a friend.

See also

Etymology 2

English Wikipedia has an article on:
Wikipedia

From Japanese 知名(ちな) (China).

Pronunciation

Proper noun

China

  1. A town in Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan.
    • 2022 December 24, “School on Japan island lends electric scooters to students for eco-friendly, cheap commute”, in The Mainich[8]:
      According to the town of China, if all students commuting by motorcycles switched to electric ones, carbon emissions could be reduced to under one-fourth of the current amount.
    • 2024 August 21, “Linguists rush to preserve rare dialect on remote Kagoshima isle”, in The Asahi Shinbun[9]:
      The two towns on the island, China (pronounced chee-nah) and Wadomari, along with neighboring Tokunoshima island, each have different dialects.

References

  1. ^ Duarte Barbosa, Descrição das Terras da India Oriental..., c. 1516.
  2. ^ Garcia de Orta, Colóquios dos Simples e Drogas da India, 1563.
  3. ^ Marco Polo & al., Divisiment dou Monde, c. 1298.
  4. ^ Dr M. R. Singh (1972) Geographical Data in Early Puranas, page 172
  5. ^ Mayrhofer, Manfred (2001) “cīna-”, in Etymologisches Wörterbuch des Altindoarischen [Etymological Dictionary of Old Indo-Aryan]‎[1] (in German), volume 3, Heidelberg: Carl Winter Universitätsverlag, page 191
  6. ^ Yule, Henry (2005) Cathay and the Way Thither[2], →ISBN, pages 2–3
  7. ^ Zhengzhang, Shangfang (鄭張尚芳) (2006) “古译名勘原辨讹五例 [A Correction of the Erroneous Etymological Analyses of Five Ancient Translated Names]”, in 中国语文 (in Chinese), volume 315, →ISSN, pages 541–549
  8. 8.0 8.1 Wade Geoff (2009-05) “The Polity of Yelang and the Origin of the Name 'China'”, in Sino-Platonic Papers[3], number 188
  9. ^ Leon E. Seltzer, editor (1952), “China”, in The Columbia Lippincott Gazetteer of the World[4], Morningside Heights, NY: Columbia University Press, →OCLC, page 396, column 2

Anagrams

Afrikaans

Afrikaans Wikipedia has an article on:
Wikipedia af

Alternative forms

Etymology

From Dutch China.

Pronunciation

Proper noun

China

  1. China (a country in eastern Asia)

Asturian

Asturian Wikipedia has an article on:
Wikipedia ast

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈt͡ʃina/ [ˈt͡ʃi.na]
  • Rhymes: -ina
  • Syllabification: Chi‧na

Proper noun

China f

  1. China (a country in eastern Asia)

Central Huasteca Nahuatl

Proper noun

China

  1. China (a country in Asia)

Dutch

Dutch Wikipedia has an article on:
Wikipedia nl

Alternative forms

Etymology

This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.
Particularly: “Probably from Portuguese China.”

Pronunciation

Proper noun

China n

  1. China (a country in eastern Asia)

Derived terms

See also

Galician

Galician Wikipedia has an article on:
Wikipedia gl

Proper noun

China f

  1. China (a country in eastern Asia)

Derived terms

German

German Wikipedia has an article on:
Wikipedia de

Etymology

Possibly from Dutch China, from possibly Portuguese China, from Persian چین (čin, China), from Middle Persian 𐭰𐭩𐭭 (čīn, China), ultimately from Sanskrit चीन (cīna).

Pronunciation

  • Hyphenation: Chi‧na

Proper noun

China n (proper noun, genitive Chinas or (optionally with an article) China, plural China)

  1. China (a country in East Asia)

Usage notes

Declension

Further reading

  • China” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache

Hunsrik

Etymology

    Borrowed from Brazilian Portuguese and German China.[1]

    Pronunciation

    • IPA(key): /ˈʃiːna/
    • Rhymes: -iːna
    • Syllabification: Chi‧na

    Proper noun

    China n

    1. China (a country in eastern Asia)
      Das waar im China gemach.This was made in China.

    Derived terms

    See also

    References

    1. ^ Piter Kehoma Boll (2021) “China”, in Dicionário Hunsriqueano Riograndense–Português (in Portuguese), 3rd edition, Ivoti: Riograndenser Hunsrickisch, page 30, column 2

    Indonesian

    Proper noun

    China

    1. nonstandard spelling of Cina

    Interlingua

    Interlingua Wikipedia has an article on:
    Wikipedia ia

    Proper noun

    China

    1. China (a country in eastern Asia)

    Malay

    Malay Wikipedia has an article on:
    Wikipedia ms

    Etymology

    From Middle Persian [script needed] (ṣīn, Chinese; porcelain), probably from Sanskrit चीन (cīna). Attested in 1701 in Thomas Bowery's English-Malay and Malay-English bilingual dictionary.[1]

    The spelling is a carryover from the Za'aba Spelling used before 1972, to distinguish it from Cina (Chinese people).

    Pronunciation

    • (Baku) IPA(key): /ˈt͡ʃina/ [ˈt͡ʃi.na]
    • Hyphenation: Chi‧na

    Proper noun

    China (Jawi spelling چينا)

    1. China (a country in eastern Asia)
      Synonym: Tiongkok (Riau Malay, Indonesian)

    References

    1. ^ Bowrey, T. (1701) A Dictionary, English and Malayo, Malayo and English: To which is Added Some Short Grammar Rules \& Directions for the Better Observation of the Propriety and Elegancy of this Language : and Also Several Miscellanies, Dialogues, and Letters, in English and Malayo for the Learners Better Understanding the Expressions of the Malayo Tongue : Together with a Table of Time, Computing the Years and Moons of the Hegira to the Years and Months of the English Stile ...[5], Sam. Bridge, →LCCN, page 50:China, Nēgree chēna.

    Further reading

    Occitan

    Occitan Wikipedia has an article on:
    Wikipedia oc

    Alternative forms

    Proper noun

    China f

    1. China (a country in eastern Asia)

    Derived terms

    References

    • Patric Guilhemjoan, Diccionari elementari occitan-francés francés-occitan (gascon), 2005, Orthez, per noste, 2005, →ISBN, page 146.

    Portuguese

    Portuguese Wikipedia has an article on:
    Wikipedia pt
    bandeira da China

    Etymology

    Perhaps from Venetan Cina probably under influence from Old French Chin, from Classical Persian چین (čīn) under influence from Medieval Latin Sina (China), from Middle Persian 𐭰𐭩𐭭 (Čīn, China), ultimately from Sanskrit चीन (cīna). Compare Malay Cina.

    Pronunciation

     
     

    • Hyphenation: Chi‧na

    Proper noun

    China f

    1. China (a country in eastern Asia)
      • 2007, Rubens Edwald Filho, Nilu Lebert, O cinema vai à mesa, Editora Melhoramentos, →ISBN, page 31:
        Mudam os ingredientes do caldo, mudam as massas. O macarrão soba é à base de trigo sarraceno e é servido quente ou gelado; o udon, de farinha branca, pode ser encontrado fresco ou seco; o sômen é bem fininho, quase um cabelo-de-anjo japonês; o harusame, para ser servido gelado, é uma massa feita de feijão-verde e, finalmente, existe o lamen, originário da China, porém muito difundido no Japão.
        (please add an English translation of this quotation)

    Derived terms

    Descendants

    Romanian

    Etymology

    Borrowed from Greek Κίνα (Kína), ultimately from Sanskrit चीन (cīna).

    Pronunciation

    Proper noun

    China f

    1. China (a country in eastern Asia)

    Derived terms

    Romansch

    Proper noun

    la China f

    1. China (a country in eastern Asia)

    Shona

    Etymology

    From -china (fourth), counting the days of the working week from Monday.

    Noun

    China class 7

    1. Thursday

    See also

    Spanish

    Spanish Wikipedia has an article on:
    Wikipedia es

    Etymology

    Possibly from Venetan Cina, from Classical Persian چین (Čin, China) under influence from Medieval Latin Sina (China), from Middle Persian 𐭰𐭩𐭭 (Čīn, China), ultimately from Sanskrit चीन (cīna), ultimately possibly from Old Chinese (*zin).

    Pronunciation

    • IPA(key): /ˈt͡ʃina/ [ˈt͡ʃi.na]
    • Audio:(file)
    • Rhymes: -ina
    • Syllabification: Chi‧na

    Proper noun

    China f

    1. China (a country in eastern Asia)

    Derived terms

    Descendants

    Swahili

    Pronunciation

    Proper noun

    China

    1. alternative form of Uchina