Chinese — English Dictionary

Adjective

1. Of, from, or related to China, particularly now the People's Republic of China.

   Usage

   • not-comparable
   • usually

   Examples

   China has been ruled by the Chinese Communist Party since 1949.

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   In this instance, when the Chairman of the "Accuracy in Media" spoke out strongly against the Chinese Communist system of "pin yin" spelling, he was not criticizing any bias or unreliability of news presentation but specifically the inconvenience and confusion caused by the "pin yin" spelling of Chinese names.

   Experts told CNN it could take weeks to address the vulnerabilities and that suspected Chinese hackers are already attempting to exploit it.

2. Of, from, or related to the people of China, particularly the Han Chinese and their culture whether in China or overseas.

   Usage

   • not-comparable
   • usually

   Examples

   Important Chinese holidays celebrated around the world include the Chinese New Year ("Spring Festival"), Tomb Sweeping Day, and the Mid-Autumn Festival.

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   In the early 1870’s anti-Chinese agitation in California became organized and focused under the leadership of Denis Kearney, who was, ironically, an immigrant from Ireland. A campaign of organized violence against Chinese communities took form, and the hysteria led to political pressure too violent to be resisted. President Hayes vetoed an act of Congress restricting Chinese immigration, but he did force renegotiation of the Burlingame Treaty under which the government of China agreed to restrict emigration voluntarily.

3. Of, from, or related to a language native to Han Chinese persons, often used generally of Chinese characters or particularly to refer to Standard Mandarin.

   Usage

   • not-comparable
   • usually

   Examples

   There are four Chinese tones... five, if you count the neutral one.

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   The construction of a verbal system which is fairly regular and at the same time based on existing languages is a most difficult task, because in no other domain of the grammar do languages retain a greater number of ancient irregularities and differ more fundamentally from one another. Still an attempt will be made here to conciliate the two points of view and to bring about something which resembles the simple Chinese grammar without, however, losing its European character or the power of expressing nuances to which we are accustomed in our own languages.

   The DPRK (Joseon Minjujui Inmin Konghuaguk 朝鮮民主主義人民共和國) is read in Chinese as Chaoxian minzhu zhuyi renmin gonghe guo, and its capital, Pyeonyang, is pronounced Pingrang 平壤.

4. As exotic, unusual, backwards, or unorganized as someone or something from China.

   Usage

   • not-comparable
   • Offensive
   • sometimes
   • usually

   Examples

   It's all Chinese to me.

5. Used with a noun to indicate a referent different from, and seemingly more exotic or unusual than, the base noun's referent.

   Usage

   • not-comparable
   • Offensive
   • sometimes
   • usually
   • in set phrases

   Examples

   Chinese apple, Chinese checkers, Chinese snooker

6. Having barn doors with a horizontal orientation.

   Usage

   • Dated
   • not-comparable
   • Offensive
   • usually
   • of film and video lighting

Proper noun

1. The Standard Chinese language, written in Chinese characters and spoken and spelled using Standard Mandarin pronunciation.

   Usage

   • Uncountable

   Examples

   你好 is read “Nǐ hǎo” and means “Hello” in Chinese.

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   The resulting Belter creole is a crazy mix of English, Chinese, romance languages like French, German, Persian, Hebrew, Zulu, and a few other surprises. Farmer says he has over 1,000 Belter words in his personal dictionary, and he keeps adding more as the show’s producers and fans request them.

2. The branch of the Sino-Tibetan language family including Mandarin, Cantonese, Shanghainese, Southern Min, and other closely related language varieties and dialects.

   Usage

   • Uncountable

   Examples

   Suzhounese and Hakka are lesser-known varieties of Chinese.

3. The logographic writing system shared by most Sinitic languages.

   Usage

   • Uncountable

   Examples

   Hong Kong still uses traditional Chinese.

Noun

1. A native, inhabitant, or citizen of China, particularly of the People's Republic of China.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • in-plural

   Examples

   The Chinese have an incredible history.

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   If the Chinese were a people like the Russians, the Germans or the French, we (I address chiefly American and British readers) would observe any marked increase in their industrial activity or in their national aggressiveness with some misgiving, possibly, but […]

   I have given these points to make it clear that the Chinese are a people of strong emotion; and that this emotion is highest and purest when running in the channels of filial piety and loyalty.

   After Pearl Harbor, American sympathy for the Chinese grew even stronger, for the Chinese were a people who had long been bravely resisting Japanese aggressors.

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   China is a country with a 5,000 year uninterrupted civilisation, and the Chinese are a people that keep moving forward amid trials and tribulations.

2. A member of the Han Chinese ethnic group, whether in China or overseas.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • in-plural

   Examples

   The Chinese are present in all parts of the world.

   And the Iaponians, are longer liv’d, than the Chineſes; […]

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   If the Chineſe had Liberty to ſettle in Formoſa, ſeveral Families would gladly tranſplant themſelves thither ; but in order thereto they muſt obtain Paſsports from the Mandarins of China, who grant them with Difficulty, and not without taking Security. The Mandarins are very careful to examine all that paſs into or out of the Iſland, and ſome of them extort Money under-hand. This extraordinary Precaution is the Effect of good Policy eſpecially as the Tartars are Maſters of China ; for Formoſa is a Place of great Importance, and if a Chineſe ſhould ſeize it, he might raiſe great Troubles in the Empire : ſo that the Emperor keeps a Garriſon there of ten thouſand Men, commanded by a Tſong-ping, or Lieutenant-General, two Fû-tſyang, or Major-General, and ſeveral inferior Officers; who are chang’d duely every three years, or oftner, if there be Occaſion.

   But I had the unmitigated pleasure of watching a family of four Chinese struggle to use knives and forks to [eat] their bacon and eggs.

Adjective

1. of or pertaining to China or its peoples or cultures

   Examples

   Chinese food

2. of or relating to or characteristic of the island republic on Taiwan or its residents or their language

   Synonyms

   TaiwaneseFormosan

   Examples

   the Taiwanese capital is Taipeh

Noun

1. any of the Sino-Tibetan languages spoken in China; regarded as dialects of a single language (even though they are mutually unintelligible) because they share an ideographic writing system

   Broader terms

   SiniticSinitic language

2. a native or inhabitant of Communist China or of Nationalist China

   Broader terms

   AsianAsiatic