Xian
See also: xī'àn, xian, xián, xiàn, xiān, xiǎn, Xi'an, Xī'ān, and xī'ān
English
Etymology 1
From the Hanyu Pinyin romanization of Chinese 西安 (Xī'ān, “Western Peace”), without syllable-dividing mark (隔音符號／隔音符号 (géyīn fúhào)).
Proper noun
Xian
- (sometimes proscribed) Alternative form of Xi'an, the provincial capital of Shaanxi, in central China.
- For more quotations using this term, see Citations:Xian.
- 1990, Reagan, Ronald, An American Life, Pocket Books, →ISBN, LCCN 91-28704, OCLC 495476481, page 371:
- Next came several more days of sightseeing that included a few opportunities to observe the changes going on in China, as well as a fascinating look into its past. We flew to Xian, the ancient capital of China, then drove almost ninety minutes to the tomb of China's first emperor and the site where archaeologists had unearthed hundreds of life-size terra-cotta figures of soldiers standing in ranks, complete with horses and chariots, to guard the tomb. "They know there are more than 7,000 [terra-cotta soldiers] that haven't been uncovered yet," I wrote that evening in my diary: "It is an unforgettable experience. This—plus the drive past villages surrounded by endless wheat fields dotted here and there with burial mounds and relics of China's ancient past—made for a day we'll long remember."
- 2014, Lu Hsiu-lien, Ashley Esarey, My Fight for a New Taiwan, University of Washington Press, →ISBN, LCCN 2013046731, OCLC 1039411006, OL 27156414M, page 266:
- Lien Chan had a PhD from the University of Chicago and was the heir to a vast family fortune. Born in Xian, China, in the 1940s, he never developed a feel for Taiwan’s common people.
- 2018 February 23, Peterson, Lucas, “Xian Offers Terracotta Warriors, Stunning Food and Plenty of Bargains”, in New York Times, archived from the original on 23 February 2018:
- But Xian, the north-central Chinese city whose name means “western peace,” is much more than its collection of warriors. It’s one of the oldest cities in China: It has seen the likes of Marco Polo during his Silk Road journey, and been home to Buddhist sutras brought from India by Xuanzang, a monk whose journey inspired one of the greatest works of Chinese literature, “Journey to the West.” Xian was also one of the first Chinese cities introduced to Islam, and its Muslim Quarter, located in the city center, is now one of the city’s most thriving tourist areas.
- 2022 March 21, “Chinese Boeing jet crashes in mountains with 132 on board, no sign of survivors”, in Reuters, archived from the original on 21 March 2022:
- In 1994 a China Northwest Airlines Tupolev Tu-154 flying from Xian to Guangzhou crashed, killing all 160 on board in China's worst-ever air disaster, according to Aviation Safety Network.
Further reading
- “Xian, pn.”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–2022.
- Xian at OneLook Dictionary Search
- “Xian” in TheFreeDictionary.com, Huntingdon Valley, Pa.: Farlex, Inc., 2003–2023.
Etymology 2
Borrowed from Chinese 咸 (Xián).
Proper noun
Xian (plural Xians)
- A surname from Chinese.
Statistics
- According to the 2010 United States Census, Xian is the 38050th most common surname in the United States, belonging to 583 individuals. Xian is most common among Asian/Pacific Islander (97.6%) individuals.
Further reading
- Hanks, Patrick, editor (2003), “Xian”, in Dictionary of American Family Names, volume 3, New York City: Oxford University Press, →ISBN.
Etymology 3
From X as a stand-in for Ancient Greek Χ (Kh) as an initial representing Χριστος (Khristos, “Christ, the Anointed One”), q.v. In present use, a modern coinage after the model of Xmas.
Alternative forms
- xian
- Xtian
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ˈkɹɪstjən/
- Homophone: Christian
Noun
Xian (plural Xians)
- (sometimes derogatory or offensive) Abbreviation of Christian.
Adjective
Xian (not comparable)
- (sometimes derogatory or offensive) Abbreviation of Christian.
Usage notes
Although there is nothing offensive in the derivation of the term itself, its informal nature and use among skeptics and atheists sometimes makes the form seem dismissive or offensive to Christians.
Related terms
- Xianity, Xtianity
- Xmas
References
- What does 'xian' mean?
Anagrams
- Axin, Naxi, axin