支那
Chinese
Pronunciation
Etymology 1
phonetic | |||
---|---|---|---|
simp. and trad. (支那) | 支 | 那 | |
alternative forms | 脂那 至那 芝那 |
From Sanskrit चीन (cīna), which in turn is likely from 秦 (OC *zin)[1][2], but other theories have been proposed, including derivation from 晉/晋 (jìn, “Jin”) < Middle Chinese 晉 (MC t͡siɪnH) < Old Chinese 晉 (OC *ʔsins) (Zhengzhang, 2006), 荊/荆 (jīng, “Jing”)[3], or the Zina of 夜郎 (Yèláng, “Yelang”)[3]. Cognate with English China. See "Names of China", "Chinas" and "Shina (word)" at Wikipedia.
Proper noun
支那
- (originally neutral, now derogatory and offensive) China
- 支那曩者苦滿清虐政,國民共起革專制為共和。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
- From: 1914, Sun Yat-sen, 《致日本首相大隈重信勸助中國革命函》
- Zhīnà nǎng zhě kǔ Mǎnqīng nüèzhèng, guómín gòng qǐ gé zhuānzhì wèi gònghé. [Pinyin]
- China suffered from the Manchurian Qing tyranny in the past, and so the people of the nation rose up, overthrew the autocrat and established the republic.
支那曩者苦满清虐政,国民共起革专制为共和。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
Usage notes
- Originally used in ancient Indian records and some Chinese Buddhist texts. This term was popular in China as a neutral word after the Meiji Restoration, but became derogatory and offensive during and after the Second Sino-Japanese War. Now it is usually only used in some technical terms, such as 印度支那 (Yìndù-Zhīnà, “Indochina”) and 交趾支那 (Jiāozhǐ-Zhīnà, “Cochinchina”), or by Hong Kong and Taiwan independence activists as a deliberately offensive term for mainland China.
Derived terms
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Related terms
- 震旦 (Zhèndàn)
Descendants
- → Japanese: 支那 (Shina)
- → Korean: 지나(支那) (Jina)
- → Vietnamese: Chi Na (支那)
See also
- Thesaurus:中國
Etymology 2
phonetic | |||
---|---|---|---|
simp. and trad. (支那) | 支 | 那 |
(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)
Proper noun
支那
- (~鄉) Zhina (a township in Yingjiang, Dehong prefecture, Yunnan, China)
References
- Ding, Fubao (丁福保) (1922),
“支那” in 佛學大辭典/佛学大辞典 [A Dictionary of Chinese Buddhist Terms].
- Yule, Henry (2005) Cathay and the Way Thither, →ISBN, pages 2–3
- Dr M. R. Singh (1972) Geographical Data in Early Puranas, pages 172
- Wade Geoff (2009-05), “The Polity of Yelang and the Origin of the Name 'China'”, in Sino-Platonic Papers, issue 188
Further reading
支那 on the Chinese Wikipedia.Wikipedia zh
Shina (word) on Wikipedia.Wikipedia
Japanese
Kanji in this term | |
---|---|
支 | 那 |
し Grade: 5 | な Grade: S |
on’yomi |
Alternative forms
- シナ
Etymology
From Middle Chinese 支那 (MC t͡ɕiᴇ nɑ), a phonetic transcription of Sanskrit चीन (cīna), itself likely deriving from Old Chinese 秦 (*dzin), the name of the Qin Dynasty and the Qin state.
Pronunciation
- On’yomi: Goon
- IPA(key): [ɕina̠]
Proper noun
支那 • (Shina)
- (prewar, often considered derogatory in modern speech) China
Usage notes
The kanji spelling 支那 was more common historically, and is still encountered with some frequency when this word is used. Modern usage includes シナ in katakana. However, this term as a whole is used less frequently than in the past, due in part to changes in geopolitics.
Derived terms
- 東支那海 (Higashi Shina Kai): East China Sea
- 支那蕎麦 (Shina soba): Chinese noodles, ramen
- 支那竹 (Shina chiku): menma (cooked bamboo sprout, a kind of ramen topping)
- 支那薄色海豚 (Shina usuiro iruka): Chinese white dolphin
Korean
Hanja in this term | |
---|---|
支 | 那 |
Proper noun
支那 • (Jina) (hangeul 지나)
- Hanja form? of 지나 (“(prewar, often considered derogatory in modern speech) China”).
Vietnamese
Hán tự in this term | |
---|---|
支 | 那 |
Proper noun
支那
- chữ Hán form of Chi Na (“China”).