China in Chinese
The Chinese word for "China" is 中国 (Zhōng guó). It is built from "中国 = 中 (middle) + 国 (country), often rendered 'the Middle Kingdom'". 中国 is the country only; 'Chinese' depends on what you mean: the language is 中文 or 汉语, a person is 中国人, and lowercase china, porcelain, is 瓷器.
Chinese words for China
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | When |
|---|---|---|---|
| 中国 | Zhōng guó | China | The default answer. |
| 中文 | Zhōng wén | Chinese (language) | The Chinese language in general, especially written Chinese, signs, menus and settings. |
| 汉语 | Hàn yǔ | Chinese (language), Mandarin | The language as a subject of study, as in textbooks and the HSK exam. |
| 中国人 | Zhōng guó rén | Chinese person, Chinese people | A person from China or Chinese citizens. |
| 华人 | Huá rén | ethnic Chinese | People of Chinese descent anywhere, especially communities living outside China. |
| 瓷器 | cí qì | china, porcelain | Lowercase china: plates, cups and vases made of porcelain. |
Example sentences
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 我想去中国旅游。 | wǒ xiǎng qù Zhōng guó lǚ yóu. | I want to travel to China. |
| 你会说中文吗？ | nǐ huì shuō Zhōng wén ma? | Can you speak Chinese? |
| 他是中国人。 | tā shì Zhōng guó rén. | He is Chinese. |
| 我在学汉语。 | wǒ zài xué Hàn yǔ. | I'm learning Chinese. |
| 很多华人住在新加坡。 | hěn duō Huá rén zhù zài Xīn jiā pō. | Many ethnic Chinese live in Singapore. |
The characters in 中国
| Character | Pinyin | Meaning here |
|---|---|---|
| 中 | zhōng | middle, center |
| 国 | guó | country, state; the simplified form is 玉 (jade) inside 囗 (an enclosure). Traditional form 國. |
Common mistakes
- Do not use 中国 for the language: 我说中国 is wrong, say 我说中文 or 我说汉语. 中国话 exists but is colloquial.
- Lowercase 'china' meaning porcelain is 瓷器, not 中国.
- 国 is second tone, guó; 中国 is Zhōng guó, first tone then second.
Related
Frequently asked questions
How do you say China in Chinese?
中国 (Zhōng guó), literally "中国 = 中 (middle) + 国 (country), often rendered 'the Middle Kingdom'". Other ways: 中文 (Zhōng wén); 汉语 (Hàn yǔ); 中国人 (Zhōng guó rén).
Why is China called 中国?
中国 literally means 'middle country'. In early texts it referred to the central states of the Zhou world; it became the name of the whole country much later.
What is the difference between 中文, 汉语 and 普通话?
中文 is the most general word for Chinese, spoken or written. 汉语 is the language as studied, the word in textbooks and the HSK. 普通话 is standard Mandarin, the spoken standard taught in schools.
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