Chinese
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Pronunciation: ipa: /t͡ʃaɪˈniːz/
ipa: /ˈt͡ʃaɪniːz/
ipa: /ˌt͡ʃaɪˈniz/
ipa: /ˈt͡ʃaɪˌniz/
note: Canada, idle-idol split
ipa: /ˌt͡ʃʌɪˈniz/
note: Canada, idle-idol split
ipa: /ˈt͡ʃʌɪˌniz/
ipa: [(ˌ)t͡ʃəɪˈniːz]
ipa: [ˈt͡ʃəɪˌniːz]
rhymes: -iːz
Forms: form: Chinese
form: Chineses
Etymology: From China + -ese under influence of Portuguese chinês, replacing older Chinish. Doublet of chinois. In its orientalist sense of "generically exotic, backwards, or poorly organized", sometimes a deliberate marketing strategy to increase sales, as with the German Chinese checkers. In its sense related to the orientation of stage lighting's barn doors, a reference to a supposed resemblance to East Asian eyes.
Senses: examples: text: And the Iaponians, are longer liv’d, than the Chineſes; […]
ref: 1638, Francis [Bacon], translated by W[illiam] R[awley], “Length and Shortnesse of Life in Man. The Historie.”, in History Naturall and Experimentall, of Life and Death. Or Of the Prolongation of Life. […], London: […] Iohn Haviland for William Lee, and Humphrey Mosley, →OCLC, paragraph 25, page 141:
text: 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.
ref: 1738, J. B. Du Halde, “PROVINCE IV. FO-KYEN.”, in A Description of the Empire of China and Chinese-Tartary, Together with the Kingdoms of Korea, and Tibet, volume I, London, →OCLC, page 88:
text: 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.
ref: 1999, Lydia Laube, Bound for Vietnam, →ISBN, page 24:
glosses: A person from China or of Chinese descent.
examples: text: Please don't eat the Chinese. I'm saving it for later.
text: "Do you like to eat Chinese?
ref: 1958, A.G. Yates, The Cold Dark Hours, Sydney: Horwitz, published 1963, page 73:
glosses: Ellipsis of Chinese cuisine.
examples: text: We're going out tonight for a Chinese.
glosses: Ellipsis of Chinese meal (“meal consisting of Chinese cuisine”).
examples: text: Want to go to the Chinese after work?
glosses: Ellipsis of Chinese restaurant (“restaurant serving Chinese cuisine”).
Synonyms: english: ethnic Chinese regardless of the residence
translation: ethnic Chinese regardless of the residence
word: Han
english: properly of a man only, now usually considered an offensive slur
translation: properly of a man only, now usually considered an offensive slur
word: Chinaman
word: Chinee
word: chink
word: Sinese
word: Chinean
word: Chinian
word: Chinish
word: Serian
word: Serican
word: Sinaeans
word: Cathayan
word: Chinesian
Related terms: Chinesery
Wiktionary’s coverage of Chinese terms