China
/ˈtʃaɪ.nə/noun
A country in East Asia; also, a hard, white ceramic material.
Did you know?The English name China likely spread through Persian and Sanskrit trade routes, ultimately tied to the Qin dynasty name—showing how a dynasty became a global word.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Chinese
Old Chinese
*dzin
“An early form associated with the Qin state/dynasty”
3rd Century BCE
Chinese
Qin
“The powerful state and later dynasty that unified China”
Sanskrit
Sanskrit
Cīna
“A name for China or the Chinese people”
Persian
Persian
Chīn
“China”
Medieval Latin
Latin
China
“China”
16th Century
English
China
“China; later also fine imported porcelain”