Chinese
/ˌtʃaɪˈniːz/noun
Relating to China, its people, or its languages.
Did you know?English “Chinese” ultimately comes from the Qin dynasty name, the same source behind Sanskrit Cīna and Persian/Arabic forms that spread west along Silk Road networks.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient China
Chinese
Qín (秦)
“The name of the Qin state/dynasty”
c. 3rd century BCE
Sanskrit
Cīna
“A name for a people or land associated with China”
Late Antiquity
Persian
Čīn
“China”
Medieval Arabic
Arabic
Ṣīn
“China”
16th Century
Portuguese
chino
“Chinese”
16th-17th Century
English
Chinese
“Relating to China or its people”