Dongjiang
/ˌdɒŋ ˈdʒjɑːŋ/noun
A major river in Guangdong Province, China, and a tributary of the Pearl River.
Did you know?Dongjiang water has historically been crucial to supplying Hong Kong, making this seemingly simple “East River” a strategically important lifeline.
Etymological Timeline
Old Chinese, c. 1st millennium BCE
Old Chinese
東江
“A compound meaning “East River”; 東 referred to the east, while 江 meant a large river.”
Middle Chinese, c. 6th–10th century
Middle Chinese
東江
“The written form continued in the Sinitic literary tradition, pronounced approximately as *tung kaeng according to historical reconstruction.”
Pre-modern Chinese
Chinese
東江 / Dōngjiāng
“Used as a geographic name for the eastern river system in Guangdong.”
20th Century
Mandarin Chinese
东江 / Dōngjiāng
“Simplified Chinese spelling of the name, still literally “East River.””
Modern English
English
Dongjiang
“The standard English romanization for the Dongjiang River, a Pearl River tributary in southern China.”