Guangdong
/ˌɡwɑːŋˈdʊŋ/noun
A province of southeastern China, bordering the South China Sea and centered historically on the Pearl River Delta.
Did you know?The name contrasts with Guangxi, meaning “west of Guang,” a paired division that preserves the memory of the medieval Guangnan region.
Etymological Timeline
2nd Century BCE
Chinese
廣信 (Guǎngxìn)
““Broad trust”; the name of an ancient county in the region, later associated with the geographic name Guang.”
7th–10th Century
Middle Chinese
廣南 (Guǎngnán)
““Broad south”; a historical regional designation for the broad southern territory administered by Chinese dynasties.”
997
Song Chinese
廣南東路 (Guǎngnán Dōnglù)
““Eastern Circuit of Guangnan,” the administrative division whose eastern designation developed into Guangdong.”
13th–14th Century
Chinese
廣東 (Guǎngdōng)
““East of Guang,” used as the established name for the eastern part of the former Guangnan region.”
Modern English
English
Guangdong
“The standard English romanization of the Chinese provincial name 廣東, formerly often rendered Canton.”