Haikou
/xaɪ̯˨˩˦ kʰoʊ̯˨˩˦/noun
Haikou is the capital and largest city of Hainan Province in southern China.
Did you know?The name refers to Haikou’s position at the mouth of the Nandu River, facing the Qiongzhou Strait.
Etymological Timeline
Old Chinese period
Old Chinese
海
“Sea; ocean”
Old Chinese period
Old Chinese
口
“Mouth; opening; entrance”
Medieval Chinese
Chinese
海口
“A sea entrance, river mouth, or coastal port”
Ming–Qing periods
Chinese
海口
“The coastal settlement and maritime gateway on Hainan Island”
20th Century
Chinese Pinyin
Hǎikǒu
“The standardized Romanization of the city’s name”
Modern English
English
Haikou
“The capital city of Hainan Province, China”