Nansha
/nɑːnˈʃɑː/noun
A name used in English for several Chinese geographical locations, including Nansha District and the Nansha Islands.
Did you know?The name is written 南沙: 南 means “south” and 沙 means “sand” or “shoal,” describing low sandy islands or sandbanks rather than invoking any occult tradition.
Etymological Timeline
Old Chinese, 1st millennium BCE
Old Chinese
南
“South; the character later used in the compound meaning “southern””
Old Chinese, 1st millennium BCE
Old Chinese
沙
“Sand or sandy shallows”
Middle Chinese, c. 6th–10th century
Middle Chinese
南沙
“Southern sandbanks or sandy shoals”
Modern Mandarin
Mandarin
Nánshā (南沙)
“Southern sands; a geographical name applied to several places”
20th–21st century
English
Nansha
“English romanization used for Chinese districts, islands, and related geographical features”