Qingdao
/tɕʰiŋ˥˥ taʊ̯˥˩/noun
Qingdao is a major port city in Shandong Province, China, whose name is also used internationally for the city and its beer brand.
Did you know?Under German rule, Qingdao—then commonly romanized as Tsingtao—became home to the brewery that later produced the globally known Tsingtao beer.
Etymological Timeline
Old Chinese
Old Chinese
青 (*tshēŋ)
“A color term covering blue, green, or blue-green shades”
Old Chinese
Old Chinese
島 (*tˤewʔ)
“Island”
Medieval China
Middle Chinese
青島 (*tshengX tawX)
“The Blue-Green Island; the name of an island and locality”
1891
Late Qing Chinese
青島
“A place name used for the coastal settlement and nearby island in Shandong”
1898
German / Chinese
Tsingtau / 青島
“The German-leased colonial territory and port, with “Tsingtau” representing an older romanization”
Modern English
English
Qingdao
“The standard modern romanization of the Chinese city name”