Yangzi Jiang
/ˈjɑːŋ.dzɪ ˈdʒjɑːŋ/noun
The Chinese name for the Yangtze River, especially in its lower and middle reaches.
Did you know?Yangzi Jiang does not originally name the entire river: Yangzi was associated with a specific crossing or locality near modern Yangzhou, while the full river is commonly called Chang Jiang, meaning “Long River,” in Chinese.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient China
Chinese
江
“River; in early usage, especially a major river such as the Yangtze”
Medieval China
Chinese
揚子
“Yangzi, a place-name associated with the lower Yangtze region”
Medieval China
Chinese
揚子江
“Yangzi River; the river in the vicinity of Yangzi”
16th Century
European English
Iang-tse Kiang
“Early European transcription of the Chinese river name”
19th Century
English
Yangtze Kiang
“Anglicized form derived largely from the Nanjing-area pronunciation of Yangzi Jiang”
Modern English
English
Yangtze River
“The standard English name for the Chang Jiang, China’s longest river”
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