chinese
- 01 A1 Beginner
adj.related to the country of China, its people, or its culture.
adj.relating to China, its inhabitants, or the Han ethnic group and their cultural heritage.
Simple“We spent the afternoon looking at beautiful Chinese silk in the market.”
In context“The exhibition showcases various Chinese dynasties, highlighting the evolution of ceramic techniques over several centuries.”
PitfallHe is a chinese. He is Chinese.When used as an adjective for nationality, do not use an article. If you want a noun, use 'a Chinese person'.
- 02 A1 Beginner
n.the language spoken in China, including Mandarin and Cantonese.
n.the branch of the Sino-Tibetan language family spoken by the Han Chinese, or the logographic writing system used for these languages.
Simple“She is learning to speak Chinese because she wants to work in Beijing.”
In context“Although he could speak basic Chinese, he found reading the complex characters in the newspaper quite challenging.”
- 03 A2 Elementary
n.people who are from China or have Chinese ancestors.
n.a collective term for citizens of China or members of the Han Chinese ethnic group.
Simple“The Chinese have a long and rich history of invention.”
In context“The diaspora of the Chinese has led to vibrant communities and cultural exchanges in cities across the globe.”
- 04 A2 Elementary
n.a meal from a Chinese restaurant, or the restaurant itself.
n.a metonymic reference to Chinese cuisine, a specific meal, or an establishment serving such food.
Simple“Do you want to stay in and order a Chinese tonight?”
In context“After the cinema, the group decided to head to the local Chinese for a late-night dinner.”
- 05 C2 Proficiency
adj.an old-fashioned and rude way to describe something that is confusing or messy.
adj.a derogatory and dated usage implying that something is exotic, disorganized, or illogical.
Simple“The instructions were so messy it felt like a Chinese puzzle.”
In context“The meeting descended into a bit of a Chinese parliament, with everyone talking at once and no clear leader.”
UsageUsually found in fixed idioms like 'Chinese whispers'.
Teacher's tipThis sense is often considered offensive in modern contexts; learners should avoid using it to describe confusion.
From China + -ese under influence of Portuguese chinês, replacing older Chinish. Doublet of chinois. In its orientalist sense of "generically exotic, backwards, or poorly organized", sometimes a deliberate marketing strategy to increase sales, as with the German Chinese checkers. In its sense related to the orientation of stage lighting's barn doors, a reference to a supposed resemblance to East Asian eyes.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.