# jin

/ˈdʒɪn/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/jin
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 2. historical Chinese dynasties

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

the name of several different empires and ruling families throughout Chinese history.

For teachers: the name of multiple historical Chinese polities, most notably the Sima-led empire (265–420 AD) and the Jurchen-led empire (1115–1234 AD).

- The Jin dynasty was a period of great artistic and cultural change in China.
- Historians distinguish between the Western and Eastern Jin based on the location of the imperial capital and the extent of their territorial control.

### 3. bonsai deadwood

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a piece of dead wood on a bonsai tree that is shaped to make the tree look very old.

For teachers: a section of dead wood on a branch or the top of a bonsai trunk, created naturally or artificially to signify age and resilience.

- The artist used a special tool to carve a jin on the pine branch.
- A well-executed jin provides a stark visual contrast against the living foliage, suggesting a tree that has survived harsh mountain winds.

### 4. supernatural being

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic

an alternative way to spell 'jinn', which is a spirit or ghost in some cultures.

For teachers: an alternative orthographic representation of 'jinn', referring to supernatural creatures in Islamic mythology.

- Old stories tell of a jin that lived inside the ancient lamp.
- The manuscript describes the summoning of a jin, though modern translations almost exclusively use the spelling 'jinn' or 'djinn'.

## Examples

- The old story tells of a jin living in a bottle.
- In many traditional folk tales, a jin is a trickster figure who tests the character of the protagonist through magic.
- The poet draws on ancient folklore, depicting the jin not as a simple wish-granter, but as a complex entity existing in a parallel world invisible to human eyes.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.