proper noun
Common
Beijing
bay-JIHNG
Beijing (proper noun) means the capital city of China. Example: “Beijing hosted the Summer Olympics in 2008.”
proper noun
1
The capital city of China.
"Beijing hosted the Summer Olympics in 2008."
"Beijing regularly faces dust storms in March and April due to its proximity to the Gobi desert as well as deforestation throughout northern China."
— , China: Sandstorms blanket Beijing as air pollution spikes (2023)
"Backhoes moved house by house, laying waste to a community called Xitai that was built in a plush green valley on the northern edge of Beijing, only a short walk from the Great Wall of China."
— Steven Lee Myers, Beijing Launches Another Demolition Drive, This Time in Its Bucolic Suburbs (2020)
2
Used to refer to the Chinese national government, especially in political and news contexts.
"Beijing has not yet responded to the trade proposal."
How to use Beijing
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishChina's capital city, or shorthand for the Chinese government.
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_____ hosted the Summer Olympics in 2008.
Etymology
From Mandarin Chinese Běijīng, meaning "northern capital," named to contrast with the southern city of Nanjing ("southern capital").
Synonyms
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Frequently asked questions
What does “Beijing” mean?
The word “Beijing” means the capital city of China. In plain terms, china's capital city, or shorthand for the Chinese government.
How do you pronounce “Beijing”?
“Beijing” is pronounced bay-JIHNG (/beɪˈd͡ʒɪŋ/ in IPA).
How do you use “Beijing” in a sentence?
Here is “Beijing” used in a sentence: “Beijing hosted the Summer Olympics in 2008.”
What part of speech is “Beijing”?
“Beijing” is a proper noun.
Where does the word “Beijing” come from?
The word “Beijing” comes from Chinese. From Mandarin Chinese Běijīng, meaning "northern capital," named to contrast with the southern city of Nanjing ("southern capital").
Is “Beijing” a common word?
“Beijing” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “Beijing” have?
“Beijing” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the capital city of China.
What is the difference between Beijing and Peking?
Beijing and Peking refer to the same city, the capital of China; "Peking" is an older romanised spelling, while "Beijing" reflects the modern pinyin system now used internationally. Some traditional names, such as Peking duck and Peking University, still keep the older spelling.
Why is "Beijing" used to mean the Chinese government?
Like many capital cities, Beijing is often used in news and political writing to stand for the country's national government, as in "Beijing announced new policies." This is a figure of speech called metonymy, where the seat of power represents the government itself.
What is the difference between Beijing and Shanghai?
Beijing is the capital of China and its political and administrative centre, while Shanghai is China's largest city and a major commercial and financial hub. Beijing is often linked with government and history; Shanghai with business and trade.
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