China

The word “China” means a large country in East Asia, the People's Republic of China. In plain terms, either the country, or delicate ceramic dishes and cups named after it.

“China” is pronounced CHEYE-nuh (/ˈt͡ʃaɪnə/ in IPA).

Here is “China” used in a sentence: “They flew to China to visit relatives in Shanghai.”

Words with a similar meaning to “China” include Cathay, Manji, Han, Mangi, Greater China and Chinkland.

Depending on how it is used, “China” can be a name and a noun.

The word “China” comes from Chinese. The tableware sense comes from the country name China, since fine porcelain was long associated with Chinese manufacture.

“China” is a very common word in modern English.

“China” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a large country in East Asia, the People's Republic of China.

Capitalised, China is the country in East Asia. Written in lower case, "china" means fine porcelain dishware — cups, plates, and bowls — so called because the delicate ceramic was first imported from China centuries ago. The capital letter and the surrounding context tell you whether the country or the tableware is meant.

The capital of China is Beijing, a major political and cultural centre in the north of the country. Shanghai, further south on the coast, is the largest city and the main financial hub. Beijing is home to the national government and landmarks such as the Forbidden City.

China is one of the world's two most populous countries, with well over a billion people. For decades it held the top spot before India drew level and then overtook it. Its enormous population underpins a vast economy and workforce, though growth has slowed as the population ages.

The official language is Standard Mandarin Chinese, written with Chinese characters and spoken by most of the population. Many regional languages and dialects also flourish, including Cantonese in the south. Mandarin serves as the shared national language across a country of great linguistic diversity.