Chinese

[chahy-neez, -nees]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

plural

Chinese

the standard language of China, based on the speech of Beijing; Mandarin.
a group of languages of the Sino-Tibetan family, including standard Chinese and most of the other languages of China. Chin., Chin
any of the Chinese languages, which vary among themselves to the point of mutual unintelligibility.
Chinese food.
We usually order Chinese from a place across the street.
Often Offensive.��a native or descendant of a native of China.

adjective

of or relating to China, its inhabitants, or one of their languages.
noting or pertaining to the partly logographic, partly phonetic script used for the writing of Chinese, Japanese, and other languages, consisting of thousands of brushstroke characters written in vertical columns from right to left.

Chinese

/ ��ʃ��ɪˈ�Ծ�ː�� /

adjective

of, relating to, or characteristic of China, its people, or their languages

noun

a native or inhabitant of China or a descendant of one
any of the languages of China belonging to the Sino-Tibetan family, sometimes regarded as dialects of one language. They share a single writing system that is not phonetic but ideographic. A phonetic system using the Roman alphabet was officially adopted by the Chinese government in 1966 See also Mandarin Chinese Pekingese Cantonese

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Sensitive Note

In the past, the word Chinese has been used as a noun to describe a person or people (the CEO is a Chinese ). This usage is dated and almost always considered offensive today. The adjective Chinese is found in a few set phrases ( Chinese copy, Chinese fire drill, Chinese money, and Chinese tour ) in which it represents inferiority—implying that something is less good, useful, or effective, or that it is not authentic. In other set phrases ( Chinese checkers, Chinese tag ), the word represents that something is exotic or unusual. These uses are usually considered offensive.

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Other Word Forms

anti-Chinese adjective��anti-Chinese
non-Chinese adjective��non-Chinese
pro-Chinese adjective��pro-Chinese
pseudo-Chinese adjective��pseudo-Chinese

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Word History and Origins

Origin of Chinese¹

First recorded in 1570–80; Chin(a) + -ese

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Most of the Chinese workers are now leaving.

From

On the homewares side are Home Bargains and B&M. And on the clothing side are Shein and Temu, the cheap Chinese exporters which have enjoyed a surge in popularity among British shoppers.

From

In a way, the market, with its oldest stalls ranging from Mexican to Chinese to Salvadoran cuisines, is an embodiment of the immigrant experience in Los Angeles.

From

She started the better in the second set and led by a double break but could not keep Zheng at bay as the Chinese rediscovered her big-hitting form.

From

“It was one of those Chinese restaurants with those spinning tables,” said Vaca.

From

Chinee Chinese artichoke

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