Chinese

adjective more Chinese · most Chinese

1. not comparable, usually Of, from, or related to China, particularly now the People's Republic of China. China has been ruled by the Chinese Communist Party since 1949.
2. not comparable, usually Of, from, or related to the people of China, particularly the Han Chinese and their culture whether in China or overseas. Important Chinese holidays celebrated around the world include the Chinese New Year ("Spring Festival"), Tomb Sweeping Day, and the Mid-Autumn Festival.
3. not comparable, usually Of, from, or related to a language native to Han Chinese persons, often used generally of Chinese characters or particularly to refer to Standard Mandarin. There are four Chinese tones... five, if you count the neutral one.
4. not comparable, offensive, sometimes, usually As exotic, unusual, backwards, or unorganized as someone or something from China. It's all Chinese to me.
5. not comparable, offensive, sometimes, usually, in set phrases Used with a noun to indicate a referent different from, and seemingly more exotic or unusual than, the base noun's referent. Chinese apple, Chinese checkers, Chinese snooker
6. dated, not comparable, offensive, usually, of film and video lighting Having barn doors with a horizontal orientation.

Similar: Sinic, Sino-, Seric, Serian, Serican, Sinaean, Sinesian, Cathayan, Chinesian

proper noun

1. uncountable The Standard Chinese language, written in Chinese characters and spoken and spelled using Standard Mandarin pronunciation. 你好 is read “Nǐ hǎo” and means “Hello” in Chinese.

   Similar: Putonghua, Guoyu, Huayu, Guanhua, Hanyu, Zhongwen

2. uncountable The branch of the Sino-Tibetan language family including Mandarin, Cantonese, Shanghainese, Southern Min, and other closely related language varieties and dialects. Suzhounese and Hakka are lesser-known varieties of Chinese.
3. uncountable The logographic writing system shared by most Sinitic languages. Hong Kong still uses traditional Chinese.

noun Chinese · Chineses

1. countable, in plural A native, inhabitant, or citizen of China, particularly of the People's Republic of China. The Chinese have an incredible history.
2. countable, in plural A member of the Han Chinese ethnic group, whether in China or overseas. The Chinese are present in all parts of the world.
3. abbreviation, ellipsis, uncountable Ellipsis of Chinese cuisine Please don't eat the Chinese. I'm saving it for later.
4. UK, abbreviation, colloquial, countable, ellipsis Ellipsis of Chinese meal (“meal consisting of Chinese cuisine”). We're going out tonight for a Chinese.
5. UK, abbreviation, colloquial, countable, ellipsis Ellipsis of Chinese restaurant (“restaurant serving Chinese cuisine”). Want to go to the Chinese after work?

Similar: Han, Chinaman, Chinee, chink, Sinese, Chinean, Chinian, Chinish, Serian, Serican, Sinaeans, Cathayan, Chinesian, Seres, Sinae, Cathayans, Serians, Sericans, Chinesians