Chinese

noun

Chi·nese chī-ˈnēz

-ˈnēs

plural Chinese

1

a

: a native or inhabitant of China

b

: a person of Chinese descent

2

: a group of related languages used by the people of China that are often mutually unintelligible in their spoken form but share a single system of writing and that constitute a branch of the Sino-Tibetan language family

especially : mandarin

Chinese adjective

Example Sentences

the customs of the Chinese He is learning to speak Chinese.

Word History

First Known Use

1606, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler

The first known use of Chinese was in 1606

See more words from the same year

Cite this Entry

Style

“Chinese.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Chinese. Accessed 30 Sep. 2022.

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Kids Definition

Chinese 1 of 2

adjective

Chi·nese chī-ˈnēz

: of or relating to China, the Chinese people, or the languages of China

Chinese

2 of 2

noun

plural Chinese

1

: a person born or living in China

2

: a group of related languages used in China

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