1
: a Chinese dynasty dated 206b.c.a.d.220 and marked by centralized control through an appointive bureaucracy, a revival of learning, and the penetration of Buddhism
2
: the Chinese peoples especially as distinguished from non-Chinese (such as Mongolian) elements in the population

Word History

Etymology

Chinese (Beijing) Hàn

First Known Use

1736, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of Han was in 1736

Dictionary Entries Near Han

Cite this Entry

“Han.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Han. Accessed 7 Oct. 2024.

Geographical Definition

Han

geographical name

1
river in the provinces of Shaanxi and Hubei, east central China, flowing southeast into the Chang (Yangtze) River
2
river about 300 miles (483 kilometers) long in north central South Korea flowing west and northwest into the Yellow Sea

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