Chinese
Noun pluralChinese, Chineses
PluralChinese, Chineses
- 1From or about China, its people, or their way of life.
We had Chinese food for dinner.
The Chinese New Year parade filled the street with red lanterns.
UsageWrite it with a big C: Chinese.
- 2The language spoken in China, especially Mandarin, and related languages such as Cantonese.
She speaks Chinese with her grandparents.
I want to learn Chinese next year.
UsageSay speak Chinese and in Chinese, with no "the".
Note
- 3A person who is from China or who is of Chinese descent.
Many Chinese in Brazil speak both Portuguese and Mandarin.
Thousands of Chinese came to California during the gold rush.
UsageMany people are Chinese too (not
incorrect: Chineses). For one, say a Chinese person.Note
- 4The people of China, or people whose families come from China.
The Chinese have built thousands of miles of new railways.
The Chinese welcomed millions of tourists last year.
UsageSay the Chinese are, like the French are.
Note
- 5Relating to the languages spoken by Han Chinese people, or to their written characters.
Chinese characters can be hard to memorize at first.
She is taking a Chinese class to learn the language.
Note
- 6Short for Chinese cuisine: food cooked in the Chinese style.
We had Chinese for dinner last night.
Spicy Chinese is my favorite food.
UsageSay eat Chinese or order Chinese.
Note
Less common meanings
- 7The set of written characters used to write Mandarin, Cantonese, and most other Chinese languages.
Written Chinese uses characters, not letters.
Japanese borrowed many characters from Chinese.
UsageSay written Chinese to mean the characters.
Note
- 8Short for Chinese restaurant. It means a place that serves Chinese food.
A new Chinese just opened on the high street.
Let's meet outside the Chinese near the station.
UsageUsually the Chinese: go to the Chinese.
- 9Added before a noun to make it mean something different and seen as stranger than usual.
By the time the news reached me, it had turned into Chinese whispers.
The whole trip descended into a Chinese fire drill at the airport.
UsageUsed in set names like Chinese whispers. Don't make new ones.
Note
- 10Of a stage or studio light, having its flat side-flaps set in a level, side-to-side position.
UsageSay barn doors horizontal instead.
Note
- 11Seen as strange, backward, or badly organized, based on an unfair view of China.
Showing meanings only.
Practice
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Origin
This word comes from "China" plus the ending "-ese." It took the place of the older word "Chinish."
Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 2 facts
- Chinese comes from China plus the suffix -ese. en.wiktionary.org
- Chinese replaced the older word Chinish. en.wiktionary.org