Where does “Chinese” come from?
Chinese (German) comes from German China, from Dutch China, from Portuguese china, from Medieval Latin Sina, from Latin Sīnae, from Ancient Greek Σῖναι, from Arabic صِين, from Pahlavi čīn — {{w|Qin |State of Qin}}, {{w|Qin dynasty}}; Qin.
Chinese (German): person from China
Ancestry of “Chinese”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | German | China | China |
| 2 | Dutch | China | — |
| 3 | Portuguese | china | a woman, especially one of Native American... |
| 4 | Medieval Latin | Sina | — |
| 5 | Latin | Sīnae | — |
| 6 | Ancient Greek | Σῖναι | the southern Chinese |
| 7 | Arabic | صِين | — |
| 8 | Pahlavi | čīn | — |
| 9 | Sanskrit | चीन | the Chinese people; China; a bandage for the... |
| 10 | Old Chinese | 秦 | {{w|Qin |State of Qin}}, {{w|Qin dynasty}}; Qin |