Where does “支那” come from?
支那 (Japanese) comes from Middle Chinese 支那, from Sanskrit चीन, from Old Chinese 秦 — {{w|Qin |State of Qin}}, {{w|Qin dynasty}}; Qin.
支那 (Japanese): China
Ancestry of “支那”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Middle Chinese | 支那 | — |
| 2 | Sanskrit | चीन | the Chinese people; China; a bandage for the... |
| 3 | Old Chinese | 秦 | {{w|Qin |State of Qin}}, {{w|Qin dynasty}}; Qin |