Where does “China” come from?
China (Portuguese) comes from Persian چین, from Arabic الصِّين, from Middle Persian 𐭰𐭩𐭭, from Sanskrit चीन, from Old Chinese 秦 — {{w|Qin |State of Qin}}, {{w|Qin dynasty}}; Qin.
China (Portuguese): China
Ancestry of “China”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Persian | چین | wrinkle; crease; fold |
| 2 | Arabic | الصِّين | — |
| 3 | Middle Persian | 𐭰𐭩𐭭 | China |
| 4 | Sanskrit | चीन | the Chinese people; China; a bandage for the... |
| 5 | Old Chinese | 秦 | {{w|Qin |State of Qin}}, {{w|Qin dynasty}}; Qin |
Words derived from “China”