Chinese

From China +‎ -ese.

• (UK) enPR: chī-nēzʹ, IPA^(key): /t͡ʃaɪˈniːz/; (sometimes) enPR: chīʹnēz, IPA^(key): /ˈt͡ʃaɪniːz/
• (US) enPR: chī'nēzʹ, IPA^(key): /ˌt͡ʃaɪˈniz/; (sometimes) enPR: chīʹnēz', IPA^(key): /ˈt͡ʃaɪˌniz/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -iːz

Chinese (countable and uncountable, plural Chinese)

1. Language:
   1. (uncountable) Any of several Sinitic languages spoken in China, especially Literary Chinese, Mandarin, Cantonese, Wu, or Min Nan.

      Peter is from Hong Kong and speaks Chinese.

   2. (uncountable) The class of Sino-Tibetan dialects including Mandarin, Wu, Cantonese, Min Nan and others.

      Wu and Hakka are lesser-known varieties of Chinese.

   3. (uncountable) The logographic writing system shared by this language family.

      Hong Kong uses traditional Chinese.

   4. Mandarin: the official language of the People's Republic of China

      “Nǐ hǎo” means “hello” in Chinese.

2. People:
   1. (uncountable) The people of China.

      The Chinese have an incredible history.

   2. (uncountable) All people of Chinese descent or self-identity

      The Chinese are present in all parts of the world.

   3. (countable) A person from China or of Chinese descent.
      • 1999, Lydia Laube, Bound for Vietnam‎, →ISBN, page 24:

        But I had the unmitigated pleasure of watching a family of four Chinese struggle to use knives and forks to [eat] their bacon and eggs.

3. Chinese food or meal.
   1. (Britain, countable, informal) A Chinese meal.

      We're going out tonight for a Chinese.

   2. (Britain, Canada, US, uncountable, informal) Chinese food.

      Please don't eat the Chinese: I'm saving it for later.

As with other nationalities formed with -ese, the countable singular noun in reference to a person (as in "I am a Chinese", "writing about Chinese cuisine as a Chinese") is uncommon and often taken as incorrect. In its place, the adjective is used, by itself (as in "I am Chinese") or with a word like person, man, or woman ("writing about Chinese cuisine as a Chinese person"). However, it is rather frequent in East Asia as a translation for the demonym written 中國人／中国人 (zhōngguórén) in Chinese characters or Japanese kanji.

• (Chinese person): Han (ethnic Chinese regardless of the residence), Chinaman (properly of a man only, now usually considered an offensive slur); Chinee (archaic, offensive); chink (offensive slur); Sinese (rare, historical)

• (language): Classical Chinese, Mandarin Chinese, Middle Chinese, Old Chinese, Standard Written Chinese, Vernacular Chinese
• (writing system): Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese

Chinese (not generally comparable, comparative more Chinese, superlative most Chinese)

1. Of China, its languages or people
   • 1928, Otto Jespersen, An International Language, page 82

     The construction of a verbal system which is fairly regular and at the same time based on existing languages is a most difficult task, because in no other domain of the grammar do languages retain a greater number of ancient irregularities and differ more fundamentally from one another. Still an attempt will be made here to conciliate the two points of view and to bring about something which resembles the simple Chinese grammar without, however, losing its European character or the power of expressing nuances to which we are accustomed in our own languages.

2. Exotic; unfamiliar; unexpected; used in phrases such as Chinese whispers, Chinese handcuffs, and Chinese checkers.

• (of China, its language or people): Sinic, Sino- (prefix)

• Wiktionary's coverage of Chinese terms
• Putonghua
• Guoyu
• Huayu
• Guanhua
• Hanyu
• Zhongwen

• Chinese in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• ISO 639-1 code zh, ISO 639-3 code zho. It's a family or related languages. The individual ones are:

• Chinees, Eischen

From Chinees +‎ -e.

• IPA^(key): /ʃi.ˈneː.sə/

• Audio

  (file)

• Hyphenation: Chi‧ne‧se

Chinese f (plural Chinesen, masculine Chinees)

1. female person from China

• China
• Chinees

• Chinees

China +‎ -ese

• IPA^(key): /çiˈneːzə/

• Audio (Austria)

  (file)

• Audio

  (file)

Chinese m (genitive Chinesen, plural Chinesen)

1. person from China

• Chinesin f (female person from China)

• Chinese in Duden online