zi1 naa5支那
Jyutpingzi1 naa5
Yalejī náh
Definition
Sina or Shina; an archaic name for China, now used as a highly offensive slur.
colloquialpeopleother
How it's used
Historical usage of this term has shifted dramatically from a neutral geographical reference to a highly offensive slur. It is now widely considered a derogatory label that carries strong connotations of colonial-era racism and humiliation. Using this word in any context today is almost guaranteed to cause severe offense and social backlash.
Examples
Do you know how impolite the term 'Sina' is?
Don't use the term 'Sina' recklessly, it's a big deal.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often mistakenly believe that because the term has historical roots in Buddhist texts, it remains a neutral or academic way to refer to China. It is crucial to understand that the modern usage is exclusively pejorative and should be avoided entirely in conversation.
Grammar color guide
Noun
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Adjective
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Grammar guides
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
