China
/'tʃainə/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- High-quality porcelain or ceramic ware: "china" refers to a type of fine, translucent ceramic material, or items made from it, such as dishes and decorative objects.
- A country in East Asia: "China" (often capitalized) is a nation in eastern Asia, officially the People's Republic of China, known for its ancient civilization and large population.
Usage Examples
- Noun (Material):
- She collects antique blue and white china. (She collects antique blue and white porcelain dishes.)
- Please be careful when washing the good china. (Please be careful when washing the fine porcelain dishes.)
- Noun (Country):
- China has a rich history spanning thousands of years. (The country of China has a rich history spanning thousands of years.)
- Tea originated in China. (The beverage tea originated in the country of China.)
Advanced Usage
- "a bull in a china shop": a person who is clumsy or careless in a delicate situation.
- He was like a bull in a china shop during the delicate negotiations. (He was very clumsy and careless during the delicate negotiations.)
Variants and Related Words
- Chinese (adj): relating to China, its people, or its languages.
- We ate at a Chinese restaurant. (We ate at a restaurant serving food from China.)
- Chinaware (n): another term for dishes or decorative objects made of china/porcelain.
- The chinaware was displayed in a glass cabinet. (The porcelain dishes were displayed in a glass cabinet.)
Synonyms
- Porcelain: a ceramic material; often used interchangeably with "china" for the material.
- Ceramics: objects made from clay and hardened by heat; a broader category that includes china.
Related Phrases
- China cabinet: a piece of furniture with glass doors used to display china dishes.
- The family's best plates are in the china cabinet. (The family's best plates are in the display cabinet for porcelain.)
Related Idioms
- To have a chinwag (British, informal): to have a long, friendly conversation. (Note: This idiom uses "chin," not "china," but is included due to its phonetic similarity and common confusion for learners.)
- We sat down for a cup of tea and a good chinwag. (We sat down for a cup of tea and a long, friendly chat.)
Noun
- dishware made of high quality porcelain
- a government on the island of Taiwan established in 1949 by Chiang Kai-shek after the conquest of mainland China by the Communists led by Mao Zedong
- high quality porcelain originally made only in China
- a communist nation that covers a vast territory in eastern Asia; the most populous country in the world