Definition

Proper noun A major port city and industrial center in northeastern China. It is located on the Grand Canal near the Yellow Sea and is historically one of China's most significant cities.

Usage Notes

• "Tientsin" is the traditional postal romanization of the city's name.
• In modern contexts, the name is almost universally written using the Pinyin romanization system as "Tianjin". "Tientsin" is now considered dated but is still encountered in historical texts.

Examples

• Historical texts often mention Tientsin as a treaty port.
• The Tientsin Massacre of 1870 was a significant diplomatic incident.
• The modern city of Tianjin (formerly Tientsin) is a major financial hub.

Advanced Usage

• Tientsin Incident: Refers to specific historical events, such as conflicts in 1939-1940 involving Japanese and Chinese forces.
• Treaty of Tientsin: A series of agreements signed in 1858 at the end of the first phase of the Second Opium War.

Variants and Related Words

• Tianjin (n): The modern Pinyin spelling and the current official name of the city.
• Municipality of Tianjin (n): The direct-controlled municipality, equivalent to a province, which contains the city.

Synonyms

• Tianjin (Modern equivalent)

Noun

1. a major industrial center in northeastern China on the Grand Canal near the Yellow Sea; 3rd largest city in China