hong
Definition
- Noun:
- A row of factories or workshops: "hong" historically refers to a series of buildings used as manufacturing facilities, particularly in China.
- A foreign trading company: In historical contexts, especially in Japan and China, a "hong" was a commercial establishment operated by foreign merchants.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- The old hong in Guangzhou was once a bustling centre of international trade. (A row of workshops or foreign trading company in historical China.)
- Foreign merchants established a hong in Yokohama during the 19th century. (A foreign trading company in historical Japan.)
Advanced Usage
- "Hong system": a historical trade arrangement in China where foreign merchants were confined to specific hongs for business.
- The hong system regulated all European trade with China until the 1840s. (A controlled trading structure involving hongs.)
Variants and Related Words
- Hong merchant (n): a Chinese merchant who operated a hong and handled foreign trade.
- The hong merchant negotiated tariffs with British officials. (A trader licensed to run a hong.)
Synonyms
- Factory: a building or group of buildings where goods are manufactured.
- Trading post: a place where goods are bought and sold, especially in a foreign region.
Related Idioms
- None commonly associated with "hong" in modern English.