nanking
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Proper noun 1. A major city in China: Nanking (now more commonly spelled Nanjing) is a large city in eastern China, situated on the Yangtze River. 2. A historical capital: It served as the capital of China during several historical periods. 3. Site of a historical atrocity: The city is infamously known as the location of a large-scale massacre and wartime atrocities committed by the Japanese army in 1937, during the Second Sino-Japanese War.
Usage Examples
- The ancient city walls of Nanking are a popular tourist attraction.
- Nanking was the capital of the Ming dynasty in the 14th century.
- The Nanking Massacre remains a deeply significant and painful event in modern Chinese history.
Advanced Usage
- "The Nanking Massacre" / "The Rape of Nanking": These are the standard historical terms referring to the war crimes committed in the city in 1937-1938.
- Scholars continue to research and document the events of the Nanking Massacre.
Variants and Related Words
- Nanjing: The modern, standard Pinyin romanization of the city's name, which has largely replaced "Nanking" in contemporary English usage.
- The government of Jiangsu province is located in Nanjing.
- Nankingese (archaic): An old demonym meaning a person from Nanking.
Synonyms
- Nanjing (primary modern synonym)
Notes on Usage
- "Nanking" is an older romanization. In most modern academic, journalistic, and diplomatic contexts, the name Nanjing is preferred. However, "Nanking" remains firmly attached to the historical event known as the "Nanking Massacre."
Noun
- a city in eastern China on the Yangtze River; a former capital of China; the scene of a Japanese massacre in the 1930s