Definition

Proper noun: * Beijing: The capital city of the People's Republic of China, located in the Hebei province in northeastern China. It is the nation's political, cultural, and educational center and is the second-largest city in China.

Usage Notes

• "Peking" is a historical romanization of the city's name. In modern English, the official and more common name is Beijing, which reflects the contemporary Pinyin romanization system.
• The term "Peking" is still used in certain historical or traditional contexts, such as "Peking duck" or "Peking opera."

Examples

Advanced Usage

• "Peking Man": A subspecies of archaic human () whose fossils were discovered near Beijing.
  • The fossils of Peking Man provided important evidence for human evolution.
• In historical texts: The name "Peking" is frequently found in historical documents, literature, and maps from before the late 20th century.
  • The old map clearly labeled the capital as Peking.

Variants and Related Words

• Beijing (Proper noun): The modern, standard English name for the city.
• Pekinese (Adjective, Noun): Relating to Beijing; also refers to a breed of small dog (Pekingese) historically associated with the Chinese imperial court.
  • She has a Pekinese dog.
• Pekingese (Adjective, Noun): Alternative spelling for "Pekinese."

Synonyms

• Beijing
• Capital of China

Related Phrases and Compound Terms

• Peking duck: A famous Chinese dish from Beijing consisting of roasted duck with crispy skin.
  • We went to a restaurant famous for its Peking duck.
• Peking opera: A traditional form of Chinese theater combining music, vocal performance, mime, dance, and acrobatics, originating in Beijing.
  • The intricate costumes of Peking opera are beautiful.

Noun

1. capital of the People's Republic of China in the Hebei province in northeastern China; 2nd largest Chinese city