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華夏. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
華夏, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
華夏 in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
華夏 you have here. The definition of the word
華夏 will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition of
華夏, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
Chinese
Etymology
Attested in the Zuo Zhuan:
楚失華夏,則析公之為也。
楚失华夏,则析公之为也。 - From: Commentary of Zuo, c. 4th century BCE
- Chǔ shī Huáxià, zé Xī Gōng zhī wéi yě.
- That Chu lost the allegiance of the flourishing and grand ("華夏") central states was the doing of the lord of Xi.
A line in the Zuo Zhuan features the words 夏 (OC *ɡraːʔ) and 華 (OC *ɡʷraː) used in a parallel structure.
裔不謀夏,夷不亂華。
裔不谋夏,夷不乱华。 - From: Commentary of Zuo, c. 4th century BCE
- Yì bù móu xià, yí bù luàn huá.
- The borderers may not plot against the grand ("夏") domains; the aliens should not sow chaos among the flourishing ("華") peoples.
Pronunciation
Baxter–Sagart system 1.1 (2014)
|
Character
|
華
|
夏
|
Reading #
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2/3
|
1/2
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Modern Beijing (Pinyin)
|
huá
|
xià
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Middle Chinese
|
‹ hwæ ›
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‹ hæX ›
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Old Chinese
|
/*N-qʷʰˁra/
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/*ˁraʔ/
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English
|
flower (v.); flowery (adj.)
|
great; pertaining to Chinese civilization
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Notes for Old Chinese notations in the Baxter–Sagart system:
* Parentheses "()" indicate uncertain presence;
* Square brackets "" indicate uncertain identity, e.g. * as coda may in fact be *-t or *-p;
* Angle brackets "<>" indicate infix;
* Hyphen "-" indicates morpheme boundary;
* Period "." indicates syllable boundary.
|
Zhengzhang system (2003)
|
Character
|
華
|
夏
|
Reading #
|
2/3
|
1/2
|
No.
|
5312
|
13452
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Phonetic component
|
華
|
夏
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Rime group
|
魚
|
魚
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Rime subdivision
|
0
|
0
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Corresponding MC rime
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華
|
下
|
Old Chinese
|
/*ɡʷraː/
|
/*ɡraːʔ/
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Notes
|
說文於聲
|
|
Proper noun
華夏
- (poetic, historical) Huaxia (the land of Chinese culture, particularly in ancient historical contexts, as distinguished from non-Chinese barbarians)
- 華夏古樂/华夏古乐 ― huáxià gǔyuè ― ancient music of the Chinese nation
- China
Synonyms
- 中 (abbreviation)
- 中共 (Zhōnggòng) (Taiwan, derogatory)
- 中共國 / 中共国 (zhōnggòngguó) (derogatory)
- 中原 (Zhōngyuán)
- 中國 / 中国 (Zhōngguó)
- 中華 / 中华 (Zhōnghuá)
- 九州 (Jiǔzhōu) (literary)
- 唐山 (Tángshān)
- 域中 (yùzhōng) (literary, figurative)
- 大朝 (archaic)
- 天下 (tiānxià) (lofty)
- 天朝 (Tiāncháo) (historical or Internet slang)
- 契弟 (qìdì) (Hong Kong, Internet slang, derogatory)
- 德祐 (Déyòu) (Myanmar)
- 支那 (Zhīnà) (obsolete, now usually derogatory or offensive)
- 桃花石 (Táohuāshí) (obsolete)
- 牆國 / 墙国 (qiángguó) (Taiwan, derogatory, sarcastic)
- 猜拿 (Cāiná) (transliteration of English China)
- 祖國 / 祖国 (zǔguó)
- 神土 (historical)
- 神州 (Shénzhōu) (literary)
- 種花家 / 种花家 (Zhònghuājiā) (slang, humorous)
- 終國 / 终国 (derogatory)
- 脂那 (Zhīnà) (obsolete)
- 至那 (Zhìnà) (obsolete)
- 華 / 华 (abbreviation)
- 華夏 / 华夏 (Huáxià)
- 虫國 (chóngguó) (Hong Kong, offensive, Internet slang)
- 蚛蟈 / 蚛蝈 (Hong Kong, offensive, Internet slang)
- 諸夏 / 诸夏 (Zhūxià)
- 諸華 / 诸华 (Zhūhuá)
- 貴支 / 贵支 (guìzhī) (Mainland China, Internet slang, neologism, derogatory, sarcastic, offensive)
- 贏國 / 赢国 (Hong Kong, humorous, derogatory, sarcastic)
- 赤縣 / 赤县 (Chìxiàn) (literary)
- 赤縣神州 / 赤县神州 (Chìxiàn Shénzhōu) (literary)
- 震旦 (Zhèndàn) (archaic)
Compounds
Descendants
Korean
Noun
華夏 • (hwaha) (hangeul 화하)
- hanja form? of 화하 (“China”)