What's in a Name?
Chinese Rivers, Cities, and Provinces
Back to Elementary-level Resources: China or China: 1000 BCE to 300 CE
Using only these translated forms and a physical/political map of China, find the meanings of the names of as many provinces, cities, and natural features as possible.
Examples:
Beijing = Northern Capital
Nanjing = _______ Capital
Shanghai = ____________
Huanghe = Yellow _________
Hainan Island = ________ Sea Island
Provinces: What do the following provincial names mean?
Guangdong = ____________________ Hebei = ____________________ Jiangxi = _______________________ Henan = ____________________ Shandong = _____________________ Yunnan = ____________________ Shanxi = _______________________ Sichuan = ____________________
Note: Each number in brackets next to the pinyin transliterations below indicates the tone used to pronounce the word. For example, [1] indicates an even tone and [2] a rising tone. For more on the four tones, see The Chinese Language.
| Pinyin | (Wade-Giles) | Meaning in English |
| zhong [1] | (chung) | middle |
| hai [3] | (hai) | sea |
| he [2] | (ho) | river/stream |
| jiang [1] | (chiang) | river/stream |
| chuan [1] | (ch'uan) | river/stream |
| hu [2] | (hu) | lake |
| huang [2] | (hwang) | yellow |
| jing [1] | (king/ching) | capital |
| guang [3] | (kuang) | wide/broad |
| gui [4] | (kwei) | honored |
| liao [2] | (liao) | distant |
| lin [2] | (lin) | woods |
| ling [3] | (ling) | range |
| nan [2] | (nan) | south |
| bei [3] | (pei) | north |
| ping [2] | (p'ing) | peace |
| ning [2] | (ning) | peace |
| an [1] | (an) | peace |
| po [1] | (p'o) | slope |
| sha [1] | (sha) | sand |
| shan [1] | (shan) | mountain |
| shang [4] | (sheng) | above/upon |
| shen [3] | (shen) | a surname |
| xi [1] | (hsi) | west |
| si [4] | (sze/szu) | four |
| tian [1] | (t'ien) | heaven |
| jin [1] | (tsin/chin) | ferry/ford |
| dong [1] | (tung) | east |
| yun [2] | (yun) | clouds |
| yang [2] | (yang) | sun |
Note to the teacher: In some cases the above translations are approximations and are, as such, acceptable for the purposes of this exercise.
Acknowledgments: This unit was prepared by the China in Schools Program,
Center for War and Peace Studies, University of Denver, Colorado.
Back to Elementary-level Resources: China or China: 1000 BCE to 300 CE
