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满洲 (Mǎn zhōu) — Manchuria (historical region in Northeast China); Manchu (the ethnic group that founded the Qing dynasty)

Definition

Historical name for the Manchuria region in Northeast China; also refers to the Manchu ethnic group (the rulers of the Qing dynasty). Today learners will more often meet 东北 for the region itself.

noun
Manchuria (historical region in Northeast China)Manchu (the ethnic group that founded the Qing dynasty)

Examples

  • 满洲。
    Mǎn zhōu Zài lì shǐ shàng céng shì yí gè zhòng yào de dì qū.
    Manchuria was once an important region in history.
  • 满洲。
    Mǎn zhōu De yǔ yán shǔ yú tōng gǔ sī yǔ xì.
    The Manchu language belongs to the Tungusic language family.
  • 满洲。
    Xiàn zài rén men yì bān yòng dōng běi lái zhǐ dài Mǎn zhōu dì qū.
    Nowadays people generally use 'Northeast' to refer to the Manchuria region.

Origin

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 滿; 满 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
水水shuǐwater
Sound part声符shēngfú
㒼
㒼㒼滿mǎn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 滿 pairs 水, showing water, with 㒼, giving the sound. The simplified 满 is a later shorthand, not the original shape.

Open 满 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
水水shuǐwater
Sound part声符shēngfú
州
州zhōu洲zhōu
Same sound today

洲 is built from 水 (water) and 州, which gives the sound.

Open 洲 →
Appears in
China — PlacesEthnic Groups & Nationalities

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