亞洲 / 亚洲
yàzhōu
Asia in Mandarin is 亞洲 / 亚洲 (yàzhōu). Wiktionary also lists 亞細亞 / 亚细亚 (Yàxìyà).
Meaning: the continent of Asia (name)
Ways to say it
| Mandarin | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 亞洲 / 亚洲 | yàzhōu | |
| 亞細亞 / 亚细亚 | Yàxìyà | dated |
| 亞洲 / 亚洲 | A-chiu | Hokkien |
This term refers to the continent of Asia.
Which one should you use?
亞細亞 / 亚细亚 is a dated form.
How do you pronounce it?
A-chiu
Did you know?
- The older form 亞細亞 first appeared in Chinese records in the 1602 map 'Kunyu Wanguo Quantu' created by the Jesuit Matteo Ricci.
- The character 亞 /yà used in the name for 'Asia' is often used as a prefix meaning 'second' or 'sub-', which can lead to a literal interpretation of 'second Asia' if one does not know it is a phonetic choice.
- The common term 亞洲 / 亚洲 is a hybrid construction that attaches the suffix 洲 /zhōu, meaning 'continent', to the phonetic transliteration of 'Asia'.
Examples in context
- 亚洲是世界上最大的洲之一。Asia is one of the largest continents in the world.
- 东亚有着丰富的历史和文化。East Asia has a rich history and culture.
- 亚细亚是东方文明的发源地之一。Asia is one of the cradles of Eastern civilization.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “asia” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 亞洲, 亞細亞, CC BY-SA 4.0.
