Pékin
/pe.kɛ̃/masculine
The French word for Beijing is Pékin.
Pékin is the name used for the capital of China.
Meaning: capital of China (name)
How does it change in a sentence?
When you want to say you are in or going to Beijing, use the preposition à before Pékin, as in à Pékin.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /pe.kɛ̃/. It has 2 syllables.
Did you know?
- The term pékin is sometimes used in French slang to describe a clumsy or naive person, similar to the English 'rubes'.
- The French name Pékin preserves an older pronunciation of the city's name from the Nanking court dialect before certain sounds shifted in modern Mandarin.
- While Pékin is the traditional French name, the official French government and media increasingly use the form Beijing to align with international standards.
Examples in context
- Maintenant je vis à Pékin.I live in Beijing now.This sentence is useful for expressing where you currently live.Tatoeba #6467293 by lapinhibou, translation #4728101 by paper1n0
- Pékin est plus grand que Rome.Beijing is bigger than Rome.This sentence is useful for comparing the size of Beijing to Rome.Tatoeba #889507 by U2FS, translation #632368 by CN
- J'apprends le chinois à Pékin.I’m learning Chinese in Beijing.This sentence is useful for stating where you are learning Chinese.Tatoeba #1428347 by Aiji, translation #895910 by pauldhunt
- 14 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are looking at a map in a café.
- ManonTu veux aller à Pékin ?Do you want to go to Beijing?
- HugoOui, Pékin est une ville magnifique.Yes, Beijing is a magnificent city.
- ManonHugo, c'est un grand projet pour toi.Hugo, it is a big project for you.
- HugoJe suis prêt à partir.I am ready to leave.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “beijing” translations and entries Pékin, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Pékin, pékin, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
