中國
Tiong-kok
The Hokkien word for China is 中國 (Tiong-kok).
中國 is used to refer to the country in East Asia.
Meaning: country in East Asia (name)
What does it mean word for word?
The first character, 中, means middle.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the Taiwanese Hokkien dialect, China is typically pronounced as Tiong-kok.
How do you pronounce it?
Tiong-kok
Did you know?
- While 中國 is the formal name, in some Hokkien-speaking contexts, people may use historical names like 神州 to refer to the land poetically.
- The character 國 in 中國 originally depicted a perimeter surrounding a plot of land, symbolizing a walled city or state.
- While 中國 means 'Middle Kingdom', the word 中 is also used in Hokkien to describe the 'center' of a physical object or a 'medium' size for clothing.
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about their vacation plans.
- 曉雯 Hiau-bun國強，你明年要去中國嗎？Kók-kiông, lí bîng-niân beh khì Tiong-kok–má?Guoqiang, are you going to China next year?
- 國強 Kok-kiang是的，我想去北京看看。Sī ê, guá siáng khì Pek-king khuànn-khàn.Yes, I want to visit Beijing.
- 曉雯 Hiau-bun中國有很多漂亮的風景。Tiong-kok ú-ū chin chhéng-sió ê fēng-kíng.China has many beautiful landscapes.
- 國強 Kok-kiang我也這麼覺得。guá iā án-ne kám-kak.I think so too.
