Interactions between different cultures are
inevitably followed by the mutual borrowing of words. On the heels of the increasingly close
contacts between China and the outside, and the continual rise of Chinese
influence in the world, international society has become more and more aware of
and knowledgeable about China. As a
result, a number of words specific to China in the areas of government,
economy, and culture have, in seemingly unconscious fashion, entered into the
English language.
There are essentially two ways in which
Chinese terms enter into English: one is directly, with words such as shaolin, yin-yang, jiaozi, xiaokang; another is through loan
translations, such as “Chinese dream,” and “Belt and Road.” The 70 words
selected for this work both represent traditional Chinese culture as well as
reflect new concepts and innovations in China.
The work employs definitions found in authoritative English language
dictionaries as well as examples from mainstream media, which both provide
strong evidence for their usage and also bring the examples close to home for
the reader.