china
“china” means “Chinese woman” in Spanish. It has 5 different meanings depending on context:
Chinese woman, woman from China
Also: female Chinese national
📝 In Action
La nueva estudiante es china y habla tres idiomas.
A1The new student is a Chinese woman and speaks three languages.
¿Conoces a alguna china que viva cerca de aquí?
A2Do you know any Chinese women who live close to here?
Chinese
📝 In Action
Compramos porcelana china muy antigua.
A1We bought very antique Chinese porcelain.
La sopa china es mi favorita para el invierno.
A2Chinese soup is my favorite for the winter.
pebble, gravel
Also: piece of gravel
📝 In Action
Le tiró una china pequeña al perro para que corriera.
B1He threw a small pebble at the dog so it would run.
Hay muchas chinas en el camino de tierra.
B2There is a lot of gravel/many small stones on the dirt road.
orange
Also: sweet orange
📝 In Action
Quiero un vaso de jugo de china fresca.
B2I want a glass of fresh orange juice.
Compré cinco chinas dulces en el mercado.
C1I bought five sweet oranges at the market.
young woman
Also: girl
📝 In Action
Qué linda esa china que trabaja en la cafetería.
C1What a pretty girl/young woman who works at the cafeteria. (Río de la Plata slang)
Las chinas vinieron a preguntar por el camino.
C2The girls came to ask for directions.
Translate to Spanish
Words that translate to "china" in Spanish:
chinese woman→girl→gravel→pebble→sweet orange→young woman→✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: china
Question 1 of 2
In Spain, if someone says, 'El coche golpeó una china,' what did the car hit?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
The most common meanings trace back to the country name 'China,' which entered Spanish through Portuguese and Italian from Persian, ultimately referring to the Qin Dynasty (c. 221 BC). The regional meanings for 'pebble' and 'girl' developed separately, likely through dialectal changes or borrowings from regional indigenous languages.
First recorded: Mid-16th century (in reference to the country/people)
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'china' the correct word for the country?
No, the country is always 'China' (capitalized). 'China' (lowercase) is the person or the adjective.
Why does 'china' mean 'orange' in Puerto Rico?
This is a fascinating regional variation! While 'naranja' is standard Spanish for orange, in Puerto Rico and parts of the Caribbean, 'china' is the preferred word for the sweet orange. This likely came from the old phrase 'naranja de la China' (orange from China), which was shortened over time.