中南半島

Chinese

peninsula
trad. (中南半島) 中南 半島
simp. (中南半岛) 中南 半岛
Literally: “the peninsula south of China”.

Etymology

Coined by Yu Youren in 1941, his intention being to displace 印度支那 (Yìndù-Zhīnà) since 支那 has undergone pejoration and become very offensive to Chinese people. Nowadays, some prefer to use this word, while most people find the old term inoffensive, which survives in historical use and fixed collocations, e.g. 印度支那虎 (Indochinese tiger), 印度支那戰爭 (literally Indochinese war) and so on.

Pronunciation


Proper noun

中南半島

  1. Indochinese Peninsula

Synonyms