what do chinese people call china

Chinese people usually call China 中国 (Zhōngguó) , which literally means “central country” or “middle kingdom.”

What Do Chinese People Call China? (Quick Scoop)

The everyday name

In modern Mandarin, the most common name is:

• 中国 (Zhōngguó) – “central country” / “middle kingdom”

• This is what people say in daily life, on the news, in schools, and on maps.

• In English, this is simply “China.”

You might also see the full official name:

• 中华人民共和国 (Zhōnghuá Rénmín Gònghéguó) – “People’s Republic of China”
  • 中华 (Zhōnghuá) = “Chinese/civilizational China”

* 人民 (Rénmín) = “people”

* 共和国 (Gònghéguó) = “republic”

In everyday speech, people almost always shorten this to just 中国.

Other traditional and poetic names

Besides 中国, there are a few cultural or poetic names that Chinese people know and sometimes use:

• 中华 (Zhōnghuá) – stresses the cultural/civilizational idea of China, common in names like 中华民族 (“Chinese nation/people”).

• 华夏 (Huáxià) – an ancient term referring to early Chinese civilization; used in literature, history, or romantic/poetic contexts.

• 神州 (Shénzhōu) – “divine land”; a poetic or patriotic nickname (e.g., used in media, song lyrics, or spacecraft names).

• 九州 (Jiǔzhōu) – “nine provinces”; a classical way of referring to the Chinese realm.

These aren’t what someone would usually give on a customs form or passport, but people recognize them and may use them in speeches, brand names, or patriotic slogans.

How names changed over time

Historically, Chinese people often called their country by the name of the ruling dynasty:

• 大唐 (Dà Táng) – “Great Tang” during the Tang dynasty.

• 大明 (Dà Míng) – “Great Ming” during the Ming dynasty.

• 大清 (Dà Qīng) – “Great Qing” during the Qing dynasty.

The more general name 中国 existed in ancient times but became widely used as a national name in the modern era, especially from the late Qing and early Republic period onward.

Why English says “China”

In English and many other languages, “China” comes from words related to the Qin (秦, pronounced “Qin”) dynasty, via forms like Cina or Cīna-sthāna in Sanskrit.

Over centuries, that evolved into “China” in European languages, while Chinese speakers themselves kept using names like 中国 and 中华.

Quick reference table

Below is an HTML table as requested:

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<table>
  <thead>
    <tr>
      <th>Form</th>
      <th>Chinese Script</th>
      <th>Pinyin</th>
      <th>Meaning / Usage</th>
    </tr>
  </thead>
  <tbody>
    <tr>
      <td>Everyday name</td>
      <td>中国</td>
      <td>Zhōngguó</td>
      <td>“Central country” / “Middle Kingdom”; most common modern name used by Chinese people. [web:1][web:7][web:9][web:10]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Official full name</td>
      <td>中华人民共和国</td>
      <td>Zhōnghuá Rénmín Gònghéguó</td>
      <td>“People’s Republic of China”; formal state name of mainland China. [web:6][web:7][web:9]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Civilizational name</td>
      <td>中华</td>
      <td>Zhōnghuá</td>
      <td>Cultural/civilizational “China”; used in political and cultural phrases. [web:1][web:5][web:9]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Ancient civilizational term</td>
      <td>华夏</td>
      <td>Huáxià</td>
      <td>Refers to early Chinese civilization; now more historical/poetic. [web:1][web:5][web:9]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Poetic nickname</td>
      <td>神州</td>
      <td>Shénzhōu</td>
      <td>“Divine land”; used in poetic, patriotic, or symbolic contexts. [web:5][web:9]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Classical realm term</td>
      <td>九州</td>
      <td>Jiǔzhōu</td>
      <td>“Nine provinces”; classical way of referring to China’s territory. [web:5][web:9]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Dynastic names (historical)</td>
      <td>大唐, 大明, 大清</td>
      <td>Dà Táng, Dà Míng, Dà Qīng</td>
      <td>“Great Tang/Ming/Qing”; names used during each dynasty’s rule. [web:1][web:9]</td>
    </tr>
  </tbody>
</table>

TL;DR

Chinese people mainly call their country 中国 (Zhōngguó), meaning “central country,” and formally 中华人民共和国 (Zhōnghuá Rénmín Gònghéguó), the “People’s Republic of China,” with older and poetic alternatives like 中华, 华夏, 神州, and 九州 appearing in cultural or historical contexts.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.