【摘要】 本文从词源和历史发展的角度论证了英语中China一词起源于春秋时期 (公元前 770— 4 76年 )的秦国国名“秦” ,而非秦朝 (公元前 2 2 1— 2 0 6年 )的“秦”。“秦”字首先进入波斯语成为Chin ,再经波斯语进入梵语成为Cina和Chinasthana ,最后经梵语进入英语成为China。英语中Cathay一词则是音译自 10世纪至 13世纪期间我国北方契丹国 (辽 )的国名“契丹” ,经阿拉伯语而进入英语的。更多还原

【Abstract】 This paper argues from the aspects of etymology and historical development that the word “China” originated in the name of the Qin State in the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476B C.) rather than in that of the Qin Dynasty(221-206 B C.).The words “Cina” and “Chinasthana” in Sanskrit were borrowed from “Chin” in Persian which had been the transliteration of the character “秦”(Qin) in Chinese and then into English as “China”.The article also attempts to prove that the word “Chthay” was transliterated into English,by way of Arabic, from “Khyattan”, a name of the state in North China (also known as the Liao Dynasty)in between the 10th and 13th century. [更多还原