English

Alternative forms

• (dated): Ch'in
• (obsolete): Tsin
• (proscribed): Chin

Proper noun

Qin

1. An ancient feudal state of China that existed between 778 and 207 BC.
2. The first imperial dynasty of China, lasting from 221 to 207 BC.

Translations

Derived terms

• China

See also

• Tang
• Han
• Jin
• Xin

Portuguese

Etymology

Borrowing from Mandarin 秦 ‎(Qín).

Proper noun

Qin m pl

1. Qin (ancient Chinese dynasty)

Proper noun

Qin m

1. Qin (an ancient empire in China)

English

Noun

qin ‎(plural qins)

1. (music) Any of several traditional Chinese musical instruments, most commonly the seven-stringed instrument more specifically called the guqin.
   • 1989, Zhongguo fu li hui, Chung-kuo fu li hui, China Reconstructs

     ... there was no longer anyone worth playing his qin for, so he broke his instrument and never played again. The guqin was also a means of expressing love.

   • 2006, Dana Standridge, Lessons in Essence: A Novel

     He makes his qin students take calligraphy with him, and calligraphy and painting students play the qin.

See also

• Appendix:Glossary of chordophones

Mandarin

Romanization

qin

1. Nonstandard spelling of qīn.
2. Nonstandard spelling of qín.
3. Nonstandard spelling of qǐn.
4. Nonstandard spelling of qìn.

Usage notes

• English transcriptions of Mandarin speech often fail to distinguish between the critical tonal differences employed in the Mandarin language, using words such as this one without the appropriate indication of tone.