beijing: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Formal, Neutral
Quick answer
What does “beijing” mean?
The capital city of the People's Republic of China, located in northern China.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The capital city of the People's Republic of China, located in northern China.
Can refer metonymically to the central government of China; in a culinary or cultural context, refers to styles or dishes originating from Beijing (e.g., Beijing duck).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
None. Spelling and usage are identical.
Connotations
Associated with modern Chinese politics, history (e.g., Forbidden City), and culture. No regional connotative differences.
Frequency
Equally frequent in both UK and US contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “beijing” in a Sentence
[Proper Noun][Attributive Noun] + [Noun] (e.g., Beijing traffic)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “beijing” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The Beijing traffic is notoriously heavy.
- A Beijing-based correspondent filed the report.
American English
- Beijing traffic is famously congested.
- A Beijing-based journalist reported the story.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in trade, finance, and political contexts (e.g., 'The Beijing office handles Asia-Pacific operations.').
Academic
Used in geography, history, political science, and cultural studies contexts.
Everyday
Used in travel, news, and general conversation (e.g., 'We're flying to Beijing next month.').
Technical
In cartography, meteorology (climate data), and urban planning.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “beijing”
Neutral
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “beijing”
- Misspelling as 'Bejing' or 'Beijin'.
- Using 'Peking' in modern formal writing.
- Incorrect capitalisation (e.g., writing 'beijing').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, they refer to the same city. 'Beijing' is the modern Pinyin romanisation, while 'Peking' is an older postal romanisation. 'Beijing' is standard in contemporary English.
Yes, always. It is a proper noun, the name of a specific city.
No significant difference. Both generally use /ˌbeɪˈdʒɪŋ/.
Yes, attributively (e.g., Beijing cuisine, Beijing authorities). It does not inflect like a typical adjective.
The capital city of the People's Republic of China, located in northern China.
Beijing is usually formal, neutral in register.
Beijing: in British English it is pronounced /ˌbeɪˈdʒɪŋ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌbeɪˈdʒɪŋ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “From Beijing to Boston (meaning: globally, from one major city to another)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'BEI'ginning in China – Beijing is the capital where many things begin.
Conceptual Metaphor
Often a CONTAINER for policy/authority (e.g., 'Beijing announced new regulations').
Practice
Quiz
Which is the modern, standard English name for the Chinese capital?