xinhua
Rare in general English; common in geopolitical, media, or Sinological contexts.Formal, journalistic, academic.
Definition
Meaning
The official state-run news agency of the People's Republic of China.
Often used as a prefix in the names of Chinese state media or cultural organizations, such as Xinhua News Agency, Xinhua Bookstore, or Xinhua Dictionary.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The term is a proper noun, the name of a specific organization. It is not used generically. It is often used in English as part of the phrase 'Xinhua News Agency' to distinguish it from other news agencies like Reuters or AP.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences; both varieties use it as the proper name of the Chinese agency. Spelling 'agency' vs. 'organisation' is possible.
Connotations
Connotes state-controlled media, official Chinese government perspective, and geopolitical reporting.
Frequency
Equal frequency in both varieties within relevant specialist discourse (international relations, media studies).
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Xinhua] + verb (reported, said, announced)[According to] + Xinhua[Report from] + XinhuaVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “As reported by Xinhua”
- “The Xinhua line (meaning the official government stance)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used in market analysis reports citing Chinese economic data or policy announcements.
Academic
Used in political science, media studies, and Sinology papers as a primary source for Chinese official stance.
Everyday
Virtually never used in casual conversation except when discussing Chinese news.
Technical
Used in journalism and international relations to specify a source.
Examples
By Part of Speech
adjective
British English
- The Xinhua report was widely circulated.
- He is a Xinhua correspondent based in London.
American English
- The Xinhua article presented the official view.
- She quoted a Xinhua source in her analysis.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Xinhua is a news agency from China.
- I read about the event in a Xinhua news article.
- According to Xinhua, the economic growth target has been met.
- While Western agencies highlighted the protests, Xinhua's coverage focused exclusively on the official ceremony.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'XIN' (like the beginning of 'China') and 'HUA' (like 'hua' in 'zhonghua' meaning Chinese). Together, they mean 'New China', which is the agency's full name.
Conceptual Metaphor
SOURCE IS AUTHORITY (e.g., 'Xinhua announced' implies an official, authoritative declaration).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not translate it. It is a proper name (like 'Reuters'). Translating it as 'Новый Китай' in a news text would be incorrect; use 'Синьхуа'.
- Do not confuse with 'novosti' (news) – Xinhua is the specific organization, not the general concept.
Common Mistakes
- Using it as a common noun (e.g., 'a xinhua' is wrong).
- Misspelling as 'Xinghua', 'Xinhau'.
- Incorrect capitalisation (should always be capitalised 'Xinhua').
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'Xinhua' most appropriately used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is short for 'Xinhua News Agency', where 'Xinhua' (新华) means 'New China'.
No, it is a state-run agency and is considered the official voice of the Chinese government.
No, it is only a proper noun referring to the specific agency. You cannot say 'I saw the xinhua'; you must say 'I saw the Xinhua report'.
It is commonly pronounced /ʃɪnˈhwɑː/, roughly 'shin-HWAH'.