北京

Pronunciation

Proper noun

北京

1. northern capital
   1. [5^th century CE] Jiankang (capital of Liu Song dynasty)—in modern-day Nanjing, Jiangsu province
   2. [5^th century CE] Jingkou (birthplace of Liu Song dynasty)—in modern-day Zhenjiang, Jiangsu province
   3. [5^th century CE] Pingcheng (capital of Northern Wei dynasty)—in modern-day Datong, Shanxi province
   4. [8^th–10^th centuries CE] Taiyuan Fu (birthplace of Tang dynasty and many subsequent states)—in modern-day Taiyuan, Shanxi province
   5. [11^th century CE] Daming Fu (visited by Emperor Zhenzong)—in modern-day Handan, Hebei province
   6. [12^th century CE] Shangjing Linhuang Fu (one of the capitals of Jin dynasty)—in modern-day Chifeng, Inner Mongolia
   7. [12^th century CE] Zhongdu (one of the capitals of Jin dynasty)—in modern-day Beijing
   8. [14^th century CE] Kaifeng Fu (Ming dynasty)—in modern-day Kaifeng, Henan province
   9. [since 15^th century CE] (～市) Beijing (capital of Ming, Qing, ROC formerly and now PRC)

      The name was chosen by the Yongle Emperor to distinguish the city from 南京 (Nánjīng, “Nanjing; southern capital”).

      • 中國的首都是北京。 [MSC, trad.]
        中国的首都是北京。 [MSC, simp.]

        Zhōngguó de shǒudū shì Běijīng. [Pinyin]

        The capital of China is Beijing.

See also

• Other capitals in the Four Great Ancient Capitals of China: 南京 (Nánjīng) — 洛陽／洛阳 (Luòyáng) — 西安 (Xī'ān)
• Other directions: 南京 (Nánjīng, “southern capital”) — 東京／东京 (Dōngjīng, “eastern capital”) — 西京 (Xījīng, “western capital”)

Etymology 1

From dialectal Chinese 北京 (literally “northern capital”)

Etymology 2

References

Proper noun

北京 • (Bukgyeong) (hangeul 북경)

1. Hanja form^? of 북경 (“Beijing”).

Proper noun

北京

1. Hán tự form of Bắc Kinh, “Beijing”