Han

noun

ˈhän 

1

: a Chinese dynasty dated 206b.c.–a.d.220 and marked by centralized control through an appointive bureaucracy, a revival of learning, and the penetration of Buddhism

2

: the Chinese peoples especially as distinguished from non-Chinese (such as Mongolian) elements in the population

Word History

Etymology

Chinese (Beijing) Hàn

First Known Use

1736, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Geographical Definition

Han

geographical name

ˈhän 

1

river in the provinces of Shaanxi and Hubei, east central China, flowing southeast into the Chang (Yangtze) River

2

river about 300 miles (483 kilometers) long in north central South Korea flowing west and northwest into the Yellow Sea