Sino-

before vowels Sin-, word-forming element meaning "Chinese," 1879, from Late Latin Sinæ (plural) "the Chinese," from Ptolemaic Greek Sinai, from Arabic Sin "China," which is probably from Chinese Ch'in (modern transliteration Qin), name of the fourth dynasty of China (see China). The alternative Sinico- is from the combining form Medieval Latin Sinicus.

updated on November 19, 2022