Sianfu

English

Etymology

From the Postal Romanization of Mandarin 西安府 (Xī'ān fǔ), from Xi'an's former status as the center of a military commandery, 府 (fǔ).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈsiː.ɑn.fu/, /ˈʃiː.ɑn.fu/

Proper noun

Sianfu

1. (obsolete) Synonym of Xi'an: the provincial capital of Shaanxi in central China.
   • 1811, John Pinkerton, A General Collection of the Best and Most Interesting Voyages and Travels in All Parts of the World‎^[1], volume 7, page 150:

     Sianfu is a noble and great city in the province of Mangi, and hath twelve rich and great cities under her juriſdiction.

   • 1941, Edgar Snow, The Battle for Asia, New York: Random House, page 26:

     As we rode slowly over the Lunghai Line toward Sianfu, across the brown sun-baked plains of Northern Honan, soon to be flooded when the Chinese breached the Yellow River dikes to stop the advancing Yellow Horde, we passed many troop trains en-route to the front.