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Definition of xianyang
xianyang
/ʃjænˈjɑːŋ/
Xian · yang
xianyang Lexical Profile
CEFR
C2
Grade
10
Tier
3
Usage
Rare
• noun
1
A major prefecture-level city in Shaanxi province, central China, situated along the Wei River and highly significant in history as the capital of the Qin dynasty.
Example
"While visiting Shaanxi province, the students traveled to Xianyang to explore its ancient ruins and learn about the first imperial dynasty of China."
• Rhymes for xianyang
Word Origin & Etymology
From Mandarin Chinese Xiányáng (咸阳). In traditional Chinese topography, 'yang' refers to the south of a mountain or the north of a river. The city is located south of Mount Jiuzong and north of the Wei River, fulfilling both criteria and thus becoming 'completely yang' (xian).
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.
180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Xianyang. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 15, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/xianyang