What does "fukien" mean?
A (member of a) group of Han Chinese people whose traditional ancestral homes are in southern Fujian, South China, especially those that ancestrally spoke the Hokkien language.
Fukien
/ˈfuːˈkjɛn/ adj, name, noun
adj, name, noun ·Uncommon ·Advanced level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A (member of a) group of Han Chinese people whose traditional ancestral homes are in southern Fujian, South China, especially those that ancestrally spoke the Hokkien language.
- Grammar: fukien is listed as adj, name, noun.
- Nearest alternatives: amoy, amoy, amoy language, fookien.
- Usage evidence: On April 27, 12 fishermen from a trawler of the Hsinhuatai Co. in Keelung City, Taiwan Province, that had sunk near the island of Tungyin because of an engine breakdown were rescued by fishermen of the Haifeng Brigade of the Huangchi People's Commune in Lienchiang County, Fukien Province.
How to use "fukien"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "fukien" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "fukien" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "fukien" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "fukien" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "fukien" is acting as adj, name, noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "amoy" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "fukien", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A (member of a) group of Han Chinese people whose traditional ancestral homes are in southern Fujian, South China, especially those that ancestrally spoke the Hokkien language. Philippines
"The Fukiens are to-day the most numerous of the Chinese race in Johore, Kelantan and the Straits Settlements. Taking British Malaya as a whole, there are 39 Chinese in every hundred of the population, while the percentage of Malays is 37.5 ..."
- 2 any of the forms of Chinese spoken in Fukien province wordnet
Adjective
- 1 Of or relating to the province of Fujian in China, the Fujianese people, or the Hokkien language. not-comparable
"A few more Fukien figures and groups are included in the porcelain showing European influences in Bay VI; and it is curious to note that in several cases the European figure is apparently credited with divine attributes."
Proper Noun
- 1 Alternative form of Fujian. alt-of, alternative, dated
"On April 27, 12 fishermen from a trawler of the Hsinhuatai Co. in Keelung City, Taiwan Province, that had sunk near the island of Tungyin because of an engine breakdown were rescued by fishermen of the Haifeng Brigade of the Huangchi People's Commune in Lienchiang County, Fukien Province."
- 2 The Hokkien language. Hong-Kong, Philippines
"I thought it was faster than what they taught in school, but I've forgotten how to speak Fukien."
- 3 any Sinitic variety spoken in the Fujian province of China, particularly Hokkien or Foochow varieties. Hong-Kong
"Other than Cantonese and Putonghua, the three most common Chinese dialects spoken by the Hong Kong population were Hakka, Fukien and Chiu Chau."
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"On April 27, 12 fishermen from a trawler of the Hsinhuatai Co. in Keelung City, Taiwan Province, that had sunk near the island of Tungyin because of an engine breakdown were rescued by fishermen of the Haifeng Brigade of the Huangchi People's Commune in Lienchiang County, Fukien Province."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "fukien"?
Common synonyms include: amoy, amoy, amoy language, fookien, fujianese, fukien language.
How do you use "fukien" in a sentence?
On April 27, 12 fishermen from a trawler of the Hsinhuatai Co. in Keelung City, Taiwan Province, that had sunk near the island of Tungyin because of an engine breakdown were rescued by fishermen of the Haifeng Brigade of the Huangchi People's Commune in Lienchiang County, Fukien Province.
How do you pronounce "fukien"?
Pronounced /ˈfuːˈkjɛn/.
Etymology
From the Postal Romanization of the Nanjing court dialect Mandarin 福建 (Fújiàn), from before the modern palatalization of [k] to [t͡ɕ]. Doublet of Hokkien. Compare Spanish Fokien, Portuguese Foquiem.