Definition
花旗 is an older Chinese name for the United States, literally 'flower flag,' derived from the star-and-stripe pattern of the U.S. flag. It survives in modern Chinese in fixed compound terms such as 花旗银行 (Citibank) and 花旗参 (American ginseng), but for most contexts today 美国 is the standard term. You might also encounter 花旗 as a poetic or historical reference in literature or news.
n.
(historical or literary) the United States
noun
Star-Spangled Banner (the U.S. flag)
Examples
- 花旗。Tā céng zài huā qí yínháng gōngzuò guò wǔ nián.He once worked at Citibank for five years.
- 花旗。Zhè zhǒng huā qí shēn de jiàgé bǐ pǔtōng rénshēn gāo hěnduō.This type of American ginseng costs much more than regular ginseng.
- 花旗。Shíjiǔ shìjì yǒu xǔduō Huárén yímín dào huā qí guó.In the 19th century, many Chinese immigrants moved to the United States (this country).
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