Sinologists

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Scholars who concentrate on the academic examination of Chinese language, culture, history, and society
2. Researchers who explore the intricacies of Chinese civilizations, including art, politics, and social norms
3. Individuals specialized in studying all aspects of China, such as its language, literature, culture, and history

Etymology: "Sinologists" is the plural of "sinologist," a noun for an expert on China. Its parts are "sino-," from the Latin combining form of "Sina," China, and "-logist," meaning a student of or expert in a field, from "-logy." The "-ist" ending marks a person who practises or studies something, so the "sinologist" is someone who studies China. The word is a modern formation built from classical elements rather than an ancient term. Its base, "sinology," is the study of China, and the pattern follows the familiar model of words such as "geologist" or "biologist," where a Greek-derived field name takes "-logist" for the person who works in it.

Synonyms: China experts