内地

• Pinyin: nèi dì
• Hanzi breakdown: 内 = inner/inside; 地 = earth/land. Interior or mainland territory.

Meaning

Mainland; interior; inland areas.

Has two main uses: 1) Mainland China as opposed to Hong Kong, Macau, or Taiwan (中国内地). 2) Inland areas as opposed to coastal regions. Context determines meaning. Common in news, entertainment, and business discussions comparing regions.

Examples

1. 这部电影在内地票房突破了二十亿。 This film's box office in mainland China exceeded two billion.
2. 他是香港人，但在内地工作了十多年。 He's from Hong Kong but has worked on the mainland for over ten years.
3. 沿海城市发展较快，内地省份正在加速追赶。 Coastal cities developed faster, and inland provinces are accelerating to catch up.

Usage Guide

Context: geography, media, business

Tone: descriptive

Do Say

• 内地市场很大。(The mainland market is very large.)
• 他来自内地。(He's from the mainland.)

Don't Say

• 在非中国语境中用内地指其他国家 (内地 in Chinese specifically refers to mainland China)

Origin & History

Compound of 内 (inside/inner) + 地 (land/territory). The inner territory.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal