Dated term for China, now often considered offensive, especially when written in kanji. Post-WWII, 中国 is the standard neutral term.
See also: 中国
Pre-war maps sometimes have 'Shina' written on them.
「支那そば」という料理名は今でも一部で使われている。
The dish name 'Shina soba' is still used in some places today.
Chinese person (offensive)
sinology; Chinese studies
Chinese dress
Chinese chestnut
Chinese person (derogatory slur)
seasoned bamboo shoots; menma
Chinese wisteria
Meretrix petechialis (species of hard clam)
Chinese language (obsolete, often offensive)
Katakana spelling is the usual written form; usually written in kana.
Kanji spelling is now considered offensive and is rarely used; it is dated and sensitive.
From Chinese 支那 (Zhīnà), itself a transliteration of Sanskrit चीन (Cīna). The term was historically neutral in Japanese but became pejorative after WWII.
Chinese-style soba; ramen