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
戦前の地図には「シナ」と書かれていることがある。
Pre-war maps sometimes have 'Shina' written on them.
「支那そば」という料理名は今でも一
The dish name 'Shina soba' is still used in some places today.
支那 is the fuller historical term for China from which 支 is abbreviated, and both are now considered offensive.
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