American City Names in Mandarin
One thing that a lot of Chinese language learners in America miss out on is the proper way to write and pronounce the names of American cities. It isn't covered in HSK lists or other common language learning materials - those will usually only include a few Chinese cities, like Beijing (北京) or Shanghai (上海). If you go to Chinese tutors, they might cover non-HSK words like these, but it's not a certainty. And if you're trying to learn Chinese online? You have to explicitly search it out.
But what if you're an American visiting China and want to tell someone where you're from? Or you're taking a trip to America and want to express where you're going to Chinese colleagues or friends? It is important as a world traveler to know place names across the entire world - not just in the country you're learning the language of.
We felt it was important to list the large cities of the United States and how you would say them in Mandarin. We'll include both the Chinese characters as well as the pinyin, for people who might be unfamiliar with how to pronounce those characters. Most American city names in Chinese are just phonetic transliterations, but some of them have other meanings too.
Feel free to take a look at any of these names in our dictionary to break the names down into their constituent characters.
Here's a list of some of the most famous cities in America in Chinese:
New York City - 纽约
New York is the largest and probably the most famous city in America. The city that "never sleeps", the Big Apple - you've heard them all. New York in Chinese is fairly straight-forward: 纽约 or niǔ yuē.
New York is where you go when you want to make a name for yourself as an actor or musician. It's where your mother wants to take you shopping so that she can see what all the kids are wearing these days. It's where tourists flock from all over the world to see its famous landmarks like Times Square and Grand Central Terminal. In short, New York is synonymous with ambition and excitement.
Boston - 波士顿
Boston, 波士顿 or bō shì dùn, is a vibrant, historic gem where old meets bold new. Retrace revolutionary footsteps along cobblestone corridors lined with regal brownstones, before exploring innovative biotech and culinary scenes. From iconic attractions like the Freedom Trail to edgy art galleries and craft breweries, this compact city packs a huge punch. Distinct neighborhoods exude varied flavors - whether the North End's Italian flair or Harvard Square's funky vibes.
Despite its small size, Boston's academic pedigree and medical prowess place it at the global forefront of brilliant thought. With a rich tapestry of Americana fused with unstoppable ingenuity, Boston beckons visitors to discover its quintessential New England charm alongside its progressive dynamism.
San Francisco - 旧金山
San Francisco is the home of Silicon Valley, the Golden Gate Bridge, and major companies like Apple, Facebook/Meta, and Google/Alphabet. Pretty much anyone who anyone in tech knows someone working here. San Francisco actually has a unique name in Chinese, due to the fact that many Chinese immigrants came here in the 19th century to help in the Gold Rush. It's called 旧金山 or jiù jīn shān, which means "Old Gold Mountain".
Because it's such a large and important city, there are many places where people can visit while they're here. If you want to see some famous landmarks and museums, try visiting Fisherman's Wharf or Alcatraz Island for tourists who want photos with sea lions! You could also take an afternoon trip up north if you're feeling adventurous. There's also plenty more history waiting for those willing to search for it (and maybe even learn some Mandarin in Chinatown).
Chicago - 芝加哥
Chicago, or 芝加哥 or zhī jiā gē is a city in the state of Illinois, United States. Chicago is well known for its cold winters, being a transport hub across America, and being right on the shores of Lake Michigan (密歇根湖/mì xiē gēn hú). It's the third-largest city in America and the largest one in the Midwest region. Chicago has been named "the most American city".
It's home to some of America's biggest sports teams, including the Chicago Bulls basketball team, which is famous for its Michael Jordan era, the Chicago Bears football team, and the Chicago Cubs baseball team (known locally as "The Cubbies").
If you're into architecture there are plenty of buildings that will catch your eye too: Willis Tower (formerly known as Sears Tower) has held seven world records since its completion in 1974 including the tallest building until 2010 when it was overtaken by One World Trade Center. John Hancock Center is another skyscraper with an observation deck located at 986 ft above street level making it one of only two such towers outside New York City.
And don't forget about culture — Chicago has some great museums too! Shedd Aquarium houses 3500 animals from around 500 species while offering several exhibits showcasing what life looks like underwater using both dioramas and videos along with interactive displays where visitors can touch things like starfish or feel different types of coral reefs under their fingers. The Museum Of Science And Industry hosts more than 300 interactive exhibits. Finally, the Adler Planetarium & Astronomy Museum offers beautiful views outside but also showcases state-of-the-art technology inside its planetarium so visitors can learn about our universe through virtual simulations.
Los Angeles - 洛杉矶
Los Angeles is most famous for Hollywood and movie stars, so this is a place that is obviously talked about a lot in Chinese. The way you say this is 洛杉矶 or luò shān jī. Los Angeles is also the second-largest city in the United States and the most populous city in California.
The name "Los Angeles" derives from Spanish, and means "The Angels."
Las Vegas - 拉斯维加斯
Viva Las Vegas - Las Vegas is very obviously known for its famous strip, with a huge number of casinos. Vegas is mostly a party destination, and it has a lot of international travelers. To write Las Vegas in Chinese, you would write 拉斯维加斯 or lā sī wéi jiā sī. While there, you may want to talk to an Elvis (猫王/maowang - literally "Cat King") impersonator. In Mandarin, the word for "road" (路) and the word for "game" (棋) are both pronounced lu. So when you say Las Vegas in Chinese, it sounds like you're saying "the road game" (but not really).
Miami - 迈阿密
Miami is known for its warm beaches, fantastic nightlife, and Pitbull. Now, I'm not going to make a rousing defense of Pitbull and how you're wrong if you don't love him here (but you are), but I will tell you how to say Miami in Chinese - it's simple: 迈阿密 or mài ā mì.
The literal meaning of 迈 is “to move”, which can be interpreted as “moving forward”. Those who have ever visited there before would know that Miami does indeed have many things in common with the title of its Mandarin name - it's full of energy and people here all seem very cheerful!
Washington D.C. - 华盛顿特区
Washington DC is the capital of the United States federal government and is obviously an important name to know for any diplomat or anyone working for the State Department. To write Washington in Chinese, you say 华盛顿 or huá shèng dùn. This is also how you would say George Washington (乔治华盛顿/qiáo zhì huá shèng dùn).
The first thing you should know about Washington D.C. is that it's a special place. It's the capital of the United States. It is located next to southern Maryland and has a population just shy of 700,000 people — making it one of the smallest major metropolitan areas in America by population. The city was founded in 1790 when Congress moved from Philadelphia to the new location of Washington - mostly to mollify southern states.
Seattle - 西雅图
Seattle is best known for its many coffee shops and tech companies. Seattle is the home of Amazon, Microsoft, Starbucks, Grunge Music, and the Puget Sound. Also, the best Macklemore song - Downtown - (that nobody agrees with me about) is set there. The way to say Seattle in Chinese is 西雅图 or xī yǎ tú. The city is located in the Pacific Northwest on the west coast of Washington State.
Houston - 休斯顿
Houston is a big city. It's the largest city in Texas, the largest city in the southern United States. The city's economy is based primarily on its port as well as oil production. Other important industries include aerospace and biomedical research.
Houston has been home to NASA's Johnson Space Center ("Houston, we have a problem!"), since 1961, making it one of two locations on Earth where astronauts train for missions into space.
The way you write Houston in Chinese is 休斯顿 or xiū sī dùn. The Chinese character that makes up part of the name of this city is 休 (pronounced xiū), which means "to rest."
Atlanta - 亚特兰大
Atlanta is a major city located in the south of the United States. It is the capital city of Georgia and is known for its history as a railroad hub and a major industrial center. However, it's also becoming more and more famous for its high-tech industry — the headquarters of CNN, Turner Broadcasting Systems (TBS), Coca-Cola (可口可乐) Enterprises, and Delta Air Lines are all located here. The oldest continuously operating cinema in America can be found on Peachtree Street downtown: The Plaza Theatre has been showing movies since 1917!
The way you say Atlanta in Chinese is 亚特兰大 or yà tè lán dà.
Phoenix - 凤凰城
Definitely the hottest city on this list - Phoenix. Phoenix is known for being in the middle of the Sonoran Desert (索诺兰沙漠/suǒ nuò lán shā mò), having a ton of cacti (仙人掌/xiān rén zhǎng) and a "Wild West" spirit. Personally, I'd listen to Jay Chou's 牛仔很忙/Cowboy's Very Busy when visiting here. To write Phoenix in Chinese you say 凤凰城 or fèng huáng chéng.
Note that 凤凰 means phoenix, which is a mythological creature that exists in Chinese culture as well.
Phoenix is the capital of Arizona and one of the fastest-growing cities in the United States. In fact, with an estimated 4.5 million residents overall (including its surrounding metro area), Phoenix is one of the largest cities in America. The city's growth has been fueled by a thriving economy — Phoenix is home to many major corporations like GoDaddy, U-Haul, and PetSmart, as well as an up-and-coming tech scene. Phoenix's climate makes it ideal for outdoor recreation like hiking and biking, which attracts visitors from all over the world during the winter when temperatures aren't freaking insane.
There are so many things to do in Phoenix — including hiking Camelback Mountain (the city's tallest mountain - I used to live right next to it!), visiting Sedona (about an hour's drive away) with its special red rocks, or going to nearby Tonto National Forest.
But be careful! Phoenix is also home to over 300 days per year with temperatures above 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32 Celsius), making it an extremely hot location!
Philadelphia - 费城
Philadelphia, the City of Brotherly Love, has a population of 1.5 million, making it the largest city in Pennsylvania. It is also home to the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall - two iconic sites that are visited by millions each year.
Famed educational institutions including The University of Pennsylvania, Drexel University, and Temple University call Philadelphia their home as well.
Philadelphia is the home of Benjamin Franklin (本杰明·富兰克林), the first capital of the US, Rocky, and the fictional Paddy's Pub (though there is a restaurant based on it!). The way you say Philadelphia in Chinese is 费城 or fèi chéng.
Philadelphia is known for its passionate sports fans who have supported major league teams including the NFL Philadelphia Eagles, MLB Philadelphia Phillies, and NBA Philadelphia 76ers since their inception into the league.
San Diego - 圣地亚哥
San Diego, which has pretty much the best weather of just about anywhere, is known as a hub for beaches, zoos, and manufacturing. To say San Diego in Chinese, you would write 圣地亚哥 or shèng dì yà gē.
This city, located on the coast of California, is known for its mild climate and beautiful beaches. Like many American cities that attract tourists from around the world, there are plenty of opportunities to learn about San Diego's history through visiting museums and participating in activities like surfing and hiking. In addition to its natural beauty, this port city serves as a popular retirement destination for retirees from China who want to live near their families but don't want to leave their homeland behind completely.
San Diego is the second-largest city in California and the eighth-largest city in the United States (out of 100). The name translates to "Saint James", the brother of Jesus. The population of San Diego is about 1 million people, so it's not too large compared to other megacities like Shanghai or Chongqing — but on an American scale, it still qualifies as one of the biggest cities around!
Denver - 丹佛
Denver is the highest major city in America (and they're proud of it too!). Surrounded by mountains, and with a super health-conscious lifestyle. The way to say Denver in Chinese is 丹佛 or dān fú.
Detroit - 底特律
Detroit, the motor city. Also, the city I was born in, so you know, by default the best. Detroit is still a major manufacturing hub, and has plenty of Chinese vendors flying in all the time, especially for the Detroit Auto Show, so Chinese knowledge is definitely valuable here too. To say Detroit in Chinese, you would write 底特律 or dǐ tè lǜ.
Salt Lake City - 盐湖城
Salt Lake City is named after... uh... I think maybe a kinda big lake, that is sorta salty? Anyway, Salt Lake City is the largest city in Utah, and also the home of the Latter Day Saints (colloquially referred to as "Mormons"). To say Salt Lake City in Chinese, it's pretty much a direct translation of each word in English: 盐湖城 or yán hú chéng.
New Orleans - 新奥尔良
New Orleans is most known for its nightlife, spicy Cajun food, and general Frenchiness. To say New Orleans in Chinese, you would write 新奥尔良 or xīn ào ěr liáng. Unlike with New York, the "new" in "New Orleans" is translated to Chinese directly, as the character 新.
San Antonio - 圣安东尼奥
Remember the Alamo! San Antonio is the 7th largest city in the United States and it is also the 2nd largest city in Texas. It is also the home of the Alamo (阿拉莫), where the famous battle between Texans seeking independence and the Mexican Army was waged. In Chinese, San Antonio is 圣安东尼奥 or shèng ān dōng ní ào.
Dallas - 达拉斯
Dallas, 达拉斯 or dá lā sī in Chinese, is the third largest city in Texas and boasts a population of over a million people. It is known for its oil industry.
The city is also home to the Dallas Cowboys and their stadium (AT&T Stadium), as well as a basketball team that plays for the National Basketball Association, the Dallas Mavericks.
Dallas has been an important cultural center since its founding in 1841. It's where artists have congregated since then because they love living there so much! It also has a thriving music scene thanks to its many talented musicians who are from there like Stevie Ray Vaughan or Post Malone!
Dallas is also part of the seven-county metropolitan area known as the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, which means that it makes up a large portion of this region's economy, cultural life, and population. The Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex accounts for nearly half of all urbanized land in Texas — so if you want to get anywhere else in this state quickly, head here first!
While these aren't all of the culturally important or major cities in America, they should hopefully be a good start on your journey to learning American city names in Chinese.
