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{{Short description|none}}
[[File:Chinese(Cantonese)-Macau full name.ogg|thumb|right|Macau in Cantonese pronunciation]]
[[File:Chinese-Macau full name.ogg|thumb|right|Macau in Mandarin pronunciation]]
[[File:Chinese(Cantonese)-Macau full name.ogg|thumb|right|Macau in Cantonese pronunciation (translated as 'The Macao Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China')]]
[[File:Portuguese-Macau full name.ogg|thumb|right|Macau in Portuguese pronunciation]]
<!--[[File:Chinese-Macau full name.ogg|thumb|right|Macau in Mandarin (translated as 'The Macao Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China')]]-->[[File:Portuguese-Macau full name.ogg|thumb|right|Macau in Portuguese (translated as 'The Macao Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China')]]
The '''Macau Special Administrative Region''' ({{zh|c=|t=澳門特別行政區|p=Àomén Tèbié Xíngzhèngqū}}; {{Audio|Chinese-Macau full name.ogg|in Mandarin}}, {{Audio-nohelp|Chinese(Cantonese)-Macau full name.ogg|in Cantonese}}; {{lang-pt|Região Administrativa Especial de Macau}} {{Audio-nohelp|Portuguese-Macau full name.ogg|(listen)}}; abbreviated ''RAEM''), commonly known as '''Macau''' or '''Macao''' ({{zh|t=澳門|s=澳门|p=Àomén}}, or informally as 馬交 ''Mǎjiāo'') is one of the two [[special administrative region (People's Republic of China)|special administrative regions]] (SARs) of the [[China]] (PRC), along with [[Hong Kong]].
The '''Macau Special Administrative Region''' ({{zh|c=|t=澳門特別行政區|p=Àomén Tèbié Xíngzhèngqū}}<!--{{Audio-nohelp|Chinese-Macau full name.ogg| Mandarin}}; {{Audio-nohelp|Chinese(Cantonese)-Macau full name.ogg|Cantonese}}-->; {{langx|pt|Região Administrativa Especial de Macau}}<!-- {{Audio-nohelp|Portuguese-Macau full name.ogg|Portuguese}}-->; <nowiki>[</nowiki>abbreviated as: ''RAEM''<nowiki>]</nowiki>), commonly known as '''Macau''' or '''Macao''' ({{zh|t=澳門|s=澳门|p=Àomén}}, or informally as 馬交 ''Mǎjiāo'') is one of the two [[special administrative region (People's Republic of China)|special administrative regions]] (SARs) of the [[China]] (PRC), along with [[Hong Kong]].


==Portuguese name ==
⚫
==Legend==

⚫
===Legend===
{{Main|History of Macau}}
{{Main|History of Macau}}
⚫
The name [[Macao|Macau]] ({{IPA|pt|mɐˈkaw}})<ref name="Name of Macau">{{cite web|url=http://www.geonames.org/MO/other-names-for-macao-s-a-r-china.html|title=Alternate Names or Name Variants for Macau Special Administrative Region|publisher=geonames.org|accessdate=2007-05-24}}</ref> is thought to be derived from the ''[[Templo de A-Má]]'' (Temple of A-Ma or Ma Kok Temple) (媽閣廟, Cantonese [[Jyutping]]: ''Maa1 Gok3 Miu6'', local pronunciation: ''Maa5 Gok3 Miu6'' or ''Maa5 Gok3 Miu2''), a still-existing landmark built in 1448 dedicated to the [[goddess]] [[Matsu (goddess)|Matsu]] - the goddess of seafarers and fishermen.

⚫
The name [[Macao|Macau]] ({{IPA-pt|mɐˈkaw}})<ref name="Name of Macau">{{cite web|url=http://www.geonames.org/MO/other-names-for-macao-s-a-r-china.html|title=Alternate Names or Name Variants for Macau Special Administrative Region|publisher=geonames.org|accessdate=2007-05-24}}</ref> is thought to be derived from the ''[[Templo de A-Má]]'' (Temple of A-Ma or Ma Kok Temple) (媽閣廟, Cantonese [[Jyutping]]: ''Maa1 Gok3 Miu6'', local pronunciation: ''Maa5 Gok3 Miu6'' or ''Maa5 Gok3 Miu2''), a still-existing landmark built in 1448 dedicated to the [[goddess]] [[Matsu (goddess)|Matsu]] - the goddess of seafarers and fishermen.


In keeping with [[saga]], a fishing boat sailing across the sea one day found itself in an unexpected storm. Everyone on board was about to give up all hope of surviving this [[natural disaster]] when an attractive young lady, who had boarded the boat at the eleventh hour, stood up and ordered the tempest to calm down. The [[gale]] ceased and the sea became calm.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mazu.org/mzwh/shengping/ |title= Home > Mazu Culture > Mom Zusheng Ping > |publisher=Mazu.org |accessdate= 2013-09-16}}</ref> The fishing boat, without further event, arrived safely at the port of Hoi Keang. The young lady walked ashore to the top of the Barra Hill where, in a glowing
In keeping with [[saga]], a fishing boat sailing across the sea one day found itself in an unexpected storm. Everyone on board was about to give up all hope of surviving this [[natural disaster]] when an attractive young lady, who had boarded the boat at the eleventh hour, stood up and ordered the tempest to calm down. The [[gale]] ceased and the sea became calm.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mazu.org/mzwh/shengping/ |title= Home > Mazu Culture > Mom Zusheng Ping > |publisher=Mazu.org |accessdate= 2013-09-16}}</ref> The fishing boat, without further event, arrived safely at the port of Hoi Keang. The young lady walked ashore to the top of the Barra Hill where, in a glowing
[[Aura (paranormal)|aura]] of light and fragrance; she immediately ascended into heaven. A [[temple]] was built on the specific location where she set foot.
[[Aura (paranormal)|aura]] of light and fragrance; she immediately ascended into heaven. A [[temple]] was built on the specific location where she set foot.


Several hundred years later (circa 1513), when [[Portugal|Portuguese]] sailors landed and asked the name of the place, the locals replied "媽閣" ({{zh|j="Maa1 Gok3"}}). The Portuguese then named the peninsula "Macao"<ref name="Hakka and Macau">{{cite web|url=http://www.66163.com/Fujian_w/news/kfcb/kfcb9904/kfa-6b.html|title=Hakka and Macau|publisher=|language=Chinese|accessdate=2008-01-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080113000149/http://www.66163.com/Fujian_w/news/kfcb/kfcb9904/kfa-6b.html|archive-date=2008-01-13|url-status=dead}}</ref> and several hundred years after that (circa 1911) they changed the spelling to "Macau" as part of the [[Reforms of Portuguese orthography]].
Several hundred years later (circa 1513), when [[Portugal|Portuguese]] sailors landed and asked the name of the place, the locals replied "媽閣" ({{zh|j="Maa1 Gok3"}}). The Portuguese then named the peninsula "Macao".<ref name="Hakka and Macau">{{cite web|url=http://www.66163.com/Fujian_w/news/kfcb/kfcb9904/kfa-6b.html|title=Hakka and Macau|publisher=|language=Chinese|accessdate=2008-01-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080113000149/http://www.66163.com/Fujian_w/news/kfcb/kfcb9904/kfa-6b.html|archive-date=2008-01-13|url-status=dead}}</ref> A number of other legends exist, including a derivation from 馬交, which is more likely derived from the Portuguese name.<ref name=Batalha/>

=== Textual evidence ===
Textual evidence points to the name "Macau" being derived from a local name {{lang|zh|阿媽港}} ({{zh|j="aa3 maa1 gong2"|l="Port of [[matsu (goddess)|A-Ma]]"}}), written as such in both Chinese and [[Japanese language|Japanese]] texts since the sixteenth century.<ref name=WuJin/> The name was transcribed variously as "''Amaquão''" among other spellings, which is equivalent to "''Amacão''" ({{IPA|pt|amɐˈkɐ̃w}}) in sound. The corrupted "''Macão''" appeared in 1641, before finally losing the nasal [[tilde]] into the near-modern form of "''Macao''" in a 1652 [[Jesuits|Jesuit]] publication. The evolution to "''Macau''" is generally attributed to the 1911 [[Reforms of Portuguese orthography]].<ref name=WuJin/>


A Contemporary Spanish text used a name "''Macan''", pronounced similarly to "Macão".<ref name=WuJin>{{Cite book|last1=Wu|first1=Zhiliang|last2=Jin|first2=Guoping|edition=0|chapter=The evolution of spellings of ‘Macau’: an examination of early Portuguese and Western archival materials|url=https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/9781135121334|publisher=Routledge|date=2013-10-15|isbn=978-0-203-79752-5|doi=10.4324/9780203797525-11|language=en|editor-first=Katrine K.|editor-last=Wong|title=Macao - Cultural Interaction and Literary Representations}}</ref> Batalha suggests that the loss of [[nasalization]] may have to do with association with the word ''[[wikt:cão|cão]]'' (dog, devil).<ref name=Batalha>{{cite journal|last=Batalha|first=Graciete Nogueira|year=1987|url=http://www.icm.gov.mo/rc/viewer/20001/728|title=This name of Macau...|journal=Review of Culture|publisher=No. 1. Cultural Institute of Macao.}}</ref>
Today the two spellings remain in common use due to the transcription of place names in two different Chinese dialects. For [[Cantonese]], the dialect spoken in Macau and Hong Kong, the transcription is "Macau" the same as with [[Lantau Island]]. For Mandarin, the dialect that forms the basis of [[Standard Chinese]], the transcription is "Macao" the same as with [[Qingdao]].


==Synonyms==
==Chinese names{{anchor|Synonyms}}==
{{unreferenced section|date=July 2022}}
The [[Chinese language|Chinese]] name ''Aomen'' 澳門 ([[pinyin]]: ''Àomén'', Cantonese: ''Ou3 Mun4*2'' {{IPA-yue|ʔōu mǔːn|}}) means "''Inlet Gates''". The "gates" refer to two erect gate-like mountains of Nantai ({{zh|c=南台|p=Nántái}}) and [[Beitai]] ({{zh|c=北台|p=Běitái}}). Alternately, ''Ao'' may derive from Macau's previous name ''Heong San Ou'', as it is geographically situated at "Cross' Door".
The [[Chinese language|Chinese]] name ''Aomen'' 澳門 ([[pinyin]]: ''Àomén'', Cantonese: ''Ou3 Mun4*2'' {{IPA-yue|ʔōu mǔːn|}}) means "''Inlet Gates''". The "gates" refer to two erect gate-like mountains of Nantai ({{zh|c=南台|p=Nántái}}) and [[Beitai]] ({{zh|c=北台|p=Běitái}}). Alternately, ''Ao'' may derive from Macau's previous name ''Heong San Ou'', as it is geographically situated at "Cross' Door".


Macau is also known as:
Macau is also known as:
* Hou Keng Ou (壕鏡澳 Oyster-mirror Inlet)
* Hou Keng Ou (濠鏡澳 Oyster-mirror Inlet)
* Heong San Ou (香山澳 Xiangshan Ao; Fragrant-mountain Inlet)
* Heong San Ou (香山澳 Xiangshan Ao; Fragrant-mountain Inlet)
* Lin Tou (蓮島 Liandao; Lotus Island)
* Lin Tou (蓮島 Liandao; Lotus Island)
* Soda Port (梳打埠)
* Soda Port (梳打埠)


While ''Ou3 Mun2'' is the traditional Cantonese name of the place, it is common among the Cantonese-speaking population to use the source of the Portuguese name, 馬交 ''Maa5 Gaau1'' {{IPA-yue|ma̬ː káːu|}}. The form "Macao" was the original Portuguese spelling, which continues to be used by the governments of some European countries that never made the change to "Macau". In the modern era, both the spellings "Macau" and "Macao" are accepted as correct spelling.
While ''Ou3 Mun2'' is the traditional Cantonese name of the place, it is common among the Cantonese-speaking to use the Portuguese-derived name 馬交 ''Maa5 Gaau1'' {{IPA-yue|ma̬ː káːu|}}.


==Duality in English==
==Duality in English==
Since the [[transfer of sovereignty over Macau]] in 1999, the government of Macau considers both "Macau" and "Macao" to be acceptable spellings of the name in English language publications, but the former was more widely used across English-speaking world, especially in the United States and Australia. While the latter was more widely used in the United Kingdom, especially in government documents.{{citation needed|date=September 2018}} Meanwhile, the spelling was mixed in Canada.
Two spellings of the name exist in English: "Macao", derived from the original Portuguese spelling; and "Macau", derived from the current orthography. Since the [[transfer of sovereignty over Macau]] in 1999, the government of Macau considers both "Macau" and "Macao" to be acceptable spellings of the name in English language publications, but the former was more widely used across English-speaking world, especially in the United States and Australia. While the latter was more widely used in the United Kingdom, especially in government documents.{{citation needed|date=September 2018}} Meanwhile, the spelling was mixed in Canada.


Dualism is visible in many English language government publications and documents, sometimes even within the same paragraph.{{which|date=September 2018}} For example, the spelling "Macao" appears on the local government's English language emblem as seen at its web portal<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gov.mo/en/ |title=Macao SAR Government Portal |accessdate=2018-09-10}}</ref> and also at the official website of the Macao Government Tourism Office.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://en.macaotourism.gov.mo/index.php |title=Macao Government Tourist Office |accessdate=2018-09-10}}</ref> Similarly, "Macao" is used on the [[Macau Special Administrative Region passport]], but the government's official explanatory note on the passport spells it as "Macau".<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.dsi.gov.mo/documents/sar_pss_e.html |title=Archived copy |access-date=August 28, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060223045907/http://www.dsi.gov.mo/documents/sar_pss_e.html |archive-date=February 23, 2006 |url-status=dead }}</ref> {{Asof|2014}} most English-language books use "Macau".<ref name=Daypxviixviii>{{cite book|author=Day, Colin|chapter=Preface and Introduction|title=The Lone Flag: Memoir of the British Consul in Macao during World War II|url=https://www.hkupress.hku.hk/pro/con/64.pdf|pages=ix-xviii (PDF p. 6-15/67)}} - Cited: pages xvii-xviii (PDF p. 14-15/67)</ref>
Dualism is visible in many English language government publications and documents, sometimes even within the same paragraph. For example, the spelling "Macao" appears on the local government's English language emblem as seen at its web portal<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gov.mo/en/ |title=Macao SAR Government Portal |accessdate=2018-09-10}}</ref> and also at the official website of the Macao Government Tourism Office.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://en.macaotourism.gov.mo/index.php |title=Macao Government Tourist Office |accessdate=2018-09-10}}</ref> Similarly, "Macao" is used on the [[Macau Special Administrative Region passport]], but the government's official explanatory note on the passport spells it as "Macau".<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.dsi.gov.mo/documents/sar_pss_e.html |title=Macau SAR Passport |access-date=August 28, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060223045907/http://www.dsi.gov.mo/documents/sar_pss_e.html |archive-date=February 23, 2006 |url-status=dead }}</ref> {{Asof|2014}} most English-language books use "Macau".<ref name=Daypxviixviii>{{cite book|author=Day, Colin|chapter=Preface and Introduction|title=The Lone Flag: Memoir of the British Consul in Macao during World War II|url=https://www.hkupress.hku.hk/pro/con/64.pdf|pages=ix-xviii (PDF p. 6–15/67)}} - Cited: pages xvii-xviii (PDF p. 14-15/67)</ref>

Colin Day, an editor of the published memoirs ''[[The Lone Flag]]'' wrote circa 2014 that "in recent years, there has been a shift back to ''Macao'', which works better phonetically in English."<ref name=Daypxviixviii/>


==Official and diplomatic status==
==Official and diplomatic status==
{{Main|Macau Basic Law}}
{{Main|Macau Basic Law}}


There are two official versions of the Basic Law of Macau, one in Chinese and one in Portuguese. According to articles 136 and 137 of the Basic Law the place may represent itself as "中國澳門" or "Macau, China". The two names are specified in the versions of their respective languages only and not vice versa.<ref name="basic-pt">{{cite web |title=Lei Básica da Região Administrativa Especial de Macau da República Popular da China |url=https://bo.io.gov.mo/bo/i/1999/leibasica/index.asp |website=bo.io.gov.mo |quote=A Região Administrativa Especial de Macau pode, com a denominação de «Macau, China», manter e desenvolver, por si própria, relações, celebrar e executar acordos com os países e regiões ou organizações internacionais interessadas nos domínios apropriados, designadamente nos da economia, comércio, finanças, transportes marítimos, comunicações, turismo, cultura, ciência, tecnologia e desporto.}}</ref> The "unofficial" English translations from Government Printing Bureau and University of Macau adopt the "Macao" spelling throughout.<ref>{{cite web |title=Basic Law of the Macao Special Administrative Region of the People' s Republic of China |url=http://www.imprensa.macau.gov.mo/bo/i/1999/leibasica/index_uk.asp#c7 |website= |date=20 March 2001 |quote=The Macao Special Administrative Region may, on its own, using the name "Macao, China", maintain and develop relations and conclude and implement agreements with foreign states and regions and relevant international organizations in the appropriate fields, including the economic, trade, financial and monetary, shipping, communications, tourism, cultural, science and technology, and sports fields. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010320024207/http://www.imprensa.macau.gov.mo/bo/i/1999/leibasica/index_uk.asp#c7 |archive-date=20 March 2001 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
There are two official versions of the Basic Law of Macau, one in Chinese and one in Portuguese, according to articles 136 and 137 of the Basic Law the place may represent itself as “中國澳門” or "Macau, China".


In comparison, the central government of [[China]] consistently spells its name using the Mandarin transcription "Macao". Less commonly used is the [[pinyin]] transcription of 澳門 ''Aòmén'', but its usage is not used officially. The decision not to adopt pinyin names after the handover to China appears to be consistent with the usual PRC policy of respecting the local linguistic traditions in the romanized version of names, as in other non-pinyin names like [[Lhasa]], [[Ürümqi]] or [[Hohhot]], for example. Phonetically the spelling "Macao" produces a pinyin pronunciation similar to 馬交 Mǎjiāo which explains the preference for this spelling among Mandarin speakers.
After the 1999 resumption of sovereignty the central government of [[China]] announced that Macao would be the spelling in English. The Macau authorities issued an internal circular on the matter since when government publications in English use the spelling Macao.<ref>Education and Society in Hong Kong and Macao: Comparative Perspectives on Continuity and Change Mark Bray & Ramsey Koo 2004, 2nd edition P10 A Note on Spelling</ref> Less commonly used is the [[pinyin]] transcription of 澳門 ''Aòmén'', but its usage is not used officially. The decision not to adopt pinyin names after the handover to China appears to be consistent with the usual PRC policy of respecting the local linguistic traditions in the romanized version of names, as in other non-pinyin names like [[Lhasa]], [[Ürümqi]] or [[Hohhot]], for example.{{citation needed|date=July 2022}} The preference for "Macao" may be explained by a similarity to 馬交 Mǎjiāo, in particular the [[pinyin]] pronunciation of "ao" is approximately as in cow; the a is much more audible than the o.{{original research inline|date=July 2022}}


Notwithstanding the official [[Macao Basic Law|Basic Law of Macau]] requirement to use ''"Macau, [[China]]"'', Macau participates in [[international organisation]]s and international sport events like [[World Trade Organization]] and [[International Monetary Fund]] meetings and [[East Asian Games]] as ''"Macao, China"''.
Notwithstanding the official [[Macao Basic Law|Basic Law of Macau]] requirement to use ''"Macau, [[China]]"'', Macau participates in [[international organisation]]s and international sport events like [[World Trade Organization]] and [[International Monetary Fund]] meetings and [[East Asian Games]] as ''"Macao, China"''.
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==Historical names==
==Historical names==
In 1587, king [[Philip I of Portugal]] (II of Spain) promoted Macau from "Settlement or Port of the Name of God" to "City of the [[Names of God in Christianity|Name of God]]" ({{lang|pt|Cidade do Nome de Deus de Macau}}).<ref>[[C. R. Boxer]], ''Fidalgos in the Far East, 1550–1770''. Martinus Nijhoff (The Hague), 1948. p. 4</ref>
In 1587, king [[Philip I of Portugal]] (II of Spain) promoted Macau from "Settlement or Port of the Name of God" to "City of the [[Names of God in Christianity|Name of God]]" ({{lang|pt|Cidade do Nome de Deus de Macau}}).<ref>[[C. R. Boxer]], ''Fidalgos in the Far East, 1550–1770''. Martinus Nijhoff (The Hague), 1948. p. 4</ref>

==Alternative names for Macau==
==Alternative names for Macau==
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; margin:auto;"
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; margin:auto;"
|+Alternate Names or Name Variants for<br> Macau Special Administrative Region<br>(certain examples) <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.geonames.org/MO/other-names-for-macao-s-a-r-china.html |title=Alternate Names for Macau Special Administrative Region |publisher=Geonames.org |date= |accessdate=2013-09-16}}</ref>
|+Alternate Names or Name Variants for<br /> Macau Special Administrative Region<br />(certain examples) <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.geonames.org/MO/other-names-for-macao-s-a-r-china.html |title=Alternate Names for Macau Special Administrative Region |publisher=Geonames.org |date= |accessdate=2013-09-16}}</ref>
! Language
! Language
! Short Name
! Short Name
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|-
|-
| [[Canadian English|English (CA Govt)]]
| [[Canadian English|English (CA Govt)]]
| Macao or Macau
| Macao
| Macao Special Administrative Region <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.canadainternational.gc.ca/hong_kong/bilateral_relations_bilaterales/canada_macao.aspx?lang=eng |title=Canada-Macao Relations |publisher=Canadainternational.gc.ca |date= |accessdate=2019-05-13}}</ref>
| Macao Special Administrative Region <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.canadainternational.gc.ca/hong_kong/bilateral_relations_bilaterales/canada_macao.aspx?lang=eng |title=Canada-Macao Relations |publisher=Canadainternational.gc.ca |date= |accessdate=2019-05-13}}</ref>
|-
|-
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|-
|-
| [[Persian language|Persian]]
| [[Persian language|Persian]]
| ماکائو (Macao)
| ماکائو (Mākāū)
| بخش ویژه اداری ماکائو (Bakhshe Vizheye Edariye Macao)
| بخش ویژه اداری ماکائو (Bakhshe Vizheye Edariye Macao)
|-
|-
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| Мака́о (Makao) / Аомы́нь (Aomyn')
| Мака́о (Makao) / Аомы́нь (Aomyn')
| Специальный Административный район Мака́о
| Специальный Административный район Мака́о
|-
| [[Scottish Gaelic|Scots Gaelic]]
| Macàthu
| Sgìre Rianachd Shònraichte Macàthu
|-
|-
| [[Spanish language|Spanish]]
| [[Spanish language|Spanish]]
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|}
|}


==References==
== References ==
{{Reflist|2}}
{{Reflist}}


==Further reading==
==Further reading==
*Batalha, Graciete Nogueira (1987). "[http://www.icm.gov.mo/rc/viewer/20001/728 This name of Macau...]". ''Review of Culture''. No. 1. Cultural Institute of Macao.


{{Macau topics}}
{{Macau topics}}

Latest revision as of 01:37, 2 November 2024

Macau in Cantonese pronunciation (translated as 'The Macao Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China')
Macau in Portuguese (translated as 'The Macao Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China')

The Macau Special Administrative Region (Chinese: 澳門特別行政區; pinyin: Àomén Tèbié Xíngzhèngqū; Portuguese: Região Administrativa Especial de Macau; [abbreviated as: RAEM]), commonly known as Macau or Macao (simplified Chinese: 澳门; traditional Chinese: 澳門; pinyin: Àomén, or informally as 馬交 Mǎjiāo) is one of the two special administrative regions (SARs) of the China (PRC), along with Hong Kong.

Portuguese name

[edit]

Legend

[edit]
Main article: History of Macau

The name Macau (Portuguese pronunciation: [mɐˈkaw])[1] is thought to be derived from the Templo de A-Má (Temple of A-Ma or Ma Kok Temple) (媽閣廟, Cantonese Jyutping: Maa1 Gok3 Miu6, local pronunciation: Maa5 Gok3 Miu6 or Maa5 Gok3 Miu2), a still-existing landmark built in 1448 dedicated to the goddess Matsu - the goddess of seafarers and fishermen.

In keeping with saga, a fishing boat sailing across the sea one day found itself in an unexpected storm. Everyone on board was about to give up all hope of surviving this natural disaster when an attractive young lady, who had boarded the boat at the eleventh hour, stood up and ordered the tempest to calm down. The gale ceased and the sea became calm.[2] The fishing boat, without further event, arrived safely at the port of Hoi Keang. The young lady walked ashore to the top of the Barra Hill where, in a glowing aura of light and fragrance; she immediately ascended into heaven. A temple was built on the specific location where she set foot.

Several hundred years later (circa 1513), when Portuguese sailors landed and asked the name of the place, the locals replied "媽閣" (Jyutping: "Maa1 Gok3"). The Portuguese then named the peninsula "Macao".[3] A number of other legends exist, including a derivation from 馬交, which is more likely derived from the Portuguese name.[4]

Textual evidence

[edit]

Textual evidence points to the name "Macau" being derived from a local name 阿媽港 (Jyutping: "aa3 maa1 gong2"; lit. 'Port of A-Ma'), written as such in both Chinese and Japanese texts since the sixteenth century.[5] The name was transcribed variously as "Amaquão" among other spellings, which is equivalent to "Amacão" (Portuguese pronunciation: [amɐˈkɐ̃w]) in sound. The corrupted "Macão" appeared in 1641, before finally losing the nasal tilde into the near-modern form of "Macao" in a 1652 Jesuit publication. The evolution to "Macau" is generally attributed to the 1911 Reforms of Portuguese orthography.[5]

A Contemporary Spanish text used a name "Macan", pronounced similarly to "Macão".[5] Batalha suggests that the loss of nasalization may have to do with association with the word cão (dog, devil).[4]

Chinese names

[edit]

The Chinese name Aomen 澳門 (pinyin: Àomén, Cantonese: Ou3 Mun4*2 [ʔōu mǔːn]) means "Inlet Gates". The "gates" refer to two erect gate-like mountains of Nantai (Chinese: 南台; pinyin: Nántái) and Beitai (Chinese: 北台; pinyin: Běitái). Alternately, Ao may derive from Macau's previous name Heong San Ou, as it is geographically situated at "Cross' Door".

Macau is also known as:

  • Hou Keng Ou (濠鏡澳 Oyster-mirror Inlet)
  • Heong San Ou (香山澳 Xiangshan Ao; Fragrant-mountain Inlet)
  • Lin Tou (蓮島 Liandao; Lotus Island)
  • Soda Port (梳打埠)

While Ou3 Mun2 is the traditional Cantonese name of the place, it is common among the Cantonese-speaking to use the Portuguese-derived name 馬交 Maa5 Gaau1 [ma̬ː káːu].

Duality in English

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Two spellings of the name exist in English: "Macao", derived from the original Portuguese spelling; and "Macau", derived from the current orthography. Since the transfer of sovereignty over Macau in 1999, the government of Macau considers both "Macau" and "Macao" to be acceptable spellings of the name in English language publications, but the former was more widely used across English-speaking world, especially in the United States and Australia. While the latter was more widely used in the United Kingdom, especially in government documents.[citation needed] Meanwhile, the spelling was mixed in Canada.

Dualism is visible in many English language government publications and documents, sometimes even within the same paragraph. For example, the spelling "Macao" appears on the local government's English language emblem as seen at its web portal[6] and also at the official website of the Macao Government Tourism Office.[7] Similarly, "Macao" is used on the Macau Special Administrative Region passport, but the government's official explanatory note on the passport spells it as "Macau".[8] As of 2014 most English-language books use "Macau".[9]

Official and diplomatic status

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Main article: Macau Basic Law

There are two official versions of the Basic Law of Macau, one in Chinese and one in Portuguese. According to articles 136 and 137 of the Basic Law the place may represent itself as "中國澳門" or "Macau, China". The two names are specified in the versions of their respective languages only and not vice versa.[10] The "unofficial" English translations from Government Printing Bureau and University of Macau adopt the "Macao" spelling throughout.[11]

After the 1999 resumption of sovereignty the central government of China announced that Macao would be the spelling in English. The Macau authorities issued an internal circular on the matter since when government publications in English use the spelling Macao.[12] Less commonly used is the pinyin transcription of 澳門 Aòmén, but its usage is not used officially. The decision not to adopt pinyin names after the handover to China appears to be consistent with the usual PRC policy of respecting the local linguistic traditions in the romanized version of names, as in other non-pinyin names like Lhasa, Ürümqi or Hohhot, for example.[citation needed] The preference for "Macao" may be explained by a similarity to 馬交 Mǎjiāo, in particular the pinyin pronunciation of "ao" is approximately as in cow; the a is much more audible than the o.[original research?]

Notwithstanding the official Basic Law of Macau requirement to use "Macau, China", Macau participates in international organisations and international sport events like World Trade Organization and International Monetary Fund meetings and East Asian Games as "Macao, China".

"Macao" is also the designated name of the ISO 3166-1 country code MO, and of the top-level domain .mo.

Historical names

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In 1587, king Philip I of Portugal (II of Spain) promoted Macau from "Settlement or Port of the Name of God" to "City of the Name of God" (Cidade do Nome de Deus de Macau).[13]

Alternative names for Macau

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Alternate Names or Name Variants for
Macau Special Administrative Region
(certain examples) [14]
Language Short Name Formal Name
Arabic ماكاو (Makaw) المنطقة الإدارية الخاصة لماكاو (Almintaqat Al'iidariat Alkhasat Limakaw)
Catalan Macau Regió Administrativa Especial de Macau
Chinese 澳門(Aòmén) or 澳門特區 (Aòmén tèqū) 澳門特別行政區 (Aòmén tèbié xíngzhèngqū)
Czech Macao Zvláštní administrativní oblast Macao
Danish Macau Særlige Administrativ Region Macao
Dutch Macau Speciale Bestuurlijke Regio Macau
English (AU Govt) Macau Macau Special Administrative Region
English (CA Govt) Macao Macao Special Administrative Region [15]
English (PRC Govt) Macao Macao Special Administrative Region
English (SG Govt) Macau Macau Special Administrative Region[16]
English (UK Govt) Macao Macao Special Administrative Region
English (US Govt) Macau Macau Special Administrative Region
French Macao Région Administrative Spéciale de Macao
German Macao Sonderverwaltungsregion Macao
Hebrew מקאו (Makaw) אזור מנהלי מיוחד של מקאו
Hiligaynon Makáw Bináhin nga may Pinasahî nga Pagpamalákad sang Makáw / Rehiyón nga Espesyál nga Adminitratíbo sang Makáw
Indonesian Makau Daerah Administratif Khusus Makao
Italian Macao Regione Amministrativa Speciale di Macao
Japanese マカオ (Makao) / 澳門 (Makao; rare) マカオ特別行政区 (Makao Tokubetsu Gyōsei-ku)
Kapampangan Makau / Macau Rehiyung Administratibung Espesyal ning Makau
Korean 마카오 (Makao) / 아오먼 (Aomeon) / 오문 (Omun) 마카오 특별 행정구 (Makao Teukbyeol Haengjeonggu)
Malay Makau Wilayah Pentadbiran Khas Makau
Persian ماکائو (Mākāū) بخش ویژه اداری ماکائو (Bakhshe Vizheye Edariye Macao)
Polish Makau Specjalny Region Administracyjny Makau
Portuguese Macau Região Administrativa Especial de Macau
Russian Мака́о (Makao) / Аомы́нь (Aomyn') Специальный Административный район Мака́о
Scots Gaelic Macàthu Sgìre Rianachd Shònraichte Macàthu
Spanish Macao Región Administrativa Especial de Macao
Tagalog Makaw / Makao Rehiyong Administratibong Espesyal ng Makaw
Turkish Makao Makao özel yönetim bölgesi
Vietnamese Ma Cao Đặc khu hành chính Ma Cao

References

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  1. ^ "Alternate Names or Name Variants for Macau Special Administrative Region". geonames.org. Retrieved 2007-05-24.
  2. ^ "Home > Mazu Culture > Mom Zusheng Ping >". Mazu.org. Retrieved 2013-09-16.
  3. ^ "Hakka and Macau" (in Chinese). Archived from the original on 2008-01-13. Retrieved 2008-01-02.
  4. ^ a b Batalha, Graciete Nogueira (1987). "This name of Macau..." Review of Culture. No. 1. Cultural Institute of Macao.
  5. ^ a b c Wu, Zhiliang; Jin, Guoping (2013-10-15). "The evolution of spellings of 'Macau': an examination of early Portuguese and Western archival materials". In Wong, Katrine K. (ed.). Macao - Cultural Interaction and Literary Representations (0 ed.). Routledge. doi:10.4324/9780203797525-11. ISBN 978-0-203-79752-5.
  6. ^ "Macao SAR Government Portal". Retrieved 2018-09-10.
  7. ^ "Macao Government Tourist Office". Retrieved 2018-09-10.
  8. ^ "Macau SAR Passport". Archived from the original on February 23, 2006. Retrieved August 28, 2006.
  9. ^ Day, Colin. "Preface and Introduction". The Lone Flag: Memoir of the British Consul in Macao during World War II (PDF). pp. ix-xviii (PDF p. 6–15/67). - Cited: pages xvii-xviii (PDF p. 14-15/67)
  10. ^ "Lei Básica da Região Administrativa Especial de Macau da República Popular da China". bo.io.gov.mo. A Região Administrativa Especial de Macau pode, com a denominação de «Macau, China», manter e desenvolver, por si própria, relações, celebrar e executar acordos com os países e regiões ou organizações internacionais interessadas nos domínios apropriados, designadamente nos da economia, comércio, finanças, transportes marítimos, comunicações, turismo, cultura, ciência, tecnologia e desporto.
  11. ^ "Basic Law of the Macao Special Administrative Region of the People' s Republic of China". 20 March 2001. Archived from the original on 20 March 2001. The Macao Special Administrative Region may, on its own, using the name "Macao, China", maintain and develop relations and conclude and implement agreements with foreign states and regions and relevant international organizations in the appropriate fields, including the economic, trade, financial and monetary, shipping, communications, tourism, cultural, science and technology, and sports fields.
  12. ^ Education and Society in Hong Kong and Macao: Comparative Perspectives on Continuity and Change Mark Bray & Ramsey Koo 2004, 2nd edition P10 A Note on Spelling
  13. ^ C. R. Boxer, Fidalgos in the Far East, 1550–1770. Martinus Nijhoff (The Hague), 1948. p. 4
  14. ^ "Alternate Names for Macau Special Administrative Region". Geonames.org. Retrieved 2013-09-16.
  15. ^ "Canada-Macao Relations". Canadainternational.gc.ca. Retrieved 2019-05-13.
  16. ^ "Visa Information". Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Singapore). Retrieved 2019-05-21.

Further reading

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