汕頭

While the modern Teochew pronunciation contains the first syllable in the yinping (陰平／阴平) tone, as attested in Handbook of the Swatow Vernacular [1886] by Lim Hiong Seng, it appears that historically the first syllable of the toponym had the yinqu (陰去／阴去) tone. The pronunciation Suàⁿ-thâu is recorded in A Pronouncing and Defining Dictionary of the Swatow Dialect [1883] by Adele M. Fielde and English-Chinese Vocabulary of the Vernacular Or Spoken Language of Swatow [1883] by William Duffus.

The toponym is a shortening of 沙汕頭／沙汕头. In 1717, a fort, 沙汕頭砲臺, was constructed in the area, which was then under the administration of Chenghai (澄海) county. Both 沙汕頭／沙汕头 and 汕頭／汕头 are attested in 潮州海防圖說 [c. 18th century] by official Lan Dingyuan (藍鼎元). 沙汕 is cognate with Hokkien 沙線／沙线 (soa-sòaⁿ, “sandbank”).

汕頭

1. (～市) Shantou (a prefecture-level city in Guangdong, China)

• 鮀城／𬶍城 (Tuóchéng)
• 鮀島／𬶍岛 (Tuódǎo)

Others:

• → English: Shantou, Swatow
  • → Japanese: 汕頭(スワトウ) (Suwatō)
• → Japanese: 汕頭(シャントウ) (Shantō)
• → Korean: 산터우 (Santeou)
• → Thai: ซัวเถา (suua-tǎo)

From English Swatow, from Teochew 汕頭／汕头 (suan1 tao5).

• 汕頭(せんとう) (Sentō), 汕頭(シャントウ) (Shantō)

• IPA^(key): [sɨᵝɰᵝa̠to̞ː]

汕頭(スワトウ) • (Suwatō) ^{←スワタウ (swatau)?}

1. Shantou (a prefecture-level city in Guangdong, China)

The Sino-Japanese reading of Chinese 汕頭／汕头 (Shàntóu).

• IPA^(key): [sẽ̞nto̞ː]

汕(せん)頭(とう) • (Sentō) ^{←せんとう (sentou)?}

1. Alternative form of 汕頭 (Suwatō, “Shantou (a prefecture-level city in Guangdong, China)”)

From Mandarin 汕頭／汕头 (Shàntóu).

• IPA^(key): [ɕã̠nto̞ː]

汕頭(シャントウ) • (Shantō) 

1. Alternative form of 汕頭 (Suwatō, “Shantou (a prefecture-level city in Guangdong, China)”)