sinifySinicization, Sinicisation or Sinification

sinify

tr.v., -fied, -fy·ing, -fies.

To Sinicize.

[Late Latin Sīnae, the Chinese; see Sino– + –FY.]

Sinification Si'ni·fi·ca'tion (-fĭ-kā'shən) n.

Sinicization, Sinicisation or Sinification, (in Mandarin: 中国化 Zhōngguóhuà) is the linguistic assimilation or cultural assimilation of terms and concepts into the language and culture of China. In linguistics, the term is used narrowly to refer to transliteration, and in this regard "Sinicization" is parallel to Romanization.

In more general contexts, Sinicization refers to the process of "becoming Chinese"; the opposite process is becoming "not Chinese" (desinicization). The term has been used in social science primarily to describe the assimilation of non-Han Chinese peoples (such as the Manchus) into the Chinese identity.

More broadly, "Sinicization" also refers to the phenomenon whereby neighbouring cultures to China have been influenced by Chinese culture and language without being assimilated. This is reflected in the histories of Korea, Vietnam and Japan.