本文从民族迁徙和文化传播的角度论证了英语中China一词是起源于春秋时期的秦国国名“秦” ,而非秦朝的“秦”。“秦”和“秦国”两词首先进入波斯语成为Chin和Chinistan ,再经波斯语进入梵语成为Cina和Chi nasthana ,最后经梵语进入英语成为China。英语中Cathay一词则是源于我国北方契丹国 (辽 )的国名“契丹(Khyattan)”。Khyattan入突厥语成为Khitay ,经阿拉伯语的Khyattan而入拉丁语为Cathaya ,最后由拉丁语进入英语。 This paper argues from the viewpoint of national migration and cultural diffusion that the Chinese word in English is the Qin name originated in the Spring and Autumn Period rather than Qin in the Qin Dynasty. The words “Qin” and “Qin” first entered Persian into Chin and Chinistan, and then entered Sanskrit through Persian as Cina and Chi nasthana, finally entering Sanskrit into English to become China. The word Cathay in English comes from the country name “Khyattan” in the northern Khitan country (Liao). Khyattan into Turkic became Khitay, Arabic Khyattan into Latin for Cathaya, and finally from Latin into English.