Hainan

American  

[hahy-nahn] / ˈhaɪˈnɑn /

noun

1. Pinyin, Wade-Giles. an island in the South China Sea, separated from the mainland by the Hainan Strait: a part of Guangdong province. 13,200 sq. mi. (34,200 sq. km).

---

Hainan British  

/ taʊ, ˈhaɪˈnæn /

noun

1. an island and province in the South China Sea, separated from the mainland of S China by the Hainan Strait : part of Guangdong province until 1988; mainland China's largest offshore island. Pop: 8 110 000 (2003 est). Area: 33 572 sq km (12 962 sq miles)

---

Example Sentences

Building another in an area close to the big Chinese military bases on Hainan seems superfluous.

From BBC • Jun. 3, 2026

In February its space agency conducted a successful in-flight abort test from Hainan.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 29, 2026

China formally launched islandwide customs closure for the Hainan Free Trade Port late last year, effectively placing the island inside China’s territory but outside its ordinary customs regime.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 23, 2026

Beijing authorities rolled out new Hainan offshore duty-free policies that took effect in November last year.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 20, 2026

There’re a lot of them piratical rascals in these waters; but you should go to the back of Hainan to see ’em in their glory, the little creeks and bays there fairly swarms with ’em!”

From Afloat at Last A Sailor Boy's Log of his Life at Sea by Overend, William Heysham