Save Type Settlement Usage Chinese Scripts 旧金山(Chinese) 舊金山(Traditional Chinese) Pronounced Pron. CHYO-CHEEN-SHAHN [key·IPA] Meaning & History From Chinese 旧 (jiù) meaning "old" and 金山 (jīnshān) meaning "gold mine", referring to the 19th century California gold rush. This is the Chinese name for the US city of San Francisco.