Smaller space backing onto China? (5)
I believe the answer is:
nepal
'smaller space backing onto china?' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this defines the answer.
'space backing onto china?' is the wordplay.
'space' becomes 'en'.
'backing' shows that the letters should be reversed in order.
'onto' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'china?' becomes 'pal' (I've seen this in other clues**).
'en' written backwards gives 'ne'.
'ne'+'pal'='NEPAL'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for nepal that I've seen before include "Mountainous country" , "Where climbers may be" , "Small lake" , "Himalayan kingdom" , "Small country high in the Himalayas" .)