Chinese people
The term Chinese people may refer to any of the following:
- A person who resides in and holds citizenship of the People's Republic of China (including Hong Kong and Macau) or the Republic of China (Taiwan). This definition stems from a legal perspective.
- The Zhonghua minzu (sometimes translated as "Chinese nation"), a supra-ethnic concept which includes the Han Chinese and other established ethnic groups who have lived within the borders of China since at least the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). This definition stems from a nationality perspective, and includes most overseas Chinese.
- A person of Han Chinese ancestry is often simply referred to as Chinese or ethnic Chinese in Western countries. This includes most overseas Chinese. This definition stems from a genealogical perspective. Note that some overseas Chinese may not necessarily identify with either the PRC or the ROC.
Many factors must be considered when deciding whether a person is Chinese. Apart from nationality (legal) reasons, place of residence (geographical factors), race (biological reasons), and ancestry (historical and genealogical factors), recognition as a Chinese and identifying as Chinese by that person and other people (mainly with those who share a close or intimate relationship with that person) are also very important. Most people of East Asian descent are often misconceived in Western culture as being Chinese.
See also
References
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