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Revision as of 21:31, 16 October 2006

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 Chinese nation (Zhonghua minzu), 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. 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. In the English language, the term "Chinese people" is sometimes confused with "Han", without regard to the other Chinese ethnic groups. The specific words used in Chinese language such as Zhōngguó rén (中國人) and Zhonghua minzu (中華民族) actually refer to Chinese citizens. Han Chinese is a subset of the Chinese nation (Zhonghua minzu).
• The song Zhongguo Ren (lit. The Chinese People) by Andy Lau

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 with Chinese by that person and other people (mainly with those who share a close or intimate relationship with that person) is also very important.

See also

• List of Chinese people
• List of ethnic groups in China

• Disambiguation pages
• Chinese people