The sub groups of the Han Chinese are based on linguistics, culture and region within mainland China. The terminology used in Mandarin to describe the groups is: "minxi" (Simplified Chinese: 民系, ethnic lineages) or "zuqun" (Simplified Chinese: 族群, ethnic groups).
These two terms are used in mainland China and Taiwan, respectively, refers to subgroups of the Han Chinese population, whose mother tongue are Chinese languages and does not belong to one of People's Republic of China's 56 official minority ethnic groups of China.
Famous quotes containing the word han:
“ech of yow, to shorte with oure weye,
In this viage shal telle tales tweye
To Caunterbury-ward, I mene it so,
And homward he shal tellen othere two,
Of aventures that whilom han bifalle.”
—Geoffrey Chaucer (1340?–1400)