The term Chinese people may refer to any of the following:
- People with Han Chinese ethnicity (often simply referred to as "Chinese" or "ethnic Chinese" in English).
- The Zhonghua minzu, a supra-ethnic concept which includes all 56 ethnic groups living in China that are officially recognized by the government of the People's Republic of China, such as Han, Zhuang, Manchu, Tibetans, and other established ethnic groups who have lived within the borders of China since at least the Qing Dynasty (1644–1911).
- People who hold citizenship of the People's Republic of China (mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau).
- People who hold citizenship of Republic of China (Taiwan) (See political status of Taiwan).
Race (hereditary reasons), nationality, citizenship, place of residence (geographical factors), and ancestry (historical and genealogical factors) can be used to define someone as Chinese.
Famous quotes containing the words chinese and/or people:
“As for your high towers and monuments, there was a crazy fellow once in this town who undertook to dig through to China, and he got so far that, as he said, he heard the Chinese pots and kettles rattle; but I think that I shall not go out of my way to admire the hole which he made.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)
“The little people must be sacred to the big ones, and it is from the rights of the weak that the duty of the strong is comprised.”
—Victor Hugo (1802–1885)