Current Events > Is Chinese and Chinese-American the same thing?

(+) Yeah! (+)

For example my Chinese coworkers dont think I'm Chinese (they think I'm vietnamese). So I tell them that they're right, I'm not Chinese. I'm a Chinese American.

Is that essentially the same as being Chinese from china despite being born in America from Chinese parents who are from China?

Youre American you aint Chinese my boy

chinese means you live in china and are a chinese citizen. chinese american is a chinese ethnic person who lives in America and is a US citizen

I think its ambiguous, because at least in America, the way we perceive and talk about ethnicity and national heritage seems to be a bit weird, compared to the rest of the world.

If youre from China, youre Chinese. If youre from Ukraine, youre Ukrainian. It doesnt matter how many generations your family has been in the states, or that youve never left northern Maryland your entire life, American culture just lets you claim that national heritage. (Take a drink every time somebody that doesnt know anything about Ireland tells you theyre Irish on St Patricks Day >_>)

Of course, the way American culture talks about national heritage is the exact same way we talk about citizenship. So if youre Chinese-American, but your family hasnt been to China in six generations, youre both Chinese and not Chinese, depending on the context of the conversation.

all this rambling to say: TC is correct when they say theyre not Chinese, there Chinese American. But America is weird and arbitrary about the subject.

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AlisLandale posted...

I think its ambiguous, because at least in America, the way we perceive and talk about ethnicity and national heritage seems to be a bit weird, compared to the rest of the world.

If youre from China, youre Chinese. If youre from Ukraine, youre Ukrainian. It doesnt matter how many generations your family has been in the states, or that youve never left northern Maryland your entire life, American culture just lets you claim that national heritage. (Take a drink every time somebody that doesnt know anything about Ireland tells you theyre Irish on St Patricks Day >_>)

Of course, the way American culture talks about national heritage is the exact same way we talk about citizenship. So if youre Chinese-American, but your family hasnt been to China in six generations, youre both Chinese and not Chinese, depending on the context of the conversation.

all this rambling to say: TC is correct when they say theyre not Chinese, there Chinese American. But America is weird and arbitrary about the subject.

Hes American

Do we call black people living in America who are genetically have roots in Africa African? No, we call them African American and your co-workers calling you Chinese and not Chinese American is sus as all hell and they're probably being racist.

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Personally, I believe it refers more to blood; ie. one parent is Asian and one is American. Contrary to that though, I refer myself as Asian-American despite both parents being Asian by blood because I was born here.

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Westernized people are all different from their origins imo

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Call yourself whatever. I certainly don't call myself "African American."

Never been to Africa, have no known relatives from Africa and I often get confused for a latino or Indian because of my hair.

"African American" says the rest of my heritage is tainted (doesnt matter) just because some many great great grandparents ago, they were African.

On top of the fact that I've worked with actual Africans, who actually emigrated to America, from Africa. People who actual have more in common with the label, "African Americans."

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