What are residents of China called?

What are residents of China called? They are called Chinese. “Chinese” is the standard English demonym for people from China and is also used as an adjective for the country’s languages, culture, history, and traditions.

The term can describe nationality, ethnicity, or cultural connection, so context matters. China officially recognizes 56 ethnic groups, with the Han Chinese forming the large majority. People belonging to minority groups are still Chinese when referring to their nationality.

“Chinese” can also refer to the country’s many languages and varieties, not just Mandarin. Mandarin is the official standard language of the People’s Republic of China, while Cantonese, Wu, Hakka, Min, and other varieties are spoken in different regions and communities.

A small distinction is useful: a resident of China may be a foreign national living there, while “Chinese” most commonly means a person of Chinese nationality or heritage. For a basic geography quiz, however, Chinese is the clear canonical answer.