Learn essential Chinese vocabulary for nationalities
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| 美国人 (Měiguó rén), 日本人 (Rìběn rén), 韩国人 (Hánguó rén). |
| What do these words mean? |
| Stick around! |
| In this quick lesson, you'll learn Chinese vocabulary for nationalities. |
| Before we start, did you know China is one of the most culturally diverse countries in the world with more than fifty different ethnic groups? |
| Do you know which group is the largest? |
| Keep watching for the answer at the end. |
| 中国人 (Zhōngguó rén) - Chinese (nationality) 中 (zhōng), 国 (guó), 人 (rén), 中国人 (Zhōngguó rén). |
| The character 中 (zhōng), meaning middle or center, symbolizes balance and connection with its vertical line passing through the box. |
| It reflects 中庸 (zhōngyōng), Doctrine of the Mean, a Confucian concept emphasizing harmony and balance essential to traditional Chinese culture. |
| Oscar asks Tom about a mutual friend. |
| 她是哪国人？ (Tā shì nǎ guó rén?) |
| 她是中国人。 (Tā shì Zhōngguó rén.) |
| 美国人 (Měiguó rén) - American (nationality) 美 (Měi), 国 (guó), 人 (rén), 美国人 (Měiguó rén). |
| To me, Americans are like the spirit of their movies: bold, free, and full of passion! |
| Just like the line from Scent of a Woman: ""If you make a mistake, get all tangled up, just tangle on!"" Americans inspire me with their courage to face challenges and embrace life with integrity and optimism. |
| Jack and Susan chat about a group of tourists. |
| 他们是哪国人？ (Tāmen shì nǎ guó rén?) |
| 他们是美国人。 (Tāmen shì Měiguó rén.) |
| 日本人 (Rìběn rén) - Japanese (nationality) 日 (Rì), 本 (běn), 人 (rén), 日本人 (Rìběn rén). |
| When I think of Japanese people, I think of politeness and precision. |
| Even a simple bow carries respect. |
| And don't forget those breathtaking places like Mount Fuji and Kyoto's temples. |
| Lina asks Susan about a guest at an event. |
| 那边的女士是谁？ (Nàbiān de nǚshì shì shéi?) |
| 她是我的朋友。她是日本人。 (Tā shì wǒ de péngyou. |
| Tā shì Rìběn rén.) |
| 韩国人 (Hánguó rén) - Korean (nationality) 韩 (Hán), 国 (guó), 人 (rén), 韩国人 (Hánguó rén). |
| Korean people really know how to bring style and energy. |
| You hear a K-pop beat, and suddenly you just want to dance. |
| I wanna know, know, know, know, what is love? |
| Lina asks Susan about her friend. |
| 你的朋友是从外国来的吗？ (Nǐ de péngyou shì cóng wàiguó lái de ma?) |
| 是的，她是韩国人。 (Shì de, tā shì Hánguó rén.) |
| 缅甸人 (Miǎndiàn rén) - Burmese (nationality) 缅 (Miǎn), 甸 (diàn), 人 (rén), 缅甸人 (Miǎndiàn rén). |
| Burmese people are known for their gentle smile and calm heart. |
| If you visit Myanmar, you'll see golden pagodas glowing in the sunset. |
| It feels so peaceful. |
| Susan asks Tom about Burmese nationalities. |
| 你认识来自缅甸的人吗？ (Nǐ rènshi láizì Miǎndiàn de rén ma?) |
| 认识，我的同事是缅甸人。 (Rènshi, wǒ de tóngshì shì Miǎndiàn rén.) |
| 越南人 (Yuènán rén) - Vietnamese (nationality) 越 (Yuè), 南 (nán), 人 (rén), 越南人 (Yuènán rén). |
| Vietnamese people are so warm and kind. |
| And their pho, that noodle soup with herbs and lime, is so tasty! |
| 我爱吃！ (Wǒ ài chī!) |
| I love to eat! |
| Lina asks Susan about her friend. |
| 你的朋友是哪国人？ (Nǐ de péngyou shì nǎ guó rén?) |
| 她是越南人。 (Tā shì Yuènán rén.) |
| 加拿大人 (Jiānádà rén) - Canadian (nationality) 加 (Jiā), 拿 (ná), 大 (dà), 人 (rén), 加拿大人 (Jiānádà rén). |
| 加拿大 (Jiānádà), Canada, 加拿大 (Jiānádà), Canada. |
| The similar pronunciation might help you to remember it. |
| Eh? |
| Susan asks Lina about a mutual friend. |
| 她是什么国籍的？ (Tā shì shénme guójí de?) |
| 她是加拿大人。 (Tā shì Jiānádà rén.) |
| 法国人 (Fǎguó rén) - French (nationality) 法 (Fǎ), 国 (guó), 人 (rén), 法国人 (Fǎguó rén). |
| France has so many amazing artists like Monet. |
| I visited the Monet exhibition and absolutely loved it. |
| Oh, here's a little tip: as with many nationalities in Chinese, you add 国 (guó) and you have the country like 法国 (Fǎguó), add 人 (rén) and you have the nationality like 法国人 (Fǎguó rén). |
| Susan asks Tom about a performer at a cultural festival. |
| 你知道那位艺术家是哪国人吗？ (Nǐ zhīdào nà wèi yìshùjiā shì nǎ guó rén ma?) |
| 她是法国人。 (Tā shì Fǎguó rén.) |
| 印度人 (Yìndù rén) - Indian (nationality) 印 (Yìn), 度 (dù), 人 (rén), 印度人 (Yìndù rén). |
| In my impression, Indian people have a natural talent for singing and dancing, which is beautifully reflected in their movies. |
| 印度 (Yìndù), India. |
| 印度 (Yìndù), India. |
| Now you can better memorize it. |
| Steve and Jack chat about a new restaurant. |
| 你试过那家新餐厅吗？ (Nǐ shìguo nà jiā xīn cāntīng ma?) |
| 试过，食物很棒！ (Shìguo, shíwù hěn bàng!) |
| 那里的厨师是印度人。 (Nàlǐ de chúshī shì Yìndù rén.) |
| 德国人 (Déguó rén) - German (nationality) 德 (Dé), 国 (guó), 人 (rén), 德国人 (Déguó rén). |
| German people are known for being organized and precise. |
| Their trains run on time, and their cars, wow, engineering at its best! |
| Susan asks Oscar about a new member in their photography club. |
| 你知道新成员是哪国人吗？ (Nǐ zhīdào xīn chéngyuán shì nǎ guó rén ma?) |
| 他是德国人。 (Tā shì Déguó rén.) |
| Let's review! |
| You see the words in English, and your job is to say the words in Chinese. |
| Ready? |
| Do you remember how to say Chinese? |
| 中国人 (Zhōngguó rén), 中国人 (Zhōngguó rén). |
| And how to say American? |
| 美国人 (Měiguó rén), 美国人 (Měiguó rén). |
| How about Japanese? |
| 日本人 (Rìběn rén), 日本人 (Rìběn rén). |
| Do you remember how to say Korean? |
| 韩国人 (Hánguó rén), 韩国人 (Hánguó rén). |
| And how to say Burmese? |
| 缅甸人 (Miǎndiàn rén), 缅甸人 (Miǎndiàn rén). |
| Let's try Vietnamese. |
| 越南人 (Yuènán rén), 越南人 (Yuènán rén). |
| What about Canadian? |
| 加拿大人 (Jiānádà rén), 加拿大人 (Jiānádà rén). |
| Now, let's see if you remember how to say French. |
| 法国人 (Fǎguó rén), 法国人 (Fǎguó rén). |
| Another one. |
| What about Indian? |
| 印度人 (Yìndù rén), 印度人 (Yìndù rén). |
| And finally, do you remember how to say German? |
| 德国人 (Déguó rén), 德国人 (Déguó rén). |
| Did you know China is one of the most culturally diverse countries in the world with more than fifty different ethnic groups? |
| Do you know which group is the largest? |
| China is home to a wide variety of people. |
| There are fifty-six officially recognized ethnic groups there. |
| The biggest group is the Han Chinese, making up about ninety percent of the entire population. |
| Thanks for watching. |
| Don't forget to practice these new words and phrases. |
| And see you next time! |
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