waa4 jeoi6華裔华裔
Jyutpingwaa4 jeoi6
Yalewàh yeuih
Definition
A person of Chinese descent.
neutralpeople
How it's used
Focuses on the ancestral heritage of individuals living outside of Greater China, often implying a cultural or ethnic connection rather than nationality. It is a formal term typically found in news reports, academic discussions, or official documents. In casual daily conversation, people are much more likely to use terms like 華人 or specifically refer to someone's nationality, such as 美籍華人.
Examples
He is a person of Chinese descent born abroad.
There are many people of Chinese descent living here.
Related words
Common phrases
ethnic Chinese residents
ethnic Chinese population
Common mistake
Do not use this word to describe someone who is a citizen of China or Hong Kong, as it specifically highlights the diaspora experience. It is a descriptive label rather than a term of address.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
