What's the difference between "a Chinese" and "a Chinese person"?
Someone just said: Always add “person” or something like that. Just saying “a Chinese” comes off as a bit racist. but Why?

Question

What's the difference between "a Chinese" and "a Chinese person"?
Someone just said: Always add “person” or something like that. Just saying “a Chinese” comes off as a bit racist.  but Why?

Answer

hmm, "a Chinese person" is a little Chinglish, haha.

We usually say:
He's Chinese.
She's American.
I'm French.
Are you Japanese?
They're Korean.

Answer

I never hear people say "Chinese person". People always say "she's Chinese" or "I'm Filipino".

Answer

To say someone is  'a Chinese'  doesn't sound right to me ;  you could say  ' He/She/Shirleen, etc. is Chinese'  or   ' . . is from China'.   When you say someone is Chinese, Korean, British, etc., the word is an adjective, not a noun.  There isn't really a suitable noun to use in this case.

Answers · 3

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