黄种 (huáng chóng) — yellow race (Mongoloid race)

Definition

An older, racial-classification term for the 'Mongoloid' peoples of East Asia. Today it is considered outdated and can feel offensive — prefer 亚洲人 (Asian) or specific nationalities.

noun
yellow race (Mongoloid race)
Easily confused

Examples

  • 黄种。
    Dà duō shù yà zhōu rén shǔ yú huáng chóng rén.
    Most Asians belong to the yellow race.
  • 黄种。
    Rén lèi xué jiā jiāng huáng chóng liè wéi shì jiè zhǔ yào rén zhǒng zhī yī.
    Anthropologists list the yellow race as one of the world's major races.
  • 黄种。
    huáng chóng De tè zhēng bāo kuò huáng sè pí fū hé hēi sè zhí fā.
    Characteristics of the yellow race include yellow skin and straight black hair.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

黄huángyellow
种zhǒngrace

黄 means yellow and 种 means race, naming the yellow race.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 黃; 黄 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
田田tiánfield
Sound part声符shēngfú
炗
炗guāng黃huáng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 黃 pairs 田 (field) with 炗 (light), which gives the sound; the simplified 黄 is a shorthand and its parts are not historical components.

Open 黄 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
禾禾hérice
Sound part声符shēngfú
中
中zhōng种zhǒng
Same sound today

种 pairs 禾, which shows rice or grain and fits meanings like plant and seed, with 中, which gives its sound.

Open 种 →

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