ABSTRACT
Both words refer to China, but they are not interchangeable in the expressions in which they occur. 中 huá is used in the offi cial name for the People’s Republic of China (“mainland China”: 中 huá Rénmín Gònghéguó) and the Republic of China (“Taiwan”: 中 huá Mínguó). Huá is generally used to refer to ethnicity rather than citizenship. Thus, the expression Huá 人 refers to people of Chinese descent, regardless of their citizenship or residence. In contrast, the expression 中 guó 人 refers to Chinese people from China.
