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Why are Chinese people called 'yellow'?

I've always wondered why this is. If you look at white, black and brown people you can sort of see where the relation to the skin colour label comes from.

But having a few Chinese friends of my own I'd say their skin complexion is more Latina-looking or Southern European/Arab (just not usually as hairy) and certainly NOT yellow.

Where do you think the label could have come from.

I have recently had two potential theories:

a) When Europeans first encountered a subset of Chinese people that village/tribe/town had a large number of people suffering from jaundice or hyperbilirubinaemia.

b) They are called yellow because of the Yellow River.

What do you reckon?

squish.

Scroll to see replies

Reply 1

Serious44789

Stop saying squish.

Reply 2

arent*giraffes*amazing

There is a sallowness to Chinese, Korean and Japanese skin. Not bright yellow but definitely a tone.

Reply 3

azhao

Because we are more yellow than brown or white :dontknow:

. I prefer people not calling us any colour though, we're all from one Human Race afterall.

Reply 4

Blátönn

There's usually a certain tinge of yellow. Except in South East Asians such as Thai and Vietnamese. They're not bright yellow, just like black people are dark brown rather than jet black.

Reply 5

amandacalifornia

They tend to have yellow undertones in their skin, while Caucasians tend to have pink undertones. Just a guess, though.

Well they call themselves yellow as well

Reply 8

username153949

what would you have us called then?

Reply 9

paddyman4

Stop saying squish. It is the weirdest way to not be funny I have ever seen.

Reply 10

nuodai

azhao

we're all from one Human Race afterall.

Cringe, especially when capitalised.

BumperBo

OP: I've never heard of Chinese people being referred to as 'yellow' before... frankly, white people are more yellow than the majority of them.

Reply 11

burninginme

azhao

Because we are more yellow than brown or white :dontknow:

. I prefer people not calling us any colour though, we're all from one Human Race afterall.

CHILDREN OF THE WORLD LETS ALL HOLD HANDS :rolleyes:

Reply 12

gangstermidget

Might it be because in chinese language, the race is refered to "yellow"?

Reply 13

azhao

nuodai

Cringe, especially when capitalised.

Sorry what?

Reply 14

azhao

gangstermidget

Might it be because in chinese language, the race is refered to "yellow"?

Erm the words for a chinese person in chinese are Han Ren or Hua Ren. The word for yellow is Huang, not the same. :yes:

Reply 15

azhao

Sorry who negged me for my original comment? If you did it because you perceived it to be racist then I'd urge you to look again and realise that I am Chinese myself. Also leave a name and a comment when you rep someone, I find it very rude when you don't even have the courage to neg someone and leave your name afterwards (very unsportmanlike :fight:

)

Reply 16

Deano88

Well black people aren't properly black, and most white people aren't completely white in colour. Obviously oriental people aren't completely yellow but there is a tone.

Reply 17

gangstermidget

azhao

Erm the words for a chinese person in chinese are Han Ren or Hua Ren. The word for yellow is Huang, not the same. :yes:

Yeah but it is like when u say white people, black people or asian, chinese people say white, black and yellow? :p:

Reply 18

burninginme

xps.systems

people you can sort of see where the relation to the skin colour label comes from.

But having a few Chinese friends of my own I'd say their skin complexion is more Latina-looking or Southern European/Arab (just not usually as hairy) and certainly NOT yellow.

Southern Europeans and Arabs on the whole are really nothing like each other. Which kinda suggests you probably aren't really in any position to make any accurate observations on far eastern skin colour.