华侨

• Pinyin: huá qiáo
• Hanzi breakdown: 华 = 艹 + 化 — China, splendour; 侨 = 亻 (person) + 乔 — to live away from one's hometown, a sojourner

Meaning

Overseas Chinese; ethnic Chinese people who have settled in foreign countries but retain Chinese citizenship.

华侨 is a politically and legally specific term — it refers to Chinese citizens residing abroad who retain Chinese nationality, as distinct from 华裔 (foreign-born ethnic Chinese) and 外籍华人 (foreign-national ethnic Chinese). 华侨华人 is often used together to refer to both groups.

Examples

1. 数百万海外华侨通过各种渠道为祖国的现代化建设事业做出了重要贡献，包括资金投入和技术引进。 Millions of overseas Chinese have made important contributions to China’s modernization through various channels, including investment and the introduction of technology.
2. 国务院侨务办公室负责协调涉及华侨权益保护和服务保障的各项政策事务。 The State Council’s Overseas Chinese Affairs Office is responsible for coordinating policies related to protecting the rights and interests of overseas Chinese and providing related services.
3. 这位定居东南亚的华侨已经在当地生活了四十年，但始终保留着中国国籍，情系故土。 This overseas Chinese man who settled in Southeast Asia has lived there for forty years, but he has always kept Chinese citizenship and remained deeply attached to his homeland.

Usage Guide

Context: law, politics, history, diaspora

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 改革开放初期，大批华侨回国投资兴业，为沿海经济特区的建立和早期工业化进程注入了至关重要的资本和管理经验。(In the early years of reform and opening up, large numbers of overseas Chinese returned to invest and start businesses, injecting crucial capital and management experience into the establishment of coastal special economic zones and the early industrialisation process.)
• 根据现行法律，华侨是指定居国外但依法保留中国国籍的中国公民，其与外籍华人在法律地位和权利义务方面存在明显区别。(Under current law, 华侨 refers to Chinese citizens who reside abroad but legally retain Chinese nationality; they differ clearly from foreign-national ethnic Chinese in terms of legal status and rights and obligations.)

Don't Say

• 华侨 interchangeably with 华裔 — 华侨 retains Chinese citizenship; 华裔 are foreign citizens of Chinese descent; they are legally and conceptually distinct

Origin & History

华 (Chinese; splendid — referring to China) + 侨 (to reside away from home; sojourner) — Chinese people sojourning abroad

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal