How to Say "Mixed Race" in Chinese

混血

hùnxuě

The English phrase "mixed race" is translated into Chinese as 混血 (hùnxuě).

混血 is most commonly used as an adjective to describe a person's heritage. It can also be used as a noun.

What does it mean word for word?

The term 混血 literally means "mixed blood".

Adding the suffix 儿 to 混血 turns the verb/adjective into a noun meaning "a mixed-race person".

hùnxuě

While 混血 is the standard term, some people may use the phrase 混種 to describe mixed-race individuals. However, this is almost exclusively used for plants or animals and can sound deeply dehumanizing or insulting when applied to humans.
While 混血 refers to race, a person of mixed ethnic groups within China, such as Han and Tibetan, would more likely be described using ethnic group names rather than the term for 'mixed blood'.
While 混血 means 'mixed blood', the word 混 can also mean 'confused' or 'chaotic'. In some older contexts, this reflected a view of mixing as a disruption of a pure line.

我以为你是混血，因为有点像中国人。
I think you are mixed race, because you look a bit Chinese.
This sentence is useful for seeing how to use 混血 to describe someone's appearance.
Tatoeba #584226 by sysko, translation #7798495 by sharris123
他是个混血儿，他的父亲是美国人，母亲是中国人。
He is mixed race, his father is American, and his mother is Chinese.
她是一个混血儿，她的父亲是英国人，母亲是日本人。
She is mixed race, her father is British, and her mother is Japanese.
他是个混血，他的爷爷是法国人，奶奶是中国人。
He is mixed race, his grandfather is French, and his grandmother is Chinese.
她是一个混血儿。
Tā shì yī gè hùnxuè'ér.
She is a mixed-race person.
他的混血背景很特别。
Tā de hùnxuè bèijǐng hěn tèbié.
His mixed-race background is very special.

Two friends are talking about a new classmate.

俊杰 Junjie

你觉得那个新同学怎么样？
Nǐ juéde nàge xīn tóngxué zěnmeyàng?
What do you think of the new classmate?
梓涵 Zihan

我觉得她很漂亮，好像是混血。
Wǒ juéde tā hěn piàoliang, hǎoxiàng shì hùnxuè.
I think she is very beautiful, she looks mixed-race.
俊杰 Junjie

她是吗？难怪她的眼睛很特别。
Tā shì ma? Nánguài tā de yǎnjīng hěn tèbié.
Is she? No wonder her eyes are so special.
梓涵 Zihan

对，她的长相非常有吸引力。
Duì, tā de zhǎngxiàng fēicháng yǒu xīyǐnlì.
Yes, her looks are very attractive.

Sources

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