What is the difference between a Chinese, Japanese or Korean?
By jellymonty
@jellymonty (2352)
April 18, 2009 12:42pm CST
Seriously these guys all look alike!! Everytime I see one them guys I never know whether they are Chinese, Japanese, or Korean. I'm frightened to ask as in my country we believe these guys are all Bruce Lee's. Can somebody shed some light on how I can tell the difference??
1 person likes this
6 responses
@maezee (41988)
• United States
18 Apr 09
Why do you NEED to tell the difference between them anyway? Just ASK them if you're so concerned about what nationality they are. I personally think (at least from the people I know from these countries) that they look and talk different, but maybe that's just in my area. Just ASK them.
1 person likes this
@semicolonp (518)
• Philippines
18 Apr 09
That's... pretty racist, man. You might not think so but it's one thing to think several Chinese A, Japanese B and Korean C people look alike; it's entirely different to believe that one iconic figure represents the entirety of a nation/country. Or that they're all the same based on their features. You might want to look into that.
The easiest way to tell them apart would be to simply ask them. Unless they lie, they'll normally tell you their real nationality. If their features are too indiscernible, there are marked differences on the eyes between the three. Or if you don't want to ask, listen to how they speak. Their languages are very distinct and easy to tell apart.
@jellymonty (2352)
•
18 Apr 09
I'm sorry I did not mean it as a racial thing. I actually do love these people but i just thought that it would be rude for me to just walk up to them and ask where they are from... I was asking as matter of physical features and nothing else.
I am truly sorry if I have offended anyone.. not my intention.
@semicolonp (518)
• Philippines
19 Apr 09
@jellymonty: Yes, I did take that into consideration. That's why I mentioned, "you might not think so". It was just the general idea that you're using Bruce Lee as an umbrella for three entirely different nationalities that strikes of racism. I just wanted to point it out.
Chiming in with signum, I'm Asian of an indeterminate nationality. Maybe I just have too generic a face to be distinguishable. It's not insulting if you've mistaken someone's nationality since not everyone is an expert in knowing what certain countries' specific features are (and we're in an age where mixed bloods are common) so don't be afraid of asking. It's not a question that will make people frown at you.
@arcidy (5005)
• United States
18 Apr 09
Beats me even though they probally take offense if we ask that question wich I can understand why. But also there food is pretty much the same wich is pretty funny and I love asian food deffintley one of my favorites besides pizza. Even though ill always choose asian food over pizza.
@xannebull (1793)
• Philippines
4 Aug 09
we do the same, sometimes it's very confusing to who is a chinese, korean and japanese. but for me, japanese eyes and chinese eyes looks different though they have small eyes but the angle is different and when it came to koreans, they dresses different from japanese and chinese. but actually they do look the same and it's hard to distinguish them sometimes.
