# Han

/ˈhæn/ (US) · CEFR B2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/han
Updated: 2026-05-02

## Definition

the largest ethnic group in China, making up the majority of the country's population. It also refers to a famous historical period or dynasty that helped shape Chinese culture.

For teachers: the dominant ethnic group of China, comprising approximately 92% of the population; also used to denote the imperial dynasty (206 BCE–220 CE) that established the cultural foundations of the region.

## Examples

- Most people living in China belong to the Han ethnic group.
- Historians often compare the Han dynasty to the Roman Empire because both were powerful and lasted for centuries.
- The cultural identity of the Han people was solidified during the four centuries of the dynasty's rule, leading to the adoption of the term as a permanent ethnic designation.

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