archaic derogatory term for 'uncivilized' peoples; barbarian; savage
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesnoun
archaic derogatory term for ethnic groups considered less civilized; barbarian; savage
archaicThis is an archaic, highly offensive ethnic slur historically used by Han Chinese to refer to indigenous peoples or ethnic minorities viewed as 'uncivilized' or 'raw' (as opposed to 'cooked' or assimilated groups). The term reflects historical Han-centric views and is now considered extremely offensive and obsolete. Use with extreme caution; generally avoided in modern discourse.
Jiù旧
shí时
de的
wén文
xiàn献
zhōng中
cháng常
bǎ把
biān边
jiāng疆
shǎo少
shù数
mín民
zú族
chēng称
wéi为
shēng生
fān番
。
Historical documents often referred to frontier ethnic minorities as 'shengfan' (barbarians).
Zhè这
gè个
cí词
shì是
dài带
yǒu有
nóng浓
hòu厚
qí歧
shì视
sè色
cǎi彩
de的
miè蔑
chēng称
，
xiàn现
zài在
yǐ已
jīng经
wán完
quán全
bù不
zài再
shǐ使
yòng用
。
This word is a highly discriminatory slur and is no longer used at all today.
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Lì历
shǐ史
shàng上
，
shēng生
fān番
yī一
cí词
fǎn反
yìng映
le了
dāng当
shí时
Hàn汉
zú族
zhōng中
xīn心
zhǔ主
yì义
de的
mín民
zú族
guān观
niàn念
。
Historically, the term 'shengfan' reflected the Han-centric ethnic views of that era.