‘侨民’ (qiáo mín) refers specifically to Chinese citizens who reside abroad for extended periods—often for work, study, or family reasons—while retaining their Chinese nationality. The character ‘侨’ (qiáo) means ‘to live temporarily in a foreign land’ or ‘overseas,’ historically associated with migration and diaspora; ‘民’ (mín) means ‘people’ or ‘citizen.’ Together, they denote ethnic Chinese nationals living overseas, distinct from naturalized citizens of other countries. This term carries a formal, neutral-to-respectful register and is commonly used in official documents, news reports, and diplomatic contexts.

Unlike ‘华人’ (huárén), which broadly covers all ethnic Chinese worldwide—including foreign nationals—and ‘华裔’ (huáyì), referring to people of Chinese descent born abroad, ‘侨民’ emphasizes current Chinese citizenship and long-term residence abroad. It does not imply permanent settlement or loss of Chinese nationality, and it is rarely used for short-term travelers or tourists.