‘侨汇’ refers specifically to money sent back to China by overseas Chinese—people of Chinese descent living abroad, including emigrants, students, or workers. The first character 侨 (qiáo) means ‘overseas Chinese’ or ‘Chinese diaspora,’ emphasizing the sender’s ethnic and cultural ties to China. The second character 汇 (huì) means ‘to remit,’ ‘to transfer,’ or ‘to gather,’ and in financial contexts denotes the act of sending funds across borders. Together, 侨汇 highlights both the identity of the sender and the formal, often bank-mediated nature of the transaction.

This term carries historical and economic significance: during the mid-to-late 20th century, 侨汇 was a vital source of foreign exchange for China and provided crucial financial support to families in rural and coastal regions. Though less dominant today due to broader financial globalization, it remains an official category in banking and statistics, reflecting enduring transnational family networks and cultural obligations to support relatives at home.