Distinguishing between Chinese, Japanese and Koreans is not so simple. Even Asian is difficult to cope with this problem. Representatives of the Mongoloid race seem similar to each other. How to distinguish Chinese from Japanese and Korean? It seems to us Europeans that they are all on the same face, but this is a misconception. Anthropologists investigated features that are characteristic of each of the three nationalities, and identified distinctive features. They really are very different from each other, and not only in culture and traditions, but also in appearance. The article will discuss the similarities and distinguishing features of three nationalities.
So, how to distinguish a Chinese from a Korean and a Japanese?
Physiological features
Of course, without practice and experience, quickly distinguishing between a Chinese and a Korean or Japanese is very difficult. They themselves cannot always do this.
The fact is that the Chinese nation is multinational (multiethnic), more than 50 nationalities and ethnic groups live in the country, and many of them do not look like the Chinese we imagine. For example, there are such people as Uyghurs, and they look more like Tajiks. That is why the averaged Chinese phenotype does not exist, and it is impossible to derive it.
In addition, the problem of how to distinguish a Korean from a Japanese and a Chinese is complicated by the fact that both Chinese and Koreans often migrated to the Japanese islands, so the phenotypes of the Japanese have changed somewhat over time.
But despite this, there are still some distinguishing features. So, the salient features of how to distinguish Japanese from Koreans and Chinese are presented below.
Leather. Some anthropologists claim that the skin of the Chinese, Koreans, and Japanese is different. Other scientists believe that it is very similar for these peoples. The fact is that pale skin color is in fashion in South Korea, so many young Koreans and Koreans use cosmetics. In Japan, subcultures, for example, Kogyaru, Gyaru, Yamamba, which, on the contrary, cultivate tanned skin color, have recently become very fashionable. Representatives of these youth movements spend a lot of time in the solarium. But it is worth noting that the vast majority of preference is given to fair skin.
In ordinary middle-aged people, the skin color is the same.
Body structure. We have a stereotype that all Asians are small and thin. This is a huge mistake, among them there are full, and sports, and slim, and high, and low. The percentage of overweight people in Asia is, of course, lower than in America and Europe, this is due to traditional Asian food, which is low-calorie.
If we talk about growth, then Koreans are the highest among these three nationalities, this is also due to the peculiarity of nutrition. The menu of Korean cuisine is dominated by meat, while in Chinese and Japanese - fish.
It is believed that Koreans have a smaller palm than representatives of two other nationalities.
Face. Koreans have generally broad and slightly square faces, cheekbones are clearly defined, eyes are narrow, with a single eyelid, the corners of the eyes are slightly raised. The nose and mouth are small.
The Chinese are chubby, with big eyes and flat noses. Their eyelids are single, their mouths are small, but with a plump lower lip.
The Japanese have elongated and oval faces, almond-shaped eyes with corners lowered slightly down, noses are more pronounced, flattened and high, mouths are wide, lips are narrow.
These descriptions, how to distinguish the Chinese from the Japanese and the Korean in appearance, relate to purebred representatives of the nations, but due to mixing, the external features are greatly modified.
Language differences
Another way to distinguish a Chinese from a Korean or Japanese is by language. The Chinese have a tonal language, regardless of the dialect. Koreans at the end of the sentence like to set characteristic sound tones of politeness. The language of the Japanese is without tone and stress, it is polite and monotonous, in addition, they speak quietly and muffled in comparison with other peoples.
But if you distinguish peoples only by language, you can get into a mess. For example, the Chinese Shanghai dialect is very similar to the Japanese language.
Another criterion for distinguishing between Chinese, Koreans, and Japanese is written language. In China, only hieroglyphs are used, they have no alphabet and alphabets. In Japan, there are hieroglyphs and a syllabic alphabet with two types of spelling (katakana and hiragana). In Korea, the alphabet is used, and only in some cases are hieroglyphs. But only by writing can not distinguish between Chinese, Japanese and Koreans. You need to listen to how they communicate with each other, and by speaking you can determine who is who.
Chinese spoken language has 4 tones, the meaning of the word or phrase depends on the choice of tone, the speech is jerky and emotional. Japanese spoken language is measured, calm, monotonous, they have no semantic stress in words and the language is softer than Chinese and Korean. The Korean language sounds more firmly and sharply, as the words contain the letters "chx", "kx", "tx". When Koreans talk among themselves, it seems that they are cursing and may even begin to fight.
Social behavior
Another way to distinguish a Chinese from a Korean or Japanese is through their social behavior. The loudest and most impulsive among all Asian peoples are the Chinese. They can spit on the ground, are not at all embarrassed and behave very relaxed. Their complete opposite is the Japanese. They are delicate and restrained, behave quietly and modestly in public places.
In Korea and Japan, a culture of nodding is developed, they bow at an acquaintance, a meeting. Foreigners can be introduced through handshakes and hugs.
Koreans and Japanese do not talk on the phone in vehicles, so as not to disturb other people, and do not listen to music loudly for the same reason.
Fashion style
One of the main criteria for distinguishing a Chinese from a Korean or Japanese is according to the style of clothing. The Japanese are very fond of clothes from world brands, in addition, they have a very good taste. The Chinese have their own style; they do not always combine different elements of clothing and shoes in tone and style. In addition, the Chinese are distinguished by their relaxedness and audacity in style and fashion. For example, in the evening you can meet a Chinese woman in a peignoir or pajamas. Many Chinese men wear cheap sportswear.
The Japanese, if they wear a sporty style, these are only things of world famous brands.
Koreans try to dress stylishly and fashionably, but they have not yet caught up with the Japanese in this regard, although they have outpaced the Chinese.
Makeup
Another way to distinguish a Chinese from a Korean or Japanese is to use makeup. But this criterion applies only to girls.
The main goal of all Asian women with makeup is eye enlargement. Chinese women are very fond of long and lush eyelashes and prefer to use a black pencil, shadows, as a rule, apply delicate colors. Chinese, Japanese, and Korean women monitor their skin, try to lighten it, and many girls do not use bright lipsticks.
Koreans love invisible makeup, slightly tinted eyelashes, brown shadows and a white pencil. Lips are painted with pink or transparent gloss.
Japanese women enlarge their eyes with false eyelashes, draw arrows under their eyes with white and black pencil, wear magnifying lenses. In addition, Japanese women love blush and delicate lip glosses.
Hairstyle
Fashion hairstyles in these countries are very different. The Chinese prefer the European style, among men haircuts with shaved temples and combed back or sideways hair are very popular. Often they make small tails on the back.
Korean guys prefer to cut their hair “under the pot,” leaving bangs up to the eyes.
The Japanese prefer hairstyles with protruding strands in different directions and with an abundance of wax.
It is very difficult to distinguish a Korean woman from a Chinese woman or a Japanese woman by women's hairstyles, the European style has greatly influenced the hairstyles and the style of Asian fashionistas.
Chinese women prefer simplicity, they like natural, long and straight hair. Of course, there are girls with curly and dyed hair.
Korean women prefer to dye their hair in a dark blond or chestnut color, give a lot of volume to hairstyles, curl the ends a little. Recently, bob and bob haircuts have become fashionable.
But the most diverse in hairstyles are Japanese. This is fair hair, and tails, and buns, and pigtails, and short haircuts. There are Japanese women with hair of all colors of the rainbow.
Plastic
One of the most distinctive features of Koreans is artificially made "doll" faces. Plastic surgery in Korea is well developed and is in great demand.
South Korea in the number of plastic surgeries ranks first in the world. Therefore, if a person met with a reference Asian beauty, most likely it is a Korean.
Food attitude
Another way to distinguish a Chinese from a Japanese, and a Japanese from a Korean, is with respect to their food. The Japanese are attracted by aesthetic perception. They enjoy not only the taste, but also the view. Prefer seafood.
Koreans mainly eat like Europeans. The United States influenced their gastronomic preferences. They love fast food, street food, but they also use national dishes, such as kuksi and kimchi.
The Chinese are very fond of eating. They are true gourmets, fixated on taste, and the aesthetic side of dishes does not interest them at all.
Psychological features
The easiest way to distinguish the Chinese from the Koreans or Japanese is through the psychological characteristics of the nation. The Chinese are very noisy, loud, laughing loudly. Chinese tourists are rude, restless.
The Japanese are restrained, intelligent, delicate. They behave very quietly so as not to disturb anyone. They are very modest, by their facial expressions you will never understand whether they liked the dish, the tour, the book or not.
Koreans are restrained and tolerant.
Instead of a conclusion
These three peoples are united by the territory of settlement, climatic conditions, and political processes. All these factors influenced the formation of common features in appearance. But in culture, each nationality has its own characteristics that distinguish its people on a spiritual, emotional and historical level.