Asian American Ethnicity

Unless you are identical twins, no two people are alike, not even Asians. Ever since the beginning of immigration to our nation, we have far more noticed the similarities of ethnic groups of people more so than the differences. Typically, when we see people of Asian descent we think that they all look alike. The truth of the matter though is that there are many differences between the appearances of Asians depending on their country of origin.

First, it is important to note the differences in facial features and hair in predominant Asian ethnic groups in the United States. A major facial difference in Chinese people is that they are more likely to have bushy eyebrows and a thicker head of hair than people of both Korean and Japanese ethnicity.

Koreans are most likely to have deep black hair. However, the Chinese are more likely to have brown hair with dark tones. Another difference in facial features is that a person of Japanese descent is more likely to have a face that is longer and wider. A Korean face often has a more prominent jaw-line with high cheekbones. A person of Chinese descent typically has a rounder shaped face with many flat features.

Another major difference in people of Asian descent is of course their infamous eyes. The Japanese have eyes that are often described as angled upwards. On the other hand, the Chinese have eyes that are usually angled downwards and Koreans often have the smallest eyes than the other two groups.
Perhaps the largest difference between these three ethnic groups is in their fashion choice.

When considering their appearance in everyday life, modern day Japanese men and women typically prefer subtle hues, often with short shorts and skirts for women and tight pants for men. Also, they’re known for their kawaii, cute, culture even in fashion, which is one way that you can tell a Japanese person from other Asians. Koreans on the other hand are known to choose brighter colors more often than the Japanese do. However they both still bring in a similar element of the pop Asian fashion that’s popular across all three of countries. The Korean culture puts more emphasis on glamorous dressing and brand name items. In China the fashion varies greatly depending whether you are in a rural or urban setting. Overall the Chinese take a more Western approach to their clothing and accessories. They typically just wear t-shirt and jeans, which is something the Japanese and Koreans do not typically

do.
Another extreme difference between these races are their mannerisms in everyday life.

It is easy to tell whether someone was raised in Japan versus China, and sometimes Korea as well. Bowing is one aspect of each culture that most assume is the same, but in fact, it has evolved in each country over the years. In Japan a slight bow when greeting each other and a deeper bow in more formal situations is still considered appropriate. This is also the same for Koreans. However, in China, the handshake has actually become a common greeting, with only a slight head nod rather than the traditional bow. Another mannerism is the volume and tone of their speaking. Japanese and Koreans typically remain silent and even keep their laughter to a minimum. They are very introverted people. Chinese, on the other hand, don’t have the cultural custom of quietness in public spaces and share publicly. This is why people in Hong Kong typically laugh and raise their voices, which is a contrast to Japan and

Korea.
As our nation continues to develop it will become more important to distinguish between the Asian people. In order to have a successful understanding of the Chinese, Japanese and Koreans characteristics one must understand these differences and allow them to influence a better understanding of each nation.