Bai

Bai is a term with multiple meanings across cultures and contexts. It may refer to a Chinese surname, an ethnic group in China, the language they speak, or a modern commercial brand.

As a Chinese surname, Bai (白) means “white” and is relatively common in China. Notable people include the Tang dynasty poet Bai Juyi and the contemporary actress Bai Ling.

The Bai are an ethnic minority concentrated in Yunnan Province, especially in the Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture. They have a distinctive culture with traditional architecture, dress, and festivals, and they speak the Bai language.

The Bai language is a Sino-Tibetan language spoken by Bai communities. It comprises several dialects and is not mutually intelligible with Mandarin. Historically, Bai has used Chinese characters for writing, with more recent phonetic orthographies used in linguistic and educational contexts.

In modern commerce, Bai is the name of an American beverage brand, Bai Brands, known for fruit-flavored waters marketed as having antioxidants.