Taiwanese

Taiwanese is a demonym for people from Taiwan and is used to describe things related to the island, including language, culture, and national or regional identity. Because of Taiwan’s complex history and political status, individuals may identify as Taiwanese, Chinese, both, or in other ways, with identifications often varying by generation and context.

The term also refers to the language commonly called Taiwanese or Taiwanese Hokkien, a member of the Southern Min branch of the Sino-Tibetan language family. It is spoken by many in Taiwan, especially among Hoklo communities, and coexists with Mandarin, Hakka, and several indigenous languages. Written Taiwanese uses Chinese characters, with orthographies such as Pe̍h-ōe-jī used for romanization.

Demographically, Taiwan’s population includes Han Chinese subgroups such as Hoklo and Hakka, as well as a number of Indigenous peoples. A distinct Taiwanese identity has grown alongside Taiwan’s political and social changes in recent decades. The island has about 23 to 24 million residents and a sizeable global diaspora.

Taiwanese culture encompasses cuisine, cinema, music, and festivals that reflect a blend of Chinese, Indigenous, Japanese, and modern Western influences. The economy is highly developed, with strengths in technology, manufacturing, and services.

In international affairs, Taiwan’s status is disputed; most countries do not maintain formal diplomatic relations due to the One-China policy, but many keep unofficial ties, trade, and cultural exchanges. The term Taiwanese is widely used in everyday speech, media, and scholarship to denote the island’s people and culture.