Since the term "Chinese" in German (and English) does not clearly distinguish between citizens of the state of China and members of the Han-nationality, which is to say the 'ethnic Chinese', the term 'Han Chinese' has increasingly gained acceptance. In Chinese, clear distinctions are made between the Chinese as citizens of a nation state (Zhongguoren, "Person from the Land in the Middle") and the 'ethnic Chinese' (Hanzuren, or Hanren, "Person of the Han-people"). The Hakka, for their part, represent in the Chinese view a sub-group of the Han Chinese.
Approximately 91.6% of the populace of the People's Republic of China and 98% of the Republic of China (Taiwan) are Han. Alongside the Han Chinese, there are in the People's Republic 55 and in the Republic 12 officially recognized ethnic groups. In addition to these, there are 15–20 ethnic groups, who are not officially recognized as independent ethnicities.
Actually, however, even the Han Chinese are not as homogeneous an ethnic group as is assumed by modern state institutions. The heterogeneity manifests itself, for example, in the various languages within Chinese and in the names for regions and their inhabitants that are older than the Han Dynasty (e.g. Wu or Shu). Other dynasties are also used for onomastic purposes. The southern Chinese named themselves (and still do in other countries in southeast Asia) Tang, and not Han, since their territories were first settled by the Tang from the north and not the Han. The autochthon population either let itself be displaced or assimilated.
Most "overseas Chinese" descend from the Han. The essential cultural elements are the common written language used with dialects that are in part very different from each other and a consciousness of a common history and tradition.