asian

asian — adjective

1. connected with Asia as a continent — its many countries, cultures, languages, an

1.adjectiveB1
Definition

connected with Asia as a continent — its many countries, cultures, languages, and the people whose roots lie there.

Example

Hiro is studying several Asian languages, including Korean and Vietnamese, at university.

Asian + plural noun (languages, countries, cultures)

The museum in Taipei has a wonderful collection of Asian art from the past two thousand years.

Asian + uncountable noun (art, food, history)

Common collocations
  • Asian country
  • Asian culture
  • Asian language
  • Asian food
  • Asian art
Synonyms
  • oriental

    older term, now considered dated and sometimes offensive when describing people

Usage Note

Distinguish from senses 2 and 3: this is the geographic adjective covering the whole continent. Senses 2 and 3 are narrower regional uses tied to specific English-speaking countries.

Common Mistakes

Asia food is delicious.
Asian food is delicious.
use the adjective form 'Asian' before a noun, not the place name 'Asia'.

2. in American English (also Canadian, Australian, New Zealand usage), relating to

2.adjectiveB1
Definition

in American English (also Canadian, Australian, New Zealand usage), relating to East Asia — that is, to China, Japan, Korea, and the nearby region.

Example

The new restaurant on Mission Street serves Asian fusion dishes, mostly Japanese and Chinese.

American usage: Asian = East Asian by default

Xiomara joined an Asian student association at her university in San Francisco.

Common collocations
  • Asian American
  • Asian community
  • Asian fusion
  • Asian cuisine
Synonyms
  • East Asian

    more precise; preferred in formal or careful writing

Usage Note

In US, Canadian, and Australian English, 'Asian' on its own typically points to East Asia (China, Japan, Korea, Vietnam). South Asians are usually called 'South Asian' or 'Indian' instead. Compare with sense 3, which is the British usage.

Common Mistakes

My Asian friend from Mumbai' (in US English, this would normally suggest East Asia and confuse listeners).
My South Asian friend from Mumbai' or 'My Indian friend from Mumbai.
be specific in American English to avoid misunderstanding.

3. in British English, relating to South Asia — that is, to India, Pakistan, Bangla

3.adjectiveB1
Definition

in British English, relating to South Asia — that is, to India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and the surrounding region.

Example

Birmingham has many Asian restaurants serving curry, naan, and traditional Punjabi sweets.

British usage: Asian = South Asian by default

The BBC programme explored the lives of young British Asian women in Bradford.

collocation: British Asian

Common collocations
  • British Asian
  • Asian community
  • Asian wedding
  • Asian restaurant
Synonyms
  • South Asian

    explicit and unambiguous in any English variety

Usage Note

In British English, 'Asian' on its own usually refers to people of Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, or Sri Lankan heritage. East Asians are typically described as 'Chinese', 'Japanese', or 'East Asian'. This is the opposite default to sense 2 (American usage).

Common Mistakes

I went to an Asian restaurant in London for sushi.
I went to a Japanese restaurant in London for sushi.
in British English, 'Asian restaurant' usually means a South Asian curry house.

asian — noun

Word family

  • Asia
    nounA2
  • Eurasian
    adjectiveC1
  • Asian American
    nounB2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All four words point to people connected with Asia, but they differ sharply in scope and tone. 'Asian' is the modern, neutral umbrella term, but its default narrows by region: in British English it usually suggests South Asian heritage (Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi), while in American, Canadian, and Australian English it usually suggests East Asian heritage (Chinese, Japanese, Korean). 'Oriental' is now considered dated and, when applied to people, often offensive — use it only for objects such as carpets or vases, if at all. 'East Asian' and 'South Asian' are precise, neutral, and recommended in formal writing. For example, in London say 'a Korean colleague' or 'an East Asian colleague' rather than 'an Asian colleague' if you want to avoid the South Asian default.

Asian ↗Oriental ↗East AsianSouth Asian

Common collocations

Nouns

  • Asian country
  • Asian community
  • Asian culture
  • Asian cuisine
  • Asian American
  • British Asian
  • South Asian
  • East Asian

Phrases

  • people of Asian descent
  • the Asian continent
  • across the Asian region

Prepositions

  • from Asia
  • of Asian descent
  • of Asian heritage

Etymology

GreekLatinEnglish

The adjective 'Asian' comes from Latin 'Asianus', meaning 'belonging to Asia', which in turn was borrowed from Greek 'Asia', the name the Greeks gave first to a region of what is now western Turkey and later to the whole continent to its east. English picked up the word in the 1500s as both an adjective and a noun for inhabitants of Asia. Use as an ethnic label in modern English (with regional defaults differing between Britain and the US) developed mainly in the 20th century, replacing the older and now problematic word 'Oriental'.