华裔新声 | 我是哪里人？（Where Am I From?）

开栏以来，“侨号”的“福见中华”中英双语栏目深受华裔青少年喜爱，认为是很好的中华文化双语读物。不少华裔青少年跃跃欲试，向本号投稿双语原创文章，分享学习中华优秀传统文化和关于家乡的所见所感。

为此，我们特别开设“华裔新声”栏目，致力于为小读者们打造双语学习交流的线上园地。

现在，让我们一起倾听他们的故事。请点击右上角“小耳机🎧”。

Since its debut, our bilingual column “FUJIAN ECHOES” has become a favorite among young Chinese overseas—just the kind of engaging, heritage-rich content they enjoy. Many have even been inspired to submit their own writing, sharing their experiences of learning traditional Chinese culture and reconnecting with their family roots in China.

In response, we rolled out a new column, “Voices of Overseas Chinese Youth”, offering an online space for young readers to share ideas in both languages and grow together.

Click the headphone icon at the top-right corner of this article, let's listen to their stories.

我是哪里人？

Where Am I From?

吴星辰/文

By Wu Xingchen

“你是哪里人？”这个问题对很多人来说是个很简单的问题，但就是这么简单的一个问题却给我带来了很多的困扰。

身为一个英国出生的华人，我很开心经历两种截然不同的文化生活，尽管这让有的小朋友很羡慕，可它却在一段时间里给我带来了很多麻烦与迷茫。

小时候我被问得最多的问题是：“你是哪里人？”

我毫无疑问地回答：“我是中国人。”但人们却会调侃地说：“你怎么可能是中国人？你有英国护照，你就是英国人！”说者无意，听者有心，就是这么几句话，却在我心里种下了一颗疑问的种子——“我到底是哪里人？”

“Where are you from?” For many people, this is such a simple question. But for me, it has always been a complicated one.

As a British-born Chinese, I feel lucky to have experienced both Chinese and British cultures. While my friends often admired me for this, it also brought me confusion and challenges.

When I was little, the question I heard most often was: “Where are you from?” 

Without hesitation, I would answer: “I’m Chinese.” But people would laugh and say: “How can you be Chinese? You have a British passport — you’re British!” These words, though not meant to hurt, planted a seed of doubt in my heart: “So… where am I really from?”

从我记事起，我就在两种学校读书，平时在英国学校，周末去中文学校。一进英国学校，我就发现周围小伙伴的样貌跟我明显不同。比如她们都是金发碧眼，而我却是标准的黑眼睛和黑头发。虽然我们之间完全没有语言交流的障碍，相貌不同也不会影响我们一起开心地玩，但在我眼里，这些差别足以让我觉得自己不是英国人，而是中国人。随着一年年长大，我认识到我们之间不但有样貌上的差别，更关键的还有文化上的差异。

From as early as I can remember, I attended two schools — my regular British school during the week, and Chinese school on weekends. Walking into the British classroom, I couldn’t help noticing how different I looked from my classmates: they had blond hair and blue eyes, while I had black hair and black eyes. Although there was no language barrier between us, nor did it stop us from playing happily together, I still felt that these differences were enough to make me see myself not as British, but as Chinese. As I grew older, I came to the realisation that the differences between us were not just in appearance, but most importantly, in culture.

随着时间的流逝，我对“你是哪里人？”这个问题有更多的感触。我是中国人，但我也是生长在这里的英国人。这两样元素是我身份的重要组成来源，我是英籍华人。

As time passed, the question “Where are you from?” carried a deeper meaning for me. I am Chinese, but I am also British — both are essential parts of my identity. I am British Chinese.

幸运的是，我从小就去中文学校学习国侨办规范的统一教材《中文》《中国地理常识》《中国历史常识》和《中国文化常识》。我不但把学校里所有开设的课程都学了一个遍，而且还每年参加中国语言文化知识与技能的各项比赛，获得的奖项数不胜数。除此之外，我从十四岁开始就一边读书一边做低年级班的课堂助教。

I was fortunate to study at Chinese school from a young age, using the standardized textbooks provided by the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office — Mandarin Chinese Language, Common Knowledge about Chinese Geography, Common Knowledge about Chinese History, and Common Knowledge about Chinese Culture. I not only completed every course the school offered, I also participated in various competitions on Chinese language, culture, and skills every year, winning countless awards. Additionally, from the age of 14, I began working as a teaching assistant for the lower grades while continuing my own studies.

在大多数英国人眼里，像我这样的中国面孔，既能说一口流利的标准英语，又能说流利的标准汉语，懂得中国文化和生活习俗，是很厉害的。虽然常常听到夸奖的话，但是我并不开心，因为我总得迫不得已地、反复地解释：我是在英国出生的华人，我觉得自己更应该是一个中国人。

To most British people, someone like me — with a Chinese face, yet fluent in both English and Mandarin, and familiar with Chinese traditions — seems impressive. Even though I often hear compliments, they don’t make me feel entirely happy, because I constantly find myself having to explain, over and over again: “I was born in the UK, but I see myself more as Chinese.”

自己觉得自己是中国人，那可不是百分百算数的。回中国探亲的时候，我在自己家里却像一个客人似的。爷爷奶奶和外公外婆都很热情，但有时候，我们之间还是有交流障碍。我听不太懂他们的方言，也不懂一些特殊词汇的含义。一方面，这让我感到非常遗憾，心想，我要是在中国出生的话，是不是就可以和亲戚们有更多的话题，谈笑风生呢？另一方面，我又是幸运的，爸爸妈妈从小就告诉我，在地球的另一边，有他们的故乡和亲人，那也都是我的故乡和血脉亲人。所以对中国，我更有血脉亲情的归属感。

Thinking of myself as Chinese isn’t entirely clear-cut. When I return to China to visit family, I sometimes feel like a guest in my own home. My grandparents are always warm and welcoming, but occasionally language gets in the way — they speak in dialects I struggle to understand, I also don’t understand the meanings of specific terms or expressions. On one hand, this leaves me with a sense of regret: I wonder if, had I been born in China, I could share more conversations and laughter with my relatives. On the other hand, I feel fortunate. My parents have always told me that on the other side of the world, there is their homeland and their family — and they are also my homeland and my blood relatives. This gives me a deep sense of belonging to China, rooted in family and heritage.

我的身份在小时候给我带来了很多的疑问，但随着我的成长，我参加过“中国寻根之旅”，通过社交媒体的帮助，我可以跟有相似经历的世界各地的朋友们交流，我看到了自己的优势，我对自己的身份感到自信了。

As a child, my identity brought me endless questions. But as I’ve grown up, having participated in “Chinese Cultural Immersion Youth Summer Camp”, alongside having the ability to connect with friends around the world who have had similar experiences through social media, I was able to see my strengths, and I became confident in my own identity.

我能够从小到大自然而然地掌握两种不同的语言，可以自然而然地融入两种不同的文化氛围，开阔自己的眼界，让我变成更好的自己。我骄傲我是一个会说汉语、懂得中华文化、有祖国亲情血脉、有很多华裔朋友和一颗中国心的英国华人！

I grew up naturally picking up two different languages and blending into two different cultures, which has opened up my perspective and helped me become a better version of myself. I’m proud to be a British Chinese who can speak Mandarin, connect with Chinese culture, carry my roots, have lots of Chinese friends, and keep a Chinese heart!