Meaning:

    “半” means “half,” “唐” means Tang Dynasty (a metaphor for China), and “番” means “alien” (as we call a tomato “番茄,” literally “alien eggplant”). This term, originating in Cantonese, refers to people, behavior, language and culture that are half-Chinese and half-foreign. Interestingly, we don’t call those who have parents from China and another Asian country by this term, unless they grow up outside China and know little about Chinese culture.

    Example:

    A: 你们班新来的那个男生，中文英文都说得那么好，人也长得帅。

    Nǐmen bān xīnlái de nàgè nánshēng, zhōngwén yīngwén dōu shuō de nàme hǎo, rén yě zhǎng de shuài。

    The newcomer in your class speaks really good Chinese and English, and he’s cute too.

    B: 他出生在加拿大，父母是中国移民。不过他也就会说中文，对中国文化一窍不通，是个半唐番。

    Tā chūshēng zài jiānádà, fùmǔ shì zhōngguó yímín。Bùguò tā yě jìu huì shuō zhōngwén, duì zhōngguó wénhuà yīqiàobùtōng, shì gè bàntángfān。

    His parents are Chinese immigrants to Canada, where he was born. He can speak Chinese, but knows nothing about Chinese culture. He’s definitely a half-Chinese.