Although Chinese Singaporeans and mainland Chinese residents are both of Chinese ethnicity, there are significant differences in their language, mindset, culture, and religious beliefs. Many Chinese people who have lived in mainland China for a long time might assume that since both groups speak Mandarin, there should be little difference between them. This is, in fact, a misconception.
In the eyes of many mainland Chinese, Chinese Singaporeans are simply the descendants of the Fujianese people who migrated to Southeast Asia (“Nanyang”) with their ancestors. However, a century later, while Chinese Singaporeans have preserved many traditional Chinese cultural heritages, modernization and multiculturalism are continuously shaping the Chinese community in Singapore.
Here, we can answer some frequently asked questions on forums and websites:
Table of Contents
Are Singaporeans of Chinese descent?
Singapore is a multi-ethnic immigrant nation, a melting pot of races and cultures. Chinese Singaporeans make up 74.1% of Singapore’s population, with Malays accounting for 13.4%, Indians for 9.2%, and other ethnic groups for 3.3%.
How many ethnic Chinese are in Singapore?
Singapore is the only country outside of China where the ethnic Chinese population is in the majority. According to data from the Singapore Department of Statistics, in 2022, there were 4.07 million Singapore citizens and permanent residents (PRs), of which 3.018 million were ethnic Chinese.
Why does Singapore have so many Chinese people?
Before its separation from Malaysia, then-Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew and the federal government of Malaysia disagreed on the allocation of racial rights. Lee Kuan Yew advocated for a “Malaysian Malaysia” approach of ethnic equality, opposing the “Malay supremacy” protectionist policies. On August 9, 1965, the Malaysian Parliament urgently amended the constitution and, with a vote of 126 to 0, severed ties with Singapore, effectively “kicking it out” of the federation. This forced Singapore to become an independent sovereign nation.
Singapore was originally a region ruled by the Chinese. After independence, a large number of Chinese people moved to Singapore from places like Malacca and Johor in Malaya, gradually leading to a Chinese majority in Singapore.
Where do most Chinese Singaporeans live?
The Singapore government mandates the integration of all ethnic groups in every region, so the proportions of Chinese, Malays, and Indians are quite similar across all areas. However, as the earliest settlement for the Chinese, Chinatown still has the highest proportion of Chinese residents. The English name for the area is, fittingly, “Chinatown.”
Are Singaporeans truly Chinese in the traditional sense?
30% of Singaporeans do not speak Mandarin; their common conversational language is Singaporean English (Singlish). Chinese Singaporeans are accustomed to living in a society with a significant non-Chinese population.
In fact, Australians, Americans, or the British have more in common with Singaporeans. They face no language barriers in Singapore and use the same media, software, and online services.
What are the similarities between Chinese Singaporeans and mainland Chinese?
Markers of Chinese Identity
Singapore’s ethnic groups place great importance on their mother tongues and traditional festivals. A 2017 survey on national racial identity by the Institute of Policy Studies found that 90% of Chinese respondents believe that being able to speak Mandarin is very important to the identity of Chinese Singaporeans. They also listed basic conversational Mandarin, celebrating the Lunar New Year, reading and writing Chinese, giving red packets (hongbao), and giving their children Chinese names as the five most important identity markers.
Although traditional Chinese arts and culture, such as calligraphy and opera, have become relatively less prominent in modern society, they remain important markers for constructing Chinese identity.
Learning Mandarin and Celebrating Traditional Chinese Festivals
Singaporeans receive a bilingual education from a young age, learning their own ethnic language and English.
Like people in China, Chinese Singaporeans also celebrate the Spring Festival, Qingming Festival, Dragon Boat Festival, Qixi Festival, Hungry Ghost Festival, Mid-Autumn Festival, and Winter Solstice. In terms of traditional culture and ancestral roots, the older generation of Chinese Singaporeans may even have a stronger sense of “nostalgia.” During the New Year, they also have the custom of giving red packets and oranges (which sounds like “gold” in some dialects). Important festivals are also marked by traditional Chinese activities, such as tea appreciation and reading sessions, and Mid-Autumn celebrations. The Hungry Ghost Festival in the seventh lunar month is widely observed by Chinese Singaporeans, with a level of importance comparable to that in mainland China.
In Singapore, there are many clan associations that still hold considerable influence. The Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre, initiated by the Singapore Federation of Chinese Clan Associations, plays a vital role in inheriting and promoting traditional Chinese culture, as well as preserving and developing Singapore’s unique local Chinese culture.
Chinese Cultural Traditions and Confucian Values
Singapore’s bilingual journey reflects a unique and harmonious blend of two cultures within Chinese Singaporeans. Despite the influence of Western modernization, Mr. Lee Kuan Yew firmly stated that Singapore must become a society that draws on the strengths of both the East and the West. He also defended basic Eastern values, such as the five cardinal relationships, loyalty, filial piety, benevolence, righteousness, propriety, integrity, and honor, as well as concepts from Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism related to self-cultivation and family governance.
What are the differences between Chinese Singaporeans and mainland Chinese?
Singapore inherited a multicultural and open society from its British colonial period. Many Chinese Singaporeans believe that Singapore is their home, and China is but a distant memory. Chinese Singaporeans identify with their nationality, not their ancestral homeland. The climate, natural resources, and indigenous cultures have all influenced the architecture, food, clothing, and even the way of speaking of Chinese Singaporeans.
- Language difference. Chinese Singaporeans use English as their first language, while mainland Chinese use Mandarin as their first language.
- Differences in diet and lifestyle. Chinese culinary techniques show clear Chinese heritage, whereas due to geographical reasons, the cuisine of Chinese Singaporeans often has a more Southeast Asian flavor, and they are also accustomed to eating a variety of Western foods. Influenced by the British colonial era, the lifestyle of Chinese Singaporeans is more Westernized.
- Diversity and global perspective. Exposed to a multicultural environment, Chinese Singaporeans have a more global outlook. Since the 1960s, as one of the “Four Asian Tigers,” Singapore’s development has been on par with the global average. In comparison, China’s Guangdong province has surpassed the Four Tigers in its decades of rapid development. Therefore, the differences between the people of the two countries are also a reflection of their different stages in the modernization process.
- Cultural confidence and ethnic pride. Chinese Singaporeans tend to be more confident, which is a result of their experiences and coping mechanisms in a diverse society. Interestingly, in the survey on national racial identity, Chinese Singaporean respondents did not place the same level of importance on “ethnic pride” as other ethnic groups. Only about 70% considered ethnic pride important—compared to 83% for Malays and 84% for Indians. This perhaps reflects the inherent humility and the doctrine of the mean that are ingrained in Chinese culture.
- Cultural identity. For Chinese Singaporeans, the nation has strived to build an independent national identity since its founding. Chinese Singaporeans have developed their “own unique character,” which is a “cultural identity that has gradually evolved in a specific social environment over several generations.”
Can Chinese Singaporeans and mainland Chinese coexist harmoniously?
Top-down Harmony Policies
The Singapore government does not permit anyone to incite racial discrimination or undermine racial relations. It is committed to maintaining harmony among races, so issues of racism are relatively rare in Singapore. In 2014, a Pew Research Survey report showed that Singapore is the most religiously diverse country among 232 countries and regions.
The Singapore government has designated July 21st as Racial Harmony Day each year to remind citizens to unite and contribute to Singapore, regardless of race, language, or religion. On Racial Harmony Day, schools across Singapore hold various activities to help students understand the importance of racial harmony. Many students wear their traditional ethnic costumes to school, reflecting Singapore’s diverse multicultural society.
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