International Dating Glossary
In this International Dating Glossary, we include everything related to intercultural dating, cultural identity and international dating. Other glossaries, such as the interracial dating glossary and top trending terms, you can find on the main glossary page.
ABC: American-born Chinese (ABC) is a term widely used to refer to natural born American citizens of Chinese descent, excluding first-generation immigrants. In Australia, they use the same term (ABC) for Australian-born Chinese.
Banana: a term used for Westernized Asian people (usually who live in Western countries). Banana is typically an Asian person who (or whose parents) immigrated into a Western country and they’ve assimilated and adopted the culture. Hence the expression banana: yellow on the outside, white on the inside. In Asian countries, the term ‘Whitewashed‘ seems to be used instead. Read here
BBC: British-born Chinese (BBC) is a term very similar to ABC. It refers to British citizens of Chinese descent, excluding first-generation immigrants.
Coconut: same as a Banana, but usually used for darker-skinned Asians (eg. South Asians or people from the Philippines). Read here
Culture: Culture is an umbrella term which encompasses the social behavior and norms found in human societies, as well as the knowledge, beliefs, arts, laws, customs, capabilities, and habits of the individuals in these groups. (Wikipedia)
Cultural Identity: Cultural identity is the identity of belonging to a group. It is part of a person’s self-conception and self-perception and is related to nationality, ethnicity, religion, social class, generation, locality or any kind of social group that has its own distinct culture. (Wikipedia)
Ethnicity: An ethnic group or ethnicity is a grouping of people who identify with each other on the basis of shared attributes that distinguish them from other groups such as a common set of folklore, ancestry, language, history, society, culture, nation, religion or social treatment within their residing area. (Wikipedia)
FOB: Fresh off the boat (FOB) describes immigrants who have just arrived and haven’t assimilated into or adopted the culture of the new country yet. According to Wikipedia it is a derogatory term. However, we are going to include it here as some niche dating apps use it to determine someone’s cultural belonging.
Usually, immigrants who arrive at a younger age will adopt the new culture much easier.Others who arrive in their 20s or later will be less likely to adopt or even embrace their own culture.
Intercultural relationship: a union between two people of different cultural backgrounds, which may or may not include differences in race, ethnicity, religion, language and nationality.
International dating: a union between two people of different nationality, which may or may not include differences in race, ethnicity, religion, language and culture. International dating is often intercultural, however intercultural dating is not necessarily international.
TCK: Third Culture Kids (TCK) or third culture individuals (TCI) are people who were raised in a culture other than their parents’ or the culture of their country of nationality, and also live in a different environment during a significant part of their child development years. (Wikipedia)
Whitewashed: Even though it has a very similar meaning as Banana, there is a negative connotation to it (at least in Western countries). It implies that the person is not going through the struggles and experiences everyone else in the community does. Nor do they fulfill their ethnic stereotypes. On the other hand, this term seems to be so accepted in Asia, that I mostly hear it from whitewashed Asian people (referring to each other as whitewashed).
Even though their meaning is so similar, whitewashed refers more to being different, not fitting in (in Asian countries). Often by having a different mindset. Whereas banana is used by those who are trying to fit in (in Western countries).