Sinicization

Alternative Chinese nameTraditional Chinese中國化Simplified Chinese中国化Hanyu PinyinzhōngguóhuàLiteral meaningChina-izationVietnamese nameVietnamese alphabetHán hóa
Trung Quốc hóaChữ Hán漢化
中國化Literal meaningHan-ization
China-izationKorean nameHangul한화
중국화Hanja漢化
中國化Literal meaningHan-ization
China-izationJapanese nameHiraganaちゅうごくかKyūjitai中國化Shinjitai中国化

Sinicization, sinofication, sinification, or sinonization (from the prefix , 'Chinese, relating to China') is the process by which non-Chinese societies or groups are acculturated or assimilated into Chinese culture, particularly the language, societal norms, cultural practices, and ethnic identity of the Han Chinese—the largest ethnic group of China.

Areas of influence include diet, writing, industry, education, language/lexicon, law, architectural style, politics, philosophy, religion, science and technology, value systems, and lifestyle.

The term sinicization is also often used to refer to processes or policies of acculturation or assimilation of norms from China on neighboring East Asian societies, or on minority ethnic groups within China. Evidence of this process is reflected in the histories of Korea, Japan, and Vietnam in the adoption of the Chinese writing system, which has long been a unifying feature in the Sinosphere as the vehicle for exporting Chinese culture to other Asian countries.

In recent times, the term "Sinicization" has sometimes been used more narrowly in reference to specific policies of the Government of China towards ethnic minorities as well as the promotion of "ethnic unity".