Indochinese

Part of speech: adjective, noun

Definitions

1. Describing the people, culture, or characteristics originating from the region of Southeast Asia known as Indochina, which includes countries like Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia
2. Pertaining to the diverse ethnic groups and languages found in the historical context of Indochina, reflecting its cultural amalgamation and historical significance
3. Relating to the geographical area of Indochina, encompassing its unique historical influences and the intermingling of various Asian cultures and traditions

Etymology: Indochinese is a compound of "Indo-" and "Chinese," and the first half needs some unpacking. "Indo-" comes from "India," but in this name it refers to the Indochinese peninsula lying between India and China, which Europeans during the colonial era often grouped as one region because of its position between those two civilizations. The label therefore joins the two giant neighbors it sat between. The term's sense has shifted over time. Early European usage used "Indo-China" as a geographic name for the peninsula and the French colonial territories there. Today the adjective applies to the people, cultures, and characteristics of that region, which covers Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia, while the "Chinese" element no longer means anything about China itself.