I am a Chinese or I am Chinese?

[reallyblue]

Hi,

I have read the past questions on this but there were various answers and opinions regarding the use of articles in front of "-ese" nationalities / race. Can someone offer concrete explanations about these examples?

I am Chinese.
I am a Chinese. (I have heard this and assumed it as "I am a Chinese person")
I am Vietnamese.
I am a Vietnamese.

I am not a native English speaker.

Thank you,
Really Blue

[2006]

Hi,

I have read the past questions on this but there were various answers and opinions regarding the use of articles in front of "-ese" nationalities / race. Can someone offer concrete explanations about these examples?

I am Chinese.
I am a Chinese. (I have heard this and assumed it as "I am a Chinese person")
I am Vietnamese.
I am a Vietnamese.

I am not a native English speaker.

Thank you,
Really Blue

In those esentences, "a" serves no purpose.

[konungursvia]

The articles often serve no purpose even when normatively required....

[konungursvia]

Hi,

I have read the past questions on this but there were various answers and opinions regarding the use of articles in front of "-ese" nationalities / race. Can someone offer concrete explanations about these examples?

I am Chinese.
I am a Chinese. (I have heard this and assumed it as "I am a Chinese person")
I am Vietnamese.
I am a Vietnamese.

I am not a native English speaker.

Thank you,
Really Blue

We almost never use the "a" in such cases.

[reallyblue]

Hmm ... what about these?

I am an American.
I am American.

I am a Malaysian.
I am Malaysian.

[2006]

Hmm ... what about these?

I am an American.
I am American.

I am a Malaysian.
I am Malaysian.

1...It doesn't matter what country you are talking about. You don't need "a".

2...But you do need "a","an", or "the" if there is a noun after 'American', 'Malaysian', 'Chinese' or whatever country you are talking about.

I am a Canadian citizen.
He is an Austrian artist.
She is the Italian reporter I spoke to.

[Nightmare85]

She is the Italian reporter I spoke to.

Hello my foe!
I'd rather say:
It was the Italian reporter I spoke to.
Or:
She was the Italian reporter I spoke to.
But this is just my opinion.

Bye my foe!