South Korean, A plural noun

Question

eg) Japanese, South Korean, Chinese, American and so on.

I've so often used this word "South Korean" as a plural noun ( eg, Japanese are rich men). I'm not sure whether or not it is grammatically right. Yes! I'm using Japanese as a singular noun when it is indicating the language.

Thank you in advance for your teaching.

Enoon · Accepted Answer

The nationality words in "-ese" can be used as plurals: "There were many Chinese on the plane." (Some people think this usage is offensive and want "Chinese people".)

The ones in "-an" and "-er" need an "s": "Koreans eat seaweed soup." "Luxembourgers really know how to party." (Again, "Korean people", etc.)

Many others cannot take "s" and need an article, or "men" (and/or "women", if you're insufferably PC or actually mean the females), in the plural: "The French loved Jerry Lewis." "Mad dogs and Englishmen and Englishwomen go out in the midday sun."

Some have special forms, like "Dane(s)", "Spaniard(s)", and "Finn(s)". "Swiss" can be used as a plural: "Two dozen Swiss got off the bus and marched into the restaurant."

Fivejedjon · Answer

enoonMany others cannot take "s" and need an article, or "men" (and/or "women", if you're insufferably PC or actually mean the females),

What's insufferably PC about considering it inappropriate to use 'Frenchmen' if you are talking about French men and women?

Enoon · Answer

fivejedjonWhat's insufferably PC about considering it inappropriate to use 'Frenchmen' if you are talking about French men and women?

It's insufferable because I can't stand it. It's absurd to put, "There were hundreds of Frenchmen and Frenchwomen on the ferry that Tuesday." Of course there are two sexes. The French seem to know that better than anybody. The word "Frenchmen" already means "people of French nationality of whatever ***." If you don't like "-men" to mean both sexes, as it always has, put it a different way, and remember that social engineering is a dish best served to those who will swallow it.

Fivejedjon · Answer

enoon It's absurd to put, "There were hundreds of Frenchmen and Frenchwomen on the ferry that Tuesday."

Yes, but most of us would say 'French people'. Now calling a group of men and women, and possibly children, 'Frenchmen' really is absurd.

enoonThe French seem to know that better than anybody. The word "Frenchmen" already means "people of French nationality of whatever ***."

No, it doesn't.

enoonIf you don't like "-men" to mean both sexes, as it always has

No, it hasn't. The word 'man' was frequently used to mean 'all human beings', but '-man/men' has rarely been used for groups of men and women.

enoonremember that social engineering is a dish best served to those who will swallow it.

I don't really think that pointing out the inappropriateness of referring to a group of X men and women as Xmen is 'social engineering'.

Son James · Answer

All the time I indicate them French or English. From now on, I will call them French people or English people. I think it much easier. Thank you for your teaching,enoon <img class='emoticon' style='Width:19px;Height:19px;' data-delaysrc='https://uat-englishforward-forums-backend.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Emoticons/10.gif' src='https://uat-englishforward-forums-backend.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Emoticons/10.gif' alt='Emotion: embarrassed'/>

South Korean, A plural noun

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