Sinicization

Alright kiddo, Sinicization is when people who are not originally from China adopt the Chinese language, culture and customs as their own. It's like when you go to a friend's house and you start playing with their toys and following their rules, you are adapting to their way of life.

This process has been going on for a long time in China, as different people from neighboring countries like Mongolia, Korea and even Vietnam have come to China to live and work. When they come over, they start to learn the Chinese language and adopt their customs, such as eating with chopsticks and wearing traditional Chinese clothing.

However, sinicization doesn't just apply to individuals, it can also apply to entire groups of people. For example, when China annexed Tibet in the 1950s, they encouraged Tibetans to adopt Chinese language and customs. They did this by building schools and sending teachers to Tibet to teach the Chinese language, and also by promoting Chinese holidays like Chinese New Year.

Sinicization can be controversial because it can feel like the dominant culture is trying to erase or dominate other cultures. Some people believe that it's important for minorities to preserve their own cultures and traditions, even if they are living within a different country.