Hu (people)

While sometimes it was used in this general way to describe people of non-Han descent, and carried the same negative overtones of the English term, this was not always the case.

"[5] During the pre-Qin dynasty (before 221 BCE) period, the term "Hu" (胡) came to be used to designate the Xiongnu barbarians to the north of China.

[6] The vassal of the Xiongnu, and later confidant of Emperor Han Wudi, Jin Midi (134–86 BCE) would be described as both a Hu (胡),[7] and a Yidi (夷狄).

[8] Indo-European "Scythian" Sakas from Central Asia, or the Yuezhi would also be referred as "Hu".

[11] The "Jihu" (稽胡) were indigenous inhabitants of Shaanbei and Western Shanxi in the 7th century CE.