Born Yifeng Chang in a small town outside Shanghai, Ralph travels to the United States to earn a doctorate in mechanical engineering. Thrust into an unfamiliar culture, he attempts to master social norms and bureaucratic systems, leading to periods of deep isolation. He is highly driven by a desire to prove himself to his distant father, though his intense pride and naivety frequently complicate his ambitions.

Ralph's older sister, who immigrates to the United States alongside her friend Helen. Tall, quiet, and introverted, she has spent much of her life feeling like a misfit and avoiding the center of attention. Despite her reserved nature, she is highly intelligent and enrolls in medical school, displaying an emotional maturity that anchors her family during their difficult transition to a new country.

A sheltered woman who grew up in a doting household in China before being sent to America to escape political danger. Initially withdrawn and terrified of her new environment, she gradually embraces American life after marrying Ralph. She takes great pride in her domestic skills and deeply desires to build an idyllic, traditional home for her growing family.

A wealthy, charismatic, and self-made Chinese American businessman who quickly captures Ralph's admiration. Unlike the struggling academics around him, Grover exudes confidence and material success, boasting of his lucrative property deals. He represents a seductive, consumerist version of the American Dream, using his charm and financial power to influence those around him.

A successful Chinese immigrant and academic who moves through the American university system with greater ease than Ralph. Having adopted an American name and secured a stable career, Henry represents the conventional path to success that Ralph originally set out to achieve. Though well-meaning, his achievements frequently trigger Ralph's deep-seated insecurities.

Henry's outgoing wife and one of Helen's closest friends in America. Coming from a different social class than Helen did in China, Janis represents the shifting social dynamics of their immigrant experience. She is highly social, eager to organize gatherings, and actively attempts to matchmake for her single friends.

An American secretary who interacts with international students at Ralph's university. She is casual and friendly, impulsively giving Ralph his American name during their first meeting. Her attention becomes a major distraction for Ralph, who projects his hopes for integration and romance onto her, despite her clear boundaries and personal troubles at work.

A strict university administrator who oversees the Foreign Student Affairs office. Stern and unforgiving, he enforces the bureaucratic rules that govern the lives of international students like Ralph. His authority represents the rigid and intimidating nature of American institutions for new immigrants.

Ralph's early academic advisor at the university. Operating in the paranoid climate of the Cold War, he is cautious about bending rules for international students. His refusal to help Ralph bypass immigration laws inadvertently triggers a downward spiral in Ralph's academic and personal life.

Ralph and Helen's firstborn daughter. Growing up fully immersed in American culture while learning Chinese at home, she represents the family's first true roots in the United States. She is bright and takes after her aunt Theresa in intelligence.

Ralph and Helen's second daughter. Like her older sister, she is raised with a blend of American and Chinese cultural influences. She is described as good-natured and takes after her mother's temperament, adding to the bustling energy of the Chang household.

A loud, excitable puppy adopted by Ralph and named after Grover Ding by the children. Subjected to intense obedience training by Ralph, the dog becomes a vessel for his master's need for control. He is strictly managed and physically robust, heavily influenced by Ralph's volatile emotional state.