- 4 Jul 2006
- 12
- 0
i did a test in paris: a japanese asked me something ... and when i answered and he said thamks , i replied: "your welcome gaijin..." the guy got blemish! I think he took it for an insult actually...
From my experience it is used as an explanatory term, but can also be used in a derogative manner. It has been said to myself in both ways.
Loquela is right, it literally means a person from outside the country.
All the word means is foreigner, no more no less.
My husband and his family refer to me as gaikokujin only when necessary and they would NEVER call me gaijin. From that I would have to say that gaijin is less of a "nice" word or term than gaikokujin.
Americans with Japanese descent with Gajin Card in Japan moral?
In Japan, there is no recognition of dual nationality. All foreigners in Japan must hold a gaijin card, (a.k.a. alien registration card). Is it ethical, to make someone who is born in Japan, and full blooded Japanese who is a citizen however, of the United States, to make them carry a Gajin card also? I am thinking since they have a Nikkeijin visa, that to preserve their sense of honor, that they should be given a Nikkeijin card, as opposed to a Gaijin card, to acknowedge their ancestry, especially if you were born in Japan.
Semper Fi
Hoorah.
What's the difference between
"gaijin"
&
"gaikokujin" ?
The 2nd one is just a bit more formal, right?
The poll was created in response to previous topics arguing the word was inherently racist and exclusionary. Flanker personally didn't believe so but like many Japanese in the current environment, understands the rude/aggressive impact it could have and avoids using it for that reason.You know I never really paid attention to the poll options until right now and one thing that sticks out is that to me at least the poll, as written with the options currently in place, leans towards the negative.
Gaijin or Gaikokujin means "foreigner", so why would it be racist? It is what we are as non-Japanese. Foreigners.
It's not the word itself - it's the connotation. ... but when used in certain situations, then yeah - yeah, it can be pretty racist.
I think saying something like "idiot foreigner" is pretty self explanatory.
If you've ever watched Yan-san or Jane videos in their visits to Japan doing really rediculous stuff, that's the type of stuff he'd tell us in class we would be called "henna gaijin" for.
It's not the word itself - it's the connotation. After all, as a black person, I am a person of color. However, if someone called me "colored," I would feel offended. At one point, I was also considered a negro or a nigger - yet people would simply say that those words mean "black." It IS racist, though.
Gaijin in itself is not racist, just like colored is not racist by itself... but when used in certain situations, then yeah - yeah, it can be pretty racist.
That has been pointed out here many different times, it is all how YOU decide to accept how the person using the word is saying it. It really is pretty simple. There is no equalling with the words that you used to describe a person of color.
The word "gaijin" is colorblind.
I think a proper conception of ethics should make us avoid such a word, just because there is a possibility of hurting a persons feelings.
OMG Yansan is so funny!
Was it made in 80s? Everything looks so old.
I like Yansan character though. He's so charming.
I think a proper conception of ethics should make us avoid such a word, just because there is a possibility of hurting a persons feelings.
This has always been the clincher for me.
If (for example) a Japanese person told me that the expression J-Girl could sound insulting/disrespectful, I'd immediately refrain from using it
The same goes for gaijin. There's no doubt that it's often used disrespectfully, and often causes offence. Therefore people who are aware of this should not use the word.
If (for example) a Japanese person told me that the expression J-Girl could sound insulting/disrespectful, I'd immediately refrain from using it
heliobacter are you Japanese?I think a proper conception of ethics should make us avoid such a word, just because there is a possibility of hurting a persons feelings.