Is there a term for "mixed"?

H

Hama

Kouhai

2 Nov 2016

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• 26 Feb 2017

• #1

As in mixed ethnicity? I know hāfu, but as far as I know that's only for part Japanese people. Is there a more general term for "mixed" people I could use in Japanese? Reason I'm asking is because I'm mixed Native-American and white European, and I've had Japanese and Korean mates tell me I look a little bit Asian. I just don't always know what to tell Japanese folks when they ask me where I'm from, especially since I grew up in multiple countries and have multiple citizenships.

 

Last edited: 26 Feb 2017

Toritoribe

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• #2

Hāfu can be used also for non-Japanese ethnicity, thus, there is no problem with "neitibu amerikan to yōroppajin no hāfu."

 

H

Hama

Kouhai

2 Nov 2016

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• 26 Feb 2017

• Thread starter
• #3

Ah alright, that's handy enough. And I guess I can just substitute 'yōroppajin' with that parent's nationality on that side. Thanks for that!

 

Last edited: 26 Feb 2017

Toritoribe

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• #4

Hama said:

And I guess I can just substitute 'yōroppajin' with that parent's nationality on that side.

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Exactly.

 

Lothor

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• 26 Feb 2017

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I think there's another word 混血 (konketsu), which means mixed race or literally mixed blood, though I'm not sure how often its used or even whether it is an socially acceptable word (I don't particularly like this obsession with blood that a few Japanese have) - maybe someone better at Japanese than me can let me know.

I think if I was in your position (and what I hope my mixed-race sons will do when they are asked) is just mention the family history - I hope they'll simply say that their dad is British.

 

Toritoribe

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Yes, konketsu used to be used, but it's not so commonly used nowadays because of the derogatory connotations.
Hāfu - Wikipedia

 

Mike Cash

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15 Mar 2002

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• 26 Feb 2017

• #7

Lothor said:

I don't particularly like this obsession with blood that a few Japanese have

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The practice of associating blood type with personality traits has annoyed me for a long time. It recently dawned on me that the practice of associating hair color with personally traits is at least equally as stupid and that it would be intellectually dishonest to excuse the one because I grew up in that culture and to not excuse the other.

 

M

madphysicist

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• 26 Feb 2017

• #8

Is there a term like "haafu" for someone who is mixed but not half and half? I would usually just explain the family history as already mentioned. Not that I have much cause to explain since I look 100% white and people mostly assume that I am, but I'm curious now.

 

Toritoribe

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• #9

When one of their grandparents is non-Japanese, クオーター kuōtā (= quarter) is used, but there is no specific word for three or more mixed ethnicity. It will be explained as, for instance, 父親がフランスとドイツのハーフで、母親が日本人 Chihioya ga Furansu to Doitsu no hāfu de, hahaoya ga nihonjin (My father is half French and half German, and my mother is Japanese) or like that.

 

M

madphysicist

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• 27 Feb 2017

• #10

Thanks, I didn't know they used quarter like that. I think in most cases it's easier just to say "my grandparent was from (country)" since that's usually the next question anyway!