Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun A non-Japanese person.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun A non-Japanese person.

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Japanese : gai, outside, foreign (from Middle Chinese ŋuaj`) + jin, person; see jinriksha.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From Japanese 外人 (がいじん, gaijin), foreigner.

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Examples

  • Many people who stayed in Japan criticized foreigners who left, referring to us as "flyjin" -- a spoof on the term "gaijin", which means "foreigner" in Japanese.

    David Wagner: To Stay or Not to Stay: That is the Question David Wagner 2011

  • Many people who stayed in Japan criticized foreigners who left, referring to us as "flyjin" -- a spoof on the term "gaijin", which means "foreigner" in Japanese.

    David Wagner: To Stay or Not to Stay: That is the Question David Wagner 2011

  • Recently there's been some discussion on various blogs about how bad the term gaijin really is, and weather we should be trying to stop its use.

    AnimeBlogger.net Antenna 2008

  • Well, for those who missed the "Shogun" miniseries, being called a gaijin is not a good thing.

    Why Publishing Is So Japanese 2006

  • Those twin gaijin pilates instructors freak me out!

    What's on Tonight 2006

  • Oh my god, you know the twin gaijin pilates instructor show?!

    What's on Tonight 2006

  • Here is a letter to the Japan Times about Debito's theory about the word gaijin, via JAPUNDIT.

    Occidentalism 2008

  • Depending on who uses it and in what way, the word gaijin can sound derogatory to some, which is why TV newscasters will always use the more polite gaikokujin or "outside-country-person" instead.

    AnimeBlogger.net Antenna 2008

  • After Quake: Day 11 The flight of the foreigners—known as gaijin in Japanese—has polarized some offices in Tokyo.

    Expatriates Tiptoe Back to the Office Mariko Sanchanta 2011

  • Of course, being called gaijin in Tokyo was no fun for me either, but I think they know they're wrong too, and that's why people deny it so strenuously when caught out.

    "So what is it that makes Rosie's 'ching chong' so offensive?" Ann Althouse 2007

Comments

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  • Great word!

    April 20, 2007

  • "Foreigner." Considered politically incorrect.

    March 26, 2009

  • 외국�?� (wegugin), the Korean word for 'foreigner', has a good ten years before it achieves politically incorrect status. one hears a perfect chorus of it when approaching, for example, a school (without the requisite adult disapproval).

    May 14, 2009