gaijin

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A non-Japanese person.
  2. A white person.

Pronunciation

gīʹjĭnʹ /ˈɡaɪˌd͡ʒɪn/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-gaijin.wav

Word forms

gaijin gaijins

Etymology

Borrowed from Japanese 外人 (gaijin, “foreigner”), from Middle Chinese 外人 (ngwajᴴ nyin). Compare Mandarin 外人 (wàirén), from Old Chinese 外人 (*ŋʷaːds njin, “foreigner, outsider” < “non-relative”), from 外 (wài, “outside, outer”) + 人 (rén, “person”).

Derived words

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