fj.life.in-japan Just the FAQs, ma'am, just the FAQs The incomplete, unauthoritative answers to some, but not all, of your questions on life in Japan updated August 05, 2001

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1. Is the word "gaijin" racist? How should I react to its use? What is meant by it?

Answers from: [Shuji Matsuda]
Rantecdotes from: [John Yamamoto-Wilson]

GAIJIN is an abbreviation of "gaikoku jin." It is not the literal translation of "outside person."

Just as the same as any other word, "GAIJIN" can be used with any connotation, good or bad, obscene or foul, amicable or dreadful, whatever. However, by definition, all of them share the basic feeling "of something different from us, Japanese." [sm]

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