grungy-gonads 54 Posted March 14, 2002 Share Posted March 14, 2002 I don't really mind the word - it's how it's used (as with most words, surely). Just wondering what the forum people thought on the subject...... Link to post Share on other sites
frannyo 2 Posted March 14, 2002 Share Posted March 14, 2002 Not. Most of the time. Some of my Japanese colleagues I get on well with still say gaijin. They don't even comprehend how it could be taken the wrong way, and so are innocent of any crime. Link to post Share on other sites
miteyak 0 Posted March 14, 2002 Share Posted March 14, 2002 From the Kansai region, generally not offensive, depending on context. But coming from a well spoken, educated Japanese individual ...!?! Link to post Share on other sites
thomas 0 Posted March 14, 2002 Share Posted March 14, 2002 Why just the Kansai region?? Link to post Share on other sites
Ocean11 0 Posted March 14, 2002 Share Posted March 14, 2002 Matter of context usually, but when some word to indicate foreigner has to be used, then not offensive. It's only annoying when the context makes the matter of foreigness irrelevant. E.g., company lobby, lobby person calls upstairs 'Uh, there's a gaijin here in the lobby to see you'. **** you very much, you peasant. Amongst gaijins usselves, I can't stand those prissies who insist on saying 'non-Japanese' as if the world were divided into Japanese and those who aren't. Link to post Share on other sites
cal 6 Posted March 14, 2002 Share Posted March 14, 2002 I don't really mind it apart from when it's obviously meant with contempt. We all know when that happens. Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Posted March 14, 2002 Share Posted March 14, 2002 I'd like to say as a Japanese living in the most conservative territory Ibaraki-ken. We'll say "gaijin" as your's "foreigner". It's only just a noun. There isn't deeply meaning in the "gaijin" frase. Ever greater number young people who can't spell "kanji" of "gaijin" correctly are increasing lately. Ki-ni shi-nai, ki-ni shinai. Link to post Share on other sites
NoFakie 45 Posted March 15, 2002 Share Posted March 15, 2002 Doesn't bother me most of the time. However, I'm white and my *general* impression is that Japanese people don't look down on white people. I don't think you say that about some other races and nationalities. I think they have a much harder time of it in Japan. Link to post Share on other sites
frannyo 2 Posted March 15, 2002 Share Posted March 15, 2002 Agree with you on that NoFakie. Any views from non-Caucasians here? Link to post Share on other sites
miteyak 0 Posted March 15, 2002 Share Posted March 15, 2002 Thomas, the kansai region is renowned for it's rough, direct, less refined way of communication, where using polite (Kanto) Japanese in all but the most formal situations can lead to mild amusement, (in a coarse, direct.....) Link to post Share on other sites
Ocean11 0 Posted March 15, 2002 Share Posted March 15, 2002 NoFakie, don't let's forget the weight factor here. If you're fat white knacker there's more of a tendency to withold consent for hobnobbing with one's daughter. Anyway, I'd rather be a gaijin than a naijin. Link to post Share on other sites
NoFakie 45 Posted March 15, 2002 Share Posted March 15, 2002 My favourite encounter with the word gaijin was when I was living in Kansai. After leaving my bike illegally parked near the station, I had it confiscated in one of the swoops that Amagasaki does every three months or so. The following day, I went off to the compound and after 15 minutes of searching managed to find my machine. It took some doing as they had hundreds of black mama charis (shopping bikes). After paying 2,000 yen or whatever the fine was, I was about to head off home when the old guy called me back to give a receipt. He kind of looked at me, looked a bit perturbed, scribbled something down, and then said "aa, kore de ee yan" (I suppose this'll do) to himself. The name on the receipt he gave me was "gaijin" in kanji. My other favourite anecdote is when I was taking a taxi once, the driver asked me where I was from. When I told him "the U.K.", his inspired response was "Oh, that's the boot-shaped country, isn't it!" Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Posted March 15, 2002 Share Posted March 15, 2002 miteyak - Im not too sure about one of your points. I have some very well educated Japanese friends who will easily use the work gaijin....and often do when talking of foreigners. Link to post Share on other sites
miteyak 0 Posted March 15, 2002 Share Posted March 15, 2002 Generally, well rounded, educated professionals who talk in polite Japanese should use gaikokujin. Youth or familiarity may well lead to a more casual approach, but then that should be marked by more casual Japanese all round. Link to post Share on other sites
rach 1 Posted March 16, 2002 Share Posted March 16, 2002 I really don't mind. If I did, I would not still be here in Japan, because it's unavoidable. I find that for the most part it is not meant in a bad way - and many Japanese don't even consider that it could be. Link to post Share on other sites
gamera 0 Posted March 18, 2002 Share Posted March 18, 2002 I'm more like nervous rather than careful to say "gaijin" because I have read that the English word " foreigner" contains some descriminative meanings. And Ocean11 mentioned "non-japanese" doesn't sound good. Hum.. what I should say then and does "foreigner" really contain that descriminative meanings? Link to post Share on other sites
frannyo 2 Posted March 18, 2002 Share Posted March 18, 2002 gamera does actually have a point. What on earth should they call "us" without someone somewhere getting worked up?? Link to post Share on other sites
miteyak 0 Posted March 19, 2002 Share Posted March 19, 2002 ex-pats? foreign nationals? Link to post Share on other sites
Ocean11 0 Posted March 19, 2002 Share Posted March 19, 2002 There's nothing harmfully discriminatory about the word 'foreigner' itself. But if you make a point of raising somebody's foreigness where it's not necessary, or relevant, then it becomes discriminatory. Same with any of the alternatives floated here. "Hey Chief, there's a foreigner/gaijin/non-Japanese/wigger got a problem here!" And there's no need for people to get panicky about 'saying the wrong thing' - just a bit of common sense is all that's required. Link to post Share on other sites
gamera 0 Posted March 19, 2002 Share Posted March 19, 2002 Got it - depends on how it's used, sometimes "gaijin", "foreigner","non-japanese" could offend people. Right? Link to post Share on other sites
oo 1 Posted March 19, 2002 Share Posted March 19, 2002 OK, you guys think its ok for a gaijin to use the word gaijin? Link to post Share on other sites
Ocean11 0 Posted March 19, 2002 Share Posted March 19, 2002 oo, sure why not? If I think it's OK for Japanese to use it, why shouldn't I use it myself, even as a verb if I see fit? Link to post Share on other sites
oo 1 Posted March 20, 2002 Share Posted March 20, 2002 I have no problems with the word. People say that some Japanese use it in a derogatory nuance - well, they can do that with ANY word they use, not only "gaijin". For the most part, I think most Japanese do not even consider that it can be taken offense at by some gaijin. Link to post Share on other sites
grungy-gonads 54 Posted March 22, 2002 Author Share Posted March 22, 2002 I love it when I get a "gaikoku no hito" or a "gaikoku no kata" as a correction for an initial non-thought-out "gaijin" comment. Link to post Share on other sites
brit-gob 9 Posted March 22, 2002 Share Posted March 22, 2002 Yeah, and I really like it when gaijin use the word as a derog word towards other gaijin. Link to post Share on other sites
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