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Gaijin definition

gījēn, -jĭn
gaijin
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Frequency:
A non-Japanese person.
noun
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In Japan, a foreigner.
noun
1
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A term that refers to a non-Japanese investor or business person in Japan. The term also refers to a large U.S. or European brokerage firm operating in Japan.
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A non-Japanese person.
noun
1
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Other Word Forms

Noun

Singular:
gaijin
Plural:
gaijins

Origin of gaijin

  • Japanese gai outside, foreign (from Middle Chinese ŋuaj`) jin person jinriksha

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • From Japanese 外人 (gaijin がいじん "foreigner"), from Middle Chinese 外人 (ngwàj-nyin) (compare Mandarin wàirén 外人), from Old Chinese (*ŋʷˁat-s ning "foreigner", "outsider" < "non-relative"), from 外 ("outside", "outer") + 人 ("person").

    From Wiktionary