Do you consider the word "gaijin" racist?

Tuesday 27th May, 06:00 AM JST

Latest 15 of 144 Total Comments Show All

Zaphod at 12:21 PM JST - 30th May

About "gaikokujin", careful. I have heard reports of black servicemen in Roppongi, hearing that, misinterpreting it because of limited Japanese knowledge (they only heard the "kokujin" part), and proceeding to beat up people.

This whole "gaijin" debate is stupid. A word is what you put into it. Without context, you can`t judge it.
zzonkerr at 01:11 PM JST - 30th May

To the question: Do you consider the word "gaijin" racist?

Answer: No.

End of story.
zzonkerr at 01:14 PM JST - 30th May

PuffinMuffin, my kid says, "uchujin". That stops J-brats cold.
kagunlapell at 01:27 PM JST - 30th May

nope the difference of politeness between 'gaijin' and 'gaikokujin' is only in the Japanese side. 'Foreigner' and 'person from a foreign country'...no difference for me.
Breagle at 03:05 PM JST - 30th May

okay how about Gaijin Chan
WMD at 07:54 PM JST - 30th May

"gaijin" is no better or no worse than just using the first three letters of "japanese"-If you use this word you get deleted but the mods allow "gaijin" so double standards apply here.
PuffinMuffin at 08:59 PM JST - 30th May

@zzonkerr: that's cool (^-~)v
vultor at 05:52 AM JST - 31st May

It depends on how glad you are to be one.
xpompey8 at 04:12 PM JST - 31st May

I'm more offended when they call us aliens.
blvtzpk at 09:47 PM JST - 31st May

The funny thing is that in most cases this phenomenon is driven by people not belonging to the minority itself. I very rarely hear Black people complaining about what they are called (unless it is one of the very old words), same for Jewish people, etc.

Ah, "Some of my best friends are..."

You've not heard of the NAACP or the B'nai B'rith and their works, I can tell.
OssanULTRA at 12:59 PM JST - 1st June

The term "Gaijin" may or may not be derogatory, and depends on the context and it's use. So much so that among us "Gaijin" there are differences of opinion as to whether that world is even offensive. In contrast, the three letter derogatory term for Japanese (both of them) no matter how it may be used, is always offensive and derogatory. I think that is an enormous difference between those two words.
Paolosan at 07:55 PM JST - 2nd June

Stop playing double standards. You call them Js, Ju, N. etc. and turn around to cry wolf when ... is used on ya. Remove them pips on your shoulders and be yourselves. You are either a Ja or Ga Period!
sweetndspicy at 11:56 PM JST - 2nd June

i don't think it's an offensive word for me... when they ask me "nanijin?" i simply answer them "wakaranjin desu.. yoropiku" .. but if someone will call me "gaijin san" heeeck! i bet you! i'll call them back in an "offensive word san" too!! like.. nandayo obaasan!! or debusan!! :D!
toguro at 06:36 AM JST - 3rd June

I thought that the term gaijin meant foreigner which means that it is not denoting a persons race, but rather their citizenship, or immigration status in Japan.
PuffinMuffin at 02:17 PM JST - 5th June

I don't care, staring is universally imp'lite!!