外国人
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Noun meaning 'foreigner'. It is a compound of 『外』 (soto, 'outside'), 『国』 (kuni, 'country'), and 『人』 (hito, 'person'). Used to refer to people from other countries.
Theme

At a tourist spot in Kyoto, User and their local friend Ken are observing the crowd. Ken points out a foreigner and starts a conversation about cultural exchange.

外国人

がいこくじん

foreigner

People & IdentityLanguages & Nationalities

Memory Hook

Imagine a 'foreigner' visiting Japan and saying, 'I'm from outside the country!' The word breaks down as 『外』 (soto, 'outside') + 『国』 (kuni, 'country') + 『人』 (hito, 'person') → 『外国人』 (gaikokujin, 'foreigner').

Cultural Note

In Japan, 『外国人』 (gaikokujin, 'foreigner') is a neutral term for non-Japanese people. It's commonly used in official contexts, tourism, and daily conversation. However, some prefer more specific terms like 『アメリカ人』 (Amerikajin, 'American') or 『留学生』 (ryuugakusei, 'international student').

Forms

Base: 外国人Noun meaning 'foreigner'. It is a compound of 『外』 (soto, 'outside'), 『国』 (kuni, 'country'), and 『人』 (hito, 'person'). Used to refer to people from other countries.