6
外国人

Foreign Person


Meaning

Foreign Person, Foreigner

Word Type

noun

Explanation

You know 外人 the word that means "foreigner," but that word is a bit informal and can come off as rude. The nicer, more politically correct version of the word is the one above. An outside country person. To differentiate this from "foreigner" we're going to use the more polite English version of this word as well (just like in Japanese): Foreign Person.


Reading

がいこくじん

Explanation

This is a jukugo word, which usually means on'yomi readings from the kanji. Since 人 has two on'yomi readings, here's a mnemonic to help you remember which one to use: Remember how to spot a foreigner? That's right, they'll be in jeans (じん)!


Context

Patterns of Use

Common Word Combinations

  • 外国人のくらし

    life of a foreign person

    外国人の文化

    foreign person's culture

    外国人の友人

    foreign friend, friend of a foreign person

  • 外国人にきく

    to ask a foreign person

    外国人になる

    to become a foreign person

    外国人に学ぶ

    to learn from a foreign person

Context Sentences

六月に外国人の友人が日本に来ます。

My foreign friends are coming to Japan in June.

バーの入り口には外国人がたくさんいました。

There were many foreigners at the entrance of the bar.

お父さんだって、外国に行ったら「外国人」になるんだよ。

Dad, if you go abroad, you become a foreigner too.


Kanji Composition