Translation guide
The English word 'Jap' is a derogatory ethnic slur for a Japanese person. This guide explains how to refer to Japanese people in Japanese, and how to understand or respond to the English slur.
The learner wants to refer to a Japanese person in a neutral, respectful way.
The standard, neutral word for a Japanese person. Can be singular or plural.
彼は日本人です。
He is Japanese.
日本人は礼儀正しい。
Japanese people are polite.
Formal term for 'Japanese citizen' or 'Japanese national', used in official contexts.
日本国民の権利
rights of Japanese citizens
Formal term for 'Japanese person', often used in news reports, especially when referring to Japanese people abroad.
海外の邦人
Japanese people overseas
The learner encounters the word 'Jap' and needs to understand its meaning and offensiveness.
'Jap' is a highly offensive ethnic slur for a Japanese person, historically used during World War II. It is never acceptable in polite conversation. In Japanese, it can be translated as ジャップ (jappu), a loanword from English, which is equally derogatory.
「ジャップ」は差別用語です。
'Jap' is a discriminatory term.
The learner wants to know how to react if someone uses the slur 'Jap'.
If someone uses 'Jap', you can say that it is offensive and ask them to use 'Japanese' instead. In Japanese, you might say:
その言葉は不快です。「日本人」と言ってください。
That word is offensive. Please say 'Japanese'.
The word 'Jap' is a racial slur with a painful history. Even if you hear it in old movies or from non-native speakers, do not use it. Always use 'Japanese' or 'Japanese person' in English, and 日本人 in Japanese.
「ジャップ」と呼ばないでください。
Please don't call me 'Jap'.