Translation guide
The concept of interracial marriage or mixing of races, often with historical or social connotations. In Japanese, this is typically expressed through specific terms for mixed-race individuals or intermarriage, with careful attention to context and potential sensitivity.
Referring to marriage or romantic relationships between people of different races.
Literally 'international marriage'. This is the most common and neutral term for marriage between people of different nationalities, which often implies different races. It is widely used in everyday conversation and official contexts.
He had an international marriage with a Japanese and an American.
Literally 'interracial marriage'. This is a more direct translation of 'miscegenation' in the context of marriage, but it is less common and can sound technical or formal. It explicitly refers to marriage between different races.
Interracial marriage was once prohibited in many countries.
A descriptive phrase meaning 'marriage of different races'. It is not a fixed term but can be used to explain the concept. It is neutral but somewhat wordy.
Prejudice against marriages of different races still remains.
Referring to individuals who have parents of different races, or the concept of racial mixing in a population.
A common term for a person of mixed race, especially half-Japanese. It is widely used in casual conversation, though some consider it slightly reductive. It is generally neutral but can be context-dependent.
She is half-Japanese and half-American.
Literally 'mixed blood'. This term can refer to mixed-race individuals or the mixing of races. It is more formal and can carry historical or biological connotations. Use with caution as it may be perceived as outdated or insensitive in some contexts.
Can sound clinical or old-fashioned; 'ハーフ' is preferred in casual settings.
A loanword from English 'mix', used similarly to 'ハーフ' but less common. It can refer to mixed-race individuals or mixed heritage. It is casual and may be used in fashion or youth culture.
Discussing miscegenation as a societal phenomenon, often in historical, legal, or anthropological contexts.
A formal term meaning 'crossbreeding' or 'mixing of different kinds'. It can be used for racial mixing but is more common in biological or anthropological contexts. It is not an everyday word.
Miscegenation is a phenomenon seen throughout human history.
A literary or academic term for racial mixing or amalgamation. It is rarely used in conversation and may appear in historical or sociological texts.
The English word 'miscegenation' carries heavy historical and racist connotations, especially in American history. In Japanese, there is no exact equivalent with the same weight. Terms like 混血 (konketsu) can be neutral in some contexts but may also evoke eugenic ideas. In most everyday situations, use 国際結婚 for intermarriage and ハーフ for mixed-race individuals, as they are more common and less loaded.
When describing someone's background, it's common to specify the mix, e.g., 「日本人とアメリカ人のハーフ」 (half-Japanese, half-American). Simply saying 「ハーフです」 is also acceptable if the context is clear.
Mixed-race children have diverse cultural backgrounds.
彼はミックスのモデルとして活躍している。
He is active as a mixed-race model.
In that region, racial mixing progressed over many years.