夷い

noun

barbarian; savage

Historical term used in classical Chinese and early Japanese contexts to refer to non-Chinese or non-Japanese peoples, often with a derogatory nuance. Not used in modern neutral description.

• 古こ代だい中ちゅう国ごくでは、周しゅう辺へんの異い民みん族ぞくを「夷い」と呼よんだ。

  In ancient China, surrounding ethnic groups were called 'i' (barbarians).