Re:Overtourism in Japan, and how it hurts small businesses
by hackama on Friday July 11, 2025 @05:11PM
(#44536823)
Gaikokujin is the correct way to say it. Gaijin is slang but I'm not sure how rude it would be considered.
Re:Overtourism in Japan, and how it hurts small businesses
by projectazorian on Friday July 11, 2025 @05:45PM
(#44537062)
> And I also have the experience of people really appreciating it if you actually speak and read Japanese.
100%. You don't even need to know that much. Even if you have to switch to English, showing respect by demonstrating some effort to learn the local language and culture goes a long way.
Re:Overtourism in Japan, and how it hurts small businesses
by jacobgkau on Friday July 11, 2025 @07:17PM
(#44537783)
> If I remember correctly, gaijin is just how you say 'foreigner' in standard Japanese.
I think this depends on tone. It is a literal translation, but I don't think you have to call someone non-human for it to be rude.
> I can imagine that people in, say, the United States wouldn't be very happy if I went around and only spoke Dutch.
We do have a large amount of people (and an increasing number of businesses) who think it's fine to only speak Spanish.
And I also have the experience of people really appreciating it if you actually speak and read Japanese. Which makes sense, I can easily imagine it being a relief to find that you can just speak with someone normally instead of having to struggle with this absolutely bonkers weird language that one may be only vaguely familiar with.
I can imagine that people in, say, the United States wouldn't be very happy if I went around and only spoke Dutch.