The Japanese word for foreigner is gaikokujin (外国人).
This term literally translates to "outside country person." It is a general term used to refer to anyone who is not Japanese, regardless of their nationality or ethnicity.
Here are some additional points to note about the term "gaikokujin":
- Common usage: It is the most common and widely used term for foreigners in Japanese.
- Formal and informal: "Gaikokujin" can be used in both formal and informal settings.
- Other terms: While "gaikokujin" is the most common term, other terms exist depending on the context, such as:
- "Ijinshu" (外国人種): This term is less common and can be considered outdated or even offensive in some cases.
- Specific nationality: You can also use the specific nationality of the foreigner, such as "Amerika-jin" (アメリカ人) for American or "Chūgoku-jin" (中国人) for Chinese.
Note: It is important to be mindful of the context and use appropriate language when referring to foreigners in Japanese.
