gaijin

noun

gai·​jin ˈgī-(ˌ)jēn 

-(ˌ)jin

plural gaijin

: a foreigner in Japan

Examples of gaijin in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

It’s designed with Japanese quality standards, not for gaijin (or outsider) palates, to which many of the chain hotels in Kyoto are increasingly appealing. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 Apr. 2026

In Japan, a gaijin (foreigner) is on their own. — Jeremy O. Harris, Vanity Fair, 1 Apr. 2026

After seven years of living in Tokyo, sad-sack American expat Phillip Vandarploeug (Fraser) is still an outsider – or gaijin, as he’s called by the locals. — Brian Truitt, USA Today, 19 Nov. 2025

Western ‘gaijin’ are heading to Japan in record numbers lately – when the cherry blossoms bloomed this April, there were 43% more American tourists in the country than in April 2024. — New Atlas, 24 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Japanese, from gai- "outer, foreign" + -jin "person"

First Known Use

1968, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for gaijin

• cajun
• contagion