Job Discussion Forums

Sweetsee · Joined: 11 Jun 2004 Posts: 2302 Location: ) is everything

Sorry, what is "gerandu" Stone?

Like a Rolling Stone · Joined: 27 Mar 2006 Posts: 872

Well, I am not completely sure but I heard it is hair around the belly button Laughing

Or that line of hair just under. Can anyone confirm it?

Sweetsee · Joined: 11 Jun 2004 Posts: 2302 Location: ) is everything

In that case, pretty sure it is a ski slope.

Like a Rolling Stone · Joined: 27 Mar 2006 Posts: 872

Hmmm...I've been looking for gerandu evreywhere but can't find it. Ha Ha, the word I mean Laughing

But I then thought... how can you make "du" in Japan?
Wink

PAULH · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 4672 Location: Western Japan

nomadder · Posted: Mon Apr 10, 2006 12:33 pm Post subject:

If gaijin is so bad why is there Gaijinpot,etc?

I figured that it was easier to use a shorter word so that's why I rarely heard gaikokujin.

I should know this but what exactly does gaikokujin translate to and what makes the koku so much better???

Besides thinking foreigner sounds weird in English, are there not a lot of Japanese expressions that translate weirdly in to English? Linguistic and cultural differences.

Like many things, the tone can make all the difference whether used by Japanese or others.

harlemknight · Joined: 14 Mar 2006 Posts: 24

callmesim · Joined: 27 Oct 2005 Posts: 279 Location: London, UK

so it's the snail trail then?

gaijinalways · Joined: 29 Nov 2005 Posts: 2279

I've been told that the kanji is different for gaijin and gaikokujin. As to gaijin being bad...check out my name Wink

.

It's similar to the use of 'gweilo' in Cantonese. Cantonese speaking Chinese have a word for foreigner, 'waiguoren' (if I remember right, most of my Chinese keeps 'running' out of my head Confused

) but, usually the 'gweilo' (ghost chap) is the first thing that tumbles out of their mouths when seeing causcasians.

So really, some things you can't change, like being a 'permanent' guest here in Japan Rolling Eyes

.

Sweetsee · Joined: 11 Jun 2004 Posts: 2302 Location: ) is everything

Thanks HK, knew it was something like that.

Jazz1975 · Joined: 14 Feb 2006 Posts: 301 Location: Zama, Kanagawa

Nagoyaguy · Joined: 15 May 2003 Posts: 425 Location: Aichi, Japan

Couple of points to throw a little gas on the fire;

1/ Gaijin does not mean "foreigner". It means "un-Japanese". That is why Japanese people who travel overseas refer to people in their own countries as "gaijin". It is a geographically independent term.

Also, that is why Japanese who travel overseas are offended is someone ELSE calls them "gaijin".

2/ Gaijin is not a contraction of "gaikokujin". It is a much older term that started when Japan was an isolated nation. At that time, gaijin was used to refer literally to outsiders- that is, people from other villages or areas of Japan. "GaiKOKUjin" came about later, as Japan had contact with other countries.

3/ If gaijin is not rude, then why do mainstream media and the government not use it? NHK et al take great pains to say "gaikokujin".

Generally speaking, I can't think of any situation where it is necessary to refer to me as a "gaijin". In a business as a customer or in a government office, I am "okyaku-sama". At school, I am sensei. For people who know me, they should use my name. For those who dont know me, I can be referred to by;

1/ age
2/ height/weight
3/ clothes
4/ hair colour and style

all of which are far better descriptors than simply saying "un Japanese".

David W · Joined: 17 Jan 2003 Posts: 457 Location: Japan

David W · Joined: 17 Jan 2003 Posts: 457 Location: Japan

edited- someone fix this stupid site. Double post hell. Evil or Very Mad