Japanese

[ jap-uh-neez, -nees ]

adjective

1. of, relating to, or characteristic of Japan, its people, or their language.

noun

, plural Jap·a·nese.

1. Often Offensive. a native or inhabitant of Japan or a person of Japanese descent.
2. the language of Japan. : Japn., Japn

Japanese

/ ˌdʒæpəˈniːz /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or characteristic of Japan, its people, or their language

noun

1. -nese a native or inhabitant of Japan or a descendant of one
2. the official language of Japan: the native language of approximately 100 million people: considered by some scholars to be part of the Altaic family of languages

Sensitive Note

In the past, the word Japanese has been used as a noun to describe a person or people (the store owner is a Japanese ). This usage is dated and often considered offensive today.

Other Words From

• an·ti-Jap·a·nese adjective noun plural antiJapanese
• non-Jap·an·ese adjective noun plural nonJapanese
• pro-Jap·a·nese adjective noun plural proJapanese
• pseu·do-Jap·a·nese adjective noun plural pseudoJapanese
• qua·si-Jap·a·nese adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of Japanese¹

First recorded in 1580–90; Japan + -ese

Example Sentences

But I think Steve Austin has to team up with a Japanese holdout to stop a nuclear bomb from going off or something.

From The Daily Beast

Wrapees was the term marines used for the Japanese because they had wrapping round their legs.

From The Daily Beast

Finally free of Japanese interference, Korea elected its first autonomous government in almost half a century.

From The Daily Beast

Indeed, the Japanese-owned corporation has set a horrible precedent.

From The Daily Beast

Branch grew up in Queens, NY, the daughter of an African American man and a Japanese woman.

From The Daily Beast

This vessel, loaded with supplies, went ashore and was lost; and one hundred and twenty Japanese and three Dutchmen were drowned.

From Project Gutenberg

Undesirable inhabitants of the country are being sent away, especially the Japanese, who are more dangerous than the Chinese.

From Project Gutenberg

Among the Japanese who are in the islands there are more than one thousand five hundred Christians.

From Project Gutenberg

I think that there has been neglect and laxity in the matter of not driving out the Japanese.

From Project Gutenberg

Likewise a large part of the Japanese have been expelled, so that for a long time there have not been so few of them here as now.

From Project Gutenberg