Nisei

or ni·sei

[ nee-sey, nee-sey ]

noun

, plural Ni·sei.

1. a person of Japanese descent, born and educated in the U.S. or Canada.

Nisei

/ ˈniːseɪ /

noun

1. a native-born citizen of the United States or Canada whose parents were Japanese immigrants

Nisei

1. Persons whose parents were born in Japan but who were themselves born outside Japan. Many Nisei were moved by force in the internment of Japanese Americans in World War II .

Word History and Origins

Origin of Nisei¹

1940–45, Americanism; < Japanese: literally, second generation; earlier ni-seĩ < Middle Chinese, equivalent to Chinese èr two, second + shēng birth

Word History and Origins

Origin of Nisei¹

Japanese, literally: second generation