Meaning and Usage
"外国人" (がいこくじん) means "foreigner" and is commonly used in everyday Japanese to refer to people from other countries. It is a neutral term but context can affect politeness.
Common Contexts
You will often hear "外国人" in conversations about travel, immigration, or multicultural communities. It can refer to residents, tourists, or friends from abroad.
Collocations and Patterns
- 外国人の友達 (foreign friends): used when talking about friendships with foreigners.
- 外国人観光客 (foreign tourists): common in tourism-related contexts.
- 多くの外国人 (many foreigners): used to describe population or presence.
Usage Notes
While "外国人" is standard, in formal or official contexts, terms like "外国籍の方" (person with foreign nationality) might be preferred for politeness. Avoid using it in a way that might sound exclusionary or discriminatory. Learners sometimes confuse "外国人" with "海外の人" (people overseas), but "外国人" specifically means a person from another country living or visiting Japan.