Japanese

[jap-uh-neez, -nees]

adjective

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

noun

plural

Japanese 

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. 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 Word Forms

• anti-Japanese adjective anti-Japanese
• non-Japanese adjective non-Japanese
• pro-Japanese adjective pro-Japanese
• pseudo-Japanese adjective pseudo-Japanese
• quasi-Japanese adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of Japanese¹

First recorded in 1580–90; Japan + -ese

Example Sentences

Earlier this year, long queues formed outside Japanese clothing retailer Uniqlo's first store in Liverpool, where hundreds of shoppers were treated to a performance by Japanese drummers and received goodie bags.

From BBC

Takaichi saw Americans mixing up Japanese, Chinese and Korean language and cuisine, observing how Japan was often grouped together with China and South Korea.

From BBC

She also has to contend with a sluggish economy and Japanese households struggling with relentless inflation and a stagnant wages.

From BBC

Japanese supermarket chain, Life Cooperation, also warned that Asahi products may soon go out of stock.

From BBC

It’s a Japanese style of burning wood to preserve it from fire, insects and things.

From Los Angeles Times