盲人
mōjin[mo̞ːʑĩɴ]
The Japanese phrase for "blind man" is 盲人 (mōjin).
The term refers to a person who is unable to see.
Which one should you use?
While 盲人 is a direct noun for a blind person, the phrase 目の不自由な人 is the more common, polite and socially sensitive way to refer to someone who is blind in modern Japanese.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
盲人 is formal or literary and can sometimes carry a clinical or slightly dated nuance. For a more polite expression, use 目の不自由な人. In formal settings, the term 視覚障害者 is also commonly used.
How do you pronounce it?
mōjin
When do people say it?
To ask someone about their visual impairment, you can say 視力はありますか？
Did you know?
- The 'tenji blocks' used throughout Japan were invented by Seiichi Miyake in 1965 and later spread globally as the international standard for tactile paving.
- In traditional literature, the word 盲 can be used as a prefix to describe not just physical blindness, but a 'blind' or delusional obsession with a particular idea.
- While 盲人 is a noun, the polite 目の不自由な人 literally translates to 'a person for whom the eyes are not free', framing the condition as a lack of freedom rather than a medical state.
Example conversation
Himari and Daito are talking about a volunteer activity.
- 陽葵 Himari大翔さん、このガイドブックを読みましょう。Daito-san, kono gaidubukku o yomimashō.Daito, let's read this guidebook.
- 大翔 Hirotoこれは盲人の方向けの案内書ですか？Kore wa mōjin no kata muke no annaisho desu ka?Is this a guidebook for blind people?
- 陽葵 Himariはい、点字で書かれています。Hai, tenji de kakarete imasu.Yes, it is written in braille.
- 大翔 Hirotoとても役に立ちそうですね。Totemo yaku ni tachisō desu ne.It seems like it would be very useful.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 盲人, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
