What does it mean word for word?
The term 日本人 (nihonjin) means "Japanese person" and is composed of nihon (Japan) and jin (person/nationality).
Which one should you use?
The forms vary based on the level of formality and the pronoun used for "I". In spoken Japanese, dewa is often contracted to ja in the phrase nihonjin ja arimasen.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Formal ways to express this include Watashi wa Nihonjin dewa arimasen and Watashi wa Nihonjin ja arimasen. Informal versions include Ore wa Nihonjin ja nai, which uses the masculine pronoun Ore and Boku wa Nihonjin ja nai, which uses Boku, a pronoun frequently used by younger people. The casual phrase nihonjin ja nai is used with friends or peers.
How does it change in a sentence?
To change the phrase to the past tense (e.g., "I was not Japanese"), replace arimasen with arimasen deshita.
How do you pronounce it?
nihonjin dewa arimasen
Did you know?
- Japanese speakers often avoid the direct negation ではありません and instead use ambiguous phrasing to decline an assumption. Saying 'I am from [Country]' is often preferred over explicitly stating 'I am not Japanese'.
- While 日本人 (nihonjin) refers to a person, the word for the Japanese language is 日本語 (nihongo). Using the phrase 日本人ではありません to explain that you cannot speak the language is a common mistake that tells the listener you are not a citizen instead.
- The pronoun 俺 (ore) used in the informal version is so assertive that using it in the wrong setting can make the speaker sound aggressive or arrogant, regardless of the sentence's meaning.
Examples in context
- すみません、私は日本人ではありません。Sumimasen, watashi wa nihonjin dewa arimasen.Excuse me, I am not Japanese.
- 私は日本人ではありませんが、日本語は話せます。Watashi wa nihonjin dewa arimasen ga, nihongo wa hanasemasu.I am not Japanese, but I can speak Japanese.
- 申し訳ありません、私は日本人ではありません。Moushiwake arimasen, watashi wa nihonjin dewa arimasen.I am sorry, I am not Japanese.
Example conversation
Yota and Misaki are meeting for the first time at a party.
- 美咲 Misaki陽太さんは日本人ですか？Yota-san wa nihonjin desu ka?Are you Japanese, Yota?
- 陽太 Yotaいいえ、私は日本人ではありません。Iie, watashi wa nihonjin de wa arimasen.No, I am not Japanese.
- 美咲 Misakiそうなんですね。どこから来ましたか？So nan desu ne. Doko kara kimashita ka?I see. Where are you from?
- 陽太 Yotaアメリカから来ました。Amerika kara kimashita.I came from America.
