ハーフ
hāfu[ha̠ːɸɯ̟]
The English phrase "mixed race" is translated into Japanese as ハーフ (hāfu).
The term ハーフ is the standard, everyday way to refer to people of mixed heritage in Japan. It is an informal slang term used to refer to individuals of mixed Japanese and non-Japanese heritage.
What does it mean word for word?
The term ハーフ comes from the English word 'half', implying the person is half of one race and half of another.
Which one should you use?
While ハーフ is the most common term, ミックス (mix) is a more modern, neutral alternative used to avoid the implication of being 'half' of something. Additionally, the slang term ダブル (daburu) is a slang term used to refer to individuals of biracial or mixed race backgrounds.
How do you pronounce it?
hāfu
When do people say it?
In Japan, ハーフ is the standard, everyday way to refer to people of mixed heritage, though it is increasingly viewed by some as outdated or reductive.
Did you know?
- The term ハーフ is often used in talent agency casting for 'foreign-looking' models, even if the person is not actually biracial. It functions as a descriptor for a certain aesthetic rather than a precise biological definition.
- If you want to describe someone as being of mixed heritage without using slang, you can use the phrase 二つのルーツを持つ (futatsu no ruutsu o motsu). This translates to 'having two roots'.
- Despite the term ハーフ being an English loanword, it is actually used more frequently in Japan than the English word 'half' would be in a similar social context. In English, calling someone 'half' is rare and often considered rude.
Examples in context
- 私の友達は日本とブラジルの出身で、彼女はハーフです。My friend is of Japanese and Brazilian heritage, she is hafu.
- 彼女はアメリカと日本のミックスで、ダブルです。She is of American and Japanese mixed heritage, she is daburu.
- 彼はハーフです。Kare wa haafu desu.He is mixed race.
- ハーフのモデルが人気です。Haafu no moderu ga ninki desu.Mixed race models are popular.
- 彼女はハーフだと言っていました。Kanojo wa haafu da to itte imashita.She said she was mixed race.
Example conversation
Yui and Ren are talking about a new classmate.
- 結衣 Yui新しい生徒はハーフなの？Atarashii seito wa hafu nano?Is the new student mixed race?
- 蓮 Renうん、お母さんがアメリカ人なんだって。Un, okaasan ga amerikajin nandatte.Yes, I heard their mother is American.
- 結衣 Yuiそうなんだ。かっこいいよね。So nanda. Kakkoii yo ne.I see. They're cool, aren't they?
- 蓮 Renそうだね。英語もペラペラだよ。Sou da ne. Eigo mo perapera da yo.Yeah. They're also fluent in English.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry ハーフ, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
