白人男性
hakujin dansei
The Japanese phrase for 'white guy' is 白人男性 (hakujin dansei).
The phrase refers to a man who has light skin and is of European descent.
What does it mean word for word?
The term is composed of 白人 (hakujin), meaning 'white person' and 男性 (dansei), meaning 'male'.
Which one should you use?
If you want to refer to a 'white person' generally without specifying gender, use 白人 instead of 白人男性. While 白人 can be used as a noun on its own to mean a white person, regardless of gender, 白人男性 specifically targets a male.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
While 'white guy' is casual in English, the Japanese term 白人男性 is a formal, descriptive noun often used in news, statistics or polite conversation.
How do you pronounce it?
hakujin dansei
Did you know?
- While 白人男性 is formal, people may use the slang 外人 (gaijin) to refer to any 'white guy' in a casual setting, though this word literally means 'outside person' and can be perceived as exclusionary.
- While 白人男性 describes someone of European descent, the word 白 (shiro) also means 'white' in the context of colors and purity. In many Japanese contexts, 'white' is a symbol of cleanliness or sacredness, which differs from the racial connotations of the English word.
- Japanese speakers may use 欧米人 (ōbeijin) to refer to a 'white guy' regardless of his nationality, as it literally means 'European and American person'.
Examples in context
- 彼は白人です。He is a white person (white guy).
- あの白人男性はモデルですか？Ano hakujin dansei wa moderu desu ka?Is that white guy a model?
- 白人男性が駅で待っています。Hakujin dansei ga eki de matte imasu.A white guy is waiting at the station.
- 彼は背の高い白人男性ですね。Kare wa se no takai hakujin dansei desu ne.He is a tall white guy, isn't he?
Example conversation
At a cafe, Himari and Kenta are people-watching.
- 陽葵 Himariあそこにいる白人男性、かっこいいですね。Asoko ni iru hakujin dansei, kakkoii desu ne.That white guy over there is handsome.
- 健太 Kenta本当だ。モデルみたいだね。Hontou da. Moderu mitai da ne.You're right. He looks like a model.
- 陽葵 Himari健太さんは、あんな感じの人がタイプ？Kenta-san wa, anna kanji no hito ga taipu?Kenta, is that your type of person?
- 健太 Kentaいや、僕はもっと地味な人が好きだよ。Iya, boku wa motto jimi na hito ga suki da yo.No, I prefer more plain-looking people.
