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Updated on 15 Aug 2018

21 May 2018

Japanese

English (US)
Spanish (Mexico)
English (UK)

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Question about English (US)

Is it normal or common in your country to call a Japanese person Jap without any intention to insult him/her?

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ayameaxvig

21 May 2018

Featured answer

English (US)

I understand, you're right, it is a difficult subject to talk about, especially considering you aren't Japanese-American, but Japanese. I think it is important history, though, and even though the word is mostly towards Japanese-Americans, I appreciate that you and maybe other Japanese natives understand it is a slur.

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stephdematt

21 May 2018

English (US)

No as a native speaker I would not call a Japanese person a Jap

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ayameaxvig

21 May 2018

English (US)

I am a Japanese-American who has lived in the US for my whole life. I have never heard someone call a Japanese person a "Jap". We learned in school that this word was used as an insult during World War II.

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Mook_

21 May 2018

English (US)
Thai

Jap is like a forbidden word to call a Japanese with in the US. The word was used widely and negatively during World War II so it is considered hostile and insulting. Even in other country, they don't call the Japanese a Jap. In Thailand, if they want to abbreviate Japanese, they will use JPN instead of Jap.

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FlyingCat

21 May 2018

Japanese

@stephdematt @ayameaxvig @Mook_ Thank you guys for your answers. I asked this because some Filipino online English tutors sometimes call me "you Jap"and I feel offended. I always tell them to stop calling me a Jap because it's offensive but they always come up with an excuse like "Oh I didn't know it was offensive" and that made me wonder, maybe it was only me who would consider it offensive. Thanks to you guys I now know for sure it is offensive and is inappropriate to use.

ayameaxvig

21 May 2018

English (US)

@FlyingCat I see. I understand how you would start to wonder if it was only you who thought it was offensive! But If you feel that something is offensive to you, then it IS offensive. You can use the opportunity to teach the tutor about the history of the word. During World War II, Japanese-Americans were seen as spies by other Americans, and people would spray-paint graffiti on the front windows of Japanese-American-owned businesses, that say "Go home Japs" in big letters. It is ok if the tutors didn't know that the word was offensive. This is a chance for them to learn.

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FlyingCat

21 May 2018

Japanese

@ayameaxvig Thanks for your advice, maybe it was misfortune for the Japanese Americans who happened to live in the US during WW2.. I don't know what else to say, because I feel kinda perplexed. The whole thing is kind of thought-provoking. I just hope that we can eliminate war and racism from the earth someday in the future.

FlyingCat

21 May 2018

Japanese

@ayameaxvig As for the English tutors, I don't know what to tell them even after you told me the origin of the word, because they are Asians, we invaded and colonized their countries before and during WW2, so maybe they are intentionally calling me a Jap or maybe they really don't know whether it's offensive or not. I'll try to explain next time they call me a Jap. (and that the war is over 70 years ago) Thanks anyways for your advice.