wai1倭

Jyutpingwai1

Yalewāi

Definition

An ancient Chinese name for Japan and the Japanese people.

datedpeople

How it's used

This term is strictly historical and carries a derogatory nuance due to its etymological roots in ancient Chinese texts. It is never used in modern speech to refer to Japan or Japanese people, as it would be considered highly offensive and archaic. Use 日本 or 日本人 instead to avoid causing offense or sounding like you are reading from an ancient scroll.

Examples

lik6歷si2史syu1書seng4成jat6日tai4提dou3到ni1呢go3個cing1稱fu1呼。

History books often mention the term Wajin.

nei5你zi1知m4唔zi1知wo1倭hai6係dim2點joeng2樣lai2嚟㗎？

Do you know where the term Wa comes from?

Common phrases

Wajin, an ancient term for Japanese people

wo1倭kau3寇

Wokou, ancient Japanese pirates

Common mistake

Learners often mistakenly use this term because they encounter it in historical literature or period dramas, failing to realize that it is a slur in a contemporary context.