1.
the original inhabitants of a region, especially before the arrival of settlers or colonizers
Refers to the people who originally lived in a place before others — typically colonists, immigrants, or invaders — arrived. In modern Japanese, this word is sometimes considered dated or inappropriate when talking about indigenous peoples' rights; 先住民 is now preferred in respectful and academic contexts. 原住民 is still commonly used in everyday speech, historical accounts, and travel writing.
Refers to the original inhabitants of a region before outsiders arrived. Neutral in general use, but sensitivity around this word has grown.
Usage
- Common in everyday conversation, travel writing, and older texts.
- Academic writing, news media, and official documents increasingly prefer 先住民 (especially 先住民族) when discussing indigenous peoples' rights and identity.
- Some speakers feel 原住民 sounds dated or slightly condescending; the literal image is of people "originally living" there, which critics say can imply primitiveness.
Common collocations
- 島の原住民: native inhabitants of an island
- 原住民の文化: culture of the native people
- 原住民の言葉: language of the native people
Similar words
Related Words
Compare:
先住民 (indigenous people)