Japanese word

日系

Pronunciation

Romajinikkei

Meaning

  • nounJapanese descent

Example

この町には日系の人が多いです。ko no machi ni wa nik kei no hito ga ō i de su

There are many people of Japanese descent in this town.

Illustration for 日系 (Japanese descent)

More examples

彼女は日系アメリカ人として自分の文化を大切にしています。kano jo wa nik kei a me ri ka jin to shi te ji bun no bun ka o tai setsu ni shi te i ma su

As a Japanese American, she values her culture.

Core concept

Indicates that a person or group has Japanese ancestry as part of its family background.

Common phrases

  • 日系人nik kei hito

    person of Japanese descent

  • 日系アメリカ人nik kei a me ri ka jin

    Japanese American

  • 日系ブラジル人nik kei bu ra ji ru jin

    Japanese Brazilian

Definition in Japanese

家族や血筋が日本人につながっていること。また、その人や集団。ka zoku ya chi suji ga nihonjin ni tsu na ga tte i ru ko to ma ta so no hito ya shū dan

Word origin

日系 (nikkei, "Japanese descent") is a Sino-Japanese compound made from 日 (nichi, "Japan") and 系 (kei, "lineage or connection"), linking Japanese identity with ancestry.

Usage tips

  • In English, Nikkei commonly describes people of Japanese ancestry outside Japan and appears in writing about immigrant communities and cultural identity.

Word lists with this word