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anonymous
Q: What's the Chinese word for "foreigner"?
I don't mean any disrespect here but most Chinese people often calls any black man no matter the nationality as " hei ren" that is black person and I'm yet to hear anyone saying "bai ren" that is white person. What of the "lao wai" or the "wai go"? OR it does not apply to we the black people?
You just made the same distinction that you complain they make. There's your answer.
I believe it's Lao Wai, or Waigo or Laoja....something like that I hear those all the time. Never heard Hei ren or Bai ren....they wouldn't call themselves yellow people get the point..Nicholas ba that you??
Laowai/Waiguoren applies to all foreigners, except the Japanese and Koreans (they just get referred to by their nationality). I look Asian and I get called laowai or waiguoren, same as my Asian, Black and White friends. They make reference to skin colour when they want to make a distinction
nicholasba:
in my 12 yrs in china i came to realize that isn't really the same. Laowai is a very informal and rude (sometimes with a meaning of mocking) way to refer to someone who doesn't look Chinese. is used in a different way, similar to gringo in south america or chinaman in usa. Usually those kind of people are low educated. Instead, waiguoren is more neutral and polite, and you cant feel that there is some latent xenophobia behind this...
cooter:
Yes, they have special names for Japanese and Koreans; gui zi and bang zi, respectively.
nicholasba:
actually also for black people (heiren黑人, heigui黑鬼) and indians (ah san阿三)...
steve0sha:
Don't no why all your answers get marked down think someone hates you. Things i read have normally been very informative. so have a thumbs up.
nicholasba:
actually korean and japanese are not labeled as anything but chinese, and so expected to speak chinese. As soon as they reveal their identity they are called by their nationality. Different for caucasian or blacks, which are called in that way because of their skin color.
JustinF:
It's funny because it seems like during your supposedly 12 years in China, you haven't learned anything worthy. My Chinese friends are able to differentiate Koreans and Japanese just by looking at them. That's one thing that surprises me and that I am unable to do. Also, I am extremely surprised that your comment about Black people hasn't been deleted by the Admin/Moderator of eChinacities. The term that you have used is the equivalent of the N word in English.
Missing gui or gui lao - southerners use that sometimes.
usually laowai is used for white Caucasian that are supposed to be: english-native speaker (hence teachers), blonde, blue eyes and big nose. Some Chinese, but it is mostly to insult, use it to refer to abc Chinese, especially when they dont talk so good Chinese.
JustinF:
I didn't downvote you, kid. Here's a thumb up to make you happy.
The term "laowai" is used for all foreigners except Japanese and Koreans. And the specific term that you are looking for for whites is the often used " bai mo gui"
nicholasba:
bimbo, i do not worry, thanks for using ur second account hahahahaha
nicholasba:
not completely true. Chinese usually don't really call blacks laowai, that being said that sometimes also a black or a Japanese can be labeled as laowai
Pals sorry i posted this earlier as anonymous, i mistakenly checked it. Your contributions are pretty good especially that from 99silva, Justin F and Nicholas. Thanks
Laowai is for calling all foreigners, Hei ren=Bai ren from skin colour without prejudice.
STEVENXU:
Laowai is a neutral word, without any prejudice, Gui Zi (Japanese only), Gui Lao or Yang Gui Zi is derogatory term, I sorry for that.
They usually refer to me as the white monkey with the big banana the girls smile and the men hang their heads in shame
