アメリカ人

Pattern visualization

Examples

1. アメリカ人の英語の先生。▶ —
   My English teacher is American.
2. アメリカ人と話すと緊張する。▶ —
   I get nervous talking with Americans.

Collocations

Mnemonic

Amerikajin (アメリカ人) is "American" — Amerika (the katakana loan) plus 人. Etymology of Amerika: from Amerigo Vespuccis Latin-ized name after Columbus 1492; Japan adopted the kanji ateji 亜米利加 or 米国 (beikoku, "rice country," using the 米 kanji for its sound) during Meiji after Perrys 1854 Black Ships. Modern usage: katakana アメリカ as default, kanji 米国 in formal contexts (newspapers, government documents). The 米 kanji means rice, but in 米国 it functions as a phonetic borrowing — Japan does not literally read America as "rice country." The amerikajin cluster: nikkei amerikajin (Japanese-Americans, around 1.5 million concentrated in Hawaii and California, with the 1942-46 internment-camp history of WWII), zainichi beigun (US Forces Japan, around 50,000 personnel since 1945 concentrated 70 percent in Okinawa), Amerika Gasshuukoku (United States of America, the formal name). Cultural perception: Japans 1945 defeat plus seven years of GHQ (General Headquarters of the Allied Occupation) imprinted strong American hegemony — Amerikanizeeshon (Americanization) is a cultural code term. Food loans: hanbaagaa (hamburger), hotto doggu (hot dog), koora (cola). Korean migukin and Chinese Meiguoren diverge. JLPT N5 amerikajin anchors katakana and loanword learning.

Quick check

1. Etymology of 米国 (beikoku) kanji notation?

   • Ateji — 米 borrowed for its sound (the "me" of Amerika), not the rice meaning
   • Rice exporter sense
   • Abbreviation of 米 military
   • Meiji-era military coinage