Copyright © 2026 Kotomora. All Rights Reserved.
原住民 (げんじゅうみん) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Common word Freq. Frequency Top 20,000 Meanings 1
noun
indigenous people ; native inhabitants ; aboriginal people
Refers to the original inhabitants of a region, often used in anthropological, historical, and legal contexts. Compare 先住民, which is sometimes preferred in modern discourse.
See also: 先住民
その 島しま に は 古ふる く から 原げん 住じゅう 民みん が 住す ん で い た 。
Indigenous people have lived on that island since ancient times.
Kanji 原 meadow, original, primitive 民 people, nation, subjects Similar words 先せん 住じゅう 民みん Both mean 'indigenous people', but 先住民 is often used in modern, politically sensitive contexts, while 原住民 can carry a slightly more traditional or anthropological tone.
Etymology Compound of 原 (げん, 'original') + 住民 (じゅうみん, 'inhabitants'). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the word has been used since the Meiji era to translate Western concepts of native populations.
