Japanerin

Japanerin is the German noun for a woman from Japan. It denotes nationality or ethnicity and is used when referring to a female Japanese person. The masculine form is Japaner; the feminine form is Japanerin. In the plural, the masculine form is Japaner, the feminine form is Japanerinnen, and for mixed groups speakers often say Japanerinnen und Japaner.

The word is formed from the proper noun Japan with the feminine suffix -erin, similar to other German feminine demonyms such as Lehrerin from Lehrer. As a German noun, Japanerin is capitalized and used with definite or indefinite articles: eine Japanerin, die Japanerin, die Japanerinnen.

Usage notes: Japanerin specifically designates the person’s gender as female and their Japanese origin. If the intent is to describe nationality without emphasizing gender, one would typically use the adjective japonisch (e.g., eine japanische Frau) or refer to the person by nationality in context. The term should be used respectfully and without reinforcing stereotypes about people from Japan.

Context and nuance: Demonyms in German distinguish gender through suffixes, but in many contexts speakers may use inclusive forms or choose wording that avoids unnecessary emphasis on nationality. Some individuals may identify with multiple cultural backgrounds, and the most appropriate descriptor can vary by personal preference and social setting.