Because it is an abbreviation!! Its easy to say and write--this is America--we are lazy(this is why I think it won't die out). I don't see the comparison to "Gook" and don't know its derivation, but it doesn't seem to be short for Vietnamese.



I hear this all the time--however, it seems more often used in recent years is "rice burner" or "rice rocket" which strikes me as more offensive. However, I don't believe I have ever heard anyone refer to a Japanese restaurant as a "Jap" restaurant which is curious to me for some reason (as I stated earlier, I have no use for the term, because I have been asked not to use it.).

Suzuki Goldstein here, I don't mind at all. But shouldn't that be "Jew" with a capital J? Now that offends me.:rolleyes:

Karate, Daniel-san, is an Okinawan martial art . . . perhaps judo/jujitsu, would be more appropriate. ;)

At the start of the old movie "Teahouse of the August Moon" Marlon Brando delivers, as the character "Sakini" the brief history of Okinawa.

Yeah that would be a fun discussion thats for sure!:D

The only person I know who uses the term Jew all the time, is one of my friends who is Jewish.

Like anything I guess certain people are offended by things and others are not.

Whatever, they are all the same to me:eek: ;) :D

One of my favorite Brando soliloquies, if you can get past the makup.

No lie.....this movie is what my Dad asked for for Christmas! lol :P

Man, that's funny. I've actually seen the movie, and Marlon Brando actually has Japanese lines in the movie, and his pronunciation is terrible.

I actually didn't recognize that he was speaking Japanese until someone pointed it out to me. I had to rewind and replay again and again and again to figure out what the hell was saying.

Curious as to the official Jappanese view of Nip. Someone mentioned that earlier but I dont recall seing a response. As I understand it Nippon is the actual Jappanese name for Japan. Is nip regarded as racest as well? By the Japanese that is? Or by Jappanese Americans only? Or by neither?

- Peter.

"you said it, boss"

http://members.cox.net/onigiriman/br...eahouse-02.jpg

I think "nip" is considered a racist term by everyone.

Once again, a good test is to call a person of Japanese ancestry "nip" and see how they respond.

Regarding "Nippon", it is one of two ways to pronounce that characters that make up the word for Japan.

Those in the north, like Tokyo, prefer Nihon.

Those in the South, like Osaka, Kobe, and Kyoto prefer Nippon.

Both are correct.

I just got to thinking.

I wonder what the origin of the word "Nip" is.

I don't think it's related to or is a shortened version of the word Nippon, but I'm not sure.

Just checked Wikipedia.

You're right. It is derived from Nippon, and is considered derogatory.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nip

Why would you think it isn't? Nippon=Nip Japan=Jap Get it? Sounds like a prime example of common sense to me.

That explanation from Wikipedia is silly--why would it be a shortened version of the word "Japan" when it is used to refer to the "Japanese" people? That isn't very economical either from a headline standpoint to only shave off two letters. I don't think it has been used much on this forum, because its use is quickly pounced upon the four or so times it has happened, but I honestly hear it quite a bit in real life.