How to say "aboriginal" in Japanese

• 先住せんじゅうCommon
  no-adjectiveCovers 'aboriginal' as in the original inhabitants of a region. It denotes the fact of having lived somewhere first, describing prior settlement rather than naming the people themselves.
• 土人どじんCommon
  nounGlossed 'native; aboriginal', but it carries a strongly derogatory, contemptuous nuance and is not a neutral term. Learners should avoid it when referring to aboriginal peoples.
• 原住民げんじゅうみんCommon
  nounA noun for aboriginal or indigenous people as a group — the inhabitants of a region before later arrivals. Choose this when 'aboriginal' refers to the people themselves.
  クック船長せんちょうはその原住民げんじゅうみん達たちの手厚てあついもてなしに感謝かんしゃした。↗

  Captain Cook thanked the natives for their hospitality.
• 土着どちゃくCommon
  no-adjectiveCovers 'indigenous' in the sense of being deeply rooted in and long established in a particular place. It describes the native character of a culture or practice rather than the people themselves.
  我々われわれはその山脈さんみゃくで土着どちゃくのガイドを雇やとった。↗

  We had native guides on our trip to the mountain.

Use 原住民 for aboriginal people as a group, 先住 for the fact of being the original inhabitants, 土着 for what is indigenous and deeply rooted in a place, and avoid 土人, which is derogatory.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 先住せんじゅうoriginal inhabitant
• 土人どじんnative
• 原住民げんじゅうみんnative people
• 蛮人ばんじんsavage
• 土着どちゃくnative