How to say "alien" in Japanese

• エイリアンCommon
  nounCovers the creature sense of 'alien': a being from another planet, especially in science fiction and movies. This loanword is the natural choice for little green men, not for foreign residents.
  私はエイリアンに誘拐ゆうかいされていた。↗

  I was abducted by aliens.
• 縁遠いえんどおいCommon
  i-adjectiveMatches the figurative sense 'alien' as in remote from one's world or experience, feeling unconnected or far beyond one's means. For extraterrestrials or foreign nationals this adjective is seldom what you want.
  私の読よんだ冒険ぼうけん談だんは実生活じっせいかつとは縁遠えんどおい。↗

  The adventures I read about are absent from my life.
• 外国人がいこくじんJLPT N5approx.Common
  nounUsed for the legal or administrative sense of 'alien' as a foreign citizen or foreign national, as on immigration forms. In everyday speech it simply means foreigner, not a space creature.
  「居住きょじゅう外国人がいこくじん」とは、どういう意味いみですか。↗

  What does "resident alien" mean?

Use 「エイリアン」 for extraterrestrial beings or science-fiction aliens, 外国人 for a foreigner or foreign national in legal/official contexts, and 「縁遠い」 figuratively for something alien to one's experience or world.

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

• エイリアンalien
• 縁遠いえんどおいunconnected
• 外国人がいこくじんforeigner
• 異星人いせいじんalien (from another planet)
• 宇宙人うちゅうじんspace alien
• 他国人たこくじんforeigner
• 縁もゆかりもないえんもゆかりもないhaving no relation with whatsoever
• 異国人いこくじんforeigner