How to say "cripple" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 廃人はいじんnounAn insulting word for someone it treats as a hopeless invalid — a person written off entirely. Derogatory, and no neutral way to refer to a disabled person.
- 跛者はしゃnounA dated term for a cripple in the literal sense of a person who limps or cannot walk properly. Sensitive and old-fashioned; seldom the word a learner needs.
- nounMatches 'cripple' through its sense of lameness: primarily a limp, and by extension a person who limps. Usually written in kana alone; used of a person it is sensitive.
- nounA slang insult meaning 'retard' or 'moron'; its connection to 'cripple' is marginal. It is an abusive label for a person, not a neutral term for disability — best avoided entirely.
- 不具ふぐno-adjectiveCovers 'cripple' in the sense of a physical deformity or disability — the condition rather than the person. Sensitive when said of people; it can also denote a distortion or defect.
All five are uncommon and derogatory or sensitive: 廃人 insults a person as a hopeless invalid, 跛者 and 「びっこ」 concern lameness, 「がいじ」 is really a slur meaning 'retard', and 不具 names a deformity or disability itself.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
