How to say "homosexual" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- nounGlossed 'homosexual', but a less common word that you are unlikely to need: for any sense of the English term it is seldom the word you want.
- nounGlossed 'homosexual' as well, but a less common word that is seldom the right choice for any sense; as a translation of the English term it is marginal at best.
- nounA direct transliteration of English 'homosexual', covering the same ground as the English word; it is nonetheless less common, and for a homosexual person 同性愛者 is the plainer, more descriptive choice.
- 同性愛者どうせいあいしゃnounThe person sense only: a homosexual, a gay person — literally a 'same-sex-love person'. Neutral and descriptive, it is the word to use in careful writing and general discussion of homosexuality.
- あっち系あっちけいnounSlang for a gay person, roughly 'the over-there type': an indirect way of saying someone is gay. It belongs to casual conversation, not to neutral description.
For a homosexual person, 同性愛者 is the descriptive word; 「ホモセクシャル」 directly echoes the English but is less common; 「ブルーセッカス」 and 「ブルーボーイ」 are marginal; 「あっち系」 is casual slang for 'gay'.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
See also
