How to say "native" in Japanese

• 土人どじんCommon
  nounCovers 'native' or 'aboriginal' as a noun for a person, but the word is strongly derogatory toward indigenous peoples; it is seldom, if ever, the word you want as a neutral translation of 'native'.
• 固有こゆうJLPT N1approx.Common
  no-adjective, na-adjectiveMatches 'native (to)' in the sense of 'peculiar to' or 'endemic': it describes things inherent in something, especially plants and animals found only in a particular region.
  羽はねは鳥とりに固有こゆうのものだ。↗

  Feathers are peculiar to birds.
• 土着どちゃくCommon
  no-adjectiveCovers 'native' in the sense of 'indigenous' or 'aboriginal': it describes peoples, cultures, and traditions long rooted in a particular region, and is the word to reach for when 'native' contrasts with introduced or foreign.
  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.
• 国人こくじんCommon
  nounMeans a person of a given province or locality, but is best known as a term for the provincial warriors of medieval Japan; seldom the word you want for 'native'.

Use 土着 for indigenous peoples and cultures and 固有 for 'native to' meaning peculiar or endemic to a place; 土人 is derogatory and 国人 denotes medieval provincial warriors, so neither suits neutral 'native'.

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

• 土人どじんnative
• 固有こゆうcharacteristic (of)
• ネイティブnative
• 土民どみんnative
• 本国人ほんごくじんnative
• 現地人げんちじんnative
• 地付きじつきnative
• 内国人ないこくじんnational
• 土着どちゃくnative
• 国人こくじんlocal
• 産さんnative (of)