Literally “ outside person “ . When I came to Japan in 1985 kids would see me , point and yell “ Gaijin , gaijin . “ Doesn’t happen these days I am pleased to say . Gaijin is considered to be derogatory by most foreigners but it’s not used much these days by anybody under 70 . Little kids in my neighborhood ask me where I am from and I tell them in Japanese that I am from outer space . Hehe...
When you tell the kids you are from outer space, do they immediately get it that you are joking, and appreciate the joke? I hope I would...