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Nisei for Dummies

noun

pronunciation: ni'seɪ

What does Nisei really mean?

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Hey there! So, you want to know what the word "Nisei" means, right? Well, get comfortable because I'm gonna explain it to you in a way that is easy to understand, even if you have some learning problems.

"Nisei" is actually a term that comes from the Japanese language. In Japanese, "ni" means second and "sei" means generation. So when we put those two words together, "Nisei" means second generation. But I'm sure you're wondering, second generation of what?

Well, "Nisei" specifically refers to the people who were born or raised in a different country than their parents who were originally from Japan. These are individuals whose parents emigrated from Japan to another country, like the United States, for example. Therefore, the Nisei are the children of Japanese immigrants, born and raised in a different country.

The reason why it's important to have a specific term like "Nisei" is because it helps us understand and recognize the unique experiences and identities of these second-generation individuals. It helps us acknowledge and appreciate their cultural heritage, even if they may have grown up in a different country with different customs and traditions.

Imagine you have a friend whose grandparents were born in Mexico, but their parents were born in the United States. Your friend was also born in the United States. In this scenario, your friend would be considered a Nisei because they are the second generation of their family to be living in the United States.

So, to sum it up, "Nisei" means someone who is the second generation of their family to be living in a country that is not where their parents or ancestors originally came from. It's a term that helps us understand and appreciate the cultural background and experiences of these individuals. Cool, right?

Revised and Fact checked by Olivia Martin on 2023-10-29 12:10:04

Nisei In a sentece

Learn how to use Nisei inside a sentece

  • Tom's grandparents were born in Japan, but his parents were born in the United States. Tom is a Nisei because he is the second generation of his family to be born in America.
  • Hiroshi's mother came to Canada from Japan and married a Canadian man. Hiroshi is a Nisei because he was born in Canada and is the second generation of his family to be born there.
  • During World War II, many Nisei Japanese-Americans were unfairly sent to internment camps solely based on their heritage.
  • Yuko's grandparents migrated from Japan to Brazil, and her parents were born there. Yuko is a Nisei because she was born in Brazil and is the second generation of her family to be born there.
  • In the 1900s, many Nisei immigrants faced discrimination and prejudice in the United States, despite being American citizens.

Nisei Hypernyms

Words that are more generic than the original word.