Often accompanied by stares, gasps, and maybe even blatant pointing, the term "laowai" will undoubtedly ring out as you walk the streets in China. Even in today's international world, foreigners in Asia are often a novelty or spectacle -- particularly in rural places.
Laowai isn't the only word directed at tourists in Asia; nearly every country has at least one word for referring to foreign tourists. Farang is an accepted word in Thailand for describing visitors. As in any language, the context and tone dictate the difference between endearment and insult.
Not all terms directed at Westerners in Asia are offensive. Before you begin flipping tables over in a frustrated rage, use this guide to know exactly what you are being called. Either way, your best bet is to simply smile, remember that you are a visitor, and get accustomed to celebrity status!
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Foreigners in Asia
With televisions streaming international news and Hollywood into so many homes, how is it that foreigners are still such a novelty in Asia?
Keep in mind that Asia was closed to outside visitors for millennia, and was only opened to tourists in relatively recent times. Traveling to remote places where residents have never seen a Western face is both exciting and still entirely possible in Asia!
In many places, the first Western representatives that locals met were often rude spice traders, rambunctious sailors, or even imperialists coming to take land away by force. Hardly pleasant ambassadors, these initial colonists created a racial divide which persists even today.
While the governments in many Asian countries have started campaigns to curb the use of slang references to foreigners, the words still appear in television, news headlines, and common usage.
Common Terms for Visitors to Asia
Although hardly exhaustive, here are a few common terms you may hear while in Asia:
- China: Laowai
- Thailand: Farang
- Japan: Gaijin
- Malaysia and Indonesia: Buleh or Orang Putih
- Singapore: Ang Mo
Farang in Thailand
Farang is a common word used in Thailand describing anyone who is not Thai; even a Japanese tourist in Thailand is referred to as a farang. Farang is hardly ever used in a derogatory fashion; Thai people will even refer to you and your friends as farangs in your presence.
Buleh in Malaysia and Indonesia
Buleh, although used frequently in Indonesia to refer to foreigners, does have some negative origins. The word means "can" or "may" -- the idea being that locals can get away with more while dealing with foreigners because we may not know the local customs or regular prices.
Orang putih translates as "white person," and although it sounds racial, the term is never used that way. Orang putih is a more polite alternative for foreigners in Malaysia and Indonesia.
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Laowai in China
Laowai can be translated to "old outsider" or "old foreigner." Although you will undoubtedly hear the term many times a day as people chat about your presence, the intentions are rarely rude.
The first annual Miss Laowai Beauty Pageant was held in 2010 to seek out the "hottest foreigners in China." The pageant came much to the dismay of the Chinese government which has been trying to curb the use of the word laowai in media.
The term laowai is often used playfully, and referring to yourself as one will certainly get some giggles out of the hotel staff.
Other Terms for Foreigners in China
While laowai is certainly the most common, you may hear these other terms in your general vicinity:
- Waiguoren: Waiguoren (pronounced "wai-gwah-rin") simply means "foreign person."
- Meiguoren: Meiguoren (pronounced "may-gwah-rin") is the correct term for American.
- Lao Dongxi: Fortunately not common and obviously derogatory, lao dongxi (pronounced "laaw-dong-shee") means "silly old fool."
- Gwai Lo: Gwai lo -- with several variations -- is a Cantonese word heard more often in Hong Kong or Southern China. The word translates loosely to "foreign devil" or "ghost man." Although the origins were derogatory and negative, the word is often used informally to describe Westerners.
- Sai Yan: Sai yan (pronounced "sigh-yahn") means "Western person" and is the more polite alternative to gwai lo.
