Why is "Chinaman" derogatory, but "Englishman", "Scotsman", "Irishman", "Welshman", "Dutchman" not?

[Bobby Martnen]

Because it was used as a slur and still is one.

But what about it lent itself to being a slur, when linguistically similar words, like "Dutchman" or "Frenchman" are completely neutral?

That's what I'm trying to get it.

(Dutchman, in the original sense of "a German" is archaic, but not exactly offensive, except for descendants of Colonial German immigrants in Pennsylvania, who are called "Pennsylvania Dutch" to this day)

[zhaoyun]

But what about it lent itself to being a slur, when linguistically similar words, like "Dutchman" or "Frenchman" are completely neutral?

That's what I'm trying to get it.

(Dutchman, in the original sense of "a German" is archaic, but not exactly offensive, except for descendants of Colonial German immigrants in Pennsylvania, who are called "Pennsylvania Dutch" to this day)

Because it was used to degrade or insult people, whereas the other terms weren't.

[Bobby Martnen]

Because it was used in a negative manner and thus developed a specific connotation. Same with why "Jap" and "Paki" are considered derogatory but Aussie and Brit aren't and also why "Blacks" isn't either used. Its not the word by itself but the baggage that the word carries.

The Japanese brought the hate upon themselves by bombing us for no reason whatsoever.

[Richmondbread]

I always use the term Oriental. Asian is hyper corrective, and also too broad. If you're talking about Chinese, Japanese, and Burmese, etc. They are people of the Orient.

[♥ Lily ♥]

I've never heard the term 'Chinaman' ever before. It doesn't look or sound right.... or have the same phonetic ring to it as an 'Englishman' or a 'Scotsman', which are terms that are often associated with high-class gentlemen, although the term is not always solely relegated to the upper and middle classes - but it usually tends to be associated with the middle and upper class gentlemen. In the UK, we call citizens from China as Chinese.

[♥ Lily ♥]

I've just looked up the term 'Chinaman' to see if it even exists in the English dictionary.... apparently it does, but it's dated and no longer used by modern society.

[Finnish Swede]

What's wrong with: "Englishman", "Scotsman", "Irishman", "Welshman", "Dutchman"?




Or as saying: You will always be *****man to me!

[dystopiansc]

I always use the term Oriental. Asian is hyper corrective, and also too broad. If you're talking about Chinese, Japanese, and Burmese, etc. They are people of the Orient.

I just use Asian to refer to them, but Chinamen when I get annoyed by one driving 50 mph in the fast lane on a highway where the speed limit is 65 mph.

[gıulıoımpa]

I've always wondered about this

i think the others have the composition adjective+man. so it should be Chineseman which sounds even more funny

[Dandelion]

Even 'oriental' is considered derogatory in the USA. What an odd culture. In the UK it's still 'Oriental' as 'Asian' there means 'South Asian'.

Anyway, to me Chinaman also sounds pejorative, but given the right informal context and history with a Chinese person I still use it. Taiji himself uses it even. Context of course.