I ask as I hear the word オカマ is a very offensive term over there, so I was wondering what term would work better for describing a person that likes to dress as the opposite gender.
Like for addressing those kind of people over in Japan again to be polite.
4 comments
女装家 (Jyosouka) refers to a male crossdresser without addressing their sexuality.
Although less common the opposite would be 男装家 (Dansouka)
A very nice thing about Japanese is that you really never have to address someone with gendered language, there is almost always a very serviceable nongendered alternative. This is almost always going to be way better than pulling out some language you don’t fully understand to guess at a strangers gender. What context are you thinking you’ll be wanting to use this language?
You can use English terms pronounced in a katakana accent as a starting point and then if there’s a word they prefer they will probably tell you.
At any rate when you’re addressing someone female (presenting) you could just say おねえさんif you don’t know their name. But once you know someone’s name you should usually address them by name. It feels weird because we don’t do it that way in English but it’s polite in Japanese. I don’t know your level – maybe you already know this stuff. I can explain further if you want.
オカマ also includes those undergone partial operation. If the person is only just interested in dressing as the opposite gender, then it should not be used on them at all. 変装家 is more gender neutral and also doesn’t directly mention about cross gender, suitable for introducing to someone.
オカマ is just a word that you don’t want to use in front of them even if they are really okama. Referring as a third person then maybe it’s a yes.
オカマバー行かない？
オカマはちょっと。。。
Maybe yes, but this
君オカマ？
will land you a slap or punch.