"You look Japanese", is it a compliment?

Question

I am a Chinese girl who comes from near Shanghai. I was adopted and people are always surprised to hear my french accent when I speak English. Most of them ask me from where I come from and when I tell them I am from Chinese descent, they always say: I thought you were Japanese. So girls and guys, Is your idea of a japanese women is prettier or uglier than your idea of a Chinese women?

Gone_But_Not_Lost · Accepted Answer

It's not a compliment. If this came from a non-asian person chances are they just thought that all Asian people look alike, or that all Asian girls look japanese. It's a little bit racist, but not the kind of racism that has any hate behind it. (At least not likely any hate behind it.) So while there are likley undertones of ignorance coming from that statement, I am reasonably sure that somebody saying you look Japanese is neither a compliment nor an insult, at it's core. It's just a statement.

As for your other question about whether I regard Japanese women as either prettier or uglier than Chinese women, I have to say that I don't really think either is true. I just think that they look slightly different, but not enough for me to have a preference. Same goes for Korean, Thai, Laotian, Philippine, Taiwanese, and etc. I don't really have a specific preference.

Whatever the case, try not to dwell on it. If you can just take it neutral and brush it off, as fast as it came out, you can save yourself a lot of headaches or grief wondering, or trying to figure it out. Just take it as nothing.

Good luck out there.

Distant · Accepted Answer

I wouldn't say a Japanese girl is "prettier" or "uglier" than a Chinese girl since nationality doesn't affect your appearance. That being said, I do find that certain Asian sub-cultures do have a recognizable look to them. It's hard to place my finger on it and it might just be me but I can accurately guess the nationality of people based on their style and mannerisms.

For example: Japanese girls tend to have a very light, whiter complexion whereas Chinese girls often have a comparatively darker, more yellow (no racism intended) complexion.

I cannot emphasize enough that there is no derogatory racism intended in my post. I'm just trying to offer an explanation as to why someone would mistake you for another group of Asians.

pickledxtofu · Accepted Answer

It speaks more of their ignorance, so it's not a compliment nor an insult.

I do think that when guys who say they find Asian girls attractive, they have an image of a Korean or a Japanese girl with light skin, rounder almond eyes and the straight black hair.

Idk. I think girls who are white-Japanese or white-Filipino come out looking gorgeous...or at least the girls I know are gorgeous, which are only a few, but still.

britannny · Accepted Answer

Well, even though I get that Chinese/Japanese/Korean people don't all look alike, I can't tell the difference. I can't tell the difference between Chinese and Japanese people (as far as physical appearance goes), because I'm never around Asians. I know like maybe two Asian people.

So no, I wouldn't necessarily take it as a compliment. Chinese girls aren't uglier than Japanese girls. At least to me, anyway.

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

No, it's just usually the first assumption people make when they see someone Asian.

They think "Chinese".

I see it happen all of the time.

Honestly, I can't tell the difference between a Chinese/Japanese the looks are very similar;

which is why they often get confused.

OlderAndWiser · Answer

1. Many Chinese women would be insulted if they were told they looked Japanese.

2. I have seen many Japanese women who I thought were very attractive but I have also seen many Chinese women who I thought were very attractive.

hahahmm · Answer

It's not a compliment but they probably meant it as one. They probably have NO clue about anything except something they saw on tv. I grew up around lots of Asians. I know the range of looks from bad to great and what they put on US tv/movies is totally unrelated to reality. (Real life looks better than most of the actresses in US tv/movies). But the good news is this person who said it to you probably doesn't really 'see' good vs bad. You have to actually have been exposed to a lot of different looks to have a meaningful opinion.

AndyWes · Answer

My little sister is adopted too, my dad went to China and spent a week or two there after all the paperwork.

Honestly, some Chinese girls are cute, some aren't. Depends on the face. Though personally, I think Chinese girls are cuter than Filipinos, at least for my American preferences. Skin tone, facial structures.

Meropatrick · Answer

I think because japanse people are rich Asian. People associate chinese people with being either poor, not very sophisticated, or people who became rich recently and they dont know how to dress or live the rich life. Its a stereotype. U probably dress very good or Look elegant so they associate u with japan

MyNameIsJonas · Answer

Both Chinese and Japanese women can be good looking. My personal preference I've gone for some half Japanese girls. Most Japanese women have really great hair in my opinion. I'm into dark hair.

mommymommymommy · Answer

Unfortunately, it comes off as a racist statement. The better thing would have bee to just say "you look pretty"

Dreamclouds · Answer

I guees in a way it is... but also on the other side what is wrong with chinese? Chinese can have very beautiful and intense traits, being japanese is not in any way better.

Anonymous · Answer

No it's not .It's some racist chump who assumed that because your Asian.  What color were the people who assumed this of you?

Anonymous · Answer

I don’t think it matters in your beauty it’s just how you look to them , if you were adopted, maybe you do have some Japanese in you

gothbxtch · Answer

japanese and chinese women are both beautiful :))

"You look Japanese", is it a compliment?

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