From Japan + -ese after the model of earlier Portuguese japonês, nl. japonensis, French japonais, etc.

• IPA: /ˌd͡ʒæpəˈniːz/

Japanese (not comparable)

1. Of, relating to, or derived from Japan, its people, language, or culture.

   A Japanese saw is one that cuts on the pull stroke rather than on the push stroke.

   In the United States, Japanese animation has had a tremendous surge in popularity over the last few years.

• Japonic, Nipponese, Nipponic

• French: japonais
• German: japanisch
• Italian: giapponese, nipponico
• Portuguese: japonês, nipônico
• Russian: япо́нский
• Spanish: japonés, nipón (uncommon)

Japanese

1. (countable, chiefly, in the plural) A person/people living in or coming from Japan, or of Japanese ancestry.

   A Japanese will typically have black hair, brown eyes, and pale skin.

   • 2007 October 16, Madeleine Brand, “Japan Struggles to Meet Its CO2 Emissions Limits”, Day to Day, National Public Radio,

     Motoyuki Shibata isn’t a typical Japanese.

   • 1938, Ogden Nash, The Japanese:

     How courteous is the Japanese;
     He always says, "Excuse it, please."

2. (uncountable) Japanese food.

   Let’s go out to eat. I’m in the mood for Japanese.

• (person) Japanee (archaic), Japanner (obsolete), Nipponese (dated)

• French: Japonais, Japonaise, Nippon, Nippone
• German: Japaner (Japanerin; Japanese)
• Italian: giapponese
• Portuguese: japonês, japonesa
• Russian: япо́нец
• Spanish: japonés, japonesa, nipón (uncommon), nipona (uncommon)

1. A language that is primarily spoken in East Asia and is the official language of Japan.

   I’ve been studying Japanese for three years, and I still can’t order pizza in Tokyo!

• Nipponese (dated), Nihongo

• French: japonais
• German: Japanisch
• Italian: giapponese
• Portuguese: japonês
• Russian: япо́нский язы́к
• Spanish: japonés