The "dragon-eared" people: 聾者

聾者(ろうしゃ) looks like 龍(たつ・りゅう / dragon)+耳(みみ / ear)then 者(しゃ/person)

Etymology-wise, it seems the "dragon" part was added just for the pronunciation, not because of dragons.

::: spoiler It means: "Deaf person".

That said, 耳の不自由な人(みみのふじゆうなひと / not-free-ear people)・耳が聞こえない人(みみがきこえないひと / ears-can't-hear people)・聴覚障害者(ちょうかくしょうがいしゃ / hearing disabled people) might be more common terms. Deaf people themselves prefer 聾者 - and I can see why! Who wouldn't want to be a dragon eared person? I like the character. :::

16 points · 2 comments · view on lemmy.world

2 Comments

e_t_@kbin.pithyphrase.net · 4 pts · 2y (1 reply)

Leaving the dragon angle to one side, the other options presented are a bit ableist. I don't know if ableism is a consideration in Japanese society.

Nihongo@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 2y

a bit ableist Yea, they sound that way to me, too. I'm not sure what Japanese people think.

But, either way I like the character聾!