Oriental
ˌɔːriˈentəl
Definitions
2 meaningsRelating to or characteristic of the East, especially East Asia.
ˌɔːriˈentəl
Relating to the East or the countries of the East (especially Asia)
She studied Oriental history in college.
💡 Simply: Imagine the sunrise. That's the 'orientation' of the world! So anything from that direction—like the cultures and places over there—is 'Oriental.' Think of beautiful silks or ancient temples.
👶 For kids: It means something from the East, like countries in Asia. Think of places where the sun rises!
More Examples
The restaurant served delicious Oriental cuisine.
The museum has a large collection of Oriental artifacts.
How It's Used
"The Oriental region includes countries like China, Japan, and Korea."
"Oriental art has significantly influenced Western artistic styles."
A person from the East, especially of East Asian descent. (Now considered offensive in many contexts).
ˌɔːriˈentəl
(dated, offensive) A person from the East, especially of East Asian descent.
The term is now considered outdated and potentially offensive when referring to people.
💡 Simply: It used to refer to people from countries like China or Japan. However, it can sometimes be seen as an outdated and potentially rude way to describe someone. It's best to use more specific terms like 'Chinese' or 'Japanese' instead.
👶 For kids: It used to mean someone from a country in the East, but it's not a nice word anymore, so we don't say it.
More Examples
Some historical texts use 'Oriental' to describe people from Asia.
How It's Used
"Historically, the term was used to refer to individuals from the East, although the modern term is generally considered pejorative."
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
Idioms & expressions
Oriental rug
A hand-knotted rug made in a traditional style in countries of the East, especially Persia (Iran), Turkey, and India.
"The antique Oriental rug added warmth to the living room."
Oriental cuisine
Food from the East, especially East Asia, including cuisines of China, Japan, Korea, and Southeast Asia
"The restaurant served a variety of delicious Oriental cuisine."
From Latin *orientalis* ('eastern'), from *oriens* ('rising', 'east'), related to *oriri* ('to rise'). Originally referred to anything of or from the East, specifically the East in relation to Europe.
Historically used to describe people, cultures, and objects from the East. Became increasingly associated with negative stereotypes and colonial attitudes, leading to its decreased usage, especially when referring to people.
Memory tip
Think of the sunrise (orientation) in the East. Oriental is what is related to the East.
Word Origin
"eastern, from the rising sun"