Usage pattern:
oriental [noun]
They decorated the living room with a large Oriental rug.
A nappalit egy nagy keleti szőnyeggel díszítették.
The restaurant serves a mix of Oriental and Mediterranean dishes.
Az étterem ázsiai és mediterrán fogások keverékét kínálja.
Some hospitals now offer Oriental medicine alongside Western treatments.
Many style guides recommend using ‘Asian’ instead of ‘Oriental’ except in set phrases like ‘Oriental rug’.
The shop sells traditional Oriental art and calligraphy supplies.
Learner examples
We bought an Oriental rug for our house.
Vettünk egy keleti szőnyeget a házunkba.
He likes to cook Oriental food at home.
Szeret otthon ázsiai ételeket főzni.
The clinic offers both Western and Oriental medicine.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use ‘Oriental’ to describe people (for example, ‘an Oriental man’) thinking it is neutral. In many English-speaking countries, this is now seen as offensive or racist. Use ‘Asian’, ‘East Asian’, or a more specific nationality instead. It is safer to avoid ‘Oriental’ except in set phrases like ‘Oriental rug’.
Meaning
from or related to East/Southeast Asia
Collocations
Oriental rug
|Oriental carpet
|Oriental medicine
|Oriental cuisine
|Oriental art
|Oriental market
Synonyms
Asian (The normal modern, neutral word; preferred especially when talking about people.)
|
East Asian (More specific and neutral; clearly refers to China, Japan, Korea, etc.)
Antonyms
Western (Describes things from Europe or North America, often contrasted with Asian cultures.)
|
occidental (A formal or old-fashioned word for ‘Western’, sometimes used in contrast with ‘Oriental’ in academic or historical writing.)
Themes
culture
|geography
|daily life
|arts_entertainment
|travel
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Describing something that comes from East or Southeast Asia, for example food, art, or rugs; many people now think this word sounds old or rude, especially if you use it for people.
Relating to or coming from East or Southeast Asia, especially describing objects, styles, or cultural traditions; now often considered old-fashioned and sometimes offensive, particularly if applied to people.
Usage pattern:
an Oriental; Orientals
The term ‘Oriental’ for a person is now considered offensive in many English-speaking countries.
Az Oriental kifejezés személyre használva ma már sok angol nyelvű országban sértőnek számít.
He was criticized for referring to his coworkers as ‘Orientals’.
Bírálat érte, amiért a munkatársait az angol Orientals szóval illette.
The museum label used the word ‘Orientals’, which many visitors found outdated and disrespectful.
Modern style guides advise writers not to call people ‘Orientals’.
Learner examples
Do not call a person an Oriental.
Ne nevezz senkit „Oriental”-nak.
The word Oriental for people is rude and old.
Az Oriental szó emberekre használva sértő és elavult.
It is better to say an Asian person, not an Oriental.
Common mistake:
Some learners think ‘Oriental’ is a polite or formal way to say ‘Asian person’. In current English, especially in the US, this is usually seen as offensive or racist. Use ‘Asian’, ‘East Asian’, or a specific nationality (for example, ‘a Japanese man’) instead.
Meaning
offensive term for Asian person
Collocations
an Oriental
|Orientals living abroad
|calling someone an Oriental
Synonyms
Asian (The normal modern, polite word; not offensive when used correctly.)
Antonyms
Westerner (A person from Europe or North America, often contrasted with people from Asia.)
Themes
culture
|social issues
|communication
|relationships
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A rude and old word for a person from East or Southeast Asia. You should not use this word for people.
An outdated and now widely offensive term for a person from East or Southeast Asia.
Usage pattern:
Oriental [species/region]
The Oriental fruit fly is a serious agricultural pest in many tropical regions.
A keleti gyümölcslégy számos trópusi térségben súlyos mezőgazdasági kártevő.
Researchers documented several Oriental cockroach populations in the old sewer system.
A kutatók a régi csatornarendszerben a konyhai csótány több populációját is dokumentálták.
The Oriental region is one of the major biogeographic zones used in zoogeography.
The Oriental plane is widely planted as a shade tree in cities.
Learner examples
The Oriental fruit fly damages many kinds of fruit.
A keleti gyümölcslégy sokféle gyümölcsöt károsít.
Scientists found an Oriental cockroach in the lab.
A tudósok konyhai csótányt találtak a laborban.
In biology, the Oriental region includes parts of Asia.
Meaning
eastern in scientific classification
Collocations
Oriental fruit fly
|Oriental cockroach
|Oriental hornet
|Oriental plane tree
|Oriental region
Synonyms
eastern (A more general, non-technical word; often used in similar scientific names but without the historical ‘Oriental’ label.)
Antonyms
western (Used when describing species or regions from the western part of the world or of a given area.)
Definition
Used in science, especially biology, to say that a plant, animal, or region is from the eastern part of the world or of a large area.
In scientific naming, especially in biology and biogeography, describing species, regions, or taxa that are native to or characteristic of the eastern part of the Old World or the eastern part of a given area.
Usage pattern:
Oriental [field/idea/institution]
He is a professor of Oriental studies specializing in classical Arabic texts.
Az orientalisztika professzora, szakterülete a klasszikus arab szövegek.
The book examines how Oriental cultures were represented in nineteenth-century European art.
A könyv azt vizsgálja, hogyan jelenítették meg az orientális kultúrákat a 19. századi európai művészetben.
Some universities have renamed their Oriental studies departments to reflect more modern terminology.
The exhibition explores Oriental and Western ideas about kingship and power.
Learner examples
She is studying Oriental languages at university.
Keleti nyelveket tanul az egyetemen.
The museum has a room for Oriental art and history.
A múzeumban külön terem mutatja be a keleti művészetet és történelmet.
Many people now think the word Oriental in this academic sense is old-fashioned.
Common mistake:
Learners may assume that because ‘Oriental studies’ is used in academic contexts, ‘Oriental’ is a safe general word for Asian people. In fact, even in universities the term is often being replaced (for example, by ‘Asian and Middle Eastern studies’), and using ‘Oriental’ for people is widely discouraged.
Meaning
relating to the historic ‘Orient’ idea
Collocations
Oriental studies
|Oriental languages
|Oriental despotism
|Oriental scholarship
|Oriental collections
Synonyms
Eastern (A broad term for things from the East; lacks the specific historical and ideological associations of ‘Oriental’.)
Antonyms
Western (Relates to Europe and North America, often contrasted with ‘Oriental’ in discussions of history and culture.)
Themes
history
|culture
|academia
|education
|politics
Definition
Describing things connected to the old European idea of the ‘Orient’ (the East, including Asia and the Middle East), usually in formal or academic writing.
Relating to the historical European concept of the ‘Orient’—a broad, often vague idea of the East that typically included parts of Asia and the Middle East—especially in academic, political, or historical discussion.
