In what type of social settings could one say "百姓{ひゃくしょう}"? My understanding is that " **** " is a very impolite way to refer to modern-day traditional Japanese farmers. A good translation might be " _country bumpkin_ ". As best I can remember: I learned that word while relaxing with friends at an {} in Tokyo. Subsequent to that, I tried using it in daily conversations with not very close friends. Each time, I was cautioned about saying " **** ". Those who refer to farmers as " **** " imply that they, themselves, are cultured and refined, while the " **** " lead uneducated, unrefined, bumpkin-ish lifestyles. 1. Is my recollection of meaning and usage correct? 2. In what type of settings would a non-native Japanese speaker be able to say " **** " and not be judged as an elitist jerk? In fact, I'd hope to be judged as being someone who knows clever slang.

> 1.Is my recollection of meaning and usage correct?

Yes, it is correct and that is because []{} is closer to "peasant" than to "farmer" in feeling.

> 2.In what type of settings would a non-native Japanese speaker be able to say " " and not be judged as an elitist jerk? In fact, I'd hope to be judged as being someone who knows clever slang.

Whether you are a Japanese-learner or native speaker, there are basically no situations where you can call a farmer a without offending someone. The only exception would be when a farmer calls himself a , which happens quite often.

We have the term , which sounds more "correct" than the plain but it still would not be used much in public by the more careful speakers -- in particular, by the media. In private conversations, though, is still heard fairly often.

The safest word choices would be {} or .