In regard to German/English usage "oriental" borders on being a false friend I think. And there seem to be AE/BE differences too:
Oxford online:
"Definition of oriental in English:
oriental
Pronunciation: /ɔːrɪˈɛnt(ə)l/
Pronunciation: /ɒrɪˈɛnt(ə)l/
(also Oriental)
adjective
1Of, from, or characteristic of Asia, especially East Asia: oriental countries
More example sentences
The works involve extremely simple figures, outlined by elegant and light curves, typical of oriental art.
Subsequent years saw the character of Sofia change from an oriental outpost to a European city, a trend that continues.
Fenellosa, on the other hand, continually said that there were also outstanding arts in the oriental tradition.
Synonyms
eastern, Chinese, Japanese
1.1 (Oriental) Zoology Relating to or denoting a zoogeographical region comprising Asia south of the Himalayas and Indonesia west of Wallace’s line. Distinctive animals include pandas, gibbons, tree shrews, tarsiers, and moonrats.
Example sentences
The Oriental Crested Ibis used to have a wide distribution in eastern China, Russia, Japan and Korea, but clearance of the forests, pesticides and changes in rice-farming practices led to a dramatic decline.
2(Of a pearl or other jewel) orient.
Example sentences
The green lion symbolizes an emerald or an oriental sapphire and means stature and robust person, wealth, cool and courageous, stable and sincere, unconditional love.
The most spectacular consisted of a ‘large round cup in oriental onyx, mount and ornaments in fine chased, enamelled gold.
noun
offensive
A person of Asian, especially East Asian, descent.
Usage
The term oriental has an out-of-date feel as a term denoting people from Asia; it tends to be associated with a rather offensive stereotype of the people and their customs as inscrutable and exotic. In US English Asian is the standard accepted term in modern use; in British English, where Asian tends to denote people from the Indian subcontinent, specific terms such as Chinese or Japanese are more likely to be used."
