Both are children of Japanese immigrants and born in the United States or Canada. The difference is that Kibei was educated in Japan whereas Nisei grew up in North America. In addition to those two terms, Issei is a Japanese immigrant to North America and Sansei is his or her grandchild, also born in North America. Not sure if this terminology covers other parts of the world. Anyone who took karate will know that "ni" is two in Japanese and "chi" is three so Nisei is considered a second generation and Sansei third, but that is counting from the original immigrants, Issei, as first generation. In terms of being say American, Nisei is a first generation American and Sansei second.