外来語. Words brought into Japanese from languages other than Chinese.
3
votes
1answer
70 views
What are the common practice of reading names of modern Chinese people?s
From what I've seen from the Japanese Wikipedia, names of communist figures (Mao Zedong, Deng Xiaoping, Xi Jinping) seem to be read with on'yomi (Mou Takutou, Tou Shouhei, Shuu Kinpei). On the other ...
12
votes
2answers
460 views
Transitive English words becoming intransitive 外来語
While reading naruto's answer to Difference in sentences (と and に）, I realized that although キス is an intransitive verb in Japanese, the English kiss is almost always used as a transitive verb. Some ...
5
votes
1answer
148 views
Loanwords related to science
I speak fluent English, Ukrainian and Russian. And I also have experience learning German and Japanese. As an avid language learner, I've been reflecting on what the languages have in common, their ...
-2
votes
2answers
84 views
Does プレゼント have both English meanings or just the “gift” meaning?
Present in English means both gift, and it also mean the current (present) time. Japanese online examples and translation seem to omit this second meaning. Does プレゼント have both English meanings or ...
0
votes
2answers
142 views
Does マンション also mean “luxurious house” in Japanese?
According to Jisho.org/mansion and Japanese Core 1000 マンション in Japanese means "apartment, condominium, residential building". But in English where the word might come from, it also refers to a large ...
13
votes
3answers
3k views
Does ガス also mean gasoline in Japanese?
What are the meanings of ガス in Japanese?
I'm asking because in English it can be used for either "a substance in a form like air that is neither solid nor liquid" or, for gasoline, the liquid fuel. ...
6
votes
2answers
155 views
Is there a list of official valid loanwords or they are adapted on the fly from their original languages?
In Spanish there is an entity, the Royal Spanish Academy (Real Academia Española) which states what is a valid spanish word or not.
In Japanese, I've read the Japanese Ministry of Education has an ...
4
votes
2answers
2k views
Which language レシート is adapted from?
レシート is supposed to mean receipt. The adaptation of the word looks a bit odd to me. If it comes from English, why does it lose the "p"? Why it uses a "shii" sound instead of a "ce" (to me there are ...
2
votes
1answer
108 views
Can any nationality be expressed by adding + jin to the country name?
So, many country nationalities are written by adding +jin to the country name like
Itaria-jin イタリア人 , Oranda-jin オランダ人, Kanada-jin カナダ人,
Supein-jin スペイン人 , etc.
but there are some like american who ...
0
votes
1answer
73 views
Convert Japanese Style English Font to Normal(?) English Font [closed]
This might be computer science related question.
I am manipulating Japanese data and in some Japanese words, there are English words and Numbers are in.
ＳＹＳＫＥＮ, 松井ケ丘３, コメリＨ＆Ｇ, 篠路７－１ are the examples....
16
votes
2answers
1k views
How would I know whether a word existed and was commonly used N years ago?
Suppose I'm writing a novel that takes place N years ago, say N = 80. Given the dramatic increase of loanwords in the past century, especially from English, what would be the best way (if there is any)...
1
vote
1answer
197 views
Is there a defined cause for the recent rise in the popularity of gairaigo?
I was looking on the web for Japanese graphic design and found some pre-WWII material. Then I saw some more recent advertisement material. Comparing the two eras, I notice a difference that was beyond ...
3
votes
2answers
195 views
When are foreign language based words written with kanjis?
I was reading the wikia of an anime and I found this,
Red Riot Unbreakable 烈怒頼雄斗安無嶺過武瑠
(レッドライオットアンブレイカブル)
(Reddo Raiotto Anbureikaburu)
The name of a ...
1
vote
0answers
62 views
what's the difference in usage between gairaigo and wago? [duplicate]
Please help me to understand how and when english-derived words are used in modern Japanese?
I understand that ko-hi and garasu didn't exist in Japan, so there are no Japanese words for them. But I ...
8
votes
1answer
212 views
Why did the 黄色い線 become the 黄色いブロック?
Until a few months ago, I am absolutely sure in every single train station I had ever been the announcement was something along the lines of "黄色い線の内側でお待ちください".
Then, out of the blue, one day the word ...
1
vote
1answer
723 views
Should you say English loanwords in the Japanese pronunciation?
For example, if an American travels to Japan, would they ask for "kohi" in a "koppu", maybe a "foku" for their "supagetti", or would they use "coffee", "fork", etc.?
Which would be more socially ...
0
votes
1answer
163 views
Could ベビーカー be derived from “Baby carriage”?
Most etymologies I've come across for "ベビーカー" assume that it's wasei eigo based on a combination of "baby" (ベビー) and "car" (the "カー" part of "マイカー"). For example, the Japanese edition of Wikipedia ...
6
votes
1answer
159 views
Are there differences in meaning for 「ワイルド」 and 'wild'?
The word ワイルド is generally translated as 'wild' in English. Of course there are many instances where this is the appropriate translation. But I feel like there is a wider range of meanings in Japanese ...
2
votes
1answer
117 views
Is ワンサイズ a valid Japanese word?
Japanese For Busy People volume II, revised third edition, on page 23 has
To state or ask how much bigger, you use other words.
ワンサイズ大きいのはありませんか。
Do you have one that is a size bigger?
However,...
6
votes
2answers
359 views
Attempts to distinguish English “L” and “R” sounds using (extended) katakana
Katakana can represent many foreign sounds that do not exist in native Japanese words, either by using special characters such as ヴ or by using special katakana combinations such as フュ. They are ...
5
votes
2answers
197 views
Is there an opposite of gairaigo, covering both kango and wago?
Is there a term that means that something isn't gairaigo, words recently derived from (predominantly European) foreign languages?
For example, I'd like to say that 踊り is a non-gairaigo word, which ...
4
votes
1answer
131 views
Meaning of ブラック in this sentence about work
A Japanese friend that works as a teacher told me he wants to quit his job and come to work in Europe. I asked why and he answered:
EUに行くのが夢。 あと、日本社会の中でも教える仕事はスーパーブラック
What is the meaning of ブラック ...
6
votes
3answers
460 views
Why Was Jaguar Borrowed as ジャガー?
It's listed as being borrowed from English, but even if it were the case that it had been borrowed from Portuguese, it's still pronounced /ɡwɑɹ/ and not /ɡɑɹ/. Japanese phonology is also perfectly ...
3
votes
1answer
108 views
Why does ボウル use a vowel kana rather than a long vowel mark?
It seems like both ボウル and ボール are valid Japanese words. The general impression I get is that using long vowel marks ("ー") are the norm for words written in katakana.
In Why are long vowels ...
6
votes
3answers
1k views
Is マネージャー suitable when describing a manager working in a large business?
In Fluent Forever's Awesome Word List, マネージャー is used to describe a manager in a bank or similar organisation.
However, doing a search with the basic version of google image search mainly got middle-...
4
votes
2answers
172 views
Meaning and translation of "プラスアルファ”
A friend asked me to translate into English a short text. The context is Tokyo being a global city where people gather and experience a variety of lifestyles and values (価値観), and where art, culture, ...
1
vote
1answer
169 views
Anime or Animation?
I was reading an article about loan words and came across anime(Anime アニメ ---- animation). I later talked with one of my Japanese-speaking friends, and he did not recognize the word anime, he ...
3
votes
2answers
170 views
Meaning of スイッチ in the following sentence
Context: in a boxing match, boxer A is fighting against the particularly tough boxer B. Even after having taken a lot of punches, boxer B is still standing. During a break, the trainer of boxer A says:...
2
votes
1answer
556 views
Is there a list of Japanese characters that don't have equivalent roots in Chinese? [duplicate]
According to this answer:
Almost all Japanese characters (in my experience >99%) are exist in Chinese. Few are changed a little, like 宮 and 宫. As a Chinese, I have no difficulty in recognizing ...
10
votes
1answer
585 views
Why is 犬 used to refer to “dog” in Japanese?
In Chinese there are two words that refer to "dog" - 狗 and 犬. In most use cases 狗 is more frequently used, as it refers to a specific dog.
In Japanese however, 犬 is used exclusively. Did 狗 exist in ...
2
votes
1answer
210 views
Why is Qantas spelt カンタス?
At first I thought that Japanese people pronouncing Qantas as カンタス was an urban legend (the start of "カンタス" matches a vulgar four letter word in English), but I've since found out that it's real, with ...
1
vote
1answer
62 views
Difference in usage of 新しい and ニュー
Both of these words can be used to mean 'new', but one is loaned from English.
I recall hearing somewhere that ニュー became a loanword because it has a slightly different meaning to 新しい, but what ...
10
votes
1answer
324 views
Does “クラッシュ” correspond to both the English words “crash” and “crush”?
I've occasionally seen native speakers of Japanese refer to a "crush" rather than a "crash" in English-language bug reports.
Is "クラッシュ" the main way of transcribing into katakana not only the English ...
13
votes
3answers
822 views
What differences are there between the English word “memo” and the Japanese word “メモ”?
What differences, if any, are there between the English word "memo" and the Japanese word "メモ"?
Does the Japanese word "メモ" have connotations to do with memorisation or memory that don't exist with ...
3
votes
3answers
935 views
Is 私はコリアンダーにアレルギーがある an accurate translation?
I'm going to Japan in a week, and I'd like to be able to convey the fact that I am (very) allergic to coriander. Google Translate gave me:
私はコリアンダーにアレルギーがある
to be pronounced as:
Watashi wa ...
8
votes
1answer
198 views
Can anyone confirm チックン is Kyushu-ben for チングイ and give its scientific name?
In southern Kyushu, you hear people speak of a biting bug called チックン that lurks in shallow water near beaches. Researching the word a bit comes up with the more standard term チングイ, and it appears to ...
2
votes
2answers
140 views
買い込む - Stock up drinks for the party
To "stock up" on something (in a sense of buying a large amount of something) could 買い込む be used? Or is there another way to say this, like ストックする？
I feel that both can be used, depending on the ...
2
votes
1answer
63 views
Usage of 韓服 and チマチョゴリ
韓服 literally translates as hanbok (which in turn literally translates as Korean clothing), and チマチョゴリ literally translates as chima jeogori, which in turn literally translates as a chima skirt plus a ...
4
votes
1answer
209 views
Katakana loanwords: is there data about their creation/evolution and acceptance as “new Japanese words”?
Disclaimer:
This is a topic that I hold particularly dear. This question is related to data so that it is acceptable for this community. However, as a languages enthusiast, what deeply concerns me is ...
4
votes
1answer
127 views
Is there a native Japanese word for upgrading a document to a new format?
I have a document in an old version of a template, and I'm moving the contents into a newer version of the template. I typically describe this process as "upgrading" the document.
Jisho suggests ...
2
votes
3answers
343 views
Why are “loanwords” written in katakana?
I am interested in learning why katakana was chosen to represent foreign words.
6
votes
2answers
181 views
How did Japanese obtain a unit of measure called a カップ that's 200 mL?
I've encountered a measuring cup which has units of カップ, 水mℓ (水ml), 米[unknown kanji]g and [three unknown kanji]g. 1 カップ corresponds exactly to 200 水mℓ.
According to Wikipedia, there's a Japanese cup ...
2
votes
1answer
572 views
What's the canonical transliteration of “Give me chocolate” into katakana?
What's the canonical transliteration of "Give me chocolate" into katakana? Not as in the Babymetal song Gimme Chocolate!!, but in the phrase that's described as being used by Japanese kids during ...
3
votes
2answers
180 views
Usage of loan words in contrast with native Japanese word
There are many (loan) words which have both katakana version and pure Japanese version.
For example:
report = レポート or ほうこく (報告)
project = プロジェクト or じぎょう (事業)
task = タスク or かだい(課題)
etc....
2
votes
2answers
160 views
What is what: ラベル vs シール
I am trying to find difference in usage between the words ラベル and シール. Could you please give some specific explanation and maybe example?
I would be very grateful for your help.
2
votes
2answers
110 views
Could 十角形、九角形、七角形 be read as デカゴン、ノナゴン、ヘパタゴン？
As per dic.yahoo.co.jp the following four geometric figures seem to be read as (ateji / gairaigo) 十角形、九角形、七角形、十二角形 (decagon, nonagon, heptagon, dodecagon). As per the same dictionary, all the other ...
3
votes
1answer
381 views
How can the well-known Tintin become タンタン in Japanese?
How can the well-known Tintin become タンタン rather than ティンティン in Japanese? Is it because ティンティン sounds like ちんちん?
4
votes
1answer
175 views
Can I write katakana words in alternative ways?
When I write words that are purely in katakana, I always forgot whether to add a ッ or a ー. For example, When writing スクリーンショット, I might write スクリンショト or スクリーンショト or even スクリンショト. My question is, does ...
11
votes
2answers
1k views
Meaning of イメージ in context of disclaimer
I saw a disclaimer at the bottom of a tourist brochure about ryokans, which in English was "The photo on this page is an image", and in Japanese "掲載の写真はイメージです。" At the end of the brochure, they had "...
6
votes
3answers
979 views
Which is more normal, “OK” or “オーケー”?
Which is more normal in Japanese, "OK", or "オーケー", assuming either of them is in common usage?
I tried using the corpus on jisho.org, but the results were messed up by "OK" appearing in the English ...
