English word for japanese words

The Japanese language can be very difficult for English speakers to learn as these two languages are completely different in every aspect: origin, writing system, grammar, and phonetics. But when it comes to vocabulary, you may be surprised to hear that this isn’t really the case. There are actually quite a few English loanwords in Japanese!

There’s even a name for the mixing of these two languages: Japanglish. 

Some of the English words used in Japanese have the same meaning as the original ones, while others have been localized and modified (often shortened), combined with Japanese words, and/or used with a completely different meaning. 

In this article, we’ll introduce English words that are commonly used in Japanese. Although you may find some of them very weird, learning Japanglish is one of the easiest parts of learning Japanese and it will be helpful in your language studies.

There is a lot of Japanglish vocabulary used in Japan.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction to Japanglish
2. Typical English Loanwords in Japanese
3. Japanglish Wasei Eigo
4. How to Say These Names in Japanese
5. English Words Borrowed From Japanese
6. How JapanesePod101 Can Help You Learn More Japanese

1. Introduction to Japanglish

There are two types of English words used in the Japanese language: loanwords and Wasei-Eigo. Let’s take a closer look at each group. 

Loanwords Used in Japanese

Loanwords, or 外来語 (gairai-go), are commonly used in modern Japanese. After two centuries of isolation, called 鎖国 (Sakoku), Japan became “open” to foreign countries in the mid-nineteenth century. This new status brought with it influences from Western cultures, and many of the first loanwords in Japan came from Portuguese, Dutch, French, and German. English loanwords started to gain prevalence during the post-World War II period. Since then, Japanglish has continued to evolve and grow in popularity. 

While the younger Japanese generations often use loanwords without even realizing they’re originally from foreign languages, the older population hardly uses or understands them.

The most basic loanwords are English words used in Japanese with the same meaning, but with Japanese pronunciation. Examples include: 

• カメラ (kamera) – “camera”
• タクシー (takushī) – “taxi”
• クリック (kurikku) – “click”

You have to keep in mind that loanwords are normally written with カタカナ (Katakana) letters and follow Japanese pronunciation rules. Also, when they’re written in alphabet form using ローマ字 (Roma-ji), or the romanization of Japanese, the spelling is often different from that of the original English words. This is because they’re transcribed according to how the Japanese read and pronounce words.

For example, all of the consonants in Japanese end with a vowel (あ a, い i, う u, え e, お o). In addition, since there’s no particular distinction between L and R in Japanese, all of the “L” sounds in English are expressed using “R” in Japanese. Thus, “click” is expressed as kurikku in Japanese.

To learn more about Japanese pronunciation, please see our “Japanese Pronunciation” article!

カタカナ (Katakana) characters are used to write loanwords.

Japanglish Wasei-Eigo: English Made in Japan 

There are also English words used in Japanese that have been more fully integrated into the language. These are called 和製英語 (Wasei Eigo), or literally, “English made in Japan.”

Wasei Eigo refers to English words adopted into Japanese with unique meanings, word combinations, and/or abbreviations only used in Japan. Examples include:

• サラリーマン (sararīman) 
  • from “salaryman,” meaning “businessman who works at a company and gets a monthly salary”
• シャーペン (shāpen) 
  • short for “sharp pencil,” meaning “mechanical pencil”

サラリーマン (sararīman), or “salaryman” meaning “businessman,” is one of the most typical Japanglish words.

2. Typical English Loanwords in Japanese

These loanwords have the same meaning as their English counterparts and are commonly used in daily Japanese conversations.

Words that are associated with Western-style restaurants are often used as loanwords in Japanese. These include レストラン (resutoran) – “restaurant” / ナイフ (naifu) – “knife” /ワイン (wain) – “wine.”

3. Japanglish Wasei Eigo

Learning Wasei-Eigo may be a bit more difficult, as these words and phrases have undergone alterations during their journey into the Japanese language. In this section, we’ll give you several Japanglish examples and explain them in more detail as needed.

English Words Used With Different Meanings

Examples

• 次の試合は必ず勝つよ！ファイト！
  
  Tsugi no shiai wa kanarazu katsu yo! Faito!
  
  “You will definitely win the next match! Do your best!”

• 彼は昨日なぜかとてもハイテンションでした。
  
  Kare wa kinō naze ka totemo hai tenshon deshita.
  
  “He was very excited yesterday for some reason.”

• あなたの一番好きなタレントは誰ですか。
  
  Anata no ichi-ban suki na tarento wa dare desu ka.
  
  “Who is your most favorite TV personality?”

 ホットケーキ (hotto kēki), or “hot cake,” means “pancake” in Japan.

Abbreviated Word Combinations

In Japanese, it’s common for two or more English words to be shortened into one word (usually with four syllables). Let’s see some examples.

Examples

• 昨日私の古いパソコンが壊れました。
  
  Kinō watashi no furui pasokon ga kowaremashita.
  
  “Yesterday, my old computer broke.”

• イメチェンしたいなら髪型を変えるのが一番だよ！
  
  Imechen shitai nara kamigata o kaeru no ga ichi-ban da yo!
  
  “If you want to change your image, it’s best to change your hairstyle!”

• あのカフェのBGMはジャズがかかっていておしゃれです。
  
  Ano kafe no bījīemu wa jazu ga kakatte ite oshare desu.
  
  “That cafe plays jazz as background music and it’s fashionable.”

リモコン (rimokon) is an abbreviation of “remote controller.”

Words That Combine English and Japanese

Wasei Eigo can also get creative, with some words being a combination of an English loanword and a Japanese word. 

Examples

• 新しい冷蔵庫は省エネモデルです。
  
  Atarashii reizōko wa shōene moderu desu.
  
  “The new refrigerator is an energy-saving model.”

• ガス欠により道の真ん中で車が止まった。
  
  Gasuketsu ni yori michi no mannaka de kuruma ga tomatta.
  
  “The car stopped in the middle of a road due to running out of gasoline.”

• まりこはいつもデートをドタキャンする。
  
  Mariko wa itsumo dēto o dotakyan suru.
  
  “Mariko always cancels a date at the last moment.”

Loanwords Turned Into Japanese Verbs

By adding the Japanese word する (suru), or “to do,” after a loanword (whether it’s a noun or a verb), it becomes a verb in Japanese.

Examples

• 私はお風呂に入ってリラックスするのが好きです。
  
  Watashi wa o-furo ni haitte rirakkusu suru no ga suki desu.
  
  “I like to take a bath and relax.”

• 私たちは週末に誕生日パーティーをする予定です。
  
  Watashi-tachi wa shūmastu ni tanjōbi pātī o suru yotei desu.
  
  “We plan to have a birthday party over the weekend.”

• 入る前にドアをノックしてください。
  
  Hairu mae ni doa o nokku shite kudasai.
  
  “Please knock on the door before entering.”

To learn all about conjugation in Japanese, please see our article on Japanese Verb Conjugations.

パーティーをする (pātī o suru) – “to party”

4. How to Say These Names in Japanese

In Japan, world-famous brand names are pronounced according to Japanese pronunciation rules and are sometimes called something different. Here are a few examples.

• Google: グーグル (Gūguru)

• Apple: アップル (Appuru)

• Starbucks: スターバックス (Sutābakkusu)

   A shortened version, スタバ (Sutaba), is commonly used in daily conversations.

• Kentucky Fried Chicken: ケンタッキー フライド チキン (Kentakkī furaido chikin)

  There are also a couple of shortened versions often used in daily conversations: ケンタッキー (Kentakkī) and ケンタ (Kenta).

• McDonald’s: マクドナルド (Makudonarudo)

  Depending on the region of Japan, there are different shortened versions for this brand name.

  ➢ Kanto (Tokyo, Chiba, Saitama, Kanagawa) and other regions: マック (Makku)
  ➢ Kansai region (around Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, Hyogo, etc.): マクド (Makudo)

There are even different dialect forms for “McDonald’s” in Japanese!

5. English Words Borrowed From Japanese

Due to globalization, there are also plenty of popular Japanese words in English! Let’s look at a few of these borrowed words: 

Tsunami (津波) is one of the most famous Japanese words that was adapted into English.

How JapanesePod101 Can Help You Learn More Japanese

In this article, we introduced English words used in Japanese. We covered the history of loanwords in Japan and how Japanglish developed, basic loanwords from English and various types of Wasei Eigo, as well as famous Japanese words in English. While some Japanglish terms sound funny and weird, they are definitely helpful to learn and can help you understand Japanese better!

Did you learn anything new about Japanese today? Are there any important words or terms you know about that we didn’t include? Let us, and your fellow language learners, know in the comments! 

If you would like to learn more about the Japanese language and culture, you’ll find a lot more helpful content on JapanesePod101.com. We provide a variety of free lessons to help you improve your Japanese language skills. For example, you can view the following vocabulary lists to learn the very basics of Japanese: 

• 100 Most Common Nouns
• 50 Most Common Verbs
• 50 Most Common Adjectives

You can also take advantage of our personal one-on-one coaching service, MyTeacher, when you subscribe to a Premium PLUS membership. Your private teacher will help you practice pronunciation and give you personalized feedback and advice to help you improve efficiently. 

And there is so much more we have to offer you! Learn Japanese faster and enjoy studying with JapanesePod101.com!

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Words of Japanese origin have entered many languages. Some words are simple transliterations of Japanese language words for concepts inherent to Japanese culture, but some are actually words of Chinese origin that were first exposed to English via Japan. The words on this page are an incomplete list of words which are listed in major English dictionaries and whose etymologies include Japanese. The reverse of this list can be found at List of gairaigo and wasei-eigo terms.

Arts[edit]

anime

アニメ listen (help·info), hand-drawn and computer animation originating from or associated with Japan.

bokeh

(from ぼけ boke), subjective aesthetic quality of out-of-focus areas of an image projected by a camera lens.

bonsai

盆栽 listen (help·info), «tray gardening»; the art of tending miniature trees. Originated from Chinese 盆栽 penzai

bunraku

^[1] 文楽, a form of traditional Japanese puppet theatre, performed by puppeteers, chanters, and shamisen players.

haiku

俳句 listen (help·info), a very short poem consisting of three lines of 5, 7, and 5 morae (not syllables as commonly thought) each; see also tanka below.

ikebana

生花, flower arrangement.

imari

^[2] 伊万里, Japanese porcelain wares (made in the town of Arita and exported from the port of Imari, particularly around the 17th century).

kabuki

^[3] 歌舞伎, a traditional form of Japanese theatre; also any form of elaborate theatre, especially metaphorically.^[4]

kaiju

怪獣, Japanese genre of horror and science fiction films featuring giant monsters.

kakemono

^[5] 掛け物, a vertical Japanese scroll, of ink-and-brush painting or calligraphy, that hangs in a recess on a wall inside a room.

kakiemon

^[6] 柿右衛門, Japanese porcelain wares featuring enamel decoration (made in Arita, using the style developed in the 17th century by 酒井田 柿右衛門 Sakaida Kakiemon).

karaoke

カラオケ listen (help·info), (English IPA : [kæriːoʊkiː]) «empty orchestra»; entertainment where an amateur singer accompanies recorded music.

kirigami

切り紙, similar to origami, but involves cutting in addition to folding.

koto

^[7] 琴, a traditional stringed musical instrument from Japan, resembling a zither with 13 strings.

makimono

^[8] 巻物, a horizontal Japanese hand scroll, of ink-and-brush painting or calligraphy

manga

まんが or 漫画 listen (help·info), (English IPA : [mæŋgɜː]) Japanese comics; refers to comics in general in Japanese

netsuke

^[9] 根付, a toggle used to tie the sash of a kimono also to attach small items such as inro and kinchaku: sometimes beautifully carved.

noh

^[10] 能 nō, a major form of classical Japanese music drama

origami

折り紙, artistic paper folding. (British English IPA : [ɒrɪgɑːmiː])

otaku

オタク or おたく or ヲタク, a geeky enthusiast, especially of anime and manga.

senryu

川柳, a form of short poetry similar to haiku.

shamisen

^[11] 三味線, a three-stringed musical instrument, played with a plectrum.

sumi-e

墨絵, a general term for painting with a brush and black ink.

tanka

短歌, «short poetry»; an older form of Japanese poetry than haiku, of the form 5-7-5-7-7 morae (not syllables; see also haiku above).

tankōbon

単行本, «independent/standalone book»; term for a book that is complete in itself and is not part of a series or corpus. In modern Japan, though, it is most often used in reference to individual volumes of a single manga, as opposed to magazines.

ukiyo-e

浮世絵, a type of woodblock print art or painting. (English IPA : [uːkiːoʊ.iː])

waka

和歌, «Japanese poetry»; a word used primarily to describe tanka (see above) written between the 9th and 19th centuries.

wabi-sabi

侘び寂び, a world view or aesthetic centered on the acceptance of transience and imperfection.

Business[edit]

kaizen

^[12] 改善, literally «change for the better.» In practice, a Japanese business philosophy of continuous improvement of working practices, personal efficiency, etc. Initially made famous by the 1986 book of same name.

kanban

^[13] 看板, literally a «signal» or «sign» signals a cycle of replenishment for production and materials and maintains an orderly and efficient flow of materials throughout the entire manufacturing process.

karoshi

過労死, «death by overwork, stress death»

keiretsu

系列, a set of companies with interlocking business relationships and shareholdings.

Poka-yoke

«mistake-proofing» or «inadvertent error prevention».

tycoon

大君 («taikun»), «great prince» or «high commander», later applied to wealthy business leaders.

zaibatsu

財閥, a «money clique» or conglomerate

Clothing[edit]

geta

^[14] 下駄, a pair of Japanese raised wooden clogs worn with traditional Japanese garments, such as the kimono

inro

^[15] 印籠 inrō, a case for holding small objects, often worn hanging from the obi; (traditional Japanese clothes didn’t have pockets)

kimono

着物, a traditional full-length robe-like garment still worn by women, men and children. (English IPA : [kɪmoʊnoʊ])

obi

^[16] 帯, a wide belt that is tied in the back to secure a kimono

yukata

浴衣, a casual or simplified summer style of kimono

zori

^[17] 草履 zōri, sandals made from rice straw or lacquered wood, worn with a kimono for formal occasions

Culinary[edit]

adzuki,^[18] azuki bean

^[19] あずき or 小豆 listen (help·info), type of bean grown in eastern Asia and the Himalayas, used in Chinese, Korean, and Japanese cuisines, usually served sweet

arame

荒布, a type of edible seaweed

bento

弁当 bentō, a single-portion takeout meal, box lunch

daikon

大根, a kind of white radish

dashi

だし or 出汁, a simple soup stock considered fundamental to Japanese cooking

edamame

枝豆, soybeans boiled whole in the green pod and served with salt

enokitake, enoki mushroom

えのきたけ or 榎茸, long, thin white mushrooms, used in Japanese, Korean and Chinese cuisines

fugu

河豚 or フグ, the meat of the toxic pufferfish, must be prepared by specially trained chefs by law. Also means pufferfish itself.

ginkgo

銀杏 or ぎんなん ginnan, a gymnospermous tree (Ginkgo biloba) of eastern China that is widely grown as an ornamental or shade tree and has fan-shaped leaves and yellow fruit (the word is derived from 17th Century Japanese 銀杏 ginkyō)

gyoza

ギョーザ or 餃子 gyōza, Japanese name for Chinese dumplings, jiaozi (jiǎozi); may also be called pot stickers in English if they are fried

hibachi

火鉢, a small, portable charcoal grill; used in North America to refer to a teppan or a small shichirin-like aluminium or cast iron grill

hijiki

ひじき or 鹿尾菜, a type of edible seaweed commonly found on rocky coastlines

katsu

カツ, Japanese term for cutlets in general; in English, typically refers to the dish chicken katsu, a type of breaded chicken cutlet served with rice and sauce.^[20] (English IPA : [kæt.suː])

katsuo

鰹, a skipjack tuna

katsuobushi

かつおぶし or 鰹節, dried and smoked skipjack tuna (katsuo), which is shaved and then used in dashi

koji

麴 or 麹 kōji, a fungus that is the active agent in the fermentation processes, of producing miso and soy sauce from soybeans, and of producing sake and shōchū from rice.

kombu

昆布, dried kelp, which can be eaten or used as dashi

matsutake

松茸, a type of edible mushroom, with a magnificently spicy aroma similar to cinnamon, considered to be a great delicacy and the most coveted mushroom in Japan

mirin

味醂, an essential condiment of the Japanese cuisine, a kind of rice wine similar to sake with a slightly sweet taste

miso

味噌, a thick paste made by fermenting soybeans with salt

mizuna

水菜, an edible plant, with flavor akin to the mustard plant

mochi

餅, sticky rice cake

napa cabbage

菜っ葉, Chinese cabbage, (in Japan, it is a generic term for leaf vegetables.)

nashi (pear)

梨, a species of pear native to eastern Asia, which are juicy, round and shaped like apples. Often simply referred to as «asian pear(s)».

natto

納豆, traditional Japanese food made from fermented soybeans

nori

海苔, food products created from the seaweed laver by a shredding and rack-drying process that resembles papermaking.

panko

パン粉, Japanese white bread flakes. Panko is made from bread without crusts, thus it has a crisper, airier texture than most types of breading found in Western cuisine.

ramen

ラーメン rāmen, the Japanese version of Chinese noodle soup, not limited to the instant variety. (British English IPA : [rɑːmen])

sake

酒 listen (help·info),nihon-shu(日本酒), an alcoholic beverage, brewed from rice. In Japanese, the word commonly refers to alcoholic drinks in general

sashimi

刺身, a Japanese delicacy primarily consisting of the freshest raw seafoods thinly sliced and served with only a dipping sauce and wasabi.

satsuma

(from 薩摩 Satsuma, an ancient province of Japan), a type of mandarin orange (mikan) native to Japan

shabu shabu

しゃぶしゃぶ, a meal where each person cooks their own food in their own cooking pot from an assortment of raw ingredients

shiitake mushroom

しいたけ or 椎茸 listen (help·info), an edible mushroom typically cultivated on the shii tree

shoyu

醬油 or 醤油shōyu, Japanese soy sauce

soba

蕎麦 or ソバ, thin brown buckwheat noodles

soy

from shoyu 醤油

sukiyaki

すき焼き or スキヤキ, a dish in the nabemono-style (one-pot), consisting of thinly sliced beef, tofu, konnyaku noodles, negi, Chinese cabbage (bok choy), and enoki mushrooms among others

surimi

すり身 or 擂り身, processed meat made from cheaper white-fleshed fish, to imitate the look of a more expensive meat such as crab legs

sushi

鮨 or 鮓 or 寿司, a dish consisting of vinegared rice combined with other ingredients such as raw fish, raw or cooked shellfish, or vegetables

takoyaki

たこ焼, たこ焼き, or 章魚焼き, literally fried or baked octopus

tamari

溜まり or たまり, liquid obtained by pressing soybeans

tempura

てんぷら or 天麩羅, classic Japanese deep fried batter-dipped seafood and vegetables. The word may be from Portuguese tempêro/seasoning.^[21]

teppanyaki

鉄板焼き, a type of Japanese cuisine that uses a hot iron griddle (teppan) to cook food

teriyaki

照り焼き or テリヤキ, a cooking technique where fish or meat is being broiled/grilled in a sweet soy sauce marinade; in Japanese, it is used exclusively refer to poultry cooked in this manner.

tofu

豆腐 tōfu listen (help·info) bean curd. Although the word is originally Chinese, it entered English via Japanese.

udo

ウド or 独活, an edible plant found on the slopes of wooded embankments, also known as the Japanese Spikenard

udon

うどん or 饂飩, a type of thick wheat-based noodle

umami

旨味 or うま味, the taste sensation produced by some condiments such as monosodium glutamate; a basic flavor in sea weed (昆布 kombu)

umeboshi

梅干, pickled ume

wakame

ワカメ or 若布, a type of edible kelp, often used in miso soup (Japan), and salads

wasabi

わさび or 山葵, a strongly flavoured green condiment also known as Japanese horseradish

yakitori

焼き鳥 or 焼鳥, a type of chicken kebab.

Government and politics[edit]

daimyō

^[22] 大名 daimyō, «great names»; the most powerful Japanese feudal rulers from the 12th century to the 19th century

genro

^[23] 元老 genrō, retired elder Japanese statesmen, who served as informal advisors to the emperor, during the Meiji and Taisho eras

mikado

^[24] 帝, a dated term for «emperor»; specifically for the Emperor of Japan

shogun

^[25] 将軍 shōgun listen (help·info), the title of the practical ruler of Japan for most of the time from 1192 to the Meiji Era

tenno

^[26] 天皇, a term for the Emperor of Japan

Martial arts[edit]

aikido

^[27] 合気道 aikidō

dojo

道場 dōjō

judo

^[28] 柔道 jūdō, refers to the Olympic sport.

jujutsu

^[29] 柔術 jūjutsu, alternately spelt, through mutation, as jiu-jitsu in English.

karate

^[30] 空手 a fighting style which includes the use of hands and feet to strike the opponent, without any weapon, and is also a popular international sports event. Literally means «empty handed».

kendo

^[31] 剣道 kendō

sumo

^[32] 相撲 sumō

Religion[edit]

bonze

^[33] (from 凡僧 bonsō), a Buddhist monk

koan

^[34] 公案 kōan, a paradoxical story or statement used during meditation in Zen Buddhism. Inspired the hacker koan tradition among computing circles.

satori

^[35] 悟り, enlightenment in Zen Buddhism

shinto

^[36] 神道 shintō, the native religion of Japan

torii

^[37] 鳥居, traditional Japanese gates commonly found at the gateway to Shinto shrines

zen

禅, from Chinese 禪 (Mandarin Chán), originally from ध्यान Sanskrit Dhyāna / Pali झान Jhāna, a branch of Mahāyāna Buddhism.

Other[edit]

ahegao

アヘ顔, a facial expression in pornographic animation and manga usually depicted when someone is having an orgasm

akita

秋田 (from 秋田犬, akitainu or akitaken), the Akita Inu, a large breed of Japanese dog

baka

(馬鹿, ばか in hiragana, or バカ in katakana) means «fool», «silly», «stupid», or «foolish» and is the most frequently used pejorative term in the Japanese language.^{[citation needed]}

bukkake

ぶっかけ, a sex act portrayed in pornographic films, in which several men ejaculate on a woman, or another man. Note that in Japanese it has a broader meaning of «to pour» or «to splash».

domoic acid

(from ドウモイ doumoi in the Tokunoshima dialect of Japanese: a type of red algae)

emoji

絵文字, ideograms used in electronic messages and webpages.

futon

(from 布団, a flat mattress with a fabric exterior stuffed with cotton, wool, or synthetic batting that makes up a Japanese bed.)

gaijin

外人, lit. outsider/alien is a Japanese word for foreigners and non-Japanese. The word is typically used to refer to foreigners of non-Asian ethnicities.

geisha

芸者, traditional Japanese artist-entertainers

hentai

変態 listen (help·info), Western usage: pornographic Anime, usually either Japanese in origin or drawn in a Japanese style; Japanese usage: metamorphosis, transformation, abnormality, or perversion

hikikomori

ひきこもり or 引き籠もり, a psychological condition where the affected individual lives an extremely socially isolated lifestyle, a decision of preference not by default, (compare NEET)

honcho

^[38] 班長 hanchō, head, chief

kamikaze

^[39] 神風, the literal meaning is «divine wind»; used to refer to a Japanese soldier in World War II who crashed an airplane into a target, committing suicide; also refers to the airplane used in the suicide crash

katana

(from かたな literally sword) A Japanese sword that has been forged using traditional Japanese methods. This is referred to as 日本刀 (nihontō) in Japanese.

katsura (tree)

桂, large deciduous trees, native to eastern Asia

kawaii

可愛い, cute and/or lovely. (English IPA ː [kəwaɪ])

koi

鯉, Western usage: ornamental varieties of the common carp (but in Japan this just means «carp» – the ornamental variety are called «nishikigoi» 錦鯉)

kudzu

(from 葛 or クズ kuzu) A climbing vine found as an invasive species in the south-eastern US, which is native to Japan and south-eastern China

moxa

もぐさ or 艾 mogusa, mugwort or cotton wool or other combustible material, burned on skin during moxibustion

moxibustion

(from moxa + (com)bustion), an oriental medicine therapy which involves the burning of moxa (see above)

ninja

Japanese covert agent of the feudal era

rickshaw

(from 人力車 jinrikisha/ninryokusha), a human-pulled wagon

sayonara

左様なら or さようなら sayōnara the Japanese term for «goodbye»

samurai

侍 or 士, Japanese knight

sensei

先生, the Japanese term for «master», «teacher» or «doctor». It can be used to refer to any authority figure, such as a schoolteacher, professor, priest, or politician.

senpai

先輩, the Japanese term for «upperclassman» or «senior».

shiatsu

指圧, a form of massage

shiba inu

柴犬, the smallest of the six original and distinct Japanese breeds of dog

shinro

しんろ, a logic puzzle related to sudoku

skosh

^[40] A small amount, from 少し or すこし sukoshi, meaning «a bit» or «a few»

sudoku

数独 sūdoku listen (help·info), a number placement puzzle, also known as Number Place in the United States.

tanuki

狸, the Japanese name for the animal, Nyctereutes procyonoides, known as a Japanese raccoon dog in English

tsunami

津波, literally «harbor wave»; Large wave caused by earthquakes or other underwater disturbances. (English IPA ː [(t)suːnɑːmiː])

tsuresari

連れ去り, abducting or kidnapping a child by the parent while defying the rights of the other parent.

urushiol

(from 漆 or うるし urushi, a plant that gives a skin rash on contact) a chemical substance found in poison-ivy, used to make lacquer-ware

References[edit]

See also[edit]

• Glossary of anime and manga
• Japanese words of English origin
• Cuisine of Japan
  • Category:Japanese food preparation utensils
• Etiquette in Japan
• Japanese honorifics
• Aizuchi
• Japanese pronouns

Online dictionary: English-Japanese translation of words and expressions, definition, synonyms

Did you know that you already know a little Japanese? It’s true! 

Think of karaoke. Emoji. Karate. 

In fact, there are tons of words we use in English that are actually Japanese. That’s why we thought it might be fun to take a look at some of the many Japanese words in English, called loanwords.

But what exactly is a loanword? 

Basically, it’s when a language decides that the term another language uses for something will work just fine. 

There’s no unique English word for sushi, for example – what would be the point in coming up with a different name? Saying sushi is understandable to more people, makes it clear what you’re referring to, and just… works. 

When a language has a pre-existing word for a thing or concept because it existed in the culture or area where the language developed, you’ll have a different word. 

For example, just about every language has a word for water or the sun. But something new or unique to another culture will tend to be introduced with its original name. Ramen. Ukulele. Tango.

In fact, English as a language, being more flexible and having no governing linguistic academy, uses a particularly large number of loanwords. (Like, tens of thousands of loanwords!) 

How many Japanese words are there in the English language? At latest count, Japanese had roughly a modest 150 words from Japanese roots appearing in the English lexicon, but that number is growing. 

That said, we thought we’d showcase the Japanese words we use most in English – and 49 seems like more than enough, don’t you think?

 Without further ado, here’s everything you need to know about our 49 favourite Japanese words in English. 

But wait, you already know these words!

Why spend time poring over English words you’re already familiar with when you could start learning new and exciting Japanese words right now with Busuu’s award-winning online language course?

Here are 49 common Japanese words in English

1. Anime – fun fact, anime is really a loanword of a loanword! “Animation” became anime (アニメ) in Japanese, which became the English word for Japanese animation. Whew!
2. Bonsai – from the Japanese bonsai (盆栽), literally “tray planting”
3. Daikon – from the Japanese daikon (大根), literally “big root”
4. Dojo  – from the Japanese dōjō (道場),  literally “place of the Way”
5. Edamame – from the Japanese edamame (枝豆), literally “stem bean” or “branch bean”
6. Emoji – from the Japanese e (絵, ‘picture’) and moji (文字, ‘character’), originally meaning a pictogram
7. Futon – from the Japanese futon (布団), meaning a meditation cushion or Japanese-style bedding set up on the floor; itself a loanword from Middle Chinese bu-dwan (蒲團), meaning “meditation cushion”
8. Geisha – from the Japanese geisha (芸者), used to refer to geishas but meaning, more literally, artisan or performing artist
9. Haiku – from the Japanese haiku (俳句)
10. Hibachi – from the Japanese hibachi (火鉢) coming from hi (火, “fire”) and‎ hachi (鉢, “bowl”)
11. Honcho (as in head honcho) – from the Japanese hanchō (班長), meaning ‘group leader’ or ‘squad leader’
12. Judo – from the Japanese jūdō (柔道) literally “gentle way”
13. Jujutsu (a.k.a. jiu jitsu) – from the Japanese jūjutsu (柔術)
14. Kamikaze – from the Japanese kamikaze (神風), literally “divine wind” or “spirit wind”
15. Kanban – from the Japanese kanban (看板), meaning “signboard” or “billboard”
16. Karaoke – from the Japanese karaoke (カラオケ), from the Japanese kara (空, “empty”) and ōkesutora (オーケストラ, “orchestra”)
17. Karate – from the Japanese karate (空手)
18. Katana – from the Japanese katana (刀), which simply means “single-edged sword”
19. Kimono – from the Japanese kimono (着物) literally, “thing to wear (on the shoulders)”
20. Koi (fish) – from the Japanese koi (鯉)
21. Manga – from the Japanese manga (漫画), formed from man (漫, whimsical) and ga (画, “pictures”)
22. Miso – from the Japanese miso (味噌)
23. Mochi – from the Japanese mochi (餅)
24. Napa cabbage – from the Japanese nappa (菜っ葉), meaning the leaves of a vegetable as food (the Japanese name for this cabbage is actually hakusai (白菜)!
25. Ninja – from the Japanese ninja (忍者)
26. Origami – from the Japanese origami (折り紙), from ori (折り, “to fold”) and kami (紙, “paper”)
27. Panko – from the Japanese panko (パン粉), from pan (パン, bread – a loanword from the Portuguese pão!) and ko (粉, flour. crumb, or coating)
28. Ramen – from the Japanese rāmen (拉麺)
29. Rickshaw – from the Japanese jinrikisha (人力車), literally “human-powered vehicle”
30. Sake – from the Japanese sake (酒), which in Japanese refers to any alcoholic drink
31. Samurai – from the Japanese samurai (侍)
32. Sayonara – from the Japanese sayōnara (さようなら), which, FYI, is more of a “farewell” than a casual goodbye
33. Sensei – from the Japanese sensei (先生), meaning “elder” or “teacher”
34. Shiatsu (massage) – from the Japanese shiatsu (指圧), literally “finger pressure”
35. Shiba Inu – from the Japanese shiba inu (柴犬), which means “brushwood dog”
36. Skosh (as in just a skosh) – from the Japanese sukoshi (少し), pronounced like “sko-shi”, which means “just a little bit”
37. Soy – from the Japanese shoyu (醤油), the Japanese name for soy sauce
38. Sudoku – from the Japanese sūdoku (数独), which literally translates to something like “single digit”
39. Sumo – from the Japanese sumō (相撲), literally “striking one another”
40. Sushi – from the Japanese sushi (寿司)
41. Tempura – from the Japanese tenpura (天麩羅), itself likely borrowed from Portuguese or Spanish
42. Teriyaki – from the Japanese teriyaki (照り焼き)
43. Tofu – from the Japanese tōfu (豆腐)
44. Tsunami – from the Japanese tsunami (津波), meaning “harbour wave”
45. Tycoon – from the Japanese taikun (大君), meaning a lord, imperial prince, or shōgun
46. Umami – from the Japanese umami (旨味), a term coined by a chemist in the early 1900s combining umai (うまい, “delicious”) and mi (味, “taste”)
47. Wabi-sabi – from the Japanese wabi-sabi (侘寂)
48. Wasabi – from the Japanese wasabi (山葵)
49. Zen – from the Japanese zen (禅), which was an adaptation of a Chinese word, which was an adaptation of a Sanskrit word – what a wordy world!

See? You learn lots of Japanese words just speaking English

And get this – it doesn’t end there. There are oodles of English loanwords (and loanwords from other European languages) in Japanese that might surprise you. Here are just a few examples of English words in Japanese: 

Learn anything new? We sure hope so! Let us know your favourite Japanese loan words in English (or vice versa!) in the comments.

Now that you’ve gotten a taste of learning Japanese, why not keep this learning train rolling? With Busuu, you get award-winning course content and help from native Japanese speakers at your fingertips.

So what do you say?

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Art by
Aya Francisco