Japan word in english

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

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. 

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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?

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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!

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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: 

Katakana	Romaji	English
ビール	bīru	beer
アンサー	ansā	answer
バーゲン	bāgen	bargain
コインランドリー	koin randorī	coin laundry
ポスト	posuto	post – a mailbox (US), a postbox (UK)

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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• No, Japanese isn’t that hard to learn, and here’s why

Published September 28, 2021

According to some experts, Japanese is one of the hardest languages for a native English speaker to learn. In fact, the ranking scale used by the US Foreign Service estimates it takes 88 weeks to master general professional proficiency in Japanese (as compared to 24–30 weeks for French or Italian), in part due to the three different writing systems used.

But it doesn’t take a lot of time to master the Japanese words you already know. That’s right, the Land of the Rising Sun has loaned many a word into English, and you may not even have realized it. While many will instantly recognize the words on our list as Japanese, a lot of these loanwords have become so integrated and common in English that we don’t process their Japanese origins as such.

tycoon

The word tycoon means “a person of great wealth, influence, or power.”

Tycoon is an English variation of the Japanese word taikun, which comes from Chinese words meaning “great prince.” The Japanese taikun was used to refer to the shogun when he was introduced to foreign dignitaries. Commodore Matthew Perry heard the word when he helped initiate trade between the US and Japan in 1854. He brought the word back to America, where it became the tycoon we use today. As an added bit of fun, President Abraham Lincoln’s advisors loved the word and commonly referred to Lincoln as “the Tycoon.”

skosh

Skosh is a slang word used to mean “a small amount.” For example, you might ask for a skosh more pepper in your soup.

Skosh comes from the Japanese sukoshi, which means “a little bit.” Skosh entered the English lexicon during the Korean War. American soldiers heard the Japanese use the word sukoshi and adapted it as the word skosh to refer to small or little things.

tofu

Tofu is a cheese-like food made from unfermented soy milk. The name tofu comes from Japanese but the food itself is traced back to ancient China. The Japanese first referred to this food as okabe, but began to refer to it as tōfu during the 14th century. The Japanese term ultimately comes from (as many do) the Chinese word dòufu, formed from the words dòu (“bean”) and fǔ (“turn sour, ferment”).

Do you know these English words that originated from Chinese languages?

futon

A futon is a foldable cotton mattress that can be easily stored during the day. The Japanese futon is equivalent to the Chinese pútuán, which means “rush-mat seat.”

In Japan, people have slept on the floors of homes since ancient times. At first, people either slept directly on the floor or on mats made of straw or hemp that could be stored away during the day. During the Edo period, the modern version of the futon emerged due to the increase of cotton production. This warm, comfortable mattress-like bedding became popular and is still widely used in Japan today.

tsunami

A tsunami is a huge sea wave caused by earthquakes or underwater volcanic activity. The Japanese word tsunami is formed from tsu (harbor) and nami (wave).

As an island nation that is located right in what’s known as the Ring of Fire, Japan experiences a lot of earthquakes and tsunamis. In fact, Japan is spread on or near four different tectonic plates so it is especially earthquake-prone. Many Japanese buildings are built to specifically withstand earthquakes.

Learn about other types of monstrous natural events with this look at hurricanes, tornadoes, cyclones, and typhoons.

honcho

A honcho is a leader or a boss. An especially assertive or decisive leader may be referred to as the “head honcho.” The English honcho comes from the Japanese hanchō, which refers to a leader of a squad or a group. Hanchō is formed from the words han (“squad”) and -chō (“eldest” or “chief”).

The word honcho is traced back to World War II. American soldiers, particularly prisoners of war, started using the word after they heard Japanese soldiers refer to squad leaders as hanchō. American soldiers would again use honcho during the Korean War and the word would pick up steam among the general populace following the war.

emoji

As anyone reading this probably already knows, emoji are the faces, symbols, and pictures used in text and electronic messaging. The word emoji comes directly from Japanese and literally translates to “pictograph.” It comes from the words e (“picture” or “drawing”) and moji (“character” or “letter”).

Japanese artist Sigetaka Kurita is often credited as the “father” of emoji. In 1999, Kurita designed a set of pixel art for Japanese mobile carrier NTT Docomo that could be used in texting on their mobile phones. Other companies would copy NTT Docomo’s idea and the rest is history. Today, Kurita’s original set of pixel art is on display at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City. It turns out, though, that Kurita’s emoji set may not have been the first as carrier Softbank released their own set of emoji in 1997.

Explore Dictionary.com’s extensive collection of emoji definitions right here!

sudoku

A sudoku is a number puzzle made of 81 squares in a 9×9 grid with the goal to fill every column, row, and square with the numbers 1 through 9. The word sudoku comes from the Japanese words sūji (“number”) and dokushin (“being single”).

Contrary to popular belief, sudoku puzzles don’t actually come from Japan. Although versions of the puzzle have been traced back hundreds of years, the modern version popular today was created by puzzle maker Howard Garns for Dell Magazines in 1979. Originally called “Number Puzzle,” sudoku picked up its Japanese-inspired name due to the puzzle’s popularity in Japan during the 1980s.

karaoke

Karaoke is the act of singing along to the track of a song, usually after the vocals have been removed. The English word karaoke is based on the Japanese words kara (“empty”) and oke (meaning and ultimately based on the English “orchestra”).

The invention of the karaoke machine is credited to Japanese musician Daisuke Inoue. In 1971, Inoue created a machine that played his songs without any vocals. Inoue never patented his machine, so he has never earned royalties for the numerous karaoke machines still commonly used to sing along to classic tunes. (We won’t comment on the quality of said singing here.)

dojo

A dojo is a school or hall used to teach martial arts. The word dojo comes from the Japanese dōjō, a word for a Buddhist seminary. This word comes from the Sanskrit bodhi-manda, meaning “seat of wisdom.”

Martial arts practitioners are likely to run into several other common Japanese words while training in a dojo. Whether you’re learning karate or judo, it is important to listen to the teachings of your sensei (“teacher” or “master”).

koi

Koi are colorful variations of the common carp that are native to Japan. The Japanese word koi comes from the Japanese for, well, “carp.”

It is thought that modern koi date back to the 1800s, when colorful carp were caught and bred by Japanese rice farmers. Japanese koi can be found in many rivers and ponds throughout Japan and are commonly bought for their beautiful colors. Koi are actually distant cousins of the goldfish, another fish commonly used for decorative purposes.

ninja

A ninja is a name for a person trained in martial arts, weapons, and stealth who performed secret operations during feudal japan. The word ninja is based on the Japanese words nin- (“endure”) and -ja (“person” or “agent”).

Although they have been heavily romanticized by (and sometimes problematically portrayed in) Western popular culture, the ninja did actually exist. Ninja were hired by Japanese nobles to commit secret missions, such as espionage and assassination. The ninja did everything in secret, and much of what we know of them comes from stories and tales passed down through generations of ninja clans.

Take our quiz!

Ready to showcase your sensei-level language skills? You can review the terms with our Japanese loanwords list, which will also generate flashcards and a spelling quiz to help you learn the vocabulary. When you’re ready, try our quiz. We like to think you’ll enjoy it as much as sudoku!

Take a word journey through another country with this look at 16 French loanwords!

While the Japanese language has borrowed a lot of English words, we can say the same thing the other way around. Words like sushi, karate or tsunami are so commonly used that it might be easy to forget that they are loanwords used in English that come from Japan. If you’ve been studying Japanese for any amount of time, you’ve probably experienced what could be called the katakana glitch. You see a katakana word and you just can’t figure out what it is until you mouth it, after which you might utter something like ‘oh, it’s just closet’. New words are crossing over perhaps due in part to the Internet and pop culture. 

There are a lot of English words of Japanese origin. Let’s take tsunami, for instance. There’s no English word to describe huge tidal waves, so it was borrowed from Japanese words. Interesting, right? 

This post on Japanese loanwords in English covers some of the old, new and in-between, but is by no means exhaustive. A lot of these loanwords are originally written in kanji and hiragana. If you need to review hiragana and katakana, head to this article. By the end of this article, who knows? New words are probably being borrowed at this very minute. 

Jump to:

• Japanese Loanwords Used in English for Food and Entertainment
• Japanese Loanwords Used in English for Sport and Martial Arts
• Japanese Loanwords Used in English for Performing and Literary Arts
• Other Japanese Loanwords We Use

Japanese Loanwords Used in English for Food and Entertainment

In 2013, UNESCO named Japanese food an intangible cultural heritage. The flavors and practices associated with Japanese food are unique. Many of the Japanese loanwords in English reflect that uniqueness. Similarly, many aspects of Japanese entertainment tend to originate in Japan, and the English words borrowed from Japanese show that.

1. Karaoke (カラオケ)

Did you even know this was a Japanese word before coming into actual contact with Japan or the language? We didn’t, and we’re guessing we might not be the only one. Also, have you seen anyone do karaoke like the Japanese? This word literally means empty (kara) orchestra (oke).

2. Sudoku　(すどく)

If you’ve played sudoku and understand it, more power to you. This game and its title originated in Japan 1984 and have since become very popular all over the world. The su comes from suji or suu (数)meaning number and the doku (独) means single. The overall aim of the game is to get numbers to appear once in squares in a grid. So literally, the numbers must remain single. Or suuji wa dokushin ni kagiru (数字は独身に限る）, which was the original title of the game. 

A similar type of game was actually played by the Europeans in the 18th century. In 1980s, a Japanese publisher distributed sudoku, which turned into a huge hit and became a popular game since then. 

3. Pachinko　(パチンコ)

Hard to spend any time in Japan and not see a pachinko parlor. Pachinko is a kind of pinball game played in arcade games or, more commonly, gambling parlor. Japanese people like to make words that mimic or represents the sound you hear, like the bees buzzing or the snake hissing. The word pachinko is partly made up of a Japanese onomatopoeia. The first part, pachin, is from the sound that the metal pinball makes as it hits an obstacle.The ko is a diminutive suffix that means something like ‘little’. 

4. Soy (sauce, beans)

Tofu and miso are obviously Japanese loanwords, but soy? Yes, apparently it comes from しょうゆ (shoyu), which is Japanese for soy sauce. The actual Japanese term for the bean is daizu. Edamame, which are green soybeans, is also commonly used in English. 

5. Tamari　(たまりしょうゆ)

This one is kind of hip these days. Many recipe bloggers suggest using tamari as a ‘healthy’ alternative to regular soy sauce. Tamari is richer, thicker and less salty than regular soy sauce, but it is also made from fermented soybeans. 

6. Shiitake, maitake, matsutake, and enoki mushrooms　(椎茸、舞茸、松茸、えのき)

Did I miss any? Many Japanese mushroom names have been carried over and used as-is in English. The most popular of these might be shiitake, which is often pronounced without the second ‘i’, resulting in shitake. 

7. Umami (旨味)

Perhaps because of the significance of washoku or traditional Japanese cuisine, many food-related words have crossed over into the English language. Umami is generally described as that savory flavor in some cooked meats and mushrooms, for example. Washoku itself is also a Japanese loanword used in English. 

8. Dashi　(だし)

No mention of washoku can exclude dashi, stock made from fish or kelp that is used as the base for many Japanese dishes. Dashi is commonly used in English to mean the same thing.

9. Katsu (curry or chicken katsu)　(かつ)

Katsu refers to cutlets of meat that are breaded using panko and deep fried. The cutlets are usually pork or chicken. Katsu is served with a sauce or with curry. In fact, in some places overseas, katsu curry has become so popular, the term is used to mean all Japanese curry. 

10. Panko　(パン粉)

You might have guessed this from the previous entry, but panko is breadcrumbs. They are commonly used in Japanese cooking and the product and the name have crossed over into English-speaking cultures. 

The word panko is actually a combination of loanword that didn’t come from English and the original Japanese word. “Pan” came from the Portuguese language, pao, and ko (粉) is a Japanese word that meant “flour” or “dust”. 

The biggest difference between panko and standard breadcrumbs is that panko is made from bread without crusts. Panko’s crustless white bread is coarsely ground into airy, large flakes that give fried foods a light, crunchy coating.

11. Amazake (甘酒)

Making the list of words of Japanese origin recently recorded in the Oxford English Dictionary, amazake is a sweet, fermented drink made from rice. Unlike sake, which is also made from rice, amazake is not alcoholic. It literally means sweet (ama) sake. 

12. Manga (漫画)

These loanwords are used the same way in English they are in Japanese. One distinction is that while manga means comics in general in Japan, the term typically means Japanese comics in English. 

13. Emoji　(絵文字)

Texting and instant messaging is just not the same without emoji, graphics that help express an emotion when words are just not enough. But the cute, yellow pictogram you’ve been using on your iphone? The word came from the Japanese language. The kanji 絵 (え) means “picture” and 文字 (もじ) means  “character” or “letter.” You might learn some new emoji from the emojipedia online. 

Japanese Loanwords Used in English for Sport and Martial Arts

Japanese martial arts are known the world over by their Japanese names. These are quite established loanwords, and the sports themselves continue to gain devotees.

14. Judo　(柔道)

Japanese martial arts are well-known throughout the English-speaking world, by their Japanese names. Judo, a defensive martial art, is no exception. The term originates from soft, gentle (柔; juu) and way, road (道; do). Judo is an Olympic event, and practitioners are usually called judoka (柔道家). 

When you’re saying the word “judo” in Japanese, remember to elongate the first syllable: Ju-u-dou. In English, however, you can shorten it. 

15. Jujutsu　(柔術)

Precursor to judo, this is also a Japanese unarmed martial art. The first part of the term, juu means gentle, just like in judo and the jutsu (術) means skill or art. There are variant spellings in English including jiu-jitsu or ju-jitsu. 

16. Karate　(空手)

This is definitely one of those Japanese loan words that just rolls off the tongue. Many people probably recognise nothing ‘foreign’ in the word karate. The term originates from empty (kara) and hand (te), meaning fighting with bare hands. 

17. Kendo　(剣道)

This Japanese martial art is armed. Players use bamboo swords and wear protective guards. The ken means sword and do, way. 

18. Sumo　(相撲)

Often suffixed with ‘wrestling’ in English, sumo means to fight. It’s not just the word that has crossed borders. Many non-Japanese people have succeeded as sumo wrestlers, in what is perceived to be a closed and very traditional world. Check out this quick guide to sumo related terms to learn a bit more about the sport. 

Japanese Loanwords Used in English for Performing and Literary Arts

From the theater to the page, traditional Japanese performing and literary arts have become well-known in English-speaking cultures. 

19. Kabuki　(歌舞伎)

This is a kind of Japanese theater. The Online Etymology Dictionary cites two possible origins of this Japanese loanword. One is that kabuki comes from the verb kabuku, meaning to deviate. The first kabuki performance was given in a shrine by a girl, dressed as a man, which was outside of the norm. The other explanation is that kabuki means  ‘art of song and dance,’ from ka (song), bu (dance), and ki  (art, skill). 

20. Noh　(能)

In Noh theater, performers sing and dance while wearing masks. This loanword comes from the Japanese meaning ‘talent’.

21. Tanka　(短歌)

A poem written using just five lines, tanka means short (tan) song (ka). In English, the poems typically use five lines and 31 syllables, but in Japanese, they are typically written in three lines. 

22. Haiku (俳句)

If you’ve heard about haiku, you probably have the impression that it takes immense skill to craft them. These poems are written using a set number of syllables. The haiku consists of three lines, with five syllables in the first line, seven in the second, and five in the third.

Though haiku were originally written in Japanese, English poems following this pattern also go by the same name. Literally meaning light (haikai no)  verse (ku), these poems are often about nature. 

23. Senryu　(川柳)

This loanword refers to another type of Japanese poetry that’s similar to haiku. Senryu tend to talk about people, rather than nature, however. This form was named after a poet who frequently practiced it. 

Other Japanese Loanwords We Use in English

From business to bedding and natural disasters, Japanese loanwords are used in many areas of life. The following words don’t fall neatly into the categories we have here. But they are still commonly used. 

24. Tycoon (大君)

You’ve probably heard this word used a lot with another t-word, tech, as in tech tycoon. Its origins have little do with technology, however. Taikun was the name foreigners gave to the shogun (another loanword) when they came to Japan in the 1800s. Over time, taikun (great lord) became tycoon. Today, the word refers to someone of tremendous wealth and power. 

25. Honcho　(班長)

This is another loanword often used alliteratively with head, as in head honcho, meaning leader. The term originates from Japanese han (group) and cho (leader), and was apparently picked up by foreigners in Japan during the second world war.  

26. Skosh (少し: Sukoshi)

Have you ever noticed someone saying, “Just a skosh.” Maybe you’re asking if you need to add more salt when you are making soup. This loanward is a shortening of the Japanese sukoshi, meaning a little. It was adopted by the US servicement when they were stationed in Japan after World War II It is used in the same way in English, and carries the nuance of a really tiny amount. 

27. Zen　(善)

This loanword originates from the Japanese school of Zen Buddhism that focuses on meditation. In common use in English, zen means calm and peaceful, and doesn’t explicitly refer to Buddhism. 

28. Futon　(布団)

Futon is one of those loanwords that perhaps many people have forgotten is, in fact, a loanword. It’s used to describe a flat mattress that can be rolled up, which is traditional bedding in Japan. However, in English, people refer to couches that have pull-out beds as futons. The fu in this loanword means sheet or cloth, and the ton means group. 

29. Ikigai (生きがい)

Ikigai, as a concept, has been making waves in the English-speaking world in recent years. Iki means life and gai means value, so the term translates to ‘reason for being’. The idea is that with a reason for being or a purpose, people can live more fulfilling lives, as those lives get longer. 

30 Tsunami　(津波)

Originating from harbor (tsu) and wave (nami), this word has been in use in many unfortunate circumstances recently. As with the original Japanese, it describes a large sea wave caused by an earthquake. Tsunami has also been used in a figurative sense to mean a large and sudden amount of something. 

Conclusion

Now with these 30 Japanese loanwords under your belt, maybe you’ll be able to identify other loanwords more easily. You’ve no doubt been using many of them and as the English language continues to borrow words from Japanese, you’ll end up using even more Japanese, in English. For loanwords in Japanese that didn’t come from English, check out this article. 

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Does English have Japanese loanwords?

Yes, English language borrows a lot of Japanese words. For example, tsunami, tycoon and sudoku came from the Japanese equivalent. English language also retains a lot of original Japanese food-related words, like sushi, katsu and dashi.

What English words are borrowed from Japan?

Among many of them, the most common English words borrowed from Japan are:

• Tsunami
• Karaoke
• Tycoon
• Sushi
• Skosh
• Ramen
• Futon

Does Japan borrow words from the English language?

Yes, Japanese has around 4,500 words that are borrowed from English. Loanwords borrowed from a foreign language is called gairaigo (外来語).

Japanese Words	Pronunciation	Meaning
Aikido	ahy-kee-doh	Japanese martial arts
Anime	an-uh-mey	Animation
Bento	ben-taw	A home-packed meal
Banzai	bahn-dzah-ee	Cheer of enthusiasm or triumph
Bonsai	bon-sahy	Miniature tree grown in a tray or shallow pot
Dashi	dah-shee	Soup stock; fundamental to Japanese cooking
Dojo	doh-joh	Any physical training facility
Futon	foo-ton	A type of mattress
Geisha	gey-shuh	Traditional Japanese female entertainers
Haiku	hahy-koo	Short poem of 3 lines
Harakiri	hahr-uh-keer-ee	A ritual suicide carried out by cutting the belly
Hibachi	hi-bah-chee	Traditional Japanese heating device
Ikebana	ee-ke-bah-nah	Japanese art of flower arrangement
Imari	ee-mari	Plates and cups made of multicolored porcelain
Judo	joo-doh	A sport adapted from jujitsu and similar to wrestling
Jujitsu	joo-jit-soo	Martial art form
Kabuki	kah-boo-kee	Traditional Japanese theater
Kanji	kahn-jee	Japanese writing using Chinese characters
Kamikaze	kah-mi-kah-zee	Divine wind or a pilot trained and willing to cause a suicidal crash
Kakemono	kah-ke-maw-naw	A vertical hanging scroll containing either text or a painting
Karaoke	kar-ee-oh-kee	Singing popular songs along with recorded music
Karate	kuh-rah-tee	Type of Japanese martial art
Kendo	ken-doh	Martial art form
Koto	kaw-taw	Traditional musical instrument
Kimono	kuh-moh-nuh	Outer garment, generally made of silk
Koi	koi	A colorful, ornamental carp fish
Manga	mahng-guh	Comics
Makimono	mah-kee-maw-naw	Horizontal hand scroll containing either text or a painting
Miso	mee-saw	Paste made from fermenting rice, soybean, koji and sea salt
Noh	noh	Stylized classic drama of Japan
Ninja	nin-juh	A skilled warrior
Obi	aw-bee	A long, broad sash used over a kimono
Origami	awr-i-gah-mee	Paper-folding art
Pachinko	puh-ching-koh	A Japanese pinball game
Ramen	rah-muhn	A variety of Japanese noodle dish
Ronin	roh-nin	A samurai without a master
Rickshaw or Jinrihisha	rik-shaw/jin-rik-shaw	Human-pulled vehicle
Sake	sah-kee	Alcoholic beverage made from fermented rice
Samurai	sam-oo-rahy	Japanese warrior
Sashimi	sah-shee-mee	Thinly sliced, fish or raw meat
Satsuma	sah-tsoo-mah	A kind of mandarin orange
Sayonara	sah-yaw-nah-rah	Goodbye
Sensei	sen-sey	Master, teacher
Seppuku	se-poo-koo	A ritual suicide carried out by cutting the abdomen
Shoyu	shoh-yoo	Japanese soy sauce
Shamisen	sæmɪ-sen	Three-stringed musical instrument
Shiatsu	shee-aht-soo	Acupressure massage
Shogun	shoh-guh	A military commander
Surimi	soo-ree-mee	Minced fish flavored in imitation of lobster or crabmeat
Sudoku	soo-doh-koo	Literally means ‘single number’, but now associated with a number puzzle
Sumo	soo-moh	A Japanese form of wrestling
Sushi	soo-shee	Vinegared rice topped with raw fish, shellfish and rarely vegetables
Tanka	tahng-kuh	Short poem form consisting of five lines with 31 syllables
Tatami	tuh-tah-mee	Straw matting
Teriyaki	ter-uh-yah-kee	Cooking technique in which fish or meat is grilled in soy marinade
Tofu	toh-foo	Bean curd
Tsunami	tsoo-nah-mee	Large waves as a result of underwater earthquakes or other disturbances
Tycoon or Taikun	tahy-koon	A businessperson of great wealth and power; magnate
Typhoon	tahy-foon	Violent tropical storm or cyclone
Ukiyo-e	oo-kee-yaw-e	Painting and printmaking developed in Japan
Wasabi	wah-suh-bee	Green paste similar to horseradish
Zaibatsu	zahy-bah-tsoo	Business Conglomerate
Zen	zen	Branch of Mahayana Buddhism
Zori	zawr-ee	A Japanese sandal; formally worn with kimono on special occasions

Even if you do not speak Japanese, you might be using Japanese words in your daily life without even knowing.

Have you heard of the term ‘loanwords’ or 外来語 (gairaigo)?

According to the online Oxford Dictionary, a loanword is “a word adopted from a foreign language with little or no modification“.

Japanese language has contributed many loanwords to world languages. Let us take English as the standard language and list down some common loanwords which are of Japanese origin.

We will concentrate on those words that has a meaning or concept not indigenous to Japan like typhoon, or something that had originated in Japan and has been accepted globally like the concept of kaizen.

Tsunami 津波 (tsunami) – These are high tidal waves that can cause serious damage to coastal regions. Tsunamis are caused by undersea earthquakes. Since Japan is situated in an active seismic zone, it experiences frequent earthquakes and tsunami. This word has been introduced to the world via news articles and reports about calamities caused due to seismic waves or tsunami in Japan. Besides its actual meaning in Japanese, tsunami in English is often used to refer to a tremendous increase in volume or number. For example, a tsunami of crowd at the live concert.

Typhoon 台風 (taifuu) – It is the same as hurricane or cyclone. Then why do we have three different words for the same phenomenon? It is because, the same natural occurrence in different areas is addressed by different names. The term taifuu or typhoon (as modified in English) is used for the Northwest Pacific ocean.

Kaizen 改善 (kaizen) – It is a very popular concept or philosophy to be more precise. Kaizen means to continuously improve one’s quality and efficiency. Traditionally, kaizen is associated with business and work. However, after its worldwide acceptance, this word has become a common favourite of many from different walks of life. Nowadays, usage of the term kaizen is not limited to industries, it is freely used by anyone implying ‘continuous improvement’.

Bonsai 盆栽 (bonsai) – Miniature tree planted in a pot – that’s a bonsai. This art originated in China and later gained popularity in Japan. After the art of bonsai was introduced to the rest of the world, its name was also included in English.

Origami 折り紙 (origami) – Another popular Japanese art that everyone appreciates. Literally, origami is the art of paper folding. Well, to be more specific, origami is a craft of  making figures and decorations with paper. Those who are interested in Japanese culture, should definitely try this. Legend has it that if you create one thousand origami cranes (senbazuru) you will be granted one wish.

Tycoon 大君 (taikun) – This word has its roots in Chinese language. In Japanese, tycoon meant ‘general’  or ‘commander’. When introduced in English, this word lost its original meaning. Today, tycoon is used to signify an affluent and powerful business magnate.

Zen 禅 (zen) – It is actually a school of Mahayana Buddhism, but now this word suggests more than just religious principles. Zen Buddhism stresses on self contemplation and self realisation through meditation. Today, the term zen is often used to refer to ‘focusing one’s mind’, ‘devoid of distraction’ or ‘ultimate peace’.

Rikshaw 人力車 (jinrikisha) – Until I read somewhere that the word rikshaw was derived from the Japanese word jinrikisha, I could never have imagined that it is a loanword. Since I grew up in a city where rikshaws are a common mode of transport, I always thought that it was an indigenous ride. Rikshaw is a two-wheeled vehicle drawn by humans. These are still prevalent in some Asian counties.  It is not very clear who or in which country this vehicle was first invented, but the term was certainly coined by the Japanese.

Dojo 道場 (doujou) – This term must be familiar to those who learn (Japanese) martial arts. When used in English, the native meaning of dojo is not altered. It refers to a training place where teaching and practice of martial arts are conducted. However, in Japanese, dojo could also refer to a training place where Japanese arts (ending in 道) are conducted.

Kawaii カワイイ (kawaii) – Japan’s kawaii culture has enchanted many and gained countless admirers around the world. Japan has taken Kawaiiness or cuteness to another level. Harajuku in Tokyo is a good place to see and experience Japan’s epitome of cuteness. Idol project divas, perky mascots or adorable fashion styles, Japan has opened its box of kawainess to the world, and we are just loving it!

Karaoke カラオケ (karaoke) – Do I have to explain this term? I think we all know what karaoke is, but some of us might not know that the word is totally Japanese. In Japanese, ‘Kara’ means empty and ‘oke’ stands for orchestra (Ōkesutora as they pronounce in Japanese). Karaoke has become a favourite entertainment activity for many who wants to hang out with friends or just release some stress. Try to pronounce karaoke as ka:-ra:-ō-kā, that’s how it is said in Japanese.

Otaku オタク (otaku) – Today’s concept of otaku is not the same as what it used to mean originally. Otaku means geek, and nowadays it is treated as a praise. When using it in English, you could flatter an anime or Japanese culture fan by calling them otaku. However, in Japan the word otaku can spark a negative feeling. It is better to avoide using this word when referring to someone else. In Japanese, otaku literally means ‘own house’ and was used in a negative sense to refer to people who stayed at home doing nothing much (losers?). Today,  even though otaku is used to refer to people obsessed with a hobby or culture, it still not seen as a positive term in Japan.

Manga 漫画 (manga) – Manga is the Japanese word for comics. Due to the popularity of Japanese comics and graphic novels this term was also included in English vocabulary. Japanese manga styles are unique and different from other comics. In English, manga is used to mainly refer to Japanese comics.

If you’ve ever wondered how hard Japanese is to learn, well I’ve got news for you…you probably know a bunch of Japanese words already!

Thanks in part to Japan’s pop culture impact on the west, Japanese vocabulary has made its way into Western culture. In this post, I’ve listed a handful of Japanese words we all use in English 🙂

Japanese food

Japanese restaurants continue to pop up all over North America and I’m sure you’ve eaten at one before. Below are a few words that you’ve probably come across and some new ones that you should know next time you eat out.

Hibachi (火鉢, hibachi): Lots of hibachi – style restaurants are in America, hibachi refers to a special type of grill.

Sushi (寿司, sushi): Most should know what sushi is, even if you don’t like it. It includes rice and raw foods, especially raw fish, oftentimes rolled.

Sashimi (刺身, sashimi): Very fresh fish sliced pretty thinly, you can get this at various (perhaps pricey) Japanese-style restaurants around the world.

Teriyaki (照り焼き, teriyaki): This refers to foods cooked in that sweet sauce you know and perhaps love. Though in English, it is used to cook all sorts of meats, it’s mostly just chicken in Japan that is cooked in this way.

Tempura (天麩羅 or 天ぷら, tenpura): This should be a fairly familiar term and specifies a certain type of deep-fry.

Panko (パン粉, panko): On a related note, this refers to a certain type of breading made with white bread without crust.

Edamame (枝豆, edamame): Those soybeans that is served whole in the pod, you know the ones.

Adzuki beans (小豆, azuki): This refers to a certain type of bean often used in Japanese sweets.

Miso (味噌, miso): This refers to a bean paste. Perhaps you’ve had some miso soup before at your local Asian style restaurant? 

Tofu (豆腐, toufu): This is a bean curd type thing that you can probably get at your local supermarket. It can be used in vegetarian dishes in the place of meat.

Ramen (ラーメン, ramen): This refers to the Japanese spin on a Chinese noodle soup that we all know and presumably love due to how available and affordable it is to get instant ramen in so many places.

Sake (酒, sake): In Japan, this refers to alcoholic beverages in general, but in English this refers to 日本酒 (nihonshu), a certain type of wine brewed with rice.

Art and Entertainment

Various arts and such have kept their name from Japan and made their way into the English-speaking world. Here are some examples of what I mean:

Haiku (俳句, haiku): This refers to a short poem you probably know of, wherein you have three lines of 5-7-5 syllables. Technically, you’re supposed to count each 拍 (haku) or mora, which is the length of a short syllable in English, instead of each syllable, but that’s splitting hairs.

Tanka (短歌, tanka): This is also a type of short poem you may have studied in literature class, but is probably less well-known than the haiku. Similarly, you count each 拍 (haku) or mora as you do in a Haiku, but with the rhythm of 5-7-5-7-7 as opposed to 5-7-5 in a haiku.

Karaoke (カラオケ, karaoke): A popular pass time wherein people try to sing along with a popular song. Whereas elsewhere there may be just “karaoke night” at a bar or such, there are many places that are pretty dedicated to purely providing booths for karaoke.

Koto (琴, koto): A traditional Japanese instrument with 13 strings. If you’ve never run into one, you may not know about this, but many have probably heard the term before.

Shamisen (三味線, shamisen): Again, if you don’t have an interest in instruments, it’s possible you don’t know about this one, but I think many do know of it. It’s a musical instrument with three strings.

Kabuki (歌舞伎, kabuki): This refers to traditional Japanese Kabuki theatre. Perhaps you’ve heard some of the sound effects, as they have a fairly unique character.

Sumi-e (墨絵, sumie): This refers to Japanese ink painting. You’ve probably heard of it in art class.

Origami (折り紙, origami): Paper folding. You’ve probably tried some origami yourself, and know how difficult it can be.

Geisha (芸者, geisha): Traditional Japanese entertainer, as you may already know.

Bonsai (盆栽, bonsai): This refers to tray gardening and dealing with that little tree, I’m sure you know of it and may have seen some bonsai trees yourself.

Manga (漫画, manga): In English, this refers to Japanese comics. In Japan, however, it refers to comics in general.

Warriors and Martial Arts

Throughout time, cultures all over the world have found the need to defend themselves from violence. This has resulted in many different types of warriors and styles of fighting. Here are some from Japan:

Shogun (将軍, shougun): This refers to the “general” in feudal Japan. For a time they were essentially serving as the rulers of Japan as they were more powerful than even the emperor, as you may know from history class.

Ninja (忍者, ninja): Covert operatives in feudal Japan. We all know them from media representation of ninja. They were technically a class of samurai.

Samurai (侍, samurai): We also know these from the media as they are displayed often as sword-fighting warriors. They were the warriors of the Edo period of Japan.

Aikido (合気道, aikidou): A certain type of martial art that is pretty popular in Japan. It is often treated with a lot less respect and is seen as one of the “weaker” martial arts in United States martial arts circles. Regardless, I’m sure you’ve heard of it, perhaps due to a certain Mr. Seagal.

Jiu Jitsu (柔術, juujutsu): This martial art is pretty classic and revolves around close combat.

Judo (柔道, juudou): The sport of Judo, a martial art that focuses on balance and leverage in conjunction with quick movement.

Sumo (相撲, sumo): The sport wherein you try to push the opponent out of the ring. It probably conjures up images of large, rotund Japanese men.

Dojo (道場, doujo): Where martial arts training happens! You might have a few dojos around you!

Miscellaneous

Here are some other Japanese words you know from their being used in English:

Tycoon (大君, taikun): In Japanese, 大君 (taikun) refers to a high commander. It would be taken and later used to refer to wealthy business leaders in the English-speaking world.

Kimono (着物, kimono): The long robe that is often worn to special events.

Geta (下駄, geta): Those stereotypical wooden clogs! You’ve probably seen this on a movie or TV show by now.

Futon (布団, futon): A flat mattress. In English, it can also refer to a sofa that changes directly into a bed and vice versa.

Tsunami (津波, tsunami): A tidal wave. I’m sure you know of this natural disaster.

Karoshi (過労死, karoushi): Death from overwork. Perhaps you haven’t heard of this one, which would probably be for the best, but many know of Japan’s karoshi problem, and there’s even been legislation to help it.

Sudoku (数独, suudoku): Those number puzzles with all the squares, you’ve probably seen it before. It can be quite difficult to do! When I was younger, I spent quite a lot of time with these puzzles. One could say that for a child, I was a sudoku geek.

Otaku (オタク, otaku): In Japan, otaku refers to a geek of anything in general. In English, it refers more specifically to Japanimation/manga geeks.

Emoji (絵文字, emoji): You know emojis. I’m sure some of you know them all too well.

Hopefully Japanese doesn’t seem too foreign to those reading this article. It’s all too familiar to us English speakers! If you have an interest in learning Japanese, or a variety of other languages, consider using LingQ to learn, expanding your mind and world.

Learning Japanese (the easy way)

Alright, now that you already have a nice chunk of Japanese in your vocabulary, it’s time to start studying! And the best way to learn Japanese online is using LingQ.

Take a peek at the video above and see how you can use LingQ to study content YOU love. That’s right, you can learn Japanese using LingQ’s content, videos from YouTube, podcasts, blogs, and so much more. Also, LingQ’s language learning apps are available for both Android and iOS, which means you can take your lessons on the go and study anytime, anywhere.

Check LingQ out today and start your journey to fluency. 🙂

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Caiman Cotton is a freelance Japanese translator who has studied the language for years. He hopes to one day also study Latin.

We often assume that languages are unique and different from each other, and this (false) assumption leads to our fear of learning new languages. We overlook the fact that there are several ‘Borrowed Words’ in every language, which makes learning a new language easier and a fun thing to do. If you already speak English fluently and interested in learning Japanese, you will be glad to know that there are several words in English that have been borrowed from the Japanese language.

Here we take a look at 10 English words of Japanese origin.

1) Tsunami

In English, it means a long, high sea wave caused by an earthquake or other disturbance. The word ‘Tsunami’ comes from the two kanji words 津 (tsu) meaning “harbor” and 波 (nami), meaning “wave”.

2) Sake

In English, it means, for the purpose of or for the interest of in order to achieve something. However, in Japanese, it means something completely different. In Japanese sake 酒 (さけ) literally means “alcohol.”

3) Typhoon

In English, it means a tropical storm. The word ‘Typhoon’ comes from the two kanji words 台 (たい) means “table” or “pedestal,” and 風 (ふう) means “wind.”

4) Origami

In English ‘Origami’ folding paper into decorative shapes and figures. While in Japanese 折 (おり) means “to fold,” and 紙 (がみ) is “papers”.

5) Zen

According to the Cambridge dictionary, the exact English meaning of the word Zen is “not to worry”. While the Kanji Meaning: 禅 (ぜん) literally means “silent meditation”.

6) Emoji

In English “emoji” is a small digital image used to express an idea or emotion in electronic communication. The Kanji Meaning: 絵 (え) means “picture” and 文字 (もじ) is “character” or “letter”.

7) Futon

This word is originally a Japanese word, which has the same English meaning as well. In English, it means a type of mattress that can be rolled up or a bed or seat made from such a mattress. Kanji Meaning: 布 (ふ) means “linen” or “cloth” and 団 (とん) is “group”.

Rickshaw

People often think the word Rickshaw came from China, however it was first used in Japan in 1869, which literally meant “human-powered vehicle.” In English there is a slight change in meaning, it means a light two-wheeled passenger vehicle drawn by one or more people.

9) Tofu

English meaning of Tofu is, a soft white substance made from soya beans. While the Kanji Meaning: 豆 (とう) is “beans” and 腐 (ふ) means “ferment” or “rot”.

10) Haiku

It’s a Japanese way of writing a poem of seventeen syllables. Kanji Meaning: 俳 (はい) means “poem”. The meaning of the word doesn’t change in English.

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Now that you know some of the most popular English words borrowed from Japanese, why not increase your understanding of doing business in Japan with our Japanese Business Etiquette Guide.