FOREIGN WORDS IN JAPANESE
Katakana (カタカナ)
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The
Japanese Language
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| The Japanese have developed a language which is used for foreign words and expressions. When written, these words and expressions appear in “katakana”, one of the Japanese syllabic scripts.
Even though the words and phrases are “foreign” in origin, they often take on an entirely new meaning in Japanese. Also, the pronunciation becomes Japanese making it difficult for non-native
speakers to understand.
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Japlish - Japanese English
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Below is a list of
Japanese expressions written in romanization, or romaji, In
Japanese, they would be in written in Katakana. Using
the Japanese syllabic pronunciation, try to guess the actual word
or words and then the meaning. (Answers below)
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arubaito
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kosuto appu
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anketto |
mai peisu
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afutaa saabisu |
man tan
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bakansu
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meeka
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beisu appu
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neba main
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choko
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roodo shoo
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dorai
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saabisu
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furonto
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sando
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gooruden wiiku
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saraiiman
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hotchikisu
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shinguru
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infure
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teiburu supiichi
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kone
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toranpu
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konpe
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wetto
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| New Additions |
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| anison |
kitchinpeepaa |
| jiipan |
kyatchikopi |
baagen
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kosupure |
| konsento |
tarento |
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Answers
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arubaito = part-time work. Origin: German word “arbeit”
anketto = questionnaire. Origin: French word questionnaire d'enquête
afutaa saabisu = after service, meaning after sales service
bakansu = vacation. Origin: French word “vacances”
beisu appu = base up, meaning salary increase
choko = chocolate
dorai = dry, meaning too practical or logical
furonto = front, meaning front desk at a hotel
gooruden wiiku = Golden Week, meaning a group of holidays
hotchikisu = stapler, named after the inventor, Hotchkiss
infure = inflation
kone = connections, meaning who you know
konpe = competition, meaning competition as in tournament
kosuto appu = cost up, meaning increase in costs
mai peisu = my pace
man tan = full tank, meaning full gas tank (man=full in Japanese)
meeka = maker, meaning manufacturer
neba main = never mind
roodo shoo = road show, meaning premiere, first run movie
saabisu = service
sando = sandwich
saraiiman = salaryman, meaning businessman
shinguru = single, meaning golfer’s handicap is one digit
teiburu supiichi = table speech, meaning after dinner speech
toranpu = trump, meaning a deck of cards
wetto = wet, meaning a person who is easy-going |
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| New Additions |
ani(me) + son(g) = an anime song most often as a theme song
jiipan = jea(ns) = pan(ts), meaning jeans
baagen = bargain, meaning special price or a sale at a store
konsento = concent(ric plug), meaning electrical outlet
kitchinpeepaa = kitchen paper, meaning paper towels
kyatchikopi = catch copy, meaning tagline
kosupure = cos(tume) play = cosplay (a popular activity with young Japanese - dressing up in costumes particularly from anime and manga)
tarento = talent, meaning celebrity, TV personality |
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