Japanese, like many languages, borrowed words from various other languages. Many Japanese words came from Chinese as well as English, Dutch, German, French, Portuguese etc. You will notice, just by virtue of being an English speaker, you can understand many Japanese words that originated from English.
However, you may have trouble understanding some Japanese words that were seemingly from English, and these are called 和製英語 (wasei eigo). 和製英語 (wasei eigo) are Japanese expressions based on English that do not exist in standard English. Often, Japanese people use 和製英語 (wasei eigo), believing English speakers would understand them, but some of them can be truly confusing.
HANDLE KEEPER (ハンドルキーパー)
This wasei eigo was derived from ‘handle’ with the meaning of ‘steering wheel’. A keeper of a steering wheel = designated driver.
E.g.
私、今日ハンドルキーパーだから飲めないんですよ。
I can’t drink because I am a designated driver today.
IMAGE UP (イメージアップ)
アップ is often used as ‘improve’. This one means ‘improving one’s public image’.
E.g.
あの政治家はイメージアップのために、たくさんテレビに出ている。
That politician is on TV a lot to improve her public image.
CONCENT (コンセント)
Around 1920, an electricity company in Tokyo created a device which consisted a pug and outlet called コンセントプラグ (concentric plug). Today, any power outlet is called コンセント.
TALENT (タレント)
This word was derived from ‘talent’ but the word refers to ‘TV personality’.
GUTS POSE (ガッツポーズ)
This one translates to ‘fist pump’. This was apparently derived from a boxer Guts Ishimatsu and how he raised arm in triumph after a match.
MY PACE (マイペース)
This expression refers to ’doing something at one’s own pace’. Even the expression contains マイ, you can use this for other people.
E.g.
彼女はマイペースだ。= She does things at her own pace.
MY BAG (マイバッグ)
This does not refer to any bags that are yours, but refers specifically to ‘one’s reusable bag’. This one, again, can be used to refer to someone else’s reusable bag.
E.g.
あ、そこにマイバッグ置き忘れてますよ。
Oh, you left your ‘my bag’ there.
MY HOME (マイホーム)
This means one’s house he/she bought as a place of residence. There is this old yet obstinate belief in Japanese society that one is fully grown up when they buy their マイホーム. This one can lead to a sentence like…
E.g.
もうマイホーム買いましたか？
Did you buy your ‘my home’ already?
DON’T MIND (ドンマイ)
ドンマイ effectively translates to ‘dont’ worry ‘. You can say ドンマイ after someone made a blunder or missed a shot.
TENSION (テンション)
テンション refers to ‘the level of energy’. When you are excited, they may say you are ‘テンションが高い’. On the other hand, when you are down, you can be ‘テンションが低い’.
VIRGIN ROAD (バージンロード)
バージンロード refers to ‘wedding aisle’. Apparently, a Japanese wedding company created this wasei eigo as they thought a bride should be innocent.
BABY CAR (ベビーカー)
ベビーカー is a refers to a ‘stroller’ or a ‘pram’. This is a car (カー) for a baby (ベビー).
MY BOOM (マイブーム)
マイブーム refers to a ‘current obsession’. ブーム refers to a ‘fad’ in Japanese. This again leads to sentences like あなたのマイブームは何ですか。(What’s your ‘my boom’?).
SMART (スマート)
スマート refers to ‘slender’. 「あの人はとてもスマートだね。」does not refer to the person’s intelligence, but say that the person is thin and stylish.
CLAIM (クレーム)
クレーム, although is sometimes used as ‘claim’, refers broadly to ‘complaint’.
SERVICE (サービス)
サービス means ‘free of charge’ or a ‘discount’.
E.g.
100円サービス
100 yen discounted.
これ、いくらですか。
How much is this?
サービスですよ。
It’s free of charge.
DOCTOR STOP (ストップ)
ドクターストップ means being ordered to stop by a doctor. This is often used in the context of combat sport.
E.g.
この試合はドクターストップになった。
The fight was stopped by the doctor.
You can also use ドクターストップ when one is ordered to do something by their doctor, such as stopping to smoke, drink or overeating etc.
IMAGE (イメージ)
イメージ does not simply mean ‘image’. It refers to an impression or an image in one’s mind.
Comments