Wasei-eigo!: 25 Fake English words in Japanese
Did you know that some Japanese words sound like English but don’t really translate? These are called 和製英語 (wasei eigo) and are distinct Japanese words. In fact, many Japanese people don’t realize that they are using wasei-eigo. This means that they will sometimes try to say them when communicating with English speakers.
Wasei-eigo often has influences from English and from how Japanese people like to shorten words. For example, let’s take the word ワイシャツ (waishatsu) which means dress shirt. This likely came from the English word “white shirt”, but was shortened.
It can be very useful to know these wasei-eigo words, because you’ll see them everywhere. You might get confused at first because it sounds like English.
Here are 25 wasei-eigo words that you should know!
1.アクセル – akuseru – gas pedal
Akuseru refers to the word for gas pedal in Japanese. It comes from the word “accelerate”.
2.コンセント – konsento – power plug/outlet
This word likely comes from “concentric plug”, which was used in Japan in the early 1900’s. The word stuck in Japanese to mean any kind of “power plug/outlet”.
3.カンニング – kan ningu – cheating
Cheating is kan ningu in Japanese. This word is interesting because it comes from the word “cunning” in English.
4.ジーパン – jiipan – jeans
This is an example of how Japanese people like to shorten words. Jiipan comes from “jean pants”.
5.タオルケット – taoru ketto – light towel fabric blanket
You’ll see this item in Japan during the hot summers. It is a towel fabric blanket that can keep you cool when you sleep.
6.ベビーカー – bebii kaa – baby carriage
This word comes from “baby car” or from the shortened form of “baby carriage”.
7.ミシン – mishin – sewing machine
It is said that the word mishin came from the way that Japanese people pronounced “machine”.
8.ワイシャツ – waishatsu – dress shirt
Any collared dress shirt is called a waishatsu in Japanese. This comes from the word “white shirt”. You’ll also sometimes see people write Yシャツ.
9.ラブホテル – rabu hoteru – motel for lovers
This is a word that comes from “love hotel”, and refers to hotels that are used by couples that are mainly for short length stays. It is wasei eigo that only exists in Japan, although other countries have hotels with similar purposes.
10.ホチキス – hochikisu – stapler
The word for stapler in Japanese comes from the brand of stapler “Hotchkiss” that was introduced in Japan. You’ll encounter this word in office settings.
11. ペーパードライバー – peepaa doraibaa – someone who doesn’t drive but has a driver’s license
A funny wasei eigo word, it comes from “paper driver”. It means a person who has all the papers(driver’s license) but doesn’t drive at all. You can use it for someone who is a horrible driver and doesn’t have much experience.
12. ハンドル – handoru – steering wheel
Instead of “wheel”, Japanese people use the word “handle” for steering wheels.
13. パーカー – paakaa – hoodie or hooded jacket
This word comes from the word “parka” in English. Unlike a parka, this word can be used for any kind of jacket or sweatshirt with a hood.
14. ハイタッチ – haitacchi – high five
The word for “high five” in Japanese is hai tacchi. It comes from “high touch”.
15.ウインカー – uinkaa – blinker/car turn signal
Instead of a “blinker” or “turn signal”, Japanese people say “winker”. This comes from the British English way of speech.
16.オートバイ – ooto bai – motor bike
Ooto bai refers to any kind of motor bike. It comes from a shortened version of “automatic bike”.
17.オープンカー – oopun kaa – convertible
You’ll see this word referring to convertibles and it comes from “open car”.
18.ガソリンスタンド – gasorin sutando – gas station
Japanese people call gas stations “gasoline stand”. It’s not clear why this came to be.
19.クーラー – kuuraa – air conditioner
Air conditioners can be called kuuraa in Japanese. This comes from the word “cooler”.
20. ソフトクリーム – sofuto kuriimu – soft serve ice cream
This comes from “soft cream” and refers to soft serve ice cream. In Japan during the summer, you’ll see advertisements outside for soft serve ice cream.
21. トランプ – toranpu – playing cards
For some reason Japanese people call playing cards “trump”. It might have come from the card game “bridge”.
22.パソコン – pasokon – PC/Computer
This is a word that Japanese people often think is an English word. It comes from the shortened version of “personal computer”.
23. ノートパソコン – nooto pasokon – laptop
When referring to a laptop, Japanese people say nooto pasokon which comes from “note personal computer”.
24. ドンマイ – donmai – means “it’s ok”
A word you might hear Japanese people say is donmai which comes from “don’t mind”. It is likee “it’s ok” or “no worries”.
25. バイキング – baikingu – buffet
If you’re out looking for restaurants in Japan, you’ll see the word baikingu. This means a buffet in Japanese. It’s said that the first “all you can eat” restaurant in Japan was called “viking”.
I hope that this article can help you to recognise Wasei-eigo! They can be confusing because they sound similar to English. It appears frequently in Japanese vocabulary so make sure to learn them! If you want more Japanese learning blog content, be sure to check out articles such as How to talk about family in Japanese or Body Parts in Japanese: Vocabulary and Phrases!
~ Tanuki