Here are 25 words which have their origin largely in English words, but which have now been made into Japanese words. Often these words have been shortened, so as to be easy to handle.
Japanese
katakana word
|
The English meaning
|
What do you think is the origin of some of these Japanese words?
|
||
1
|
ラジカセ
|
radio cassette
|
→
|
ラジオカセット
|
2
|
マスコミ
|
mass communication
|
→
|
マスコミュニケーション
|
3
|
ハイテク
|
high tech
|
→
|
ハイテクノロジー
|
4
|
インフレ
|
inflation
|
→
|
インフレーション
|
5
|
リモコン
|
remote control
|
→
|
リモートコントロール
|
6
|
カラオケ
|
karaoke
|
→
|
から [means ‘empty] オーケストラ
|
7
|
タレント
|
TV personality
|
→
|
talent
|
8
|
アイドル
|
Pop singer
|
→
|
idol
|
9
|
レジ
|
(cash) register
|
→
|
レジスター [in a shop at the exit]
|
10
|
コーラス
|
Choir
|
→
|
chorus
|
11
|
トランプ
|
[Playing] cards
|
→
|
trumps
|
12
|
ナイター
|
A baseball game played in the evening
|
→
|
night(er) game
|
13
|
ホッチキス
|
Stapler
|
→
|
Mr. Hodgkiss (inventor)
|
14
|
リンス
|
Hair-conditioner
|
→
|
rinse
|
15
|
エネルギー
|
Personal drive / pace
|
→
|
energy
|
16
|
ノウハウ
|
Knowledge
|
→
|
know-how
|
17
|
マンション
|
Up-market apartment
|
→
|
mansion
|
18
|
ハイツ
|
Up-market apartment
|
→
|
heights
|
19
|
アンケート
|
Questionnaire
|
→
|
enquette
|
20
|
サインする
|
To give an autograph
|
→
|
to sign
|
21
|
サービス
|
Extra consideration given to customers
|
→
|
service
|
22
|
アルバイト
|
Temporary job [from Dutch language]
|
→
|
arbeid
|
23
|
ぎりチョコ
|
giri chocolates
|
→
|
Given out of obligation [ぎり] on Valentine’s Day
|
24
|
マイペース
|
Plodding
|
→
|
my pace
|
25
|
カンニング
|
Cheating during examination
|
→
|
cunning
|