Japenglish / Wasei-Eigo: A List Of Japanese False Friends

The original list was compiled by keiichiro, a Japanese national who’s spent a couple of years in the United States and noted a growing number of Japenglish (or Wasei-eigo) terms. Since the original website is down, I have recreated the list here and will keep updating it.

-Janglish (KATAKANA)- -Janglish (Alphabet)- – English in the US –
Fashion?
スリーサイズ three-size measurements
ヒップ hip buttocks
When used for measurement, “hip” is used as hip in Japan. But hip is often used to describe buttocks there. In the US hip may be used to describe buttoks euphemistically. But mainly hip is used to mean the sides of the body below thw waist.
パンティストッキング panty stocking panty hose
I personally prefer “stocking” to “hose.” In U.K. “tights” is used.
スイミングパンツ swimming pants swimming trunks/shorts/suit
Bathing …. is also common. While I wear a suit at work, I don’t understand why I put on a “suit” to swim, too.
トレーナー trainer sweat shirts
ワイシャツ white shirt dress shirt
マフラー muffler scarf
Not that muffler cannot be used. But scarf is much more popular here.
チャック chuck zipper
ファスナー fastener zipper
カフスボタン cuffs button cuff link
モヒカンカット Mohican cut Mohawk
Why this difference? In U.K. “mohican” is used.
キーホルダー key holder key chain
グラマー glamour(ous) stacked/be really built
スマート smart thin/slim
ジーパン G-pan jeans
ジージャン G-jan jean jacket
スタ(ジアム)ジャン(パー) stadium jumper jacket with team’s logo
マニキュア manicure nail polish
オールバック all back swept back hair
フリーサイズ free-size one size fits all
サファリスタイル safari style camouflage clothes
ハイソックス high socks knee-high socks
ワンピース one-piece dress
One-piece is used for women’s swimsuits in English.
ツーピース two-piece suits
ピアス pierce earrings
In English whether your ears are pierce or not is not an issue. In Japan when your ears are pierced, earings are called “pierce”.
バスト bust breast/bosom
パンツ pants underpants
The Japanese word for pants is “ZUBON”, which is from Portuguese.
T-バック T-back thong
ノー・スリーブ no-sleeve sleeveless
ペア・ルック pair-look same outfit
ストレート・パーマ straight perm relaxer ?
エステティックサロン esthetic salon a beauty salon offering esthetic services
At home?
In the kitchen
コーヒーミル coffee mill coffee grinder
I don’t think “mill” is wrong. But “grinder” sounds more common.
フライパン fry pan pan
オーブントースター oven toaster toaster oven
ストーブ stove heater
レンジ range stove
Range is used but I hear “stove” more frequently.
Electric goods
クーラー cooler air-conditioner
テレビゲーム televi game video game
ファミリーコンピュータ Family computer Nintendo
スーパーファミコン Super Fami-com Super Nintendo
Nintendo named them diferently.
ビデオカメラ video camera video camcorder
VTR VTR VCR
ビデオデッキ video deck video cassette recorder
ラジオカセット radio cassette portable stereo /boom box
Then what if the power is weak and the sound is monoral as the one I bought when I was in junior high?
プッシュホン push phone touch tone phone
シャープ sharp sign pound sign/number sign
This is about the name of the key. I wonder why people don’t call it “sharp” as in music. I’ve heard it is called “square” or “hash” in U.K.
フリーダイアル free dial toll free number
Freephone is used in U.K.
ポケットベル pocket bell pager / beeper
The word “pocket bell” is made by NTT, Japanese phone giant.
ナンバーディスプレー number display caller ID
Another creation by NTT, Japanese phone company.
インターホン inter-phone intercom
アフターサービス after-service service after the sales
アフターケア after-care service after the sales
コンデンサ condensor capacitor
FD FD floppy disk
This abbreviation is not so popular.
バージョン・アップ version-up upgrade/improve
グレード・アップ gread-up upgrade/improve
.
Home improvement/tools
マンション mansion condominium
This is most famous and infamous Janglish in Japan.
ワンルームマンション one-room mansion studio apartment
フローリング flooring wooden floor
コンセント concent outlet
I guess it was from “concentric outlet.”
プラスドライバー plus(+) driver philips head screwdriver
マイナスドライバー minus(-) driver regular/flathead screwdriver
Since I think using “+/-” is easy to understand, I wonder why American don’t say this way.
スパナ spanner wrench
ピンセット pincette tweezers/foceps/pncers
マイホーム my-home owned house
ユニットバス unit bath prefabricated bath
Which contains a bathtub and a space where you wash yourself.
Reminder:You must not use soap in the bathtub in Japan.
others
リンス rinse conditioner
メロドラマ melodrama soap opera
Melodrama in Japan is used to describe soap operas while almost all of “soap operas” seem to be melodramas.
ワイドショウ wide-show talk show / morning show
ゴールデンタイム golden-time prime-time
ベビーカー baby car stroller
バギー buggy umbrella stroller
Baby buggy is used for a bigger one.
ベビーベッド baby bed baby crib
When my friend asked room service to bring baby crib, he somehow received a baby cream. He was disappointed by his English skill.
ヘルスメーター health-meter (bathroom) scales
テーブルセンター table center centerpiece
at School and Office
OL(オフィスレディー) OL/office lady women working in white-collar work place mainly doing clerical work.
In US I sometimes see the existance of the word “OL” refferd as a symbol how unequally women in Japan are treated.
ホッチキス hotchkiss stapler
Hotchkiss is a name of the inventor.
ブラインドタッチ blind touch touch typing
ダイアルイン dial-in direct number
セロハンテープ cellophane tape Scotch tape
マジックテープ magic tape Velcro
シャープペンシル sharp pencil mechanical pencil
ボールペン ball pen ball point pen
カンニング cunning cheating
When you have a exam at school. Not that you did.
リンチ lynch bullying/abuse/beating somebody up
シール seal sticker
In UK “Seal” is also used.
グラウンド ground playground
プリント print handout
-Janglish (KATAKANA)- -Janglish (Alphabet)- – English in the US –
Driving
セーフティードライブ safety drive driving safely
フロントガラス front glass windshield
I’ve heard “windscreen” is also used in UK.
バックミラー back mirror rearview mirror
ハンドル handle steering wheel
クラクション Klaxon car horn
ウィンカー winker blinker/turn signal
Indicator is used in U.K.
チャイルドシート child seat car seat
ボンネット bonnet hood
Bonnet in U.K. but hood in USA.
ガソリンスタンド gasoline stand gas station
Petrol station is used in U.K.
ベンツ Bentz Mercedes
Porsche is Porche. Ford is Ford. But Bentz is different. I’ve heard that called same in Germany.
シボレー SHI-VO-Rei? Chevrolet(Chevy)
I guess Chevrolet sounded Shi-vo-rei for Japanese when first imported.
ハイウェー highway express way / free way
Many of “highway” in U.S. have intersections and traffic lights. “Motorway” is used in U.K.
ナンバープレート number plate license plate
Number plate is OK in U.K.
タンクローリー tank lorry tanker
パンク punc(ture) flat tire
オートバイ auto-bi(ke) motorcycle
RV RV sports utility vehicle/SUV
Somehow, cars such as Jeep Cherokee and Ford Explorer are called RVs, not SUVs, in Japan.
In U.S. RV is also called a camper, which is much bigger than “micro bus” in Japan, and has a bed, a stove, and a shower inside.
キャンピングカー camping car trailer house? mobile home/RV?
パト(ロール)カー patrol car squad car/police car
patroll car is used but “squad car” seems more popular.
バン van (station) wagon
ワゴン wagon van
Somehow these two are mixed in Japan. A wagon is as tall as a sedan and usually uses a same model name, such as “Camry wagon.” But a full-size van is much taller.
マイカー my-car owned car
サイドブレーキ side-brake parking brake
セルモーター cell-motor starter
オープンカー open car convertible
ペーパードライバー paper driver person with a driving licence who seldom drive
メット・イン metto-in a style of scooter which has a compartment under the seat to hold the crash helmet
Sports
Baseball
スリーA 3A(three A) triple A
ホームイン home-in come home / is scored
ナイター nighter night game
フォアボール four ball walk
デッドボール dead ball hit by a pitch
After a batter is hit by a pitch, the ball is dead. Then runners can not move because it is a bead ball now.
タッチアップ touch-up tag up
タッチアウト touch-out tag out
バックネット back net backstop
フルベース full base bases loaded
ランニングホームラン running home run inside-the-park home run
テキサスヒット Texas hit Texas leaguer
スリーベース・ヒット three-base hit triple
ツーベース・ヒット two-base hit double
エンタイトルド・ツーベース・ヒット entitled two-base hit ground rule double
ハーラー・ダービー hurler derby the competition on the number of winning games among professional baseball pitchers(?)
トップ・バッター top batter leadoff
キャンプ・イン camp-in start/report to spring training
Golf
ショート、ミドル、ロング short/long/middle hole par 3/5/4 hole
ニアピン near pin closest to pin
ドラコン driving contest longest drive
パー・オン par-on hit the green in regulation
オーバー・ドライブ over-drive outdrive
フック・ライン hook-line right-to-left breaking putt
ブービー booby the second from the last
ブービーメーカー booby maker booby
Pro wrestling
バックドロップ back-drop suplex
フロントスープレックス front-suplex belly-to-belly
サイドスープレックス side-suplex back-drop
スコルピオンデスロック scorpion-death-lock sharp-shoop
ラリアット lariat close-line
Thanks to Nemoto-san who gave me those words. Actually I have no idea of these words.
Others
クイックターン quick turn (swimming) flip turn
How to turn at the end of the swimming pool
フライング・スタート flying (start) false start
ルームランナー room-runner treadmill
ヨット yacht sail boat
Yacht in Japan is usually used to discribes a small one masted sail boat while “yacht” in English is for a small ship and not limited to a ship with sails.
マラソン marathon jogging/long distance race
Please use “marathon” only when you run 42.195 km. Personally I do’t like them to call a 5k race as “xx city marathon” in Japan. You know it is much harder to finish 42km.
リュックサック rucksack(German) backpack
シーズンオフ season off off-season
ボブスレー bobsleigh bobsled
bobsleigh is English. But I’ve never heard it in TV during the Nagano Olympics. Every time “bobsled” was used.
スラップスケート slap-skate klap-skate
In Olympic in Nagano most of speed skaters used this new type of skate shoes. “Klap” is a Dutch word for “slap” in English. (“Klapschaats” in Dutch) I don’t understand why Japanese use “slap”, which is not Japanese of cource, while “klap” is used in English.
バトンタッチ baton touch baton pass
ゴール goal finish
Your goal in a race is not the goal but the finish line.
ラストスパート last-spurt last hard drive/
dash to the finish line ?
バトンガール baton girl baton twirler
Eating and Drinking
コカコーラ ライト Coca-Cola Lite ——
Coca-Cola Lite is a product of Coca-Cola(Japan) and is not sold in USA. It has 12kcal/100ml, while Diet Coke has no calories. (Note:Summer in 99, Diet Coke is being introduced in Japan)
フライドポテト fried potato French fries
ポテトフライ potato fry French fries
Frites in France
バイキング Viking buffet
This is about a style of restaurants.
Because Japanese people pronounce it as “biking”, the confusion is sometimes big.
ホットケーキ hotcake pancake
Hotcake is used but “pancake” seems to be more popular.
プリン pudding caramel cream/caramel custared
Pudding in Japan is a kind of pudding. But because there are various puddings here, it is hard to order in restaurants unless you know the exact name.
アメリカンコーヒー American coffee weak coffee
Coffee served in the US is usually as weak as “American coffee” in Japan. I know a restaurant where they give us a choice of “French” or “American”. French one is strong as regular one in Japan.
At Starbucks Coffee they sell “cafe Americano, ” though it is made of espresso and hot water.
ソフトクリーム soft cream soft serve ice cream
シュークリーム chou (a la) creme cream puff
ハンバーグステーキ hamburg steak chopped steak
アイスティー ice tea iced tea
ミンチボール mince ball meatball
モーニングサービス morning service boiled egg, coffee and toast served as a breakfast combo menu
Let me assure you that there is nothing relevant to any religions.
カウンター counter bar (in a restaurant)
-Janglish (KATAKANA)- -Janglish (Alphabet)- – English in the US –
Others
ピエロ pierrot clown
Pierrot is not wrong but much less popular than “clown.”
ジェットコースター jet coaster roller coaster
レントゲン Roentgen (picture) X rays (picture)
Roentgen is the physicist who discovered X rays.
シュミレーション sumilation simulation
モーニングコール morning call wake-up call
サマータイム summer time daylight saving time
Summer time is used in U.K. In Australia “daylight saving time.”
ロス Los L.A.
We are talking about a name of the city in the U.S.
テレホンボックス telephone box telephone booth
アンケート enquete questionnair
トイレ toilet restroom/bathroom
Even if you ask where the “toilet” is, you will be directed to the right place.
W.C. W.C. restroom, men’s/ladies’ room
Though I’m not sure if “water closet” is used as English word, I’ve never seen “W.C.” sign in the U.S.
ゲームセンター game center video arcade
バックナンバー back number back issues (of magazines)
DM DM direct mail
This abbreviation is not commonly used.
ディープキス deep kiss French kiss
Then what in French?
スキンシップ skinship close relationship/quality time
Because “Skinship” sounds for American to mean physical and sexual touching, it may cause a big misunderstanding. It may be one of the most harmful words.
デマ dema(gogie) rumor
ガードマン guardman security guard
ゼロゼロセブン(007) zero zero seven double oh seven
ナイーブ naive ingenuous/pure-hearted?
Naive used in Japanese has a positive feeling while it has negative one in English.
テレビタレント TV talent TV personality
CM CM commercial
This abbreviation is not used.
マンネリ(ズム) mannerism routine
マンツーマン man-to-man one-on-one (one-to-one)
Man-to-man defense is used. But when you teach something to a person, you teach him “one-on-one,” not “man-to-man.”
フェミニスト feminist chivalrous/kind to women
If I remember correctly,in 70’s the word “feminist” meant something about women’s rights even in Japan. Somehow the meaning changed.
シルバーシート silver-seat priority seating
コストダウン cost-down cost reduction
キオスク kiosk news/food stand in JR stations
ミスコンテスト miss-contest beauty pagent
イメージ・アップ image-up improve one’s image
パイプ・カット pipe-cut vasectomy
ボディ・チェック body check body search /frisk
バージン・ロード virgin road aisle where a bride wallk
This is about a path where a bride walk with her father. Her virginity is not an issue, of course.
マスコミ mass komi (communication) mass media
トランプ trump playing cards
ベッドタウン bed town commuter/bedroom town
ドクターストップ doctor-stop the doctor’s order to stop the fight
ハイ/オールド ミス high/old miss spinster
ラブホテル love hotel hotel for couples for short stays (mainly for a couple of hours)
マイペース my-pace doing things at one’s own pace
ワンパターン one-pattern one-ideaed/repeating the same pattern
シンボルマーク symbol mark symbol
テーブルスピーチ table speach speaches at parties
タイトルバック title back credits
This is about the last part of movies where they show many names after most of audiences are out of the theater.
アルバイター arbeiter people who do part-time job
Part-time job is called “ARUBAITO” which is from German word “arbeit.”
フリーター free-ter?? people who do part-time job only/freelance worker
ヤンキー yankee punk
Not that the Japanese think Yankees are punks, of cource.
ハネムーン・ベビー honeymoon baby baby conceived during a honeymoon
ゲームセンター game center video game arcade
ライブステージ live stage performance
ライブハウス live house bar with live music/performance
ボーカル vocal vocalist
NG NG bloopers
Such as the one shown at the end of “A Bugs Life”.
キッチン・ペーパー kitchen paper paper towel
エネルギッシュ energisch energetic
The word energisch is a German word. It can’t be used in English.
ミラー・ボール mirror ball disco ball
ツー・ショット two-shot the situation where you are only with your boy/girl friend
ユニーク unique strange/interesting
ゴージャス gorgeous posh/luxurious
ブレイク(する) break become a hit
FC FC franchise chain
カメラマン(写真家) cameraman photographer