Wasei-eigo [和製英語] is the English made in Japan, that is, they are Japanese pseudo-Anglicisms. Simply put, wasei-eigo is the general term for words based on foreign languages that have been employed in the Japanese language.
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Japanese English
Generally, words borrowed from English or other languages are written in katakana. Besides the title wasei-eigo, these words can also be called Japanese English [ジャパニーズ イングリッシュ].
Some Japanese words like karaoke [カラオケ] mix Japanese words with foreign words. In this case, the empty word kara [空] was combined with the word orchestra [オーケストラ], thus joining kara + oke written in katakana.
The English used in Japanese is often dismissed as “misuse of foreign languages”. However, Japanese English is not an English vocabulary, but a Japanese vocabulary, and it is natural that it cannot be understood by non-Japanese speakers.
Moreover, there is a usage that is specific to Japanese in the use of English in Japan, and there may be a discrepancy in the meaning of words with English speakers. The mere fact of knowing English does not mean that you understand wasei-eigo.
False Cognates in Japanese Wasei-Eigo
It's easy to confuse or encounter false cognates in the words wasei-eigo, as they don't always inherit the same meaning as in the West. We even wrote an article about false cognates in Japanese from different languages, including Portuguese.
Sometimes an English word that is a verb can become a noun in Japanese or vice versa. In fact small-scale deviations in meaning are found in almost all foreign words.
Because of the differences between languages and their grammar, it is inevitable that the meanings of foreign words used in Japanese are different from the original words. Some English words were used by another country, culture or even by the Japanese.
Gairaigo - Words from the Foreigner
Another term besides Wasei-eigo to refer to foreign-origin words is gairaigo [外来語]. These are all words used in Japan of foreign origin written in katakana. They can originate from English, Portuguese, French, and other languages.
Gairaigo literally means borrowed words other than its development in ancient Japan. These words ended up in Japanese because of new things that appeared in the westernization of the country.
Just like in Portuguese when we say download, internet, hotdog, and hamburger. These words have a quite common usage, and some can even become verbs suru, like in the case of kisusuru [キスする], which means to kiss.
Engrish - Japanese people using English wrong
There is a difference between changing the meaning of English words used in Japanese and spelling English words literally wrong. This happens in Japan the same way it happens in Brazil and other non-English speaking countries.
Engrish is slang used by Asian language speakers to ridicule English with incorrect use of word expressions and spelling. The coined word "Engrish" is a variation of the spelling of "English" and was originally coined to ridicule the confusion between the English "R" and "L" sounds that are characteristic of Japanese speakers...
It can also refer to the intentional or careless misuse of words in English used in advertisements aimed at foreigners. We even made an article showing some of the images with 15 examples of engrish.
Wasei-Eigo Word List
Responsive Table: Scroll the table sideways with your finger >>
| Japanese | Romaji | English | Translation |
| 〜アップ | ~appu | up(grade) | update or improve (something). |
| 〜ティック or 〜チック | ~tikku or ~chikku | the "-tic" suffix, from (roman)tic, (drama)tic | romantic and dramatic. |
| アフターサービス | afutāsābisu | after service | customer service, user support, service |
| アイドル | aidoru | ídolo | (teenager) idol, pop star |
| アイスクリーム | aisu kurīmu | ice cream | Ice cream |
| アメフト | amefute | love(rican) foot(ball) | American football |
| アメリカンドッグ | amerikandoggu | american dog | corn dog |
| アニメ | anime | anima(tion) | animation. |
| アニソン | anison | ani(me) + son(g) | anime songs |
| アパート | apt | apart(ment) | apartment |
| アポ | apo | appo(intment) | commitment |
| アールブイ | ārubui | rv | truck, van, suv, vehicle |
| アウトコース | autokōsu | out course | fora |
| バーゲン | bāgen | bargain | bargain |
| バイク | baiku | bike | a motorcycle |
| バックミラー | bakkumirā | back mirror | rearview mirror |
| バックナンバー | bakkunanbā | back number | late number |
| バックネット | bakkunetto | back net | a retreat (in baseball) |
| バリアフリー | bariafurī | barrier free | accessible facilities for people with disabilities |
| バター | batā | butter | butter |
| バッティング | battingu | batting or butting | hits |
| ベビーカー | bebīkā | baby car | baby carriage |
| ベッドタウン | beddotaun | bed town | dormitories |
| ビジネスホテル | bijinesuhoteru | business hotel | business hotels |
| ビル | biru | build(ding) | construction |
| ボールペン | bōrupen | ball(point) pen | ballpoint pen |
| ブックカバー | bukkukabā | book cover | book cover |
| ブラセラ ou ブルセラ | burasera or burusera | bloo(mer) sailor | fetish for panties / sailor clothes. |
| ブレザー | burezā | blazer | blazer, or a Japanese school uniform |
| ブルマ | buruma | bloomers | women's physical education clothing |
| チェリーボーイ | cherībōi | cherry boy | a virgin man |
| チアガール | chiagāru | cheer girl | cheerleading girl |
| チアマン | chiaman | cheer man | cheerleading boy |
| チアリーダー | chiarīdā | cheerleader | cheerleader |
| チアリーディング | chiarīdingu | cheerleading | be a cheerleader |
| チケット | ticket | ticket | ticket / ticket |
| ダブルダブる | daburu | double | double |
| ダンプカー | danpukā | dump car | dump truck |
| ダストボックス | dasutobokkusu | dust box | dust can / garbage can |
| ダウンロードオンリーメンバー | daunrōdoonrīmenbā | download only member | download for members only |
| デッドボール | deddobōru | dead ball | dead ball |
| デコレーションケーキ | decorated cake | decoration cake | cake decoration |
| デパート | department | department(ment store) | Department store |
| デリバリーヘルス | deribarīherusu | delivery health | prostitute, call girl |
| デスク | desuku | desk | table |
| ドクター ストップ | dokutāsutoppu | doctor stop | medical stop |
| ドンマイ | donmai | don('t) mi(nd) | I do not care |
| ドライバー | doraibā | driver | driver |
| ドライブイン | doraibuin | drive in | drive in |
| ドラマ | drama | drama | tv drama / soap opera / series |
| ドリフト | dorifuto | drift | drift / drift |
| エアコン | eakon | air condicionado | air conditioning |
| ave | ēbui or ēvui | adult video / video | |
| エッチ | ecchi | h (first letter of hentai base) | dirty naughty sex |
| エンスト | ensuto | en(gine) sto(p) | engine stop |
| エレベーター | erebētā | elevator | elevator |
| エロ | ero | Eros) | erotic |
| エログ | erogu | ero(tic) + (b)log | erotic blog |
| エログロ | eroguro | ero(tic) gro(tesque) | grotesque porn |
| エール | ēru | yell | to scream |
| llc | eruerushī | acronym for "long life coolant" | acronym for "long live soda" |
| エスカレーター | esukarētā | escalator | escalator |
| ファイト | fight | fight | fight |
| ファミコン | famikon, famicom | family(ly) com(puter) | nintendo |
| ファンタジック | fantajikku | fantasia + -ic | Fantastic |
| フェッチ | fecchi | fetch | search |
| ～フェチ | closed | feti(sh) | fetish |
| フォアボール | foabōru | four ball | four ball |
| フライ | pierce | fry | fry |
| フライ | pierce | fly | flying ball |
| フライドポテト | furaidopotete | fried potato | French fries |
| フライング(スタート) | furaingu(sutāto) | flying (start) | start of flight |
| フリーダイアル or フリーダイヤル | furīdaiaru or furīdaiyaru | free dial | toll free |
| フリーサイズ | furīsaizu | free size | free size |
| フロント | furious | front (desk) | reception |
| フロントガラス | furontogarasu | front glass | front glass |
| ガードマン | gādoman | guard man | security |
| ガソリンスタンド | gasorinsuating | gasoline stand | gas station |
| ガッツポーズ | gattsu pōzu | guts pose | show courage, strength |
| ゲームセンター or ゲーセン | gēmusentā or gēsen | game center | card / arcade |
| ギブ(アップ) | gibu(appu) | give up) | to give up |
| ゴールデンアワーor ゴールデンタイム | gōruden'awā or gōrudentaimu | golden hour or golden time | golden hour or golden age |
| ゴールデンウィーク or ゴールデンウイーク | gōruden'wīku or gōruden'uīku | golden week | one week vacation in japan |
| グラス | gurasu | glass | glass |
| グロ | guru | gro(tesque) | grotesque |
| ギャラリー | gyararī | gallery | gallery |
| ハイカラ | haikara | high collar(r) | slang for western coins |
| ハイネック | hainekku | high neck | turtleneck |
| ハイタッチ | haitacchi | high touch | touch here |
| ハッカー | hakkā | hacker | |
| ハンバーグ | hanbāgu | hamburg (er steak) | Burger |
| ハンドル | handoru | handle | to handle |
| ハンドルキーパー | handorukīpā | handle keeper | designated driver |
| ハンドルネーム | handorunēmu | handle name | nome de usuário |
| ハンカチ | hankachi | handkerchief | tissue |
| ハンスト | hansuto | hun(ger) st(rike) | hunger strike |
| ハッピーエンド | happy | happy end | happy ending |
| ハウス | hausu | (vinil) + house | House |
| ヘアピンカーブ | heapinkābu | hairpin curve | curve |
| ヘルスメーター | herusumētā | health meter | health meter |
| ヒップ | hippu | hips | buttocks, ass |
| ホッチキス | hocchikisu | hotchkiss | stapled |
| ホーム | humu | (plat)form | platform |
| ホットケーキ | hottokēki | hotcake | pancake |
| ホワイトデー | howaitodē | white + day | valentine's day - white day |
| イメージ | imēji | image | Image |
| イン・キー | in kī | in key | in the key |
| インフレ | infuse | infla(tion) | inflation |
| イラスト | irasuto | illustration(ration) | illustration |
| イヤー・オブ・ザ・コーチ | iyā obu za kōchi | Ano do Treinador | coach of the year |
| ジャンパー | japa | jumper | jacket, blazer |
| ジェンダーフリー | jendāfurī | gender free | free sex |
| ジェットコースター | jettokōsutā | jet coaster | roller coaster |
| ジーパン | jīpan | jea(ns) + pan(ts) | jeans |
| ジュース | jūsu | juice | juice |
| カメラマン | cameraman | cameraman | cameraman |
| カモン or カモーン | kamon or kamōn | come on | we will |
| カンニング | kanningu | cunning | cunning |
| カシューナッツ | kashū nattsu | cashew nut | cashew nut |
| キーボード | kībōdo | keyboard | keyboard |
| キッチンペーパー | kicchinpēpā | kitchen paper | kitchen paper |
| キーホルダー | kīhorudā | key holder | keychain |
| キスマーク | kisumāku | kiss mark | kiss mark |
| コインランドリー | koin randorī | lavanderia self-service | laundry |
| コインロッカー | koin rokkā | coin locker | coin cabinet |
| コンビニ | konbini | conveni(ence store) | convenience store |
| コンピューター or コンピュータ | konpyūtā or konpyūta | computer | computer |
| コンセント | konsento | concentrate(ric plug) | power plug |
| コラボ | korabo | collab(orations) | collaborate |
| コロッケー | korokke | croquette | croquet |
| コスプレ | cosplay | cos(tume) play | cosplay |
| クラブ or 倶楽部 | kurabu | club | club or society |
| クラクション | kurakushon | klaxon | electric horn |
| クリスタル | kurisutaru | crystal | crystal |
| キャベツ | kyabetsu | cabbage | cabbage |
| キャビンアテンダント | kyabinatendanto | cabin attendant | cabin attendant |
| キャッチボール | kyacchibōru | catch ball | ball capture |
| キャッチホン | kyacchihon | catch phone | call in wait |
| キャンペーン | kyanpēn | campaign | campaign |
| キャップ | kyappu | cap | cap |
| マグカップ | magukappu | mug cup | cup / mug |
| マイ〜 | mai~ | my | mine |
| マイナスドライバー | mainasudoraibā | minus driver | screwdriver |
| マジックインキ | majikkuinki | magic ink (uma marca registrada da uchida yoko co., ltd.) | magic ink |
| マジックテープ | majikkutēpu | magic tape | magic ribbon |
| マニア | mania | mania | enthusiasm, enthusiast |
| マンション | manshon | mansion | mansion |
| マスコミ | masukomi | mass communication | mass communication |
| マザコン | mazakon | mother com(plex)[1] | with the mother |
| メール | mēru | post office | |
| メールマガジン | mērumagajin | mail magazine | mail magazine |
| ミルク | milk | milk | milk |
| ミシン | mishin | (sewing) machine | Sewing machine |
| モバイル | mobairu | mobile | mobile and portable communication devices. |
| モボ | mobo | mo(dern) bo(y) | modern man |
| モガ | girl | mo(dern) gi(rl) | modern girl |
| モーニングコートor モーニング | mōningukōto or mōningu | morning coat | tailcoat |
| モーニングサービス or モーニング | mōningusābisu | morning service | morning service |
| モーテル | mōteru | motel | motel |
| ムーディ | mūdi | moody | moody |
| ナンバーディスプレイ | nanbādisupurei | number display | display number |
| ノークレームノーリターン | nōkurēmunōritān | sem reivindicação, sem retorno | no claim, no return |
| ノート | nōto | note | nota |
| ニューハーフ | nyūhāfu | new-half | new sock |
| オーバー | ōbā | over | end |
| オージー | ōjī | orgy | orgy |
| オンリーワン | onrīwan | only one | only one |
| オープンカー | ōpunkā | open car | convertibles (car) |
| オーライ | ōrai | a(ll) right(t) | it's all right |
| パイン | pain | pine(apple) | pineapple |
| パーマ | pāma | perma(not wave) | permanent |
| パネリスト | paneruct | panelist | speaker |
| パンク | panku | punc(ture) | flat tire |
| パンスト | pansuto | pan(ty) + sto(cking) | pantyhose |
| パンツ | pantsu | pants | underwear, can be used for any underwear, including panties. |
| パソコン | pasokon | person(nal) with(puter) | computer (abbreviated slang) |
| パーソナルコンピューター | pāsonaru konpyūtā | computador pessoal | personal computer |
| ペアルック | pearukku | pair look | matching clothes (usually between a couple) |
| ペーパードライバー | pēpādoraibā | paper driver | who has a license but does not drive |
| ペーパーカンパニー | pēpākanpanī | paper company | fictitious company, shell company, paper company |
| ペーパーテスト | pēpātesuto | paper test | written exam / test |
| ピンチ | pinchi | (in a) pinch | potentially disastrous situation |
| ポケベル | pokeberu | pocket(t) bell | beep, pager |
| ポケモン | pokémon | pocke(t) mon(ster) | pocket monsters |
| ポスト | pose | post | mail box |
| プラスドライバー | purasudoraibā | plus driver | phillips screwdriver |
| プリクラ | purikura | print club | print photo |
| プロ | pure | professional | professional |
| ラブホテル | rabuhoteru | love hotel | hotel for couples... |
| ライバル | raibaru | rival | rival |
| ライブアクション | raibuakushon | live action | Live |
| ライブハウス | raibuhausu | casa de show | concert hall |
| ライフライン | raifurain | lifeline | rope of life |
| ラムネ | ramune | lemon (from) | Lemonade |
| ランニングホームラン | ranninguhōmuran | corrida em casa corrida | running a home run |
| リベンジ | ribenji | revenge | revenge |
| リーチ | rīchi | Alcançar | catch up |
| リフォーム | rifōmu | reform | remodeling |
| リモコン | rimokon | row(te) con(trol) | Remote Control |
| リンクフリー | rinkufurī | free link | free call |
| リニューアル | rinyūaru | renewal | renovation |
| ロードショー | rōdoshō | roadshow (lançamento cinematográfico) | debut |
| ロケーションハンティング, ロケハン | rokēshonhantingu, rokehan | location hunting | hunting ground |
| ロマンスグレー | romansugurē | gray romance | silver gray hair |
| ロマンスカー | romansukā | romance car | luxury train |
| ロープウェー | rōpuwē | rope way | airship path |
| ロリコン | rorikon | loli(ta) com(plex) | sexual attraction to minors. |
| ロスタイム | rosutaimu | loss time | waste of time |
| サービス | sābisu | service | service |
| サイダー | saidā | cider | cidra |
| サイドブレーキ | saidoburēki | side brake | side brake |
| サイン | leave | sign | board |
| サインペン | sainpen | sign pen | label, trade name |
| サンドバッグ | sandobaggu | sandbag | sand bag |
| サンドイッチ or サンド | sandoicchi, sando | sand(wich) | sandwich |
| サラリーマン | sararīman | salary + man | salaried: a salaried office |
| セフレ | safe | if(x) + cold(nd) | sexual partner, casual, sex friends |
| セックス | sekkusu | sexo | sex |
| セクハラ | sekuhara | sex(ual) hara(ssment) | sexual harassment |
| センス | sensu | sense | sense |
| セレブ | serebu | celeb(rity) | celebrity |
| シャープペンシルor シャーペン | shāpenshiru or shāpen | shar(p) lápis ou shar(p) caneta(l) | automatic pencil |
| シーエム | shīemu | cm (commercial message) | television ad |
| シール | shīru | seal | stamp |
| シルバーシート | shirubāshīto | silver seat (referring to the silver hair of cuddle passengers) | silver seat, priority light |
| ソフト | sofuto | soft(ware) | Software |
| ソフトクリーム | sofutokurīmu orsoftcream | sorvete cremoso | cream ice cream |
| ソーラーシステム | sōrāshisutemu | solar system | solar system (energy) |
| スイートルーム | suītorūmu | suite room | suíte |
| スカイ | sukai | sky | sky |
| スケボー | sukebō | ska(te)bo(ard) | skate |
| スケルトン | sukeruton | skeleton | skeleton |
| スキー | sukī | ski | ski |
| スキンシップ | sukinshippu | skin + -ship | skinship |
| スマート | sumāto | smart | intelligent |
| スムーズ | sumūzu | smooth (transaction) | successful transaction |
| スーパー | sūpā | super(market) | supermarket |
| スパッツ, スパッツタイツ | supattsu, supattsutaitsu | spats, spats tights | leggings, tights |
| スペル | overcame | spell | spell |
| スリーサイズ | surīsaizu | three size | three size |
| ストーブ | sutōbu | stove | stove |
| ストライキ or スト | sutoraiki or suto | greve ou st(rike) | strike |
| タイムオーバー | taimuōbā | time over | time is over |
| タレント | tarento | talent | talent |
| テンキー | weather | ten key | numeric keyboard |
| テンション | tenshon | tension | voltage |
| テレビ | terebi | television(sion) | TV |
| テレビゲーム | terebigēmu | televi(sion) game | video game |
| テレカ | tereka | tele(phone) ca(rd) | tele (telephone) ca (rd) |
| ティーンエージャー | tīn'ējā | teenager | adolescent |
| トイレ(ット) | toire(tto) | toilet(t) | Restroom |
| トランプ | toranpu | trump(s) | trump |
| ヴァイキング | viking | viking | viking |
| ワンパターン | wanpatān | one pattern | a pattern |
| ワンピース | wanpīsu | um pedaço | one piece |
| ワープロ | wāpuro | wor(d) pro(cessor) | word processor |
| ウィンカー or ウインカー | winkā or uinkā | winker | turn signal |
| ヤンエグ | yan'egu | youn(g) ex(ecutive) | young executive |
| ヨット | yotto | yacht | yacht |
There are probably thousands of other words, in the future I intend to update this list even more. Leave your comment if you missed an important word or any mistake or suggestion.
Videos about Wasei-Eigo
Below you can follow some videos about wasei-eigo from our friends Ricardo Cruz and Otaku in Japan talking a little about Wasei-Eigo:
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