Acronyms, contractions, acronyms and abbreviations are part of our lives, thinking about it, in this article we are going to talk about the acronyms used in Japan. Both acronyms using Roman letters and the abbreviations that use Japanese ideograms.
The Japanese love to abbreviate words, during a conversation it is already common to eat some parts of the sentence. There are thousands of word abbreviations. Generally names of industries, groups and terminologies are contractions or abbreviations.
Índice de Conteúdo
Contractions and abbreviations in the Japanese language
Words in Japanese are written with characters that represent syllables (morae), instead of phonemes as in English. Traditionally when a word or phrase is abbreviated, it usually preserves a few syllables and is easily recognizable.
In some cases, the abbreviated word uses a different reading of the ideograms that make up the word. Sometimes ideograms of the first and second words are used to form one. as in the case of Tokyo Daigaku [東京大学] turn all [東大].
If you go to jisho.org and search using the tag #abbr; you will come across various words that also serve as abbreviations of phrases or other more complex and specific words. The Japanese really love to abbreviate words.
Responsive Table: Scroll the table sideways with your finger >>
| Contraction | Kanji | Word | Full Kanji | Meaning/Notes |
| "akiba" (original) | 秋葉 | Akihabara | 秋葉原 | Tokyo Otaku District |
| bukatsu | 部活 | bukatsudō | 部活動 | after-school club (extracurricular) activity |
| denwa | 電話 | keitaidenwa | 携帯電話 | cell phone |
| keitai | 携帯 | keitaidenwa | 携帯電話 | Mobile phone |
| kōkō | 高校 | high school | 高等学校 | high school |
| "kokuren" | 国連 | Kokusai Rengō | 国際連合 | The United Nations |
| makku | マック | makudonarudo | マクドナルド | Mc. Donald |
| mukku | ムック | magazine + book | マガジン + ブック | A mix of magazine and book |
| nikkei | 日経 | Nihon Keizai Shinbun | 日本経済新聞 | Japan Economic Times |
| nōdai | 農大 | Tōkyō Nōgyō Daigaku | 東京農業大学 | Agricultural University of Tokyo |
| nyūkan | 入管 | Nyūkoku Kanrikyoku | 入国管理局 | Immigration Office |
| odakyū | 小田急 | Odawara Kyūkō Dentetsu | 小田原急行電鉄 | Odawara Express Electric Railway (Odakyū Electric Railway) |
| wave | 音大 | ongaku daigaku | 音楽大学 | music university |
| Pokémon | ポケモン | poketto monsutā | ポケットモンスター | The well-known video game and animation franchise. |
| purikura | プリクラ | pure kurabu | プリントクラブ | A Print Club automated camera |
| shāshin | シャー芯 | shāpupen no shin | シャープペンの芯 | lead from a pencil |
| sutaba | スタバ | sutaabakkusu | スターバックス | Starbucks |
| Tochō | 都庁 | Tōkyō-to Chōsha | 東京都庁舎 | Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building |
| Tōdai | 東大 | Tokyo University | 東京大学 | University of Tokyo |
Loans from other languages in Japanese
As mentioned, it is very common to abbreviate words, especially when they are borrowed from other languages. For example, the animated series Pretty Cure marketed itself under the abbreviated four-character name purikyua [プリキュア].
Responsive Table: Scroll the table sideways with your finger >>
| Meaning/Notes | Contraction | Japanese | whole word | Japanese (whole) |
| animation | anime | アニメ | animēshon | アニメーション |
| air conditioning | eak | エアコン | and the kondishona | エアコンディショナー |
| computer | pasokon | パソコン | personal computer | パーソナルコンピューター |
| Remote Control | rimokon | リモコン | rimōto kontorōrā | リモートコントローラー |
| digital cameras | "dejikame" | デジカメ | dejitaru kamera | デジタルカメラ |
| email address | mid | メアド | meeruadoresu | メールアドレス |
| family computer (Nintendo) | famikon | ファミコン | famirī konpyūtā | ファミリーコンピューター |
| football/soccer | amefute | アメフト | amerikan futtobōru | アメリカン・フットボール |
| love hotel (love hotel) | "rabuho" | ラブホ | rabu hoteru | ラブホテル |
| convenience store | konbini | コンビニ | konbiniensu sutoa | コンビニエンス・ストア |
| Department store | department | デパート | sutoa department | デパートメント・ストア |
| professional wrestling | puroresu | プロレス | purofesshonaru resuringu | プロフェッショナル・レスリング |
| family restaurant | famiresu | ファミレス | famirī resutoran | ファミリーレストラン |
| sandwich | walking | サンド | sandouichi | サンドウィッチ |
Japanese Acronyms and Abbreviations with Roman letters
The Japanese also use roman letters in everyday life. Many of the acronyms for places, informatics and organs have their acronym with roman letters. See below for a complete list of Japanese acronyms and abbreviations with our letters:
Responsive Table: Scroll the table sideways with your finger >>
| Initials | Meaning | Description |
| 3P | 3 people Japanese slang for threesome | |
| ABC | Asahi Broadcasting Corporation. | |
| ADV | Adventure game (AVG) | adventure game |
| AIST | Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia Industrial Avançada. | National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology. |
| AJJ | Anthropology of Japan in Japan. | Anthropology of Japan in Japan. |
| ANA | All Nippon Airways. | |
| APU | Ritsumeikan Asian Pacific University. | Ritsumeikan University of Asia Pacific. |
| AU | Ramo de telefone celular da KDDI. | Mobile branch of KDDI. |
| AV | Adult Video. | adult video |
| AV | audio-visual | audio-visual |
| YY | Atama Yowai | Weak head, ineptitude, malice and senselessness |
| BGM | Background Music. | Background music. |
| kisses | Basketball Japan | |
| BL | Boys Love | |
| BOJ | Bank of Japan. | Bank of Japan. |
| BS | Broadcast Satellite (Direct-broadcast satellite; also a prefix for BS stations) | |
| CDEX | Center for Deep Earth Research. | Deep Earth Research Center. |
| CEATEC | Exposição Combinada de Tecnologias Avançadas. | Combined Exhibition of Advanced Technologies. |
| Chuden | Chubu Electric Power Company. | Chubu Electric Power Company. |
| CiRA | Centro de Pesquisa e Aplicação de Células iPS, Universidade de Kyoto. | iPS Cell Research and Application Center, Kyoto University. |
| CL | Central League (beisebol). | Central League (baseball). |
| CM | Commercial Message. | Commercial message. |
| CRIEPI | Central Research Institute of the Electric Power Industry. | Central Research Institute of the Electric Power Industry. |
| CS | Communication Satellite | communication satellite |
| CTV | Chukyo Television Broadcasting. | Chukyo television broadcast. |
| CV | Character Voice. | Character voice (voice actor). |
| DBJ | Development Bank of Japan. | Japan Development Bank. |
| DPJ | Democratic Party of Japan. | Japan Democratic Party. |
| DT | dōtei [童貞] | Virgin |
| DV | Domestic Violence | Domestic violence |
| ED | Ending | Anime or series ending |
| ETC | Electronic Toll Collection. | Electronic toll collection. |
| EV | elevator | elevator |
| FE | Fuji Electric. | |
| FNN | Fuji News Network (TV) | Fuji News Network (TV) |
| FSJ | Folklore Society of Japan. | Japan Folklore Society. |
| GEOS | Global Education Opportunities and Services | |
| GFJ | Goods From Japan. | Goods from Japan. |
| GS | Gasoline Stand. | Gasoline support. |
| GSI | Geospatial Information Authority of Japan. | Japan Geospatial Information Authority. |
| GSJ | Geological Survey of Japan. | Geological Survey of Japan. |
| GW | Golden Week | Japanese holiday |
| H | Hentai / Ecchi | It means obscene and erotic |
| HAT Kobe | Feliz Cidade Ativa Kobe. | |
| HI | Japan travel agency. | Japan travel agency. |
| HP | home page | home page (website) |
| IC card | contactless smart card | |
| ICOCA | IC Operating Card. | IC operation card. |
| CDI | International Digital Communications. | International Digital Communications. |
| IdcN | International Design Center Nagoya (IdcN). | International Design Center Nagoya (IdcN). |
| JA | Japan Agricultural Cooperatives. | Acronym for Agricultural Cooperatives of Japan. |
| JABI | Japan American Business Initiatives. | American business initiatives in Japan. |
| JAC | Japan Air Commuter, uma subsidiária da JAL. | |
| JACET | Japan Association of College English Teachers. | Japanese Association of Teachers of English for University Students. |
| ALREADY | Japan Adult Expo. | Expo for adults in Japan. |
| ALREADY | Japan Aviation Electronics. | Japan Electronic Aviation. |
| JAEA | Japan Atomic Energy Agency. | Japan Atomic Energy Agency. |
| JAF | Japan Automobile Federation. | Japan Automobile Federation. |
| JAFRA | Japan Association For Railway Advertising. | Japan Railway Advertising Association. |
| JAIA | Japan Automobile Importers Association. | Japan Auto Importers Association. |
| JAL | Japan Airlines. | Japan Airlines. |
| JALT | Japan Association of Language Teachers. | Japanese Association of Language Teachers. |
| JAMA | Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association. | Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association. |
| JAMSTEC | Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology. | Japan Agency for Land-Marine Science and Technology. |
| "JARE" | Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition. | Japanese Research Expedition in Antarctica. |
| JASCA | Japanese Society of Cultural Anthropology. | Japanese Society of Cultural Anthropology. |
| JASDF | Japan Air Self-Defense Force. | Japan Air Self-Defense Force. |
| JASSO | Japan Student Services Organization. | Japan Student Services Organization. |
| JAWS | Japan Anthropology Workshop. | Workshop on Anthropology of Japan. |
| JAXA | Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. | Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. |
| JAZA | Japanese Association of Zoos and Aquariums. | Japanese Association of Zoos and Aquariums. |
| JBIC | Japan Bank for International Cooperation. | Bank of Japan for International Cooperation. |
| JC | joshi chūgakusei [estudante do ensino médio feminino] | high school student |
| JCP | Japan Communist Party. | Communist Party of Japan. |
| JESCO | Japan Environment Safety Corporation | Japan Environmental Security Corporation |
| JET | Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Programme. | Japan Exchange and Education Program (JET). |
| JETAA | JET Alumni Association. | JET Alumni Association. |
| JETRO | Japan External Trade Organization. | Japan Foreign Trade Organization. |
| JFA | Japan Football Association. | Japan Soccer Association. |
| JFC | Japan Finance Corporation. | Japan Finance Corporation. |
| GBP | Japanese Government Bonds. | Japanese government bonds. |
| JH | Japan Highway Public Corporation. | |
| JK | Josei Kosei | High school student associated with "paid dating" and the child prostitution industry |
| JK | jōshikiteki ni kangaete [常識的に考えて] | Internet slang meaning "think logically" |
| JLCFSA | Japan Long Course Ferry Service Association. | |
| Adjective | Japan Language Proficiency Test. | Japan Language Proficiency Test. |
| JMA | Japan Medical Association. | Japan Medical Association. |
| TOGETHER | Japan National Tourist Organization. | Japan National Tourism Organization. |
| JP | Japan Post. | Japan Post. |
| JP or (JPN) | Japan | Universal acronyms of the country |
| JPY | Japanese yen to japan currency. | |
| JR | Japan Railways. | Japan Railways. |
| JRA | Japan Racing Association. | Japan Racing Association. |
| JRC | Japan Red Cross. | Japan Red Cross. |
| JSC | Japan Society for the Promotion of Science. | Japanese Society for the Promotion of Science. |
| JSC | Japan Sports Council. | Japan Sports Council. |
| JSDF | Japan Self-Defense Forces | Japan Self-Defense Forces (another acronym SDF) |
| JT | Japan Tobacco. | Japanese tobacco |
| JTB | Japan Travel Bureau. | Japan travel agency. |
| JTUC | Japanese Trade Union Confederation. | Japanese Trade Union Confederation. |
| JUCE | Japan Universities Association for Computer Education. | Japan University Association for Computer Education. |
| JVC | Victor electronics. | |
| JYHA | Japan Youth Hostel Association. | Japan Youth Hostel Association. |
| KDDI | Japanese telecommunications company. | Japanese telecommunications company. |
| Keidanren | Japan Federation of Economic Organizations. | Federation of Economic Organizations of Japan. |
| KEPCO | Kansai Electric Power Company. | Kansai Electric Power Company. |
| KIX | Kansai International Airport. | Kansai International Airport. |
| KK | Kabushiki Kaisha company, firm. | Kabushiki Kaisha company. |
| KY | kūki yomenai [Unable to read the air] | unable to read the air; refers to someone who cannot read a social situation. |
| Kyuuden | Kyushu Electric Power Company. | Kyushu Electric Power Company. |
| LDK | Living Dining Kitchen | Dining room; type of house where the kitchen is merged with the living room |
| LDP | the Liberal Democratic Party of Japan | the Liberal Democratic Party of Japan |
| LO | "Last Order" | Last wish. |
| M | masochism | |
| "The" | Master of ceremonies | Master of ceremonies |
| METI | Ministério da Economia, Comércio e Indústria. | Ministry of Economy, Commerce and Industry. |
| MEXT | Ministério da Educação, Cultura, Esportes, Ciência e Tecnologia. | Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. |
| MHFG | Mizuho Financial Group. | Mizuho Financial Group. |
| MIC | Ministério de Assuntos Internos e Comunicações. | Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications. |
| "MITI" | Ministério do Comércio e Indústria Internacional (agora conhecido como METI). | Ministry of International Trade and Industry (now known as MEI). |
| MLIT | Ministério da Terra, Infraestrutura, Transporte e Turismo. | |
| MRI | Mitsubishi Research Institute. | |
| MUFG | Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group. | |
| MV | music video | music video |
| N'EX | Narita Express train. | Narita express train. |
| N'EX | Narita Express | |
| NOJ | National Astronomical Observatory of Japan. | |
| NEC | Nippon Electric Company. | |
| NFAJ | National Film Archive of Japan (NFAJ), que era anteriormente o Centro Nacional de Cinema (NFC); Leia mais sobre a NFAJ. | |
| NG | no good | |
| NGK | Nagoya-based spark plug company. | |
| NHK | (Nihon Hohsoh Kyokai) Japan's state TV & radio broadcaster. | |
| NHK | Nippon Hōsō Kyōkai [日本放送協会] | |
| NII | National Institute of Informatics. | National Institute of Informatics. |
| Nikkanren | Japan Ryokan & Hotel Association. | |
| Nikkeiren | Japan Federation of Employers' Associations. | |
| NJS | Nihon Jitensha Shinkōkai | 日本自転車振興会 |
| NKP | New Komeito Party. | |
| NME | National Museum of Ethnology. | |
| NNN | Nippon News Network. | |
| NPA | National Police Agency. | |
| NPB | Nippon Professional Baseball. | |
| NRU | National Railway Workers' Union ("Kokuro"). | |
| NSK | Nippon Seiko Kabushiki Kaisha. | |
| NTA | National Tax Agency. | |
| NTT | Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation. | |
| OA | office automation | |
| OB | old boy | old man (former student), club member, teammate, employee, etc. |
| OG | old girl | old lady (former student), club member, teammate, employee, etc. |
| OL | office lady | office lady (a worker) |
| OMG | Oh meu deus! | |
| OP | opening | Anime and drama opening |
| OPAM | Oita Prefectural Art Museum Leia mais sobre o Museu Oita Prefectural Art | |
| THE V | original sound version (video game trilha sonora) | video game soundtrack |
| OVA | original video animation | original video animation (also uses acronym OAV) |
| PL | Pacific League (baseball). | Pacific League (baseball). |
| PL Kyodan | Church of Perfect Liberty. | Church of Perfect Liberty. |
| PS | police station | Police station |
| PSJ | Photographic Society of Japan. | Japan Photographic Society. |
| PSJ | Primate Society of Japan | Japan Primate Society |
| PV | promotional video | promotional video (usually music) |
| RPG | role-playing game | RPG games |
| S | sadism | sadism |
| SCJ | Science Council of Japan. | Japan Science Council. |
| SD | super deformed (super deformed) | super warped (super warped) |
| SDF | Self-Defence Forces. Japan's de facto armed forces. | Self-defense forces. Japan's De facto Armed Forces. |
| SDP | Social Democratic Party. | Social Democratic Party. |
| SEALDs | Estudantes Ação de Emergência para Democracia Liberal. | Student Emergency Action for Liberal Democracy. |
| SL | Steam Locomotive. | Steam train. |
| SMBC | Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation. | |
| SMFG | Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group. | Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group. |
| SNS | Social networking service, social website | Social networking service, social website |
| SS | service station | service station |
| STG | shooting game | shooting game |
| SWITZERLAND | Super Urban Intelligence Card. | Super Urban Intelligence Card. |
| TCAT | Tokyo City Air Terminal. | Tokyo City Air Terminal. |
| TEPCO | Tokyo Electric Power Company. | Tokyo Electric Power Company. |
| ICT | Tourist Information Center. | Tourist Information Center. |
| TKSC | Tsukuba Space Center. | Tsukuba Space Center. |
| TPO | Time, Place, Occasion | Time, Place, Occasion |
| TQB | tei kyū bi [定休日] | Regular holiday or fixed day off |
| TSE | Tokyo Stock Exchange. | Tokyo Stock Exchange. |
| TUC | Tokyo Union Circulation | A union made up of many ex-cops involved in the pachinko industry. |
| TUJ | Temple University Japan. | |
| TVO | TV Osaka. | |
| UCC | Ueshima Coffee Company. | Ueshima Coffee Company. |
| UMA | unidentified mysterious animal | Coined in connection with unidentified flying object |
| GV | video game | |
| VTR | video tele-replay | Displaying pre-recorded images |
| w | warau [笑う] | laugh out loud |
| WFC | World Friendship Center in Hiroshima. | World Friendship Center in Hiroshima. |
| YCAT | Yokohama City Air Terminal. | Yokohama City Air Terminal. |
| Zennoren | All-Japan Federation of Management Organization. | Japan Federation of Management Organization. |
The article is still halfway through, but we recommend also reading:
Videos about Japanese Abbreviations
To finish the article, let's leave some videos about abbreviations, acronyms and contractions in the Japanese language:
