Katakana Words that Differ in Meaning from the Original English Term

JAPANese Notes | 英語本来の意味と異なるカタカナ語

Katakana Words that Differ in Meaning from the Original English Term

Many English words have been incorporated into the Japanese language, but in some cases the nuance of the Japanese version differs from its original meaning in English. Take, for instance, “fancy.” In English this denotes something fashionable and extravagant, but in Japanese this refers to a girl’s dreamlike cute world. Claim is used for complaint in Japanese. Though smart has a similar meaning to wise in English, in Japanese it means having a slim body. These days the number of Japanese people that understand the true meaning of these English words is increasing.

日本語にほんごには
nihonngo niha
(the) Japanese language
おおくの
ooku no
many
英語えいご
eigo ga
English words
れられています
toriirerarete imasu
have been incorporated into
が、
ga,
but
英語えいご
eigo
(in) English
本来ほんらい
honnrai no
(its) original
意味いみ
imi
meaning
to
from
ニュアンスにゅあんす
nyuannsu ga
(the) nuance (of the Japanese version)
ことなる
kotonaru
differs
場合ばあいがあります。
baai ga arimasu.
in some cases
たとえば、
tatoeba,
take for instance
ファンシーふぁんしー」。
“fannshi-.”
fancy
英語えいご
eigo
English
では
deha
in
おしゃれ
oshare
fashionable
de
and
ぜいたくな
zeitakuna
extravagant
ものを
mono wo
something
します
sashimasu
(this) denotes
が、
ga,
but
日本語にほんご
Nihonngo
Japanese
では
deha
in
おんな
onnnanoko no
girl’s
ゆめのような
yume no youna
dreamlike
かわいい
kawaii
cute
世界せかい
sekai wo
(a) world
意味いみします。
imi shimasu.
(this) refers to
クレームくれーむ要求ようきゅう)は
kure-mu (youkyuu)ha
claim
日本語にほんご
Nihonngo
Japanese
では
deha
in
コンプレインこんぷれいん文句もんく
konnpureinn (monnku)
complaint
意味いみ
no imi de
for
使つかわれます。
tsukawaremasu.
is used
英語えいご
eigo
English
de
in
スマートすまーと
suma-to ha
smart
かしこ
kashikoi
wise
ni
to
ちか意味いみ
chikai imi
(a) similar meaning
です
desu
has
が、
ga,
though
日本語にほんご
nihonngo
Japanese
では
deha
in
細身ほそみ体形たいけい
hosomi no taikei wo
(having a) slim body
意味いみします。
imi shimasu.
(it) means
最近さいきん
saikinn ha
these days
英語えいご
eigo no
(these) English words
意味いみ
imi wo
(the true) meaning (of)
理解りかいする
rikai suru
(that) understand
ひと
hito ha
(the number of) people
えつつあります。
fuetsutsu arimasu.
is increasing

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