Karen Sandness' Head Scratchers
Submitted by adamrice on 15 December 2006 - 12:14pm.
J>E glossaries
The Japanese have been borrowing foreign words ever since their first encounters with Chinese culture nearly 2000 years ago. However, the words often do not survive the borrowing process unscathed. The following is a list of roomaji (Roman alphabet) abbreviations, wasei Eigo (made-in-Japan English), and borrowed words and phrases that have been abbreviated and recombined beyond recognition. What they have in common is that almost none of them are used outside Japan. (Well, Pokemon has gained international currency in the past year or so, but the rest are pretty obscure.)
The glossary began as a catalogue of words that I myself had encountered in translation jobs, personal reading, and travels to Japan. I learned about many of these words from members of the Honyaku Internet mailing list. Some of them came up as genuine “head scratchers,” words and phrases that were impeding someone’s progress in a translation job. Some of the technical and engineering terms were first compiled by Bill Lise and are used here with his permission. Most of the automotive terms were originally compiled by Stephen A. Carter and are also used here with permission. Others came to me through private e-mail from readers of earlier versions of this glossary. You all know who you are, and you are too numerous to mention, but thank you!
Some of these words will be familiar to anyone who has ever lived in Japan, but others are relatively recent coinages or belong to the jargon of a specific occupational group. A few of the words in this list are native Japanese words that are typically written in katakana and therefore sometimes mistaken for gairaigo (borrowed words). A prime example is ヒヤリハット (hiyari hatto), which despite all appearances, is not gairaigo for some kind of hat. Consult the list to see what it actually is.
All entries are given in a-i-u-e-o order, with Japanese script in the first column, a Roman alphabet transcription in the second column, and a definition and commentary in the third column.
| 3K | kiken, kitsui, kitanai (three undesirable attributes of a job) | |
| ３PL | third-party logistics | |
| 3S | standardization, simplification, specialization | |
| 5S | seiri, seiton, seiso, seiketsu, and shitsuke, the basic principles of TPM (qv) | |
| A/C | account | |
| AV | 1) adult video, 2) audiovisual | |
| B2B | business-to-business | |
| BGM | background music | |
| B(k)版 | Bk-han | black separation (printing) |
| B/S | balance sheet | |
| CG | computer graphics | |
| C版 | cyan separation (printing) | |
| C面取り | C-mentori | chamfering |
| COP | crystal-originated particle | |
| CR | 1) resistance capacitor, 2) child resistant, 3) card reader | |
| DM | 1) direct mail, 2) private message to an individual on a mailing list | |
| DPE | Developing, printing, and enlarging | |
| ESA | electronic spark advance (automotive) | |
| FA | free agent | |
| FC | franchise chain | |
| FP | financial planner | |
| GL | guideline | |
| HP | home page | |
| H/W | [computer] hardware | |
| IC | If “integrated circuit” doesn’t make sense, try “interior coordinator.” | |
| I/C | [highway] interchange | |
| I/F | interface | |
| KYT | kiken, yochi, toreeningu | |
| LBP | laser (beam) printer | |
| L/C | logic control | |
| LL | language laboratory | |
| M+number | “magic number” so that, for example, M9 means nine more victories until clinching the championship | |
| M/C | master cylinder | |
| MFP | multifunctional peripheral | |
| MGM | mukatsuku go byou mae (むかつく五秒前）”five seconds from losing it” | |
| M版 | M-han | magenta separation (printing) |
| ML | mailing list | |
| NG | 1) no good, 2) no go, 3) movie outtake | |
| OA | 1) office automation, 2) open-ended answer | |
| OB | “old boy,” used in the British sense of alumnus | |
| OHP | overhead projector | |
| OJT | on-the-job training | |
| OL | “office lady,” female clerical worker | |
| OSM | on-site massage | |
| OVA | on-video animation | |
| PA | parking area | |
| P3I | pre-planned product improvement | |
| P/F | perforation | |
| PKF | peace keeping force | |
| PL | 1) pail, 2) PL (Perfect Liberty) Kyoudan (PL教団), one of the New Religions, 3) product liability | |
| P/L | profit and loss [statement] | |
| P／M, A/M: | property management, asset management | |
| PPC | plain paper copier | |
| PPK | pinpin korori | Used to describe an elderly person who doesn’t have to suffer through a lot of illness or disability before death but remains mentally and physically active until dying suddenly of a heart attack or stroke. |
| PQ | from patan kyuu (パタンキュー）a sudden systemic breakdown or crash | |
| PRTR | Pollutant Release and Transfer Registry | |
| R面取り | R-mentori | rounding corners |
| RE | reverse engineering | |
| SP | security patrol | |
| SPW | spring washer (automotive) | |
| S/W | software | |
| T/M | transmission | |
| TPM | total plant management, total product management. This abbreviation is somewhat known in English-speaking business circles, at least by those who are always on the lookout for new management techniques. | |
| TS | tracking stocks | |
| Tバック | T-bakku | “T-back”: thong panties |
| VSP | vehicle speed | |
| Wカセット | W-kasetto | double cassette; the prefix “W” is often used to mean “double” |
| Y版 | Y-han | yellow separation (printing) |
| アイス・キャンディー | aisu kyandii | “ice candy”: a frozen treat similar to a Popsicle |
| アールをとる | aaru o toru | take the radius |
| アイテム | aitemu | “item”: something that one “just has to have” |
| アイ・メート | ai meeto | “eye mate”: guide dog for the blind |
| アウトパック | autopakku | “out pack”: 1) retail tray packaging, 2) outsourced packaging |
| アクセル | akuseru | accelerator |
| アクリル | akuriru | acrylic, especially acrylic fiber |
| アグロメ | agurome | agglomeration |
| 朝シャン | asa-shan | morning shampoo |
| アシマネ | ashimane | assistant manager |
| アス・コン | asu kon | asphalt concrete |
| アッシー | asshii | “assy,” from the abbreviation for “assembly” (automotive) |
| アッテネーター | atteneetaa | attenuator |
| アップトーク | appu tooku | “up talk,” a style of speaking in which the speaker gives the end of each sentence or phrase a higher intonation |
| アトピー | atopii | a predisposition toward allergies |
| アナ | ana | “announcer,” often used as a title when the names of television announcers are shown on screen |
| アナカン | anakan | unaccompanied baggage |
| アニカラ | anikara | “anime karaoke,” karaoke accompanied by animation |
| アニメ | anime | animated cartoon |
| アパコン | apakon | aperture compensation |
| アブ | abu | shock absorber |
| アフターサービス | afutaa saabisu | “after service”: services such as repairs and checkups provided to purchasers of a product |
| アプリ | apuri | (computer) application |
| アフレコ | afureko | “after recording,” adding sounds to a soundtrack after a movie has been filmed |
| アポ | apo | appointment |
| アメカジ | amekaji | American casual |
| アメフト | amefuto | American football |
| アーム・ウォマー | aamu uomaa | “arm warmer” A knitted sleeve, analogous to a leg warmer |
| アムラー | Amuraa | young girls who imitate the style of singer Amuro Namie |
| アルサロ | arusaro | “arubaito saron,” a “salon” where the hostesses are supposedly part-timers with other jobs |
| アングラ | angura | underground |
| アンケート | ankeeto | from French “enquete”: questionnaire |
| アンコン | ankon | “unconstructed,” an overcoat with very simple lines and no shoulder pads, etc. |
| アンダーリヤ | andaa riya | rear underbody |
| アントレ | antore | entrepreneurship |
| アンビリ | anbiri | unbelievable |
| イイ | I-i | Iran-Iraq |
| イージーパンツ | iijii pantsu | “easy pants,” loose-fitting pants with an elastic or drawstring waist |
| イソ体 | iso-tai | isomer |
| イタカジ | itakaji | Italian casual |
| イタめし | itameshi | Italian food |
| 一眼レフ | ichigan refu | single lens reflex |
| イメチェン | imechen | “image change”: what cute little teen idol singers have to go through if they hope to survive in show business past the age of nineteen |
| イラスト | irasuto | illustration |
| イルコン | irukon | illumination control |
| イルミ | irumi | illumination |
| インクリビジネス | inkuribijinesu | incremental business |
| インスト | insuto | “instructions,” briefings for market researchers |
| インディーズ・ビデオ | indiizu bideo | pornographic videos not approved by the 日本ビデオ倫理協会 (Nihon Bideo Rinri Kyoukai) |
| インテリ | interi | intelligentsia |
| インパネ | inpane | instrument panel |
| インフレ | infure | inflation |
| インポ薬 | impo yaku | anti-impotence medication |
| インマニ | inmani | intake manifold |
| インメガチャート | inmegachaato | TV test pattern chart, megacycles chart |
| ウィンカー | uinkaa | “winker”: the turn signal on a car |
| ウエス | uesu | rag (for wiping) |
| ウエストモール | uestomooru | weather strip molding |
| エアコン | eakon | air conditioning |
| エアサス | ea sasu | air suspension |
| エアモニ | ea moni | on-air monitor |
| エーコッコシー | eekakkoshii | [non-gairago] adjective describing someone who is overly concerned with status. Can be used enviously with reference to someone of real accomplishment. Kansai dialect. |
| エキパイ | ekipai | exhaust pipe |
| エキマニ | ekimani | exhaust manifold |
| エコステーション | eko suteeshon | a service station for cars that run on alternative fuels |
| 絵コンテ | e-konte | storyboard (film) |
| エステ・サロン | esute saron | “esthetic salon,” where people go to get makeovers, massages, facials, etc. |
| エネトピア | enetopia | a housing development designed with an eye toward energy conservation |
| エバチップ | ebachippu | “evaluation chip”: special version of a product with features that allow it to be used for evaluation |
| エフ | efu | tags attached to industrial equipment when defects or malfunctions are discovered. The tag is removed when the problem has been corrected. |
| エミフィル | emifiru | EMI (electro-magnetic interference) filter |
| エログロ | eroguro | erotic and grotesque |
| エンスト | ensuto | engine stall |
| エンプラ | enpura | engineering plastics |
| オクション | okushon | a pun on the word manshon, this refers to an apartment whose purchase price is so high that it is stated not in units of ten thousand yen (man) but in units of one hundred million yen (oku). |
| オードブル | oodoburu | hors d’oeuvres |
| オナドル | onadoru | “onanism idol”: a fantasy object for masturbation. Formerly オナペット (onapetto). |
| オバタリアン | obatarian | “aunt”+”battalion”: a rude and obnoxious older woman |
| オフコン | ofukon | office computer |
| オペアンプ | opeanpu | operational amplifier |
| オリフラ | orifura | orientation flat (semiconductors) |
| オルゴール | orugooru | from German Orgel? music box |
| 顔アップ | kao appu | close-up of a face |
| ガスクロ | gasukuro | gas chromatography |
| カステラ | kasutera | a type of pound cake (Portuguese word) |
| カステン | kasuten | cabinet containing medical instruments (German word) |
| カゼ | kaze | If “wind” or “cold” doesn’t make sense, and the context is chemical, try “casein.” |
| カセットコーヒー | kasetto koohii | “cassette coffee”: a single serving of ground coffee in a plastic filter |
| ガッツポーズ | gattsu poozu | “guts pose”: a triumphant pose assumed by an athlete |
| カーナビ | kaanabi | car navigation system |
| カニバリ | kanibari | cannibalization |
| カミセン | kamisen | “Coming Century”: the younger members of the group V6 |
| カメリハ | kameriha | camera rehearsal |
| ガヤ | gaya | background chatter on a soundtrack (not gairaigo) |
| カラバラ | karabara | ballads sung by Karashima Midori |
| カルウエ | karu-ue | calcium wafer |
| カルテ | karute | “Karte” (German) patient’s medical chart |
| ガンクロ | gankuro | (not gairaigo) a darkly tanned face. Fashionable among trendy young people ca. 1999-2000. |
| カンコロジー | kankorojii | “can ecology”: beautifying a recreational or other public area by picking up empty beverage cans |
| カンテラ | kantera | an old-fashioned metal lantern (source uncertain) |
| カンニング | kanningu | “cunning”: cheating on a test |
| ガンバリズム | ganbarizumu | “gambarism”: the attitude that one must keep going no matter what. From the verb がんばる (ganbaru). |
| ガンプラ | ganpura | Gundam plastic models |
| キープサンプル | kiipu sanpuru | “keep sample”: reference sample |
| ギプス | gipusu | from German “Gips”: plaster cast (for broken bones) |
| キープボットル | kiipu botoru | “keep bottle”: a bottle of whiskey that a bar customer buys, writes his name on, keeps on a shelf at the bar, and drinks little by little on successive visits. |
| キャスター | kyasutaa | “caster”: a newscaster |
| キャスティング・ボート | kyasuting booto | “casting vote”: the deciding vote |
| キャッチコピー | kyatchi kopii | “catch copy”: In copywriting, large text that appears in ads or brochures to catch the reader’s attention |
| キャッチセールス | kyatchi seerusu | “catch sales”: an unscrupulous sales practice in which customers are pressured into signing expensive contracts that are hard to break. |
| キャッチバー | kyatchi baa | “catch bar”: the kind of bar that has touts standing outside trying to lure in customers |
| キャッチボール | kyatchi booru | “catch ball”: playing catch |
| キャッチホン | kyatchihon | “catch phone”: call waiting |
| キャップ | kyappu | the top reporter at a newspaper’s local office |
| キャラ | kyara | character in a manga (comic book) or anime (q.v.) |
| ギャラ | gyara | “guaranteed” fee paid to performing artists |
| キャリア | kyaria | career government employee |
| キャンギャル | kyangyaru | “campaign gal”: model featured in an advertising campaign |
| キャンピングカー | kyanpingu kaa | “camping car”: trailer, caravan |
| キーワード | kiiwaado | “keyword”: buzzword, catch phrase |
| グッズ | guzzu | “goods”: promotional items |
| クーラー | kuuraa | “cooler”: air conditioner |
| グライコ | guraiko | graphic equalizer” |
| クラクション | kurakushon | “klaxon”: car horn |
| クラサバ | kurasaba | client server |
| グラビア | gurabia | short for “photogravure” |
| グランド | gurando | “ground” (electrical) |
| クリコン | kurikon | Christmas concert |
| グルイン | guruin | group interview |
| グルメ | gurume | gourmet |
| クレパス | kurepasu | pastel crayons |
| クレーム | kureemu | “claim”: customer complaint |
| クロカン | kurokan | “cross country”: an off-road vehicle |
| クロコン | kurokon | cross country skiing |
| グロス | gurosu | lip gloss |
| クロスニコル | kurosu nikoru | crossed Nichol prism |
| ケアウエル | kea ueru | wellness care |
| 軽トラック | kei-torakku | lightweight truck |
| ゲーセン | geesen | [video] game center |
| ゲートボール | geetobooru | “gate ball”: a game similar to croquet |
| 公園デビユー | kouen debyuu | “park debut”: bringing one’s child to the local park to play for the first time. |
| 合同コンパ | goudou konpa | a “mixer” |
| コギャル | kogyaru | obsessively trend-conscious teen-age girls who may offer themselves for 援助交際 (enjo kousai, usually translated as “compensated dating”) with older men in order to finance their lifestyle |
| コスプレ | kosupure | “costume play”: dressing up as one’s favorite manga or anime character |
| コズミックボーリング | kozumikku booringu | “cosmic bowling”: bowling in a bowling alley that is lit up like a disco with lots of flashing lights |
| コネ | kone | “connections” in the sense of knowing the “right” people |
| コピー | kopii | 1) photocopying; 2) the blurb on a book jacket |
| コマ | koma | frame in a film or video |
| コマソン | komason | “commercial song”: commercial jingle |
| 子マダム | komadamu | wealthy women who strive to follow the fashions exactly and be seen in all the right place |
| コミケット | komiketto | “comic market”: a convention where amateur manga artists sell their work |
| コミュニケーター | komyunikeetaa | “communicator”: operator in a telemarketing business |
| コラム | koramu | “column”: a stand-alone feature article framed by a box |
| コールテン | kooruten | corduroy |
| コレポン | korepon | correspondence |
| コングラ | kongura | computer graphics |
| コンサバ | konsaba | conservative |
| コンスト | konsuto | control strip |
| コンテ | konte | “continuity” in film making |
| コンパ | konpa | a group drinking party held at a bar or restaurant |
| コンパニオン | konpanion | a young woman whose job it is to demonstrate products, hand out pamphlets, etc. at conventions and trade shows |
| コンパネ | konpane | 1) plywood panel or 2) control panel |
| コンパレートする | konpareeto suru | to compare |
| コンビニ | konbini | convenience store |
| コンペ | konpe | competition |
| コンロッド | konroddo | connecting rod (automotive) |
| サイド・リーダー | saido riidaa | “side reader”: a supplementary reader in a foreign language classroom |
| サービス | saabisu | can mean “service,” but also refers to items or services that a store gives away along with a purchase, i.e. “freebies.” |
| サーメット | saametto | ceramic metal. “Cermet” is also used in English writing about the field of ceramics technology |
| サウンドロゴ | saundo rogo | “sound logo”: a commercial jingle |
| ざくろブーム | zakuro buumu | popularity of pomegranates, which contain phytoestrogens |
| サドンデス | sadondesu | “sudden death” overtime |
| スブエコ | sabo eko | sub-economizer (electronics) |
| サラドレ | saradore | salad dressing |
| サンケア指数 | sankea shisuu | sun protection index |
| サンスポ | sansupo | Sankei Sports |
| サントラ | santora | soundtrack |
| シール・セット | shiiru setto | “seal set”: a set of stickers |
| ジージャ | jiija | jeans jacket |
| ジーパン | jiipan | jeans, dungarees |
| シグラ | shigura | signal ground |
| シスオペ | shisuope | system operator; “sysop” is also used in English |
| シズルカット | shizuru katto | “sizzle cut”: a mouth-watering image in an advertising. (The English term is “sizzle shot.”) |
| シネコン | shinekon | cinema complex |
| シビル・ミニマム | shibiru minimamu | “civil minimum”: essential infrastructure |
| シプレヒコール | shipurehi kooru | “Sprech (German word for “speak”) + call”: a voice call |
| ジベタリアン | jibetarian | young people who sit on the ground (jibeta) or sidewalk |
| ジャストクロック | jasuto kurokku | “just clock”: an internal clock that is always correct |
| ジャスピン | jasupin | in perfect focus |
| シャネラー | Shaneraa | “Chaneler”: young women completely outfitted in Chanel clothing and accessories. There are corresponding terms for fans of other designers. |
| シャーレ | shaare | “Schale” (German) a laboratory dish |
| ジャンパー | janpaa | “jumper”: a windbreaker jacket |
| シュークリーム | shuu kuriimu | fake French “choux crme”: creampuff |
| ジュンロン | junron | Junlon, a synthetic fiber |
| 省エネ | shou ene | energy conservation |
| ジョントラ | jontora | John Travolta |
| シルボン紙 | shirubon shi | lens-cleaning paper |
| シンクロ | shinkuro | oscilloscope |
| シンクロ納入 | shinkuro nounyuu | synchronous supply |
| シーンタフネス性 | shiin tafunesusei | “scene toughness”: the ability of a video camera to hold a scene steady |
| シンポ | shinpo | symposium |
| スカイライン | sukairain | “skyline”: a scenic mountain road |
| スキャントーク | skyantooku | “Scan Talk”: a barcode system for recording and playing back brief sequences of sound (brand name) |
| スキンシップ | skinshippu | “skinship”: emotional communication through touch |
| スキンレディー | sukin redii | “skin lady”: a saleswoman who goes door to door selling condoms |
| スケールメリット | sukeeru meritto | “scale merit”: economies of scale |
| スタンガン | sutangan | stun gun |
| スタンディング | sutanding | free-standing bar |
| スチコン | suchikon | Styrol condensor |
| スッチ | succhi | short for “stewardess” |
| 捨てポジ | sutepoji | photographic prints that you don’t keep |
| ストパー | sutopaa | straight perm |
| スパファク | supafaku | Much more innocent than it sounds, this is student slang for the restaurant chain “Spaghetti Factory.” |
| スペアナ | supeana | spectrum analyzer |
| スポドリ | supodori | sports drink |
| スライダック | suraidakku | variable autotransformer |
| スリーター | suriitaa | “threeter”: a three-wheeled bicycle |
| スルーレート | suruureeto | slew rate |
| セカンドスクール | sekando sukuuru | “second school”: an outdoor environmental educational program for city children |
| セカンド・バッグ | sekando baggu | “second bag”: a zippered carrying case |
| セックスフレンド | sekkusu furendo | “sex friend”: someone with whom one is not romantically involved but frequently has sexual relations with anyway. Also known as やりとも(yaritomo). |
| セット・メーカー | setto meekaa | manufacturer of assembled products |
| ゼネコン | zenekon | general contractor |
| ぜり | zeri | “jelly”: sweet flavored gelatin dessert. The most popular flavors are コーヒー and ワイン. |
| セリーグ | Se Riigu | Central League |
| セル付 | seru-tsuki | with a self-starter |
| セルフアップネジ | serufu appu neji | “self up screw”: captive screw |
| セルフスタンド | serufu sutando | “self stand”: self-service gasoline station |
| ゼンスト | zensuto | general strike |
| スピコン | supikon | speed controller |
| ソゲ、ソーゲ | soge, sooge | (not gairaigo) Dialect variation ofそう (sou).ソーゲナ(soogena)= そんな (sonna) |
| ソフトクリーム | sofuto kuriimu | “soft cream”: soft-serve ice cream |
| ソープランド | soopurando | “soap land”: a bath house/massage parlor offering sexual services. Formerly トルコ(toruko) from “Turkish bath,” but changed after protests from Turks resident in Japan. |
| ソルベン率 | soruben ritsu | solvency ratio |
| ダイヤ | daiya | 1) diamond, or 2) train schedule |
| タウルケット | tauruketto | “towelket”: a type of bed linen resembling a large beach towel and used to cover one’s self in hot weather |
| ダウンサイジング | daunsaijingu | “downsizing”: switching from mainframe to personal computers |
| タクトタイム | takuto taimu | “tact time”: has to do with productivity, but discussions on the Honyaku mailing list indicate that its exact meaning may vary from company to company. |
| タコジェネ | takojene | tachogenerator |
| ダストボックス | dasuto bokkusu | “dust box”: Dumpster |
| タックシール | takku shiiru | “tack seal”: a round gummed sticker |
| ダボ | dabo | dowel |
| ダルメージ | darumeeji | Dulmadge-type screw |
| ダンする | dan suru | make a done deal |
| チクソ性 | chikusosei | thixotrophy (“the property of certain gels to liquefy when subjected to vibratory forces”) |
| チクソモールド | chikuso moorudo | thixomolding (plastic and semiconductor industries) |
| チップ抵抗 | chippu teikou | SMT resistor |
| チャームポイント | chaamu pointo | “charm point”: most attractive feature |
| チャリ（ンコ） | chari(nko) | bicycle |
| チョベリグ | choberigu | very, very good (teen slang) |
| チョベリバ | choberiba | very, very bad (teen slang) |
| チョムカ | chomuka | very sickening (not gairaigo, teen slang) |
| チンピラ | chinpira | a young punk, young yakuza gangster (not gairaigo) |
| ディジカメ | dijikame | digital camera |
| ディジボル | dijiboru | digital voltmeter |
| デニる | deniru | to eat at Denny’s |
| デノミ | denomi | “denomination”: reducing the face value of currency after inflation has created impossibly high numbers |
| テープカット | teepu katto | “tape cut”: ribbon cutting ceremony |
| テーブルタップ | teeburu tappu | “table tap”: a power strip |
| デフレ | defure | deflation |
| テレクラ | terekura | “telephone club”: a telephone chat line/”dating” service |
| テレコ | tereko | tape recorder |
| テレ放題 | tere houdai | NTT’s unmetered telephone service |
| テレワーク | terewaaku | “telework”: telecommuting |
| テロ | tero | terrorism |
| テロップ | teroppu | on-screen titles |
| ドーアップ | doo appu | extreme close-up |
| ドイト | doito | a “do-it-yourself” store |
| トーキ | tooki | “talkie”: a prerecorded announcement |
| ドクター・ストップ | dokutaa sutoppu | “doctor stop”: being ordered by one’s doctor to give up such habits as drinking, smoking, overeating, etc. |
| ドチャキャン | docha kyan | abbreviation of “dotanba de kyanseru suru” (cancel at the last minute) |
| トップページ | toppu peeji | “top page”: the home page of a Web site. See ホームページ. |
| トップランナー | toppu rannaa | “top runner”: a system of benchmarking against the best-in-class performance |
| ドラコン | dorakon | driving contest |
| トラポン | torapon | transponder |
| トランス | toransu | transformer |
| トルコン | torukon | torque converter |
| ドルペッグ | doru peggu | “dollar peg”: being pegged to the dollar |
| トレペ | torepe | tracing paper |
| ドロア | doroa | drawer |
| ナイス・ミディ・パス | naisu midi pasu | “nice middy pass”: a discount rail pass for groups of women over 30 who are traveling together |
| ナイラッチ | nairacchi | nylon latch |
| ナウい | naui | “nowy”: up-to-date (slang from the 1980s) |
| ナウナウイズム | naunauizumu | “now-now-ism”: being interested only in the here and now without any regard for the future |
| ナシュプロ | nashupuro | national project |
| ナースコール | naasu kooru | “nurse call”: a patient’s call button in a hospital |
| なつメロ | natsumero | “natsukashii melody”: nostalgic melody |
| ニッカド電池 | nikkado denchi | nickel cadmium battery |
| ニュートラ | nyuutora | “new traditional” |
| ニューハーフ | nyuu haafu | “new half”: transsexual |
| 人間ドック | ningen dokku | “human [dry]dock”: a thorough physical exam |
| ネグる | neguru | neglect |
| ネチズン | nechizun | Netizen |
| ネック | nekku | bottleneck |
| ノーパン | noopan | “no panties”: used to describe various establishments where the waitresses wear short skirts and no underpants. |
| ノーヘル | nooheru | without a helmet |
| ノーマーク | noomaaku | “no mark”: not covered, not observed, occurring off the radar. Used especially to refer to a rival company’s having been first to develop a new product. |
| ノンコンデザイン | nonkon dezain | nonconforming design |
| ノンセクション | non sekushon | “non section”: unaffiliated |
| ノンセクト | non sekuto | non-sectarian |
| バイじい | baijii | :Viagra ojiisan”: an old man who takes Viagra |
| ノンポリ | non pori | non-political |
| バイキング | baikingu | “Viking”: a smrgsbord or buffet dinner, from the Scandinavian origins of the smrgsbord (and the difficulty of transcribing smrgsbord into katakana, undoubtedly) |
| ハイス | haisu | high-speed steel |
| バイター | baitaa | “biter”: ice cream on a stick |
| パイプ | paipu | “pipes”: channels, official or otherwise |
| パイプ・カット | paipu katto | “pipe cut”: vasectomy |
| バイふューエル車 | bai fyuueru sha | dual fuel vehicle |
| ハイミス | hai misu | “high miss”: older unmarried woman |
| ハイヤー | haiyaa | “hire”: a “hire car,” a car and driver that can be contracted for short periods of time |
| ハウス・ミヌカン | hausu manukan | “house mannequin”: sales clerk in a fancy boutique clothing store |
| ハウリング | hauringu | “howling”: audio feedback |
| パーキング・ドライバー | paakingu doraibaa | “parking driver”: parking valet |
| バーコード | baakoodo | “bar code”: the comb-over hairstyle favored by men vainly attempting to hide their baldness |
| パジャマ・コール | pajama kooru | “pajama call”: late-night phone call |
| バージン・ロード | baajin roodo | “virgin road”: the aisle that a bride walks down |
| バスコン | pasukon | bypass capacitor |
| バストフィット | basuto fitto | “bust fit”: the way a bra fits |
| バストレ | basu-tore | bass-treble |
| パソコン | pasokon | personal computer |
| パーソナル化 | paasonaru-ka | personalization, when a product stops being a novelty or luxury and becomes a consumer item that “everyone” has, due to lower costs |
| パチスロ | pachisuro | slot machine in a pachinko parlor |
| パチプロ | pachipuro | professional pachinko player |
| バックシャン | bakkushan | “back”+German “schoen”: used to describe a woman who looks beautiful only from the back |
| パチモン | pachimon | cheap knockoffs of famous brands (not gairaigo) |
| パッサージ | passaaju | “passage”: a glassed-over arcade |
| バッタモン | battamon | merchandise obtained by buying out the inventories of failed retailers instead of going through normal wholesale channels |
| バッティング | battingu | “butting”: 1) intruding on someone else’s turf, 2) having a time or schedule conflict |
| バッテン | batten | dialect word used in Kyushu and a few other places for keredomo（but). |
| バテレン | bateren | “padre”: the old name for the Portuguese priests who came to Japan in the sixteenth century |
| バーテン | baaten | bartender |
| パトカー | patokaa | patrol car |
| パトライト | patoraito | “patrol light”: a rotating warning light similar to the one on a “patokaa.” |
| パナホール | panahooru | Panasert hole (semiconductors) |
| パナマックス | panamakkusu | Panamax, the maximum size of ship that can pass through the Panama Canal |
| パンタクール | pantakuuru | Capri pants, pedal pushers |
| ハーフ | haafu | “half”: a person of mixed race, usually Japanese and something else |
| ハーフミラー | haafu miraa | “half mirror”: 50% beam splitter |
| パーマ | paama | permanent wave |
| ハマトラ | hamatora | “Yokohama traditional”: a style of clothing popular in the late 1970s and resembling a Catholic school uniform |
| バラ | bara | bulk storage |
| パラサイト・シングル | parasaito shinguru | “parasite single”: a single person who earns enough to live alone but prefers to live rent-free with his or her parents |
| バリカン | barikan | barber’s clippers |
| パリーグ | pariigu | Pacific League |
| バリコン | barikon | variable condenser |
| パルスモータ | parusu moota | “pulse motor”: stepping motor |
| バルボル | baruboru | “valve volt”: vacuum tube volt meter |
| ハローワーク | haroo waaku | “Hello Work”: the new name for the Japanese government employment agency |
| パ（ワ）ステ | pa(wa)sute | power steering |
| ハンスト | hansuto | hunger strike |
| パンスト | pansuto | short for パンティーストッキング(panty stocking), aka pantyhose. |
| パンタロン | pantaron | (French) “pantalon”: cropped pants |
| ハンドキャリアー | hando kyariaa | “hand carrier”: employee of a messenger or delivery service |
| ハンドリフト | handorifuto | “handlift”: pallet jack, manual forklift |
| パンピ | panpi | short for ippan piipuru (“most people) |
| ピアス | piasu | “pierce”: ear or body piercing |
| ヒーポン | hiipon | heat pump |
| ビオトープ | biotoopu | “biotope”: a wildlife refuge |
| ビジネス・プロデュース | bijinesu purodyuusu | “business produce”: starting up and developing a business |
| ピスコ | pisuko | piston corer |
| ビタビ復号 | Bitabi fukugou | Viterbi decoding |
| ビシチェ | bisuche | bustier |
| ピッキング | pikkingu | “picking”: a distributor picking up merchandise form a storage facility |
| ピットイン | pitto in | “pit in”: pit stop |
| ヒッパレ | hippare | hit parade |
| ヒップボーン | hippuboon | “hip-borne”: hip hugger [pants] |
| ビニハン | binihan | vinyl (plastic) headed hammer |
| ビニボン | binibon | pornographic magazines sold wrapped in plastic |
| ヒーロ・パケージ | hiiro pakeeji | “hero package”: a commercial in which the product is the “hero” of the segment |
| ヒヤリハット | hiyari hatto | (not gairaigo) a close call, a near miss |
| ビルジャック | birujakku | “building highjack”: a hostage situation |
| ピンクちらし | pinku chirashi | a flyer advertising a sex-related business |
| ファイアストーム | faiasutoomu | “fire storm”: a celebratory bonfire |
| ファストン | fasuton | fast on [terminal] |
| ファミコン | famikon | “family computer”: home video game machine. A trademark used generically |
| ファミレス | famiresu | family restaurant |
| フィンドレビン | findorebin | vinyl drainpipe with fins |
| フェースシート | feesu shiito | “face sheet”: 1) top copy, 2) questionnaire that asks for a demographic profile |
| フェミニスト | feminisuto | “feminist”: can literally mean “feminist,” but it also refers to a man who practices “ladies first” etiquette. |
| プチブル | puchiburu | petit bourgeois |
| フライング | furaingu | “flying”: a false start in an athletic competition |
| ブラウン官 | Buraun kan | cathode ray tube |
| プラスアルファ | purasu arufa | “plus alpha”: a little more than usual |
| プラスドライバー | purasu doraibaa | “plus driver”: Phillips screwdriver (from the shape of the head) |
| ブラック | burakku | “black”: a person with a poor credit rating, who is therefore blacklisted |
| ブラピ | Burapi | Brad Pitt |
| プラボットル | purabottoru | plastic bottle |
| フラマグ | furamagu | flywheel magnet |
| プラモデル | puramoderu | plastic model |
| プリクラ | purikura | “Print Club”: a photo booth that prints out cards and stickers of the resulting photograph. These are then traded among friends. |
| プリーケー | purii-kee | prepaid cellular phone (keitai denwa) service |
| フリーター | furiitaa | a person who doesn’t have a steady job but survives on a series of temporary or part-time jobs |
| フリーダイヤル | furii daiyaru | “free dial”: toll-free telephone call |
| ブリッコ | burikko | a young girl who affects an exaggeratedly sweet and innocent manner (1980s slang) |
| フリーマ | furiima | free market or flea market |
| プリン | purin | “pudding”: sweet egg custard |
| プレスコ | puresuko | “prescoring”: recording the music or sound effects before filming a scene |
| フレキ | fureki | flexible cable |
| フレコン | furekon | flexible conduit |
| フレコン化 | furekonka | changing something to full remote control |
| ブレスト | buresuto | brainstorming |
| プレゾン・エイド | purezon eido | presentation aid |
| フロアレディー | furoa redii | “floor lady”: a kind of bar hostess |
| プログレ | purogure | progressive rock |
| プロレス | puroresu | professional wrestling |
| ペアガラス | pea gurasu | “pair glass”: double glazing |
| ヘア・マニキュアー | hea manikyuaa | “hair manicure”: temporary hair dye or streaks |
| ペアリング | pearing | “pairing”” an unmarried couple living together |
| ベークオフ | beeku ofu | “bake off”: when a bakery bakes its wares from dough brought in from elsewhere |
| ベイ、ベー | bei/bee | used in northern dialects instead of darou or the tentative form of the verb, as in egu bee for ikou “Let’s go.” |
| ベースアップ | beesu appu | “base up”: salary increase. Abbreviated as ベア(bea). |
| ペーパードライバー | peepaa doraibaa | “paper driver”: a person who has a current driver’s license but doesn’t own a car |
| ペチャパイ | pechapai | (not gairaigo) flat chested |
| ベテラン | beteran | “veteran”: an older worker with extensive experience. Also used jokingly to refer to an old piece of equipment. Not used to refer to people who have served in the military. |
| ベッドタウン | beddo taun | “bed town”: bedroom community |
| ペットボトル | petto bottoru | “PET bottle”: clear plastic beverage bottle |
| ベビーオール | bebii ooru | “baby all”: a one-piece garment with snaps up the front, sort of like a jumpsuit for babies |
| ベビーサークル | bebii saakuru | “baby circle”: play pen |
| ヘリ | heri | helicopter |
| ヘルス | herusu | “health”: a type of massage parlor |
| ベル友 | beru tomo | a person with whom one communicates by pager (pokeberu) |
| ポイント・メーク | pointo meeku | “point make”: making up only parts of one’s face instead of doing a full make-up job |
| ボキャ貧 | bokyahin | lacking the words to say what one means. (Bokya is short for “vocabulary”) |
| ポケバイ | pokebai | “pocket bike”: a very small motorbike |
| ポケハロ | pokeharo | “pocket hello”: a “pocket Hello Kitty” that combines a pedometer and a tamagotchi |
| ポケベル | pokeberu | “pocket bell”: pager, beeper |
| ポケモン | Pokemon | “pocket monster”: Just in case you’ve been on another planet for a while, I’ll explain that this is the name of an internationally popular cartoon series. |
| ポジフィルム | poji firumu | positive film |
| ホッチキス | hocchikisu | “Hotchkiss”: stapler (from a brand name) |
| ボディコン | bodikon | “body consciousness”: wearing tight clothes to show off one’s body |
| ボディビル | bodibiru | bodybuilding |
| ポテチ | potechi | potato chip |
| ホトマル | hotomaru | photo multiplier |
| ホーム | hoomu | railway platform |
| ホーム・エステ | hoomu esute | “home esthetics”: a service that goes to clients’ homes to give beauty treatments |
| ホームスチール | hoomu suchiiru | “stealing home” in baseball |
| ホームドラマ | hoomu dorama | “home drama”: soap opera |
| ホームドレス | hoomu doresu | “home dress”: house dress, plain dress for everyday wear |
| ホームページ | hoomu peeji | “home page”: used to refer to an entire Web site. See トップページ(toppu peeji). |
| ポリ公 | pori-kou | slang for police officer |
| ポリ袋 | pori bukuro | polyethylene bag |
| ボリューム | boryuumu | “volume”: any kind of adjustment knob, not necessarily for sound |
| プロマネ | puromane | project manager |
| マイコン | maikon | 1) microcomputer, 2) moving (animated) icon |
| マイナスシーリング | mainasu shiiringu | “minus ceiling”: a budget which is reduced in comparison to the previous fiscal year |
| マイブーム | mai buumu | “my boom”: something that a person is currently obsessed with or fascinated by |
| マイペース | mai peesu | “my pace”: at one’s own pace |
| マーケット・イン | maaketto in | “market in”: incorporating the needs of the market into a product |
| マザコン | mazakon | mother complex |
| マスコット | masukotto | “mascot”: a small thing that a person values (not only animals but also inanimate objects) |
| マスコミ | masukomi | mass communications, mass media |
| マスター | masutaa | “master”: the owner of a bar |
| マテハン | matehan | materials handling |
| マナーボタン | manaa botan | “manner button”: the button that prevents a cellular phone from ringing out loud in a public place |
| マニューシャ | manyuusha | minutia |
| マネロン | maneron | money laundering |
| ママチャリ | mamachari | the kind of bicycle favored by housewives running errands around their neighborhood |
| マルチ | maruchi | 1) multimedia, 2) multilevel marketing |
| マンション | manshon | “mansion”: a condominium apartment |
| ミシュラン | mishuran | “Michelin”: a guidebook to anything, not just to tourist sites and restaurants |
| ミス | misu | mistake |
| ミスコン | misu kon | “miss contest”: a beauty contest to name “Miss Tofu” or something like that |
| ミスターレディー | misutaa redii | “Mr. Lady”: a transvestite |
| ミッション | misshon | 1) transmission, 2) stick shift car |
| ミニコミ | minikomi | communications within a small range |
| ミーハー | miihaa | overly fascinated with and impressed by celebrities (not gairaigo) |
| ムック | mukku | “magazine”+ “book”: a thick illustrated publication on a single topic printed to look like a magazine |
| ムーバー | muubaa | “mover”: a mechanical ride |
| メーカーオプション | meekaa opushon | “maker option”: factory-installed option |
| メカ | meka | mechanism |
| メーク | meeku | make up |
| メール | meeru | “mail”: used [exclusively?] for e-mail |
| メクラキャップ | mekura kyappu | blank plug |
| メモる | memoru | to take notes |
| メリット | meritto | “merit”: advantage, strong point |
| メルアド | meru ado | e-mail address |
| メル友 | merutomo | a friend with whom one corresponds by e-mail- |
| メルヘンチック | merhenchikku | from the German word “Maerchen”: having a fairy tale atmosphere |
| メンテ | mente | maintenance |
| モガ | moga | “modern girl”: a flapper (slang from the 1920s) |
| モータリゼーション | mootarizeeshon | “motorization”: the spread of car ownership within a developing country |
| モーテル | mooteru | “motel”: However, this usually refers to a rabu hoteru. |
| モバイラー | mobairaa | a person fond of using a mobile phone |
| モリダグ | moridagu | a dag coating containing molybdenum |
| モールファブリック | mooru faburikku | “mole fabric”: chenille |
| ヤマンバ | yamanba | a subculture of teenage girls ca. 1999. They dye their hair blonde, tan their faces or use dark make-up except around their eyes, and wear platform boots |
| ヤンエグyan’egu | young executive | |
| ヤングラ市場 | yangura ichiba | “young underground market”: the underground economy in goods and services, involving lots of barter and buying and selling of secondhand goods |
| ヤンママ | yan mama | “young mama”: a young mother in her early twenties |
| ラジカセ | rajikase | a radio with a built-in cassette recorder |
| ラジコン | rajikon | radio controlled |
| ラス | rasu | lath |
| ラストヘビー | rasuto hebii | “last heavy”: the final effort before the end. (One of my Honyaku correspondents told me that this expression is no longer used, but I forget what he told me about the new popular phrase.) |
| ラ／テ欄 | ra/te ran | radio and television listings |
| ラブ・ホテル | rabu hoteru | “love hotel”: a hotel that rents rooms to couples either overnight or for two hours’ “rest” |
| ラボ | rabo | language laboratory |
| ラーメン | raamen | If “noodles” doesn’t make sense and the context is architectural, try “Rahmen” or “rigid frame.’ |
| ランクル | rankuru | [Toyota] Land Cruiser |
| ランコン | rankon | lunchtime concert |
| ランドセル | randoseru | the leather backpack that elementary school children wear |
| ランニング | ranningu | tank top |
| リス | risu | If “squirrel” doesn’t make sense, try “lithograph.” |
| リストラ | risutora | corporate restructuring |
| リベンジ | ribenji | “revenge”: the determination of a loser to win the next time |
| リモコン | rimokon | the remote control for a television set |
| リュック | ryukku | backpack |
| リンチ | rinchi | “lynch”: not necessarily as lethal as its English equivalent, this refers to group members ganging up on one of their own. |
| ルーズ・ソックス | ruuzu sokkusu | “loose socks”: a fashion among young girls. The “loose socks” are thigh-high knit stockings worn pushed down to a level slightly below the knee and held at the proper height with adhesive. |
| ルーミング | ruumingu | “rooming”: arranging a room to one’s own tastes |
| ルポ | rupo | reportage |
| レジ | reji | cash register |
| レス | resu | response (to an e-mail message) |
| レハビリ | rehabiri | rehabilitation |
| レポ取り引き | repo torihiki | repurchase agreement |
| ロー | if “low” doesn’t work, try “raw” or “law.” | |
| ロケ | roke | location (film industry) |
| ロビイズム | robiizmu | “lobbyism”: lobbying |
| ローラー族 | rooraa zoku | people devoted to inline rollerskating |
| ローレットねじ | rooretto neji | knurled screw |
| ロリコン | rorikon | “Lolita complex”: older men being sexually attracted to very young girls |
| ロン毛 | ronge | long hair |
| ワイトキック | waitokikku | “white kick”—a loan translation of shirakeru: the dead silence after a joke falls flat |
| ワッペン | wappen | from German Wappen: a badge or insignia |
| ワープロ | waapuro | word processor |
| ワーホリ | waa-hori | “working holiday”: a type of visa arrangement that allows young people from certain countries to take short-term jobs in Japan and young Japanese to do the same in the partner countries. |
| ワンウェーびん | wan uee bin | “one way bottle”: non-returnable bottle |
| ワンレン | wanren | “one length” hair |