History of Loan Words

The Japanese language has borrowed many words from foreign countries, firstly from China as early as the Nara Period (710-794). Gairaigo (???) is Japanese word for "loan word" or "borrowed word". Many Chinese words were mixed into Japanese to the extent that they are no longer considered "loan words". Most Chinese loan words are written in kanji and carry the Chinese reading (on-reading).

Around the 17th century, the Japanese language began to borrow from many western languages. For example, from Portuguese, Dutch, German (especially from the field of medicine), French and Italian (not surprisingly many are from the fields of art, music and food), and most of all, English. Today, English is the origin of most modern loan words.

The Japanese use English words to express concepts for which they have no equivalents. However, some people simply prefer to use English expressions for practically or because it is fashionable. In fact, many loan words have existing synonyms in Japanese. For example, the Japanese word for "business" is "shoubai ??", but the loan word "bijinesu ????" is also used. Another example is "gyuunyuu ??(Japanese word)" and "miruku ???(loan word)" for "milk".

Loan words are generally written in katakana, except the ones of Chinese origin. They are pronounced using Japanese pronunciation rules and Japanese syllables. Therefore, they end up quite different from the original pronunciation.

This makes it hard to recognize the original foreign word.

Many loan words are often abbreviated in ways they wouldn't get abbreviated in their original language.

Examples of Loan Words

Maiku ??? ---- microphone
Suupaa ???? ---- supermarket
Depaato ???? --- department store
Biru ?? ---- building
Irasuto ???? ---- illustration
Meeku ??? ---- make-up
Daiya ??? ---- diamond

Multiple words are also shortened, often to four syllables.

Pasokon ???? ---- personal computer
Waapuro ???? ---- word processor
Amefuto ???? ---- American football
Puroresu ???? ---- professional wrestling
Konbini ???? ---- convenience store
Eakon ???? ---- air conditioning
Masukomi ???? ---- mass media (from mass communication)

A loan word can be generative. It may be combined with Japanese or other loanwords. Here are some examples.

Shouene ??? ---- energy saving
Shokupan ??? ---- loaf of bread
Keitora ??? ---- light commercial truck
Natsumero ???? ---- a once-popular song

Loan words are often combined into Japanese as nouns. When they are combined with "suru", it changes the word into a verb. The verb "suru (to do)" has many extended uses. To learn more about them, try "The Extended Use of Japanese Verb - Suru".

Doraibu suru ?????? ---- to drive
Kisu suru ???? ---- to kiss
Nokku suru ????? ---- to knock
Taipu suru ????? ---- to type

There are also "loan words" that are actually made in Japan. For example, "sarariiman ??????(salary man)" refers to someone whose income is salary base, generally the people work for corporations. Another example, "naitaa ????," comes from the English word "night" followed by "~er", means baseball games played at night.

Here are list of common loan words.

Arubaito ????? ---- part-time job (from German arbeit)
Enjin ???? ---- engine
Gamu ?? ---- chewing gum
Kamera ??? ---- camera
Garasu ??? ---- glass
Karendaa ????? ---- calendar
Terebi ??? ---- television
Hoteru ??? ---- hotel
Resutoran ????? ---- restaurant
Tonneru ???? ---- tunnel
Macchi ??? ---- match
Mishin ??? ---- sewing machine
Ruuru ??? ---- rule
Reji ?? ---- cash register
Waishatsu ????? ---- solid colored dress shirt (from white shirt)
Baa ?? ---- bar
Sutairu ???? ---- style
Sutoorii ????? ---- story
Sumaato ???? ---- smart
Aidoru ???? ---- idol, pop star
Aisukuriimu ??????? ---- ice cream
Anime ??? ---- animation
Ankeeto ????? ---- questionnaire, survey (from French enquete)
Baagen ???? ---- a sale at store (from bargain)
Bataa ??? ---- butter
Biiru ??? ---- beer (from Dutch bier)
Booru pen ????? ---- ballpoint pen
Dorama ??? ---- TV drama
Erebeetaa ?????? ---- elevator
Furai ??? ---- deep frying
Furonto ???? ---- the reception desk
Gomu ?? ---- rubber band (from Dutch gom)
Handoru ???? ---- handle
Hankachi ???? ---- handkerchief
Imeeji ???? ---- image
juusu ???? ---- juice
kokku ??? ---- cook (from Dutch kok)

Nationality is expressed by adding "jin ?", which literally means "person", after the country name.

Amerika-jin ?????---- American
Itaria-jin ????? ---- Italian
Oranda-jin ?????---- Dutch
Kanada-jin ????----- Canadian
Supein-jin ?????---- Spanish
Doitsu-jin ????---- Germany
Furansu-jin ?????---- French