{"id":33530,"date":"2014-01-22T18:11:31","date_gmt":"2014-01-22T22:11:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/jetwit.com\/wordpress\/?p=33530"},"modified":"2014-01-22T18:11:31","modified_gmt":"2014-01-22T22:11:31","slug":"%e3%80%90rocketnews24%e3%80%9110-everyday-english-words-that-were-originally-japanese","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jetwit.com\/wordpress\/2014\/01\/22\/%e3%80%90rocketnews24%e3%80%9110-everyday-english-words-that-were-originally-japanese\/","title":{"rendered":"\u3010RocketNews24\u301110 everyday English words that were originally Japanese"},"content":{"rendered":"

Michelle Lynn Dinh (Shimane<\/a>-ken,\u00a0Chibu-mura,\u00a0<\/strong><\/em>2010\u201313)\u00a0<\/strong>is an editor and writer for\u00a0RocketNews24<\/a><\/strong>,\u00a0a Japan-based site dedicated to bringing fun and quirky news from Asia to English speaking audiences.<\/em>\"10<\/p>\n

While Japan\u2019s bank of\u00a0English loan words<\/a>\u00a0has grown to the point where \u201ccontext\u201d and even \u201cparadigm\u201d can be understood by most people, there seems to be only a handful of Japanese words that have been sprinkled into the modern English vocabulary. Of course, there\u2019s things like \u201cmanga\u201d, \u201csushi,\u201d and \u201ckarate,\u201d which English speakers can instantly recognize as comics, a Japanese food, and a way to kick ass (in that respective order), but there are also some sleeper agent Japanese words traipsing about our English conversations. Let\u2019s take a look at\u00a0Japanese words, like \u201choncho\u201d (as in \u201chead honcho\u201d) and \u201ctycoon\u201d (as in \u201coil tycoon\u201d)<\/strong>, that we use in English.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\"10<\/p>\n

Origin: \u5e03\u56e3 (futon<\/em>)<\/em>
\nFirst known use: 1876<\/p>\n

The word\u00a0futon<\/em>\u00a0originally applied to a Japanese-style mattress used on the floor, but in English it\u2019s come to be known as a sofa\/bed for those who can\u2019t quite afford either. Despite the change of meaning,\u00a0futon<\/em>\u00a0is part of the English vocabulary, we\u2019ll just have to give a nod to Japan for the linguistic inspiration.<\/p>\n

\"10<\/p>\n

Origin: \u9280\u674f\u00a0(ginky\u014d<\/em>)
\nFirst known use: 1773<\/p>\n

Although originally a tree of Chinese origin, the name \u201cginkgo\u201d came from Japan. Etymologists seem to disagree on how the word came to be, but most claim it was created as a result of misreading the Japanese word\u00a0\u9280\u674f (ichou)\u00a0<\/em>as\u00a0ginky\u014d<\/em>.<\/p>\n

\"10<\/p>\n

Origin: \u73ed\u9577 (hanch\u014d<\/em>)
\nFirst known use: 1955<\/p>\n

Yes, we hear you all screaming, \u201cBut isn\u2019t that Spanish?!\u201d It\u2019s actually not. The word \u201choncho\u201d comes from the Japanese word,\u00a0hanch\u014d<\/em>, meaning \u201csquad leader.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"10<\/p>\n

Origin: \u672c\u753a\u901a (honch\u014d d\u014dri<\/em><\/em><\/em>)
\nFirst known use: 1865<\/p>\n

So the origins of this word are a little shady, hence the asterisk. Some say the word comes from an obsolete dialect of English, but others say the origins lie in Japan. The story goes that\u00a0honch\u014d d\u014dri<\/em><\/em><\/em>\u00a0was the main thoroughfare that lead American sailors back to the port. If they found\u00a0honch\u014d<\/em><\/em>\u00a0d\u014dri, said as \u201chunky-dory,\u201d they knew they could find their way home. Other sources claim\u00a0honch\u014d d\u014dri<\/em><\/em><\/em>\u00a0was a road in Japan that catered to the \u201cneeds\u201d of American sailors abroad, making them feel nice and hunky-dory.<\/p>\n

\"10<\/p>\n

Origin: \u30ab\u30e9\u30aa\u30b1\u00a0(karaoke<\/em>)
\nFirst known use:\u00a01979<\/p>\n

Many Japanese language learners may already know this, but not only was karaoke invented in Japan, the name was taken straight from Japanese,\u00a0kara<\/em>, meaning\u00a0empty and\u00a0\u014dke,<\/em>\u00a0short for\u00a0\u014dkesutora\u00a0<\/em>(orchestra).<\/p>\n

\"10<\/p>\n

Origin: \u4eba\u529b\u8eca (jinrikisha<\/em>)
\nFirst known use: 1887<\/p>\n

You may think rickshaws are from China, but they were actually invented in Japan in 1869, and used in China four years later. The word,\u00a0rickshaw<\/em>, comes from a corruption of the original Japanese,\u00a0jinrikisha<\/em>, which\u00a0literally means \u201chuman powered vehicle.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"10<\/p>\n

Origin: \u5c11\u3057 (sukoshi<\/em>)
\nFirst known use: 1952<\/p>\n

Skosh, as in \u201cjust a skosh off the top\u201d or \u201cgive me a skosh more,\u201d was created by shortening the Japanese word\u00a0sukoshi<\/em>, which means \u201ca little.\u201d Our minds are blown!<\/p>\n

\"10<\/p>\n

Origin: \u91a4\u6cb9 (sh\u014dyu<\/em>)
\nFirst known use: 1679<\/p>\n

Although etymologists point to many possible origins of the word\u00a0soy<\/em>, it\u2019s thought that the term is a corruption of the Japanese word for soy sauce,\u00a0sh\u014dyu<\/em>.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

\"10<\/p>\n

Origin: \u6d25\u6ce2 (tsunami<\/em>)
\nFirst known use:\u00a01897<\/p>\n

A giant sea wave is called a tsunami in English, just like it is in Japanese, although with a slightly different pronunciation.\u00a0Tsunami<\/em>\u00a0literally means \u201charbor wave\u201d in Japanese.<\/p>\n

\"10<\/p>\n

\u00a0Origin: \u5927\u541b (taikun<\/em>)
\nFirst known use: 1857<\/p>\n

The title of\u00a0taikun<\/em>\u00a0was applied by foreigners to the shogun of Japan in the mid 1800s but the English version,\u00a0tycoon<\/em>, is used to describe any wealthy or powerful person in business.\u00a0All those years of playing RollerCoaster Tycoon and I never knew the word came from Japan\u2026<\/p>\n

***Bonus***<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cAnime\u201d came from the Japanese version of the English word, \u201canimation\u201d (animeshon<\/em>). It\u2019s now an English word that means \u201cJapanese cartoons.\u201d From English to Japanese and right back to English. Words are so cool.<\/p>\n

Source:\u00a0Naver Matome<\/a><\/em>
\nReference:\u00a0Merriam-Webster<\/a><\/em>
\nImages: Wikipedia (1<\/a>,\u00a02<\/a>,\u00a03<\/a>,\u00a04<\/a>,\u00a05<\/a>,\u00a06<\/a>,\u00a07<\/a>,\u00a08<\/a>,\u00a09<\/a>),\u00a0Flashpoint HR<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

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