MORE ABOUT 和製英語
English-like words used in Japan which are not understandable abroad.

和製英語
  • スリーサイズ

three-size

正しい英語
measurements

  • ヒップ

hip

buttocks

    When used for measurement, "hip" is used as hip in Japan. But hip is often used to describe buttocks there. In the US hip may be used to describe buttoks euphemistically. But mainly hip is used to mean the sides of the body below the waist.

  • パンティストッキング

panty stocking

panty hose

    I personally prefer "stocking" to "hose." In U.K. "tights" is used.

  • スイミングパンツ

swimming pants

swimming trunks/shorts/suit

    "Bathing ...." is also common. While I wear a suit at work, I don't understand why I put on a "suit" to swim, too.

  • トレーナー

trainer

sweat shirts

  • ワイシャツ

white shirt

dress shirt

  • マフラー  

muffler

scarf

    Not that muffler cannot be used. But scarf is much more popular here.

  • チャック  

chuck

zipper

  • ファスナー 

fastener

zipper

  • カフスボタン 

cuffs button

cuff link

  • モヒカンカット

Mohican cut

Mohawk

    Why this difference? In U.K. "mohican" is used.

  • キーホルダー  

key holder

key chain

  • グラマー

glamour(ous)

stacked/be really built

  • スマート

smart

thin/slim

  • ジーパン

G-pan

jeans

  • ジージャン

G-jan

jean jacket

  • スタ(ジアム)ジャン(パー)

stadium jumper

jacket with team's logo

  • マニキュア

manicure

nail polish

  • オールバック

all back

swept back hair

  • フリーサイズ

free-size

one size fits all

  • サファリスタイル

safali style

camoflage clothes

  • ハイソックス

high socks

knee-high socks

  • ワンピース

one-piece

dress

    One-piece is used for women's swimsuits in English.

  • ツーピース

two-piece

suits

  • ピアス

pierce

earrings

    In English whether your ears are pierce or not is not an issue. In Japan when your ears are pierced, earings are called "pierce".

  • バスト

bust

breast/bosom

  • パンツ

pants

underpants

    The Japanese word for pants is "ZUBON", which is from Portuguese.

  • T-バック

T-back

thong

  • ノー・スリーブ

no-sleeve

sleeveless

  • ペア・ルック

pair-look

same outfit

  • ストレート・パーマ

straight perm

relaxer ?

  • エステティックサロン

esthetic salon 

a beauty salon offering esthetic services

.

.

.

 

At home?

In the kitchen

  • コーヒーミル

coffee mill

coffee grinder

    I don't think "mill" is wrong. But "grinder" sounds more common.

  • フライパン

fry pan

pan

  • オーブントースター

oven toaster

toaster oven

  • ストーブ   

stove

heater

  • レンジ    

range

stove

    "Range" is used but I hear "stove" more frequently.

.

Electric goods

  • クーラー   

cooler

air-conditioner

  • テレビゲーム

televi game

video game

  • ファミリーコンピュータ 

Family computer

Nintendo

  • スーパーファミコン 

Super Fami-com

Super Nintendo

    Nintendo named them diferently.

  • ビデオカメラ 

video camera

video camcorder

  • VTR

VTR

VCR

  • ビデオデッキ 

video deck

video cassette recorder

  • ラジオカセット 

radio cassette

portable stereo /boom box

    Then what if the power is weak and the sound is monoral as the one I bought when I was in junior high?

  • プッシュホン 

push phone

touch tone phone

  • シャープ   

sharp sign

pound sign/number sign

    This is about the name of the key. I wonder why people don't call it "sharp" as in music. I've heard it is called "square" or "hash" in U.K.

  • フリーダイアル 

free dial

toll free number

    "Freephone" is used in U.K.

  • ポケットベル  

pocket bell

pager / beeper

    The word "pocket bell" is made by NTT, Japanese phone giant.

  • ナンバーディスプレー

number display

caller ID

    Another creation by NTT, Japanese phone company.

  • インターホン

inter-phone

intercom

  • アフターサービス

after-service

service after the sales

  • アフターケア

after-care

service after the sales

  • コンデンサ

condensor

capacitor

  • FD

FD

floppy disk

    This abbreviation is not so popular.

  • バージョン・アップ

version-up

upgrade/improve

  • グレード・アップ

gread-up

upgrade/improve

.

Home improvement/tools

  • マンション 

mansion

condominium

    This is most famous and infamous Janglish in Japan.

  • ワンルームマンション

one-room mansion

studio apartment

  • フローリング  

flooring

wooden floor

  • コンセント   

concent

outlet

    I guess it was from "concentric outlet."

  • プラスドライバー

plus(+) driver

philips head screwdriver

  • マイナスドライバー 

minus(-) driver

regular/flathead screwdriver

    Since I think using "+/-" is easy to understand, I wonder why American don't say this way.

  • スパナ 

spanner

wrench

  • ピンセット 

pincette

tweezers/foceps/pncers

  • マイホーム

my-home

owned house

  • ユニットバス

unit bath

prefabricated bath

    Which contains a bathtub and a space where you wash yourself.
    Reminder:You must not use soap in the bathtub in Japan.

others

  • リンス    

rinse

conditioner

  • メロドラマ   

melodrama

soap opera

    "Melodrama" in Japan is used to describe soap operas while almost all of "soap operas" seem to be melodramas.

  • ワイドショウ 

wide-show

talk show / morning show

  • ゴールデンタイム

golden-time

prime-time

  • ベビーカー 

baby car

stroller

  • バギー     

buggy

umbrella stroller

    "Baby buggy" is used for a bigger one.

  • ベビーベッド 

baby bed

baby crib

    When my friend asked room service to bring baby crib, he somehow received a baby cream. He was disappointed by his English skill.

  • ヘルスメーター

health-meter

(bathroom) scales

  • テーブルセンター

table center

centerpiece

.

.

.

 

at School and Office

  • OL(オフィスレディー)

OL/office lady

women working in white-collar work place mainly doing clerical work.

    In US I sometimes see the existance of the word "OL" refferd as a symbol how unequally women in Japan are treated.

  • ホッチキス   

hotchkiss

stapler

    Hotchkiss is a name of the inventor.

  • ブラインドタッチ

blind touch 

touch typing

  • ダイアルイン

dial-in 

direct number

  • セロハンテープ 

cellophane tape

Scotch tape

  • シャープペンシル

sharp pencil

mechanical pencil

  • ボールペン  

ball pen

ball point pen

  • カンニング   

cunning

cheating

    When you have a exam at school. Not that you did.

  • リンチ

lynch

bullying/abuse/beating somebody up

  • シール   

seal

sticker

    In UK "Seal" is also used.

  • グラウンド   

ground

playground

  • プリント   

print

handout

NEXT   HOME