Wasei Eigo: A Unique Take on English

Japan has adopted many traditions and been influenced by Western culture since it opened its borders in the late 1800s. The same can be said of other countries that have also adopted Japanese elements into their culture. One of the most noticeable may in fact be the influence of the English language on Japanese. And while there is a unique phenomenon of the use of loan words in Japanese, or gairaigo, there is an even more interesting phenomenon known as “wasei eigo,” or Japanese-made English.

Origins of Wasei Eigo

As mentioned above, the adoption and adaptation of foreign words into the Japanese language is nothing new. There are Japanese words that stem from foreign languages dating back to the Edo period in the 1600s. Many of these would be considered gairaigo. These words often maintain the meaning of the original word in its native language. For example, take the word enerugi エネルギ, meaning energy, which comes from the German word “energie.” Wasei eigo, on the other hand, can sometimes be puzzling to native English speakers because the application and interpretation of these borrowed words isn’t always obvious. That’s because it is more of a home-grown version of English that’s been used frequently enough that it’s become a part of the Japanese language.

What is Wasei Eigo?

When you look at the kanji that make up the word wasei eigo, you will find wasei 和製, meaning Japanese made, and eigo 英語, meaning English. Given these kanji, it can be translated in a variety of ways: Japanese English, Japanified English, Japanized English, or even for a more fun interpretation, Japanglish.

Whichever way you translate it, wasei eigo reaches all levels of culture and language. There are words associated with entertainment, food, fashion, and even everyday items like staplers (known in Japanese as “hochikisu” after the old American office supply brand Hotchkiss). For that reason, wasei eigo is often a product of pop culture and brand marketing rather than deep academic references and thought. That’s why these words can seem so far removed and transformed from their original meaning.

Examples of Wasei Eigo

One dead giveaway of a wasei eigo word is that it’s written in katakana, one of the Japanese syllabary systems used for loan words and foreign names and phrases. Often the Japanese word is a phonetic translation using the patterns of the Japanese language.

Take the word salaryman in English. The wasei eigo version is “sarariman” サラリーマン and retains its original meaning. On the other hand, you have the word viking turned into “baikingu” バイキング which means buffet.

Japanglish words can also combine part of the original English word with a Japanese word, like “erito shain” エリート社員 or an elite/high-level employee. Then there is the famous karaoke カラオケ which combines the Japanese word empty “kara” 空 and an abbreviation of the English word orchestra, “oke” オケ.

Then there are words that simply morph English words to match more of the Japanese phonological patterns, often shortening them. Like “potechi” ポテチ for potato chip and “masukomi” マスコミ for mass communication or mass media.

As you can see, the influence of English on Japanese runs deep! But the same can be said for the reverse. There are plenty of Japanese words that have been adopted into the English language and that exchange will likely continue far into the future!

About the author: 

Kevin Kilcoyne

The spark that lit Kevin Kilcoyne’s interest in Japanese culture began in elementary school through a friendship with his then classmate Keisuke. Since then, that passion has evolved and bloomed to encompass more than just video games and manga, leading Kevin to live in Japan as a participant of the JET program. During his time in Japan, Kevin sought out as many foods as he could, the experiences and taste memories lingering long after they had gone. Now he is forging a path to link his passions for Japanese food, history, and visual culture and is planning for his return to live in Japan once again. For now, you can find Kevin on Instagram (@waruishouten) where he posts his photography and illustration work. Keep an eye out for more posts and updates as Kevin delves more deeply into his passions for writing and food.