{{Short description|Pseudo-loanwords in Japanese}} {{Italic title}} {{nihongo||和製英語|'''Wasei-eigo'''|{{lit|Japanese-made English}}}} are Japanese-language expressions that are based on English words, or on parts of English phrases, but do not exist in standard English, or do not have the meanings that they have in standard English. In linguistics, they are classified as pseudo-loanwords or pseudo-anglicisms.
== Definition and examples == ''Wasei-eigo'' words, compound words and portmanteaus are constructed by Japanese speakers on the basis of loanwords derived from English and embedded into the Japanese lexicon with refashioned, novel meanings diverging significantly from the originals.<ref name="miller">Miller, L. (1998). Wasei eigo: English "loanwords" coined in Japan. The life of language: Papers in linguistics in honor of William Bright.</ref>{{rp|124}}
An example is {{nihongo||ハンドルキーパー|''handorukīpā''|"handle-keeper"}}, derived from "handle" with the meaning of "steering wheel", with the full phrase meaning designated driver.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://mentalfloss.com/article/63528/12-made-japan-english-terms-might-confuse-english-speakers | title = 12 "Made-in-Japan" English Terms that Might Confuse English Speakers | work = Mental Floss | author = Ellen Freeman | date = 15 January 2016 | access-date = 2019-09-19 | url-status = live | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190528201719/http://mentalfloss.com/article/63528/12-made-japan-english-terms-might-confuse-english-speakers | archive-date = 2019-05-28 | df = dmy }}</ref> Some ''wasei-eigo'' terms are not recognizable as English words in English-speaking countries; one example is {{nihongo||スキンシップ|''sukinshippu''|"skinship"}}, which refers to physical contact between close friends or loved ones and appears to be a portmanteau of ''skin'' and ''kinship''.<ref name="miura">Miura, Akira (1998). English in Japanese: a selection of useful loanwords.</ref>{{rp|156–157}} In other cases, a word may simply have gained a slightly different meaning; for instance, {{nihongo||カンニング|kanningu}} does not mean "cunning", but "cheating" (on an academic test). Some ''wasei-eigo'' are subsequently borrowed from Japanese into other languages, including English.{{example needed|date=April 2026}}
== Confusion with ''gairaigo'' == ''Wasei-eigo'' is often confused with ''gairaigo'', which refers simply to loanwords or "words from abroad". Some of the main contributors to this confusion are the phonological and morphological transformations that they undergo to suit Japanese phonology and syllabary.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Loveday |first=L |title=Language contact in Japan: A Sociolinguistic History |publisher=Clarendon Press |year=1996}}</ref> These transformations often result in truncated (or "backclipped") words and words with extra vowels inserted to accommodate the Japanese ''mora'' syllabic structure.<ref name=KAY/>{{rp|70}}{{example needed|date=April 2026}} ''Wasei-eigo'', on the other hand, is the re-working of and experimentation with these words that results in an entirely novel meaning as compared to the original intended meaning.<ref name=miller/>{{rp|123–139}}
== Compared to other Japanese word classes == ''Wasei-eigo'' is distinct from Engrish, the misuse or corruption of the English language by native Japanese speakers, as it consists of words used in Japanese conversation, not an attempt at speaking English.<ref>{{cite news |url= http://book.asahi.com/topics/TKY200510250115.html |script-title= ja:恥ずかしい和製英語 [著]スティーブン・ウォルシュ |trans-title= Embarrassing Japanese-English Words [Author] Stephen Walsh |date= October 28, 2005 |publisher= Weekly Asahi |first= Akira |last= Nagae |format= book review |access-date= July 29, 2014 |language= ja |archive-date= September 30, 2011 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110930085213/http://book.asahi.com/topics/TKY200510250115.html |url-status= dead }}</ref> These include acronyms and initialisms particular to Japan (see list of Japanese Latin alphabetic abbreviations). ''Wasei-eigo'' can be compared to {{Nihongo||和製漢語|wasei-kango|Japanese-created ''kango'' (Chinese compounds)}}, which are Japanese pseudo-sinicisms (Japanese words created from Chinese roots) and are also common.
== History and process == There was a large influx of English loanwords introduced to Japan during the Meiji period, which was an important factor in Japan's modernization.<ref>MacGregor, Laura (2003). The language of shop signs in Tokyo. English Today, null, pp 18 {{doi|10.1017/S0266078403001020}}</ref> Because they were so quickly accepted into Japanese society, there was not a thorough understanding of the actual meaning of the word, leading to misinterpretations and deviations from their original meaning.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2013-04-05 |title=20 words of English origin that Japanese people often mistake for real thing |url=https://japantoday.com/category/features/lifestyle/20-words-of-english-origin-that-japanese-people-often-mistake-for-real-thing |access-date=2025-01-15 |website=Japan Today |language=en}}</ref>
Since English loanwords are adopted into Japan intentionally (as opposed to diffusing "naturally" through language contact, etc.), the meaning often deviates from the original. When these loanwords become so deeply embedded in the Japanese lexicon, it leads to experimentation and re-fashioning of the words' meaning, thus resulting in ''wasei-eigo''.<ref name=miller/>{{rp|127}}
== In the media == Many scholars agree that the main proponent behind these ''wasei-eigo'' terms is the media, in order to create interest and novelty in their advertising and products.<ref name=miller/>{{rp|133}} The use of English words is also an attempt by advertisers to portray a modern, cosmopolitan image – one that is often associated with Western culture.<ref name=Hogan>Hogan, J. (2003). The social significance of English usage in Japan. Japanese studies, 23(1).</ref>{{rp|48}}
== Social connotations and main users == Though there is disagreement about the assumption that the majority of ''wasei-eigo'' are created by advertisers, the audience that predominantly uses ''wasei-eigo'' is youth and women.<ref name=miller/>{{rp|123–139}} Many Japanese consider English loanword usage to be more casual and as being used mainly among peers of the same status.<ref name=Hogan/>{{rp|49}} In addition, many ''wasei-eigo'' words are used to camouflage risqué terms and ideas, such as ''rabuho'' (love hotels), or the many ''massaaji'' (massage) and ''saabisu'' (service) associated with taboo topics. Finally, ''wasei-eigo'' may be used to express a poetic and emphatic need of the speaker, resulting in a new term.<ref name="miller" />
English loanwords are usually written in ''katakana'', making it apparent that they are words non-native to Japan.<ref name=KAY>KAY, G. (1995), English loanwords in Japanese. World Englishes, 14. {{doi|10.1111/j.1467-971X.1995.tb00340.x}}</ref>{{rp|73}} This links the meanings of the words with the idea of "foreignness". Because of this, ''wasei-eigo'' (and some English loanwords) is often used as a method for speaking about taboo and controversial topics in a safe and neutral way.<ref name=Hogan/>{{rp|52}} Further, being non-native Japanese words and marked as foreign in their writing, they can be associated with concepts and subjects that are non-normal, or uncommon in Japan.<ref name=Hogan/>{{rp|57}}
==See also== * Engrish * Wasei-kango * List of ''gairaigo'' and ''wasei-eigo'' terms * List of Japanese Latin alphabetic abbreviations * Konglish – the same phenomenon in Korean language * Bonin English, sometimes considered an Anglo-Japanese mixed language
==References== {{Reflist}}
==Further reading== * {{cite book |first= Laura |last= Miller |chapter= ''Wasei eigo'': English ‘loanwords' Coined in Japan |pages= 123–139 |chapter-url= https://books.google.com/books?id=28wDbfPg7QsC&q=wasei+eigo+Miller&pg=PA123 |title= The Life of Language: Papers in Linguistics in Honor of William Bright |series= Trends in Linguistics: Studies and Monographs |volume= 108 |editor1-first= Jane H. |editor1-last= Hill |editor2-first= P.J. |editor2-last= Mistry |editor3-first= Lyle |editor3-last= Campbell |isbn= 3-11-015633-4 |publisher= Mouton / De Gruyter |location= Berlin |date= 1997 }} at Google Books *{{cite book |title= Kenkyusha's New Japanese-English Dictionary |publisher= Kenkyusha Limited |location= Tokyo |isbn= 4-7674-2015-6 |editor1-first= Koh |editor1-last= Masuda |edition= 4th|date= 1991 }} *{{cite book |script-title=ja:用例でわかるカタカナ新語辞典 |language= ja|trans-title=Katakana Shingo-jiten (Katakana by Example New Word Dictionary) |last= Gakken |date= 2003 |publisher= 学習硏究社|isbn= 4-05-301351-8}} *{{cite book|last1=Miura|first1=Akira|title=English in Japanese : a selection of useful loanwords|date=1998|publisher=Weatherhill|location=New York [u.a.]|isbn=0834804212|edition=1. Weatherhill}}
==External links== {{wiktionarycat|category=Wasei eigo}} *[http://www.sljfaq.org/afaq/wasei-eigo.html ''Wasei-eigo'' examples] *[https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E3%83%8F%E3%83%B3%E3%83%89%E3%83%AB%E3%82%AD%E3%83%BC%E3%83%91%E3%83%BC Wiktionary entry for ''handorukīpā'']
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Wasei-Eigo}} Category:Wasei-eigo Category:Japanese vocabulary