Counting the Words in the Dictionary
| Language | Words in the Dictionary |
| Korean | 1,100,373 |
| Japanese | 500,000 |
| Italian | 260,000 |
| English | 171,476 |
Full Answer
What are the most commonly used Japanese words?
Answer (1 of 5): There are many words in Japanese, as many as in English which also has a large lexicon. However, half the words in Japanese and more in the average printed text such as a newspaper, are in Kanji. There are only typically 1100 to 2000 Kanji in use which are used in combinations to...
What is the most common Japanese word?
Apr 05, 2013 · There are some 20,000 English words used in Japanese (more than your average speaker of English speaks), some garbled, some CLOSE to the actual English meaning. A better article would have been an informative one on the six or so different forms of 'Katakana English'; for example 1) those that closely resemble the actual English meaning: 'kuri-ningu' for dry …
What are some interesting Japanese words?
Feb 15, 2022 · At latest count, Japanese had roughly a modest 150 words from Japanese roots appearing in the English lexicon, but that number is growing. That said, we thought we’d showcase the Japanese words we use most in English – and 49 seems like more than enough, don’t you think? Without further ado, here’s everything you need to know about our 49 favourite …
What are some beautiful Japanese words?
Jul 12, 2013 · I have long marvelled at how many English and other loanwords there are in modern Japanese. On the shelves of my study and office are dictionaries of gairaigo 外来語 ("loanwords") that list tens of thousands of them. My two favorites are nyuansu ニュ アンス ("nuance") and arubaito アルバイト ("part-time job" < Germ. Arbeit).
How many English words are Japanese?
As far as I know, approximately 60% of kango (Chinese words), 30% of wago (original Japanese words), and 10% of gairaigo (non-Chinese loanwords); of this 10%, English is estimated to be responsible for about 80% (i.e. about 8% of the total vocabulary).
How much of Japanese vocabulary is English?
' In the contemporary Japanese vocabulary, English words dominate that category, with slightly more than 80 percent.
How many English words does Japanese borrow?
There are reportedly over 45,000 loanwords in the Japanese language, 90 percent of which have come from English.Nov 28, 2009
Do Japanese use any English words?
While the younger Japanese generations often use loanwords without even realizing they're originally from foreign languages, the older population hardly uses or understands them. The most basic loanwords are English words used in Japanese with the same meaning, but with Japanese pronunciation.May 13, 2021
Is Japanese a dead language?
Ever since the Meiji period, Japanese has become widely used among the Ainu people and consequently Ainu languages have been classified critically endangered by UNESCO. In addition, languages such as Orok, Evenki and Nivkh spoken in formerly Japanese controlled southern Sakhalin are becoming more and more endangered.
Why does Japanese sound like English?
Buddhist monks developed Japanese katakana in the 9th century as a short-hand. Now, Japanese texts write loan words from European languages or English in katakana. There are thousands of terms based on English, which is why some Japanese words might sound familiar!
What is the opposite of kanji?
Note that while kun'yomi are generally written as hiragana when writing out the word in kana instead of kanji (because native Japanese), these gairaigo kun'yomi are generally written as katakana (because a foreign borrowing).
How close is Japanese to Chinese?
The only major commonality between Japanese and Chinese is a common writing system, which the Japanese adopted in the 3rd Century. Previously, the language had no written form. The adoption of Kanji (Chinese characters, called Hanzi in their language of origin) carried with it the adoption of some Chinese loanwords.Apr 15, 2020
Why do Japanese songs have English words?
To attract foreign listeners The inclusion of the English language helps Japanese songs reach across a further distance. It also makes the song easier to sing along with, especially to foreign listeners. Hence, it also makes the song more accessible to non-Japanese audiences.
Is English popular in Japan?
Tokyo is definitely the place where English in Japan is most ubiquitous. In addition to bilingual signage in the Tokyo Metro, JR Lines and in popular areas like Asakusa and Shinjuku, a large percentage of people in Tokyo speak some English, even those who don't work in foreigner-facing professions.Aug 17, 2020
What is the letter S in Japanese?
Hiragana and Katakana in all their gloryAISさしTたちNなにHはひ7 more rows•Nov 19, 2019
How widely spoken is Japanese?
With a share of around 99%, it is most widespread in Japan. A total of about 125.8 m people worldwide speak Japanese as their mother tongue....Japanese speaking countries.CountryJapanRegionEast AsiaOfficial languageyesDistribution99.1 %Total124,703,0003 more columns
What is a baby car?
The term baby car is also a Japanese English phrase and refers to the English words stroller, pushchair or baby carriage; i.e. the thing you push a baby around in that looks sort of like a car. In Japan, potato fry is a food that is an accompaniment to a hamburger or a snack to be eaten with alcohol.
What does "morning call" mean?
The phrase morning call is one which defines being woken up by the hotel staff at your preferred time. Morning call is a phrase that has taken root in Japanese society; nevertheless the phrase used abroad carrying the same meaning and used much more commonly is wake-up call.
What is the Japanese word for laptop?
The word for laptop computer in Japanese English is Noto pasokon which is an abbreviation of notebook personal computer.
What does "ho mu" mean?
The one I think should be fixed is "ho-mu" meaning a train platform. Imagine your young Japanese backpacker trying to find the platform in London or NY! Platform is a simple two-syllable word. Inventing "ho-mu", also a two syllable word ,does not really help anyone, or the English language communication skills of Japanese people.
What is a Wasei Eigo?
A direct translation into English would be “Japanese-made English,” but put more simply the word refers to English words that, after a little tampering, have been adopted into the modern Japanese lexicon and used on an everyday basis. Despite having their origins in English, "wasei eigo" words often have quite different meanings to those on which ...
Can you shorten a word to say "computer"?
A shortening of a word native speakers don't even really use when talking about computers. Generally use just say computer instead of personal computer and only specify if we mean mainframe or business computer.
What does OL mean in Japanese?
Salary man , OL (Office Lady) - sararii man. During a trip abroad, it is not unusual to be asked about one’s occupation. Many Japanese believe that the word salary man is used as an everyday English word referring to men who work in an office. It is also believed that OL refers to women working in the same environment.
What does "sombrero" mean in Spanish?
Likewise, a sombrero in Spanish means hat (any hat with a brim), but in English refers specifically to the stereotypical Mexican hat with high peak and broad upturned brim.
What is the parallel of "boeuf" and "porc"?
Coby: The obvious (to me) parallel is the use of French words in English to denote the meat from an animal we use our native word for: beef (boeuf) from cattle, mutton (mouton) from sheep, pork (porc) from pigs …
What to do if someone doubts the old man's confusion?
If anyone (who reads Japanese) doubts the old man's confusion, they should try picking up a Japanese fashion magazine sometime. Most sentences there are entirely loan words. Read it out loud and it's like poorly understood French spoken in an unintelligible Japanese accent.
What is manga in Japan?
5. Manga. Japanese: 漫画 (まんが) Kanji Meaning: 漫 (まん) means “random” or “uncontrolled,” and 画 (が) is “picture.”. Manga, or Japanese comics, are extremely popular in Japan and beyond. Shelves of these visual stories can be seen not only in libraries and bookshops, but also in restaurants and convenience stores. 6.
What does karaoke mean in Japanese?
Karaoke. Japanese: カラオケ (からおけ) Kanji Meaning: As seen above, “karaoke” is now usually written in katakana in Japanese, such as on signs and buildings. However, the word originally came from the kanji 空 (から), meaning “empty,” and the katakana オケ, coming from the English “orchestra.”.
What is a futon bed?
Futons have been a traditional bed in Japan for centuries, therefore it’s unsurprising that English speakers borrowed this word to describe them. However, we also use this word in English to describe couches that also have fold-out beds. 30. Koi.
Where does the word "anime" come from?
Anime. Japanese: アニメ. Okay, this one might be cheating a little, as the word “anime” technically comes from the English word “animation ”—that’s why it appears in katakana, the writing system of choice for foreign words in Japanese—but it wouldn’t have felt right not to include it.
What is shiatsu massage?
Japanese: 指圧 (しあつ) Kanji Meaning: 指 (し) means “finger” and 圧 (あつ) is “pressure.”. You may have seen the word “shiatsu” outside massage parlors—it’s a Japanese style of body massage that supposedly supports the body’s natural defenses, helping people to heal and balance themselves in mind, body and spirit.
What does kanji mean in samurai?
Kanji Meaning: If anything can tell you how long Samurai have been around, it’s the fact that this word has an entire kanji for itself. 侍 (さむらい) means “to serve” as well as “warrior.”
What does yukata mean in kanji?
Kanji Meaning: 浴衣 is another ateji, but 浴 means “bathe” or “bask,” and 衣 means “clothing.” Perhaps this is because yukatas are worn to summer festivals, and therefore one can wear them and bask in the beautiful clothes they’re wearing.
What is the transfer student in anime?
The tenkousei (transfer student) is an enduring theme. Often, the creator of the work concludes that the character needs to speak English, German, or another language (at least once) in the story to evidence having been out of the country. This is an alternate case in which English or Engrish is inserted: while it gives the character a coolness factor, it predominantly provides an 'Other'-ness factor that contrasts the character against the others. The reason this works effectively is that, unlike the earlier generations of Japanese education in English, among young people, English is viewed as very 'Other,' foreign, and difficult: it is not something "we Japanese" speak in daily life; a classmate who can speak fluently is considered a novelty. Because mangaka and anime directors are more likely to have been educated in Japan, such as at the prevalent anime manga seiyuu senmongakkou (anime/manga/voice acting trade schools), they are not the most likely demographic to have studied abroad, worked abroad, or worked in an international company with branches in Japan; this is not to say that none of them are fluent or near-fluent in English or that none of them possess intercultural communication skills, but it is the case that not all of them have a functioning mastery of English or intercultural sensitivity. This may be a factor in why the English or Engrish that anime characters who lived abroad speak is often pronounced in exaggerated stereotyping of non-Japanese as boisterous, loud, outgoing, etc. and that when these characters speak Japanese, they talk in a mispronounced caricature of Japanese that does not accurately reflect the sorts of mispronunciations that actual non-Japanese of varying mother tongues do. This also is done to portray 'Other'-ness.
Is Japanese a lingua franca?
Among younger Japanese, despite not generally using English themselves communicatively for listening and speaking (most recent and current English education in Japan is grammar-focused reading and writing), it is considered to be the lingua franca of the planet and is associated with "international" and "globalization." In current Japanese education, the subject of Japanese language is called 「国語」 ( kokugo, meaning "national language," rather than meaning "Japanese". If, for example, the United States did this, instead of the subject of English it would be called the subject of National Language). In contrast to this, the other language subject in Japan's curriculum is called 「外国語」 ( gaikokugo, meaning "other/outer country language/s") but in the majority of schools, the only language offered for gaikokugo class is English. This further entrenches English as the international language in Japanese people's minds. When they see a Caucasian in Japan, they are overwhelmingly more likely to ask, "Do you speak English?" in English to the person than they are to ask, "Do you speak English?" or "Is Japanese alright?" in Japanese to the person. Many Japanese recognize that their English language ability is weak, but look forward to, and some are already working toward cultivating, a future in which they envision more Japanese being able to communicate in English. This is why sci-fi series such as Neon Genesis Evangelion select to include English, which is considered the way of the future: the plot involves the leaders and militaries of the entire Earth trying to work together, so settling on an in-universe lingua franca is realistic. Some anime do select Japanese as the in-universe lingua franca, but English is a common choice.
What are the loanwords in Japanese?
In Japanese language and culture, loanwords, garaigo, wasei eigo, and Engrish (each of these terms refer to distinctly different linguistic entities) bear connotations of "new," "cool," and "young"/"youthful," so in Japanese advertising, English words, French words, and katakana are utilized for products that the manufacturer wants to project an innovative or coolness factor, whereas they are intentionally and carefully avoided for products associated with concepts of tradition, vintage, and long-term repute (this is not only true among young Japanese, but is the general association among the populace; you can see this reflected in titles and character names from manga written in the 70s). Manga, anime, and j-pop generally fall into the "novel and exciting" category rather than into the traditional Japanese arts category, so peppering them with English, and Japanese variations on it, contributes to the association of the medium with "contemporary" and "hot." Digimon is definitely a series that wanted to be the "next big thing" in the footsteps of Pokemon, so "new" connotations can only be a plus. The arenas of manga, anime, gaming, and j-pop are very competitive and fans can be fickle; being new and cool is important for a successful launch and for maintaining a prominent place.
Is programming based on English?
Most programming languages are also based on English. As a result, it seems more authentic (or at least, it did at the time) to have computers and technology things entirely or mostly in English. I don't know if this is changing, now that there are Japanese-language programming languages, operating systems, etc.
Is manga a Japanese medium?
Manga, anime, and j-pop generally fall into the "novel and exciting" category rather than into the traditional Japanese arts category, so peppering them with English, and Japanese variations on it, contributes to the association of the medium with "contemporary" and "hot.".
