Some Japanese loanwords are literal transcriptions of English loanwords. However, the ones that are not are ones that will cause trouble. There are 4 broad types:
- non-English loanwords
- English loanwords with clipping
- English loanwords with adjacent meanings
- Brand/People names
Here is a some (obviously non-exhaustive) examples. You could probably find more examples at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_gairaigo_and_wasei-eigo_terms I guess. But these were just some examples that I taken from a katakana reading practice anki deck.
Non-English Loanwords
| Japanese |
Meaning |
Origin |
Language |
| アンケート |
questionnaire, survey |
enquête |
French |
| アベック |
romantic couple |
avec |
French |
| プロフィール |
profile |
profil |
French |
| デッサン |
drawing |
dessin |
French |
| コンクール |
contest, competition |
concours |
French |
| シュークリーム |
cream puff |
chou à la crème |
French |
| ポシェット |
small pouch or purse |
pochette |
French |
| バカンス |
holiday, vacation |
vacances |
French |
| ピーマン |
bell pepper |
piment |
French |
| クレソン |
watercress |
cresson |
French |
| エステ |
beauty salon |
esthétique |
French |
| マロン |
chestnut |
marron |
French |
| ズボン |
trousers |
jupon |
French |
| ピエロ |
clown |
pierrot |
French |
| コンソメ |
a type of clear soup made by clarifying ordinary broth |
consommé |
French |
| アンニュイ |
boredom, feeling of weariness and dissatisfaction |
ennui |
French |
| イクラ |
salmon roe |
икра |
Russian |
| ノルマ |
quota, minimum requirements |
норма |
Russian |
| チジミ |
jeon, buchimgae |
지짐이 |
Korean |
| ポンプ |
pump |
pomp |
Dutch |
| コック |
a cook |
kok |
Dutch |
| ランドセル |
hard-sided backpack used by elementary school students |
ransel |
Dutch |
| オルゴール |
music box |
orgel |
Dutch |
| ペンキ |
house paint |
pek |
Dutch |
| ピンセット |
tweezers |
pincet |
Dutch |
| ゴム |
rubber |
gom |
Dutch |
| ピント |
focal point, point of a discussion |
brandpunt |
Dutch |
| ドイツ |
Germany |
Duitsland |
Dutch |
| スコップ |
shovel |
schop |
Dutch |
| スポイト |
syringe, dropper |
spuit |
Dutch |
| メス |
surgical knife |
mes |
Dutch |
| ブランコ |
swing |
balanço |
Portugese |
| カッパ |
raincoat |
capa de chuva |
Portugese |
| イギリス |
England |
inglês |
Portugese |
| ボタン |
button |
botão |
Portugese |
| ミイラ |
Egyptian mummy |
mirra |
Portugese |
| ヨーロッパ |
Europe |
Europa |
Portugese |
| ビロード |
velvet |
veludo |
Portugese |
| コップ |
drinking glass |
copo |
Portugese |
| シャボン玉 |
soap bubble |
xabon |
Spanish |
| エネルギッシュ |
energetic |
energisch |
German |
| ヒステリー |
loss of self control |
hysterie |
German |
| クランケ |
medical patient |
kranke |
German |
| バイト |
part-time job |
Arbeit |
German |
| ボンベ |
cannister for storing pressurised gas |
bombe |
German |
| ギプス/ギブス |
medical cast |
gips |
German |
| ガーゼ |
gauze |
gaze |
German |
| ゲレンデ |
sky slope |
gelände |
German |
| テーマ |
topic, theme |
thema |
German |
| ノイローゼ |
neurosis |
neurose |
German |
| カルテ |
medical records |
karte |
German |
| アクリル |
acrylic |
acryl |
German |
| オナニー |
masturbation |
onanie |
German |
| チャーシュー |
cha shu |
叉燒 |
Cantonese |
| シューマイ |
siew mai |
燒賣 |
Cantonese |
English Loanwords with Clipping
It is interesting to see how Japanese clipping absolutely butcher the English language. Since they do not have any idea what morphemes of the words are, their clipping are sometimes nonsensical to English speakers. An example of this is スト which is taken from the word “strike”. But the only information you get as an English speaker from スト is “st”. Another example is ミシン which is taken from the word “sewing machine”, but the only information we get as an English spaker is “machine”, which is very easy to confuse.
| Japanese |
Origin |
| アクセル |
accelerator pedal |
| スリル |
thrill |
| テレカ |
telephone card (prepaid card for public phones) |
| ミス |
mistake |
| センチ |
centimeter |
| アルミ |
aluminium |
| ヨット |
yacht |
| フェチ |
fetish |
| セクハラ |
sexual harassment |
| アポ |
appointment |
| オードブル |
hors-d’œuvre |
| ワープロ |
word processor |
| マゾ |
masochist |
| ホイル |
aluminium foil |
| アイス |
ice cream |
| リモコン |
remote control |
| コラボ |
collaboration |
| ネル |
flannel |
| エキス |
extract |
| モノクロ |
monochrome |
| ゼリー |
jelly |
| テキスト |
textbook |
| グロ |
grotresque |
| テロ |
terrorism |
| プッシュホン |
push-button telephone |
| ミシン |
sewing machine |
| 満タン |
full tank |
| レジ |
cash register |
| ネガ |
negative |
| プロ |
professional |
| ステンレス |
stainless steel |
| パイン |
pineapple |
| ユーモア |
humor |
| クラシック |
classical music |
| オーライ |
all right |
| タオルケット |
towel blanket |
| オートロック |
automatic locking door |
| ルー |
roux |
| ユダヤ |
Jews |
| アメフト |
American football |
| スト |
labor strike |
| メイク |
make-up |
| ギブ |
give up |
| キロ |
kilometer, kilogram |
English Loanwords with Adjacent Meaning
| Japanese |
Meaning |
Origin |
| イメージ |
mental impression, view |
image |
| ソフトクリーム |
soft serve ice cream |
soft cream |
| ウィンカー |
vehicle turn signal |
winker |
| ハイヤー |
chauffeur-driven vehicle for hire |
hire |
| ノークレームノーリターン |
sold “as is” |
no claim no hire |
| フリーサイズ |
one size fit all |
free size |
| マスコミ |
mass media |
mass communication |
| シャーペン |
mechanical pencil |
sharp pencil |
| ビジネスホテル |
budget hotel |
business hotel |
| キーホルダー |
keychain |
key holder |
| プレイガイド |
ticket agency |
play guide |
| カンニング |
acedemic cheating |
cunning |
| ドンマイ |
don’t worry about it |
don’t mind |
| ジャンパー |
jacket, windbreaker |
jumper |
| ファイト |
do your best! |
fight! |
| スリーサイズ |
bust-waist-hips measurements |
three sizes |
| ドクター ストップ |
doctor’s orders to stop smoking, drinking, etc. |
doctor stop |
| マイナスドライバー |
flathead screwdriver |
minus driver |
| プラスドライバー |
philips head screwdriver |
plus driver |
| ロードショー |
film premeire |
roadshow |
| ゲームセンター |
arcade |
game center |
| サイン |
signature, autograph |
sign |
| オンリーワン |
one of a kind |
only one |
| ベビーカー |
pram |
baby car |
| ペンチ |
pliers |
pinch |
| リサイクルショップ |
second hand store |
recycle shop |
| マンツーマン |
one-to-one |
man-to-man |
| リベンジ |
rematch |
revenge |
| バックミラー |
rear-view mirror |
back mirror |
| オープンカー |
convertible car |
open car |
| ダストボックス |
rubbish bin |
dust box |
| ガッツポーズ |
fist pump, victory pose |
guts pose |
| モーニング |
breakfast of coffee, toast, hard-boiled egg etc. served at cafes |
morning |
| ハイタッチ |
high five |
high touch |
| サイドブレーキ |
hand brake |
side brake |
| トランクルーム |
storage room |
trunk room |
| ラフ |
casual clothing |
rough |
| パンク |
flat tire |
puncture |
| ベッドタウン |
bedroom community |
bed town |
| ジェットコースター |
roller coaster |
jet coaster |
| ペアルック |
matching outfits |
pair look |
| ジョッキ |
beer mug |
jockey |
| ジーパン |
jeans |
G pants |
| ダンプカー |
rubbish truck |
dump car |
| エンスト |
automobile engine stalling |
engine stop |
| キャッチホン |
call waiting |
catch phone |
| プッシュホン |
push-button telephone |
push phone |
| ポケベル |
pager |
pocket bell |
| ガードマン |
security guard |
guard man |
| ペーパーカンパニー |
shell corporation |
shell corporation |
| バーゲン |
a sale at a store |
bargain |
| ハイネック |
turtleneck |
high neck |
| マイカー |
private owned car (not necessarily the speaker’s own) |
my car |
| ヘアピンカーブ |
hairpin turn |
hairpin curve |
| フライドポテト |
french fries |
fried potato |
| ロープウェー |
cable car |
ropeway |
| ライフライン |
essential utilities |
lifeline |
| フライ |
deep-fried food |
fry |
| メーカー |
manufacturer |
maker |
| ワイシャツ |
formal office shirt (of any color) |
white shirt |
| テンキー |
numeric keypad |
ten key |
| カモン |
invitation to join an activity |
come on |
| アフターサービス |
customer service, warranty service |
after service |
| ブックカバー |
dust jacket |
book cover |
| ウォシュレット |
toilet with a built-in bidet |
wash toilet |
| シール |
sticker, decal |
seal |
| トランプ |
playing card |
trump |
| テレビゲーム |
video game |
television game |
| パンスト |
pantyhose |
panty stocking |
| パトカー |
police car |
patrol car |
| フロントガラス |
windscreen |
front glass |
| フロント |
reception desk |
front desk |
| アメリカンドッグ |
corn dog |
American dog |
| ライブハウス |
club with live music |
live house |
| シーエム |
television commericial |
CM (commercial message) |
| オペ |
surgical operation |
OP (operation) |
| プラスアルファ |
something extra, something on top |
plus alpha |
| ナイター |
sports game that takes place at night |
nighter |
| ストーブ |
room heater |
stove |
| ムーディー |
having a good atmosphere, romantic |
moody |
| ワンピース |
dress |
one piece |
| トレーナー |
sweatshirt |
trainer |
| マニア |
euthusiast |
mania |
| リードオンリーメンバー |
internet lurker |
read-only member |
| マグカップ |
mug |
mug cup |
| サイダ |
carbonated soft drink (usually fruit flavored) |
cider |
| バリアフリー |
accessible facilities for disabled persons |
brarrier free |
| リフォーム |
remodel, rennovation |
reform |
Brand/People Names
| Japanese |
Meaning |
Origin |
| シーチキン |
canned tuna |
Sea Chicken (Company) |
| クラクション |
car horn |
Klaxon (Company) |
| マジックテープ |
velcro |
Magic Tape (Trademark) |
| ホッチキス |
stapler |
E. H. Hotchkiss (Company) |
| レントゲン |
X-ray |
Wilhelm Röntgen (Person) |
| マジックインキ |
felt-tip pen, permanent marker |
Magic Ink (Trademark) |
| セメダイン |
glue |
Cemedine (Company) |