Wasei-Eigo — Japanese-Made English
Words that look English but mean something completely different in Japanese.
Browse by category
アフターサービス
afutā sābisu
Post-purchase customer support (warranty repairs, inspections, help-desk inquiries) ≠ after service
business エアコン
eakon
An air conditioning unit ≠ air conditioner
technology アメリカンコーヒー
amerikan kōhī
A light, mild drip coffee (lightly roasted or diluted with hot water) ≠ American coffee
food アルバイト
arubaito
A part-time job (especially for students or young people) ≠ arbeit
work ベビーカー
bebīkā
A baby stroller / pushchair / pram ≠ stroller
daily-life バックミラー
bakku mirā
A rearview mirror or side mirror on a vehicle ≠ back mirror
transportation バックナンバー
bakku nanbā
A back issue (magazine), past episode (show/podcast), or jersey number (sports) ≠ back number
media ボールペン
bōrupen
A ballpoint pen ≠ ball(point) pen
stationery ビジネスホテル
bijinesu hoteru
A compact, affordable hotel for business travelers ≠ business hotel
travel クレーム
kurēmu
A customer complaint or grievance ≠ claim
business コンセント
konsento
An electrical outlet / wall socket / power plug ≠ outlet
daily-life コストダウン
kosuto daun
Cost reduction / cost cutting (manufacturing or operational) ≠ cost down
business コストパフォーマンス
kosuto pafōmansu
Value for money / cost-effectiveness (often shortened to コスパ) ≠ cost performance
business クリームソーダ
kurīmu sōda
Green melon soda topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream ≠ cream soda
food カンニング
kanningu
Cheating on an exam or test ≠ cunning
education ドクターストップ
dokutā sutoppu
A doctor's order to stop an activity for health reasons ≠ doctor stop
daily-life ファイト
faito
A cheer of encouragement ("Go for it!" / "You can do it!" / "Hang in there!") ≠ fight
slang フリーダイヤル
furī daiyaru
A toll-free phone number (starting with 0120 or 0800) ≠ free dial
business フリーター
furītā
A person who moves between part-time jobs without pursuing a career (typically young adults) ≠ free + Arbeiter
work フライドポテト
furaido poteto
French fries (deep-fried potato sticks served as a side dish or snack) ≠ fried potato
food フロントガラス
furonto garasu
The front window of a car (windshield / windscreen) ≠ front glass
transportation ジーパン
jīpan
Jeans (denim pants) ≠ jeans pants (or possibly G.I. pants)
fashion ガソリンスタンド
gasorin sutando
A gas station / petrol station / filling station ≠ gas station
daily-life ゴールイン
gōru in
Crossing the finish line; figuratively, getting married ≠ goal in
daily-life ゴールデンウィーク
gōruden wīku
A cluster of national holidays from late April to early May (approx. April 29 – May 5) ≠ Golden Week
culture ガッツポーズ
gattsupōzu
A triumphant victory pose with clenched, raised fists ≠ guts pose
sports ハンドル
handoru
A steering wheel (car) or handlebars (bicycle/motorcycle) ≠ handle
transportation ハプニング
hapuningu
An unexpected mishap or comedic accident ≠ happening
general ハイタッチ
hai tacchi
A high five (slapping palms together in celebration) ≠ high five
daily-life ホームページ
hōmupēji
An entire website (a company's or person's whole site) ≠ home page
technology ホットケーキ
hotto kēki
A thick, sweet pancake eaten as a snack or dessert ≠ hot cake
food ホッチキス
hotchikisu
A stapler (the desktop tool that binds paper with metal staples) ≠ Hotchkiss (brand name)
stationery ジェットコースター
jetto kōsutā
A roller coaster (also used metaphorically for dizzying ups and downs) ≠ jet coaster
leisure ジャンボ
janbo
A prefix meaning extra-large, giant, or mega (size, scale, or fame) ≠ jumbo
general カラオケボックス
karaoke bokkusu
A private, soundproofed karaoke room rented by the hour ≠ karaoke box
entertainment キーホルダー
kī horudā
A key chain / key ring (often a decorative charm) ≠ key holder
fashion クラクション
kurakushon
A car horn ≠ klaxon
transportation レベルアップ
reberu appu
An improvement, upgrade, or advancement (skills, products, services) ≠ level up
daily-life ライブハウス
raibu hausu
A small live music venue / club ≠ live house
entertainment メールマガジン
mēru magajin
An email newsletter (often shortened to メルマガ) ≠ mail + magazine
tech マンション
manshon
An apartment building (usually reinforced concrete, mid-to-high range) ≠ mansion
housing モーニング
mōningu
A morning set / breakfast deal at a cafe (coffee + toast + egg, often for just the price of coffee) ≠ morning
food モーニングコール
mōningu kōru
A scheduled wake-up phone call ≠ morning call
daily-life マフラー
mafurā
A winter scarf (a long woolen or knitted neck wrap for warmth) ≠ muffler
fashion マグカップ
magu kappu
A mug (handled cup for hot drinks) ≠ mug (cup)
home マイカー
maikā
A privately owned car (as a lifestyle category) ≠ my car
transportation マイホーム
maihōmu
An owned house, especially as a life goal (home ownership) ≠ my home
housing マイペース
mai pēsu
Going at one's own pace; being unhurried and doing things one's own way ≠ my pace
personality ナイーブ
naību
Sensitive, delicate, gentle (positive connotation) ≠ naive
personality ナイター
naitā
A night game (sports match played at night, especially baseball) ≠ night game
sports ノースリーブ
nōsurību
Sleeveless (clothing without sleeves) ≠ no sleeve
fashion ノートパソコン
nōto pasokon
A laptop computer (portable personal computer) ≠ laptop
technology OL
ōeru
A female office worker (typically clerical/administrative) ≠ office lady
work ワンパターン
wan patān
Predictable / repetitive / formulaic / a one-trick pony ≠ one pattern
slang ワンピース
wanpīsu
A dress (a women's garment with top and skirt joined as a single piece) ≠ one-piece
fashion ワンルーム
wan rūmu
A studio apartment (single combined room with separate bath) ≠ one room
housing オーダーメイド
ōdā meido
Custom-made / made-to-order ≠ order made
fashion ペーパードライバー
pēpā doraibā
A person who has a driver's license but rarely or never drives ≠ paper driver
daily-life パーカー
pākā
A hoodie / hooded sweatshirt (casual pullover with hood) ≠ parka
fashion ペットボトル
pettobotoru
A plastic drink bottle (for tea, water, juice, etc.) ≠ PET bottle
daily-life ピアス
piasu
Pierced earrings or body-piercing jewelry ≠ pierce
fashion プラスアルファ
purasu arufa
A little extra / a bonus / above and beyond a stated amount ≠ plus alpha
business プリン
purin
Caramel custard pudding (crème caramel / flan) ≠ pudding
food リフォーム
rifōmu
Home renovation, remodeling (kitchen, bathroom, etc.) ≠ reform
housing リモコン
rimokon
A remote control (for TV, AC, etc.) ≠ remote control
technology サラリーマン
sarariiman
A male white-collar office worker, typically a full-time company employee ≠ salary man
work サービス
sābisu
A freebie / something free of charge / a discount ≠ service
daily-life シャープペンシル
shāpu penshiru
A mechanical pencil (with a propelling lead refill) ≠ sharp pencil (from "Ever-Ready Sharp Pencil")
stationery ショートケーキ
shōtokēki
A sponge cake with whipped cream and strawberries (the iconic Japanese cake) ≠ shortcake
food シャッターチャンス
shattā chansu
The perfect moment to take a photograph ≠ shutter chance
daily-life サイン
sain
A signature or autograph (written by hand) ≠ sign
daily-life スキンシップ
sukinshippu
Physical closeness or contact between people, especially parent-child bonding through touch ≠ skinship
culture スマート
sumāto
Slim, slender, stylish (referring to body shape or appearance) ≠ smart
fashion ソフトクリーム
sofuto kurīmu
Soft-serve ice cream served in a cone ≠ soft cream
food テンション
tenshon
Energy level, excitement, or mood (テンション高い = hyped up, excited) ≠ tension
daily-life トレーナー
torēnā
A crewneck sweatshirt (cotton pullover without a hood) ≠ trainer
fashion トランプ
toranpu
Playing cards (the deck itself, or card games in general) ≠ trump
entertainment バイキング
baikingu
An all-you-can-eat buffet restaurant or buffet-style meal ≠ viking
food バージンロード
bājin rōdo
The wedding aisle (in a Western-style chapel ceremony) ≠ virgin road
wedding ウィンカー
winkā
A car's turn signal / blinker / indicator ≠ winker
transportation ワイシャツ
waishatsu
A dress shirt / button-down shirt (the kind worn with suits) ≠ white shirt
fashion