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Wasei-Eigo in Japanese
Explore Wasei-Eigo terms, English-looking words and expressions created or reshaped in Japanese.
Wasei-Eigo means “English made in Japan”: words or expressions built from English elements but created, shortened, or reshaped inside Japanese. They can look familiar to English speakers while carrying a meaning that differs from standard English.
This type matters because Wasei-Eigo can mislead intuition. A word may sound English-like but refer to a narrower, broader, or different concept in Japanese. Entries appear here only when the data supports the Wasei-Eigo label.
1994 entries
Showing 1-48 of 1994 entries // Page 1 of 42
アイススマック
aisu sumakku
Chocolate-coated ice cream on a stick.
アイビースタイル
aibii sutairu
A clothing style inspired by Ivy League and preppy American fashion.
アイメイト
ai meito
A dog trained to guide a blind person.
アイライン
ai rain
Eye makeup used to line the eyelids or emphasize the eyes.
アウテリア
auteria
The exterior of a building.
アウトウェア
autowea
Outer clothing worn over other clothes.
アウトコース
auto koosu
A pitch on the outside part of the strike zone or the outside lane/track.
アウトボクシング
auto bokushingu
Boxing style that keeps distance and attacks from outside.
アウトポケット
auto poketto
A pocket set on the outside of a garment.
アクアトロン
akuatoron
Control system for maintaining an artificial environment for aquatic plants and animals.
アゲンストウインド
agensuto uindo
A wind blowing against the direction of travel; by extension, an unfavorable current or situation.
アジビラ
ajibira
An abbreviated term for a propaganda leaflet or handbill.
アスピリンスノー
asupirin sunoo
A term for very fine, loose snow that flows easily.
アットホーム
atto hoomu
Comfortably warm, relaxed, and informal in atmosphere.
アップスタイル
appu sutairu
A hairstyle with the hair swept up.
アップダウン
appu daun
A pattern of rises and falls; ups and downs.
アドバルーン
ado baruun
A balloon used for advertising or promotion.
アドミッションフリー
adomisshon furii
Admission without charge.
アフターサービス
afutaa saabisu
Service provided after a sale, especially for repairs, support, or warranty handling.
アフタースキー
afutaa sukii
Activities or clothing associated with relaxing after skiing.
アフターレコーディング
afutaa rekoodingu
Recording or replacing dialogue or sound after the original shoot.
アメラグ
ameragu
A dated clipped term for American football.
アメリカンコーヒー
amerikan koohii
Weak drip coffee served in the American style.
アンコールアワー
ankooru awaa
A TV time slot for reruns of popular shows.
アンダースキル
andaa sukiru
A shortage of skilled workers.
アンダースロー
andaasuroo
A baseball pitch or throw made with an underhand motion.
アンテナショップ
antena shoppu
A shop used to promote regional specialties or test-market new products.
イージーオーダー
iijii oodaa
A suit made to semi-custom specifications.
イメージアップ
imeeji appu
Improvement in the public image or impression of someone or something.
イメージキャラクター
imeeji kyarakutaa
A character or person used to represent a brand, campaign, or organization.
イメージダウン
imeeji daun
A decline in someone's or something's public image or reputation.
イメージメーカー
imeeji meekaa
A person who creates or manages a favorable image for a campaign, product, or candidate.
イレギュラーバウンド
iregyuraa baundo
A bad bounce of the ball, especially in tennis or baseball.
インカムゲイン
inkamu gein
Money earned from interest or dividends.
インコース
in koosu
In baseball, the inside course or an inside pitch near the batter.
インサイドワーク
insaido waaku
A clever or tactical play, especially in baseball.
インターハイ
intaahai
A Japanese interscholastic athletics competition.
インハイ
inhai
A baseball pitch aimed high and inside.
ウェイティングサークル
weitingu saakuru
The circle where the next batter waits before going to bat.
エアガール
ea gaaru
A female cabin attendant; an older term.
エアータオル
eaa taoru
A hand dryer.
エステティックサロン
esutetikku saron
A beauty salon or beauty-treatment clinic.
エンジンキー
enjin kii
A key used to start a vehicle's engine or ignition system.
オーダーメイド
oodaa meido
Made to order, especially clothing or other custom goods.
オートキャンプ
ootokyanpu
Camping done with a car or camper, often at a site where vehicles can be parked beside the tent area.
オートクラッチ
ooto kuracchi
A clutch mechanism that engages or disengages automatically.
オートバイ
ootobai
A two-wheeled motor vehicle.
オートリバース
ooto ribaasu
A tape recorder with automatic reverse playback.