Gairaigo 外来語

gairaigo 外来語 is a type of gairaigo. In particular, Chinese loan-words are not gairaigo. One of its synonyms, yougo 洋語, would imply it refers only to "western words," that is, words from outside of Asia.

The kanji of gairaigo 外来語 are literally "outside-coming word," the very definition of loan-word. But it's better to think of it like the term

Because normally yokomoji 横文字, literally "horizontal letters," is also synonymous with the foreign words.

Examples

Most of the time, the gairaigo come from the English language. The term may also refer to words coming from other languages like French, German, etc. but it's mostly English.

The main reason for this is that foods, fads, products, services, etc. from America when imported to Japan get their names loaned from the English. For example:

• aisu kuriimu アイスクリーム
  Ice cream.
• keeki ケーキ
  Cake.
• koohii コーヒー
  Coffee.
• furaido chikin フライドチキン
  Fried chicken.
• suupaamaaketto スーパーマーケット
  Super-market.
• robotto ロボット
  Robot.
• animeshon アニメション
  Animation.
• intaanetto インターネット
  Internet.
• burogu ブログ
  Blog.
• bideo ビデオ
  Video.

This even happens with holidays and customs.

• kurisumasu クリスマス
  Christmas.
• merii kurisumasu メリークリスマス
  Merry Christmas.
• harowin ハロウィン
  Halloween.
• torikku oa toriito トリック・オア・トリート
  Trick or treat.

And not all of them come from English.

• arubaito アルバイト
  Part-time job. (German's "arbeit")
• orugooru オルゴール
  Music box. (Dutch's "orgel")
• pan パン
  Bread. (Portuguese's "pão")
• sarada サラダ
  Salad. (Portuguese's "salad")
• coppu コップ
  Glass (of water, etc.). (Portuguese's "copo")

False Examples

There are some words people think are gairaigo even though they are not.

Notoriously, arigatou 有難う is often said to have come from "obrigado" in Portuguese, because both mean "thank you." This isn't true. It comes from arigatai 有り難い, literally "difficult to exist," referring to acts of kindness, which don't happen so easily.

neta ネタ, meaning "content," and part of the word for tane 種, "seed," spelled backwards. (neta ネタ, tane タネ)

Another example:ネタ, meaning "content," and part of the word for "spoiler" in Japanese , is just the word種, "seed," spelled backwards. (ネタ,タネ)

Written with Katakana

One difference between gairaigo and Chinese loan-words is that Chinese loan-words can be written with their kanji, since the kanji Japan uses were originally imported from China. Meanwhile, gairaigo are normally written with katakana.

The process by which a foreign word gets written with katakana is sometimes referred to as gairaigo are sometimes called "katakana words," or katakana is often a gairaigo.

Written with Kanji

In rare cases, a gairaigo may be written with kanji despite kanji for the foreign word not existing originally. The kanji used in words that don't really have kanji are called ateji 当て字. Note that, when ateji is used, the kanji meanings rarely make any sense at all, and it's just a game of matching the readings with the katakana. For example:

• amerika アメリカ
  The US of A.
• amerika 亜米利加
  The... huh....
  亜 come-after...
  米 rice...
  利加 profit addition!

Gaikougo 外行語

from Japanese to other languages (including English, of course), like tsunami, kimono, bento, manga, anime, etc. are called gaikougo 外行語. (here's a page on it:

By the way, words like loanedJapanese to other languages (including English, of course), like tsunami, kimono, bento, manga, anime, etc. are called外行語. (here's a page on it: 外来語と外行語

This is because gairaigo 外来語 is written written with the kanji for kuru 来る, "to come," so the opposite must be written the kanji for iku 行く, "to go."

In Japanese, a外来語 is a type of loan-word . Not all words loaned to Japanese are called. In particular, Chinese loan-words are not. One of its synonyms,洋語, would imply it refers only to "western words," that is, words from outside of Asia.The kanji of外来語 are literally "outside-coming word," the very definition of loan-word. But it's better to think of it like the term gaijin 外人 , that is, it doesn't apply to China and Korea for some reason.Because normally Japanese is written vertically , and the gairaigo usually come from languages written horizontally, the term横文字, literally "horizontal letters," is also synonymous with the foreign words.One difference betweenand Chinese loan-words is that Chinese loan-words can be written with their, since theJapan uses were originally imported from China. Meanwhile,are normally written withThe process by which a foreign word gets written with katakana is sometimes referred to as katakanization . In Japan, theare sometimes called "katakana words," or katakanago カタカナ語 , because a word written withis often aIn rare cases, amay be written withdespitefor the foreign word not existing originally. Theused in words that don't really haveare called当て字. Note that, whenis used, themeanings rarely make any sense at all, and it's just a game of matching the readings with the. For example: