Gai Rai Go Japanese words from foreign languages.

外来語

Gai Rai Go is both a joy and a trial for foreigners in Japan. In a sea of Kanji and squiggles you sometimes come across a word that has obviously come from another language, increasing your chances of understanding it, ...or so you think.

They are almost always written in Katakana, the more angular of the two scripts, so this is a signal that that you are about to launch into a hybrid world.

The most common borrowings are from English, followed by French, German, Portuguese and Italian. The problems though are many:

Firstly you have to say the word aloud often with a Japanese accent to try and work out what it originally was. Secondly Japanese poetic license has often led the word far from its original meaning. Basically every time you are tackling a one-word cryptic crossword.

Say hello to furosuti.

The results of this all this are often quite hilarious:

Some of my favourites are listed here, see if you can work them out: The answers are below:

1)   Patoka

2)    Manshyun

3)    Renji

4)   Wapro

5)   Serufu

6)   Consento

7)   Rasutosheen

8)   Pan

9)   Konbeeni

10) Bikingu

11)  Arubaito

12)  Anketo

13)  Heapinkabu

14)  Semi

 Kohi and sandoichi available at this place.

 Takushi!

The ubiquitous Makudonarudo Hanbaagaa.








 Answers:

1)   Patoka:          A police car. ...Patrol Car


2)   Manshyun:   Not a huge house with indoor pool, but the Japanese word for an  
                           apartment.


3)    Renji:           A microwave oven......Range


4)   Wapro:         Word Processor


5)   Serufu:           Self Service

6)   Consento:     An electric wall plug/socket.... from "consent" if you can believe it.


7)   Rasutosheen:  You're just starting to enjoy a film then unfortunately it the
                              Rasutosheen.


8)   Pan:               Bread, from the French "pain".


9)   Konbeeni:      A convenience store.


10) Bikingu:          A smorgasbord, from "Viking".

11).  Arubaito:     Part time work, from the German "Arbeit", work.

12)  Anketo:       A questionnaire from the French "Enquete", which has the same
                           meaning.


13) Heapinkabu:  A hairpin curve/bend.

14) Semi:          A tutorial, from "seminar".



But it is not a one way street. in English we have from the Japanese:

Rickshaw:   Jinrikusha, person effort car.

and

Tycoon:       Daikun.  Big man/noble.