Weekend Plus Desk :
English is a constantly evolving language and as the world gets more global, cultures and languages influence each other. Many people have a fascination with Japanese culture for its disciplined lifestyle and variety of art forms and thus many modern global trends have been inspired by Japan and Japanese words have found their way into the English language. While we all know the food words from their cuisine, like sushi or soya sauce, you might not know some of these words are Japanese:
Definitions taken from the Merriam-webster dictionary.
Ikebana
Definition: The Japanese art of flower arranging that emphasises form and balance.
The principles of ikebana are known by almost anyone who deals with flower arrangements professionally anywhere in the world today.
Haiku
Definition: An unrhymed verse form of Japanese origin having three lines containing usually five, seven, and five syllables respectively
Also, a poem in this form usually having a seasonal reference
Any poetry enthusiast knows of haiku, though only those who are good at counting syllables can master it, for learning to count syllables in English takes time as it’s not often taught in schools.
Anime
Definition: A style of animation originating in Japan that is characterized by stark colorful graphics depicting vibrant characters in action-filled plots often with fantastic or futuristic themes
While this is simply the word for animation in Japanese, it’s come to be a genre in English language for its distinctive art form and common themes. It has many followers worldwide.
Manga
Definition: Japanese comic books and graphic novels considered collectively as a genre.
Like Anime, Japanese comics have become a genre in themselves identified by their distinctive drawing style and plots. Due to the high demand, many are translated in English and the books are popular worldwide.
Kamikaze
Definition (noun): A member of a Japanese air attack corps in World War II assigned to make a suicidal crash on a target (such as a ship)
2: An airplane containing explosives to be flown in a suicide crash on a target
3: Having or showing reckless disregard for safety or personal welfare
The definitions show how the word evolved from Japanese to English. Translated kamikaze means ‘divine wind.’
Bonsai
Definition: a potted plant (such as a tree) dwarfed (as by pruning) and trained to an artistic shape
Also: The art of growing such a plant
One doesn’t have to be a gardening enthusiast or plant parent all know about bonsai trees. Now they’re available in plant species that aren’t even native to Japan all over the world.
Karaoke
Definition: A device that plays instrumental accompaniments for a selection of songs to which the user sings along and that records the user’s singing with the music
a karaoke machine
Also: A form of entertainment involving the use of such a device (as in a bar)
This word translates to ‘empty orchestra’ in Japanese, which is a beautiful description to this popular pastime. Karaoke is as universal as music and the word gets more and more popular as technology gets more inventive in spreading it.
Dojo
Definition: a school for training in various arts of self-defense (such as judo or karate)
Though this word first became popular in reference to training centres for karate or other Japanese martial arts, it’s now used for centres of many martial arts. Most dojos are more than a place to exercise but a culture of respect and learning and have a special place in the lives of all who attend.
Tycoon
Definition
1 a: A businessperson of exceptional wealth, power, and influence: MAGNATE
b: A top leader (as in politics)
2: SHOGUN: one of a line of military governors ruling Japan until the revolution of 1867-68
The definition shows how the word evolved from Japanese to English. The word comes from the Japanese word ‘taikun’ which translates to ‘great prince’ or ‘high commander.’
English is a constantly evolving language and as the world gets more global, cultures and languages influence each other. Many people have a fascination with Japanese culture for its disciplined lifestyle and variety of art forms and thus many modern global trends have been inspired by Japan and Japanese words have found their way into the English language. While we all know the food words from their cuisine, like sushi or soya sauce, you might not know some of these words are Japanese:
Definitions taken from the Merriam-webster dictionary.
Ikebana
Definition: The Japanese art of flower arranging that emphasises form and balance.
The principles of ikebana are known by almost anyone who deals with flower arrangements professionally anywhere in the world today.
Haiku
Definition: An unrhymed verse form of Japanese origin having three lines containing usually five, seven, and five syllables respectively
Also, a poem in this form usually having a seasonal reference
Any poetry enthusiast knows of haiku, though only those who are good at counting syllables can master it, for learning to count syllables in English takes time as it’s not often taught in schools.
Anime
Definition: A style of animation originating in Japan that is characterized by stark colorful graphics depicting vibrant characters in action-filled plots often with fantastic or futuristic themes
While this is simply the word for animation in Japanese, it’s come to be a genre in English language for its distinctive art form and common themes. It has many followers worldwide.
Manga
Definition: Japanese comic books and graphic novels considered collectively as a genre.
Like Anime, Japanese comics have become a genre in themselves identified by their distinctive drawing style and plots. Due to the high demand, many are translated in English and the books are popular worldwide.
Kamikaze
Definition (noun): A member of a Japanese air attack corps in World War II assigned to make a suicidal crash on a target (such as a ship)
2: An airplane containing explosives to be flown in a suicide crash on a target
3: Having or showing reckless disregard for safety or personal welfare
The definitions show how the word evolved from Japanese to English. Translated kamikaze means ‘divine wind.’
Bonsai
Definition: a potted plant (such as a tree) dwarfed (as by pruning) and trained to an artistic shape
Also: The art of growing such a plant
One doesn’t have to be a gardening enthusiast or plant parent all know about bonsai trees. Now they’re available in plant species that aren’t even native to Japan all over the world.
Karaoke
Definition: A device that plays instrumental accompaniments for a selection of songs to which the user sings along and that records the user’s singing with the music
a karaoke machine
Also: A form of entertainment involving the use of such a device (as in a bar)
This word translates to ‘empty orchestra’ in Japanese, which is a beautiful description to this popular pastime. Karaoke is as universal as music and the word gets more and more popular as technology gets more inventive in spreading it.
Dojo
Definition: a school for training in various arts of self-defense (such as judo or karate)
Though this word first became popular in reference to training centres for karate or other Japanese martial arts, it’s now used for centres of many martial arts. Most dojos are more than a place to exercise but a culture of respect and learning and have a special place in the lives of all who attend.
Tycoon
Definition
1 a: A businessperson of exceptional wealth, power, and influence: MAGNATE
b: A top leader (as in politics)
2: SHOGUN: one of a line of military governors ruling Japan until the revolution of 1867-68
The definition shows how the word evolved from Japanese to English. The word comes from the Japanese word ‘taikun’ which translates to ‘great prince’ or ‘high commander.’
