Brenton
Philip SharpTrickier Katakana Words
June 1st 2007 21:46
Well, it seems by now you must have the hang of katakana. You've been exposed to a fair number of very common words, in English and Japanese, and I suggest you use them frequently!
However! Katakana is, after all, meant only to approximate the phonemes of a loan word from a foreign language. As such, sometimes some guesswork is involved to figure out what, exactly, a katakana word is trying to say.
Additionally, if a loanword is being adopted into the Japanese language, it is subject to the very distinct possibility of becoming mistranslated, a malapropism, or otherwise a bit... off.
Finally -- let's not be so English-centric! -- katakana is used to write loanwords adopted from a variety of languages.
So! Let's have a look as some words that may at first leave you scratching your head -- but that are, in fact, very useful. I'll list the words first, and then the explanations beneath. No peeking!
１．バイキング
２．チョコレート
３．ショコラー
4. サービス
５．スキンシップ
６．パン
7. アルバイト
８．パチスロ
９。スナック
１０．ソース
.
.
.
OK! You ready? Could figure them out? Let's take a look.
1. baikingu = "viking". This has a specific usage, though: a (sometimes) all-you-can-drink, (usually) all-you-can-eat buffet. Get it? Vikings, ostensibly, eat like mad!
2. chokoreito = "chocolate". Simple enough.
3. A trick! shokoraa = "chocolate"... but in French. Japanese restaurants and bakeries may make the distinction as a suggestion of higher quality or style.
4. saabisu = "service". Not really "service" in the general English sense, but a hook-up or freebie at a shop or restaurant. Say you buy four beers and the waitress brings you a fifth -- you may hear "saabisu desu!" as if to say "here's one on me!"
5. sukinshippu = "skinship" ... Sounds dirty, eh? It can mean a close (read: physical) relationship, but it also refers to the idea in parenting that physical contact is important in a child's upbringing.
6. pan = "pan". It seems like everyone in the world calls bread "pan" or some varient, except for we Yanks (note: I'm speaking for myself here). Well, Japan has noticed the fault, and thus use the word "pan" and not "bread".
7. arubaito = "arbeit". German word for part-time job -- this is very common in Japan. You may hear it shortened as "baito".
8. pachisuro. This one's tricky; it refers to a hybrid amusement/gambling game in Japan that combines a western-style slot machine with Japanese pachinko. So: the "pachi" in pachinko meets to "suro" in surotto (slot). パチスロ！！！
9. sunakku = "snack". It doesn't actually refer to food eaten between meals -- it's the word applied to a type of hostess bar where you're charged quite a lot for the "snack" you eat amidst female company the moment you sit down. Sound confusing? It is. I wandered into one while looking for dinner one night -- I thought a "snack" sounded like cheap food! HA! Not recommended for those on a budget or those unsure about their Japanese.
10. sousu = "sauce". This usually refers specifically to a delicious, thick, dark brown sauce you'll find on okonomiyaki, yakisoba, and other yummies. Mmmm! Other sauces are generally katakana-ized by name.
Summarily, don't feel bad if you run across a katakana word and don't immediately get it. Rely on context clues, and, when possible -- just ask a Japanese pal! Your conversation will almost always be a learning experience anyway.
よし！がんばってね！
However! Katakana is, after all, meant only to approximate the phonemes of a loan word from a foreign language. As such, sometimes some guesswork is involved to figure out what, exactly, a katakana word is trying to say.
Additionally, if a loanword is being adopted into the Japanese language, it is subject to the very distinct possibility of becoming mistranslated, a malapropism, or otherwise a bit... off.
Finally -- let's not be so English-centric! -- katakana is used to write loanwords adopted from a variety of languages.
So! Let's have a look as some words that may at first leave you scratching your head -- but that are, in fact, very useful. I'll list the words first, and then the explanations beneath. No peeking!
１．バイキング
２．チョコレート
３．ショコラー
4. サービス
５．スキンシップ
６．パン
7. アルバイト
８．パチスロ
９。スナック
１０．ソース
.
.
.
OK! You ready? Could figure them out? Let's take a look.
1. baikingu = "viking". This has a specific usage, though: a (sometimes) all-you-can-drink, (usually) all-you-can-eat buffet. Get it? Vikings, ostensibly, eat like mad!
2. chokoreito = "chocolate". Simple enough.
3. A trick! shokoraa = "chocolate"... but in French. Japanese restaurants and bakeries may make the distinction as a suggestion of higher quality or style.
4. saabisu = "service". Not really "service" in the general English sense, but a hook-up or freebie at a shop or restaurant. Say you buy four beers and the waitress brings you a fifth -- you may hear "saabisu desu!" as if to say "here's one on me!"
5. sukinshippu = "skinship" ... Sounds dirty, eh? It can mean a close (read: physical) relationship, but it also refers to the idea in parenting that physical contact is important in a child's upbringing.
6. pan = "pan". It seems like everyone in the world calls bread "pan" or some varient, except for we Yanks (note: I'm speaking for myself here). Well, Japan has noticed the fault, and thus use the word "pan" and not "bread".
7. arubaito = "arbeit". German word for part-time job -- this is very common in Japan. You may hear it shortened as "baito".
8. pachisuro. This one's tricky; it refers to a hybrid amusement/gambling game in Japan that combines a western-style slot machine with Japanese pachinko. So: the "pachi" in pachinko meets to "suro" in surotto (slot). パチスロ！！！
9. sunakku = "snack". It doesn't actually refer to food eaten between meals -- it's the word applied to a type of hostess bar where you're charged quite a lot for the "snack" you eat amidst female company the moment you sit down. Sound confusing? It is. I wandered into one while looking for dinner one night -- I thought a "snack" sounded like cheap food! HA! Not recommended for those on a budget or those unsure about their Japanese.
10. sousu = "sauce". This usually refers specifically to a delicious, thick, dark brown sauce you'll find on okonomiyaki, yakisoba, and other yummies. Mmmm! Other sauces are generally katakana-ized by name.
Summarily, don't feel bad if you run across a katakana word and don't immediately get it. Rely on context clues, and, when possible -- just ask a Japanese pal! Your conversation will almost always be a learning experience anyway.
よし！がんばってね！
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