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🔀 Wasei-Eigo

Mansion, Salaryman, Consent—the uniquely Japanese take on English words that will confuse any native speaker.

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3 Deep picks
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Going Deeper — Wasei-Eigo Edition

Niche, obsessive, excellent.

DEEP
Deep / language/wasei-eigo

Viking: Why Japan's All-You-Can-Eat Buffet Was Named After Scandinavian Warriors

Walk into any hotel restaurant in Japan and ask for the 'viking.' You won't get a horned helmet — y…

DEEP
Deep / language/wasei-eigo

Skinship: Why Japan's Favorite Word for Intimacy Was Never English to Begin With

Every Japanese person knows the word 'skinship.' No English speaker has ever used it. Inside the st…

DEEP
Deep / language/wasei-eigo

Claim: Why Japan's Insurance Word Has Nothing to Do With Complaining

In English, a 'claim' is a neutral assertion of right. In Japan, it became the go-to word for angry…

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