[The Language Nerds](https://thelanguagenerds.com) recently came up with a list of words in foreign languages that should be imported to English. One was 木漏れ日, or sunlight filtering through trees. I thought that was so beautiful. What other Japanese words are there that English is sorely lacking?
木漏れ日 is not a “word” in Japanese, it’s a combination of words to express the idea, the same way it’s done in English.
Can we sing it to the tune of “Come on, Eileen”? 🙂
Sorry ,not the best with writing characters yet but in romaji, “Ichigo ichi-e” is a saying I have started using a lot since I learned it. It translates to “one time, one meeting” meaning there’s some instances in life that you know will only be significant in that moment and you probably won’t encounter that person or situation again. Appreciate the moment 🙂
the example of german is just the words stuck together. I don’t think that’s necessary to import at all lol, unless you like the look of motorvehicle-liabilityinsurance. Some words for specific feelings that you have in Norwegian or Japanese would be better suited, but more because of a ‘oh i never thought of that’ and to actually create a word that makes the attempt to explain something elaborately unnecessary.
Does Japanese prefer to use Chinese words or english words?
間諜 vs spy
電腦vs computer
電話vs phone
Everyone I know would refer to sunlight filtering through trees as “God rays” which I think is pretty badass actually
I also want to use the term moshi moshi. I don’t know why, I just like it.
めんどくさい
My girlfriend and I mix a little japanese into our regular conversations at home. Two words we often borrow are ダメ and 美味しい.
ダメ is great because it can be used in place of a few dozen different English words and sentences meaning basically “no” or “don’t do that”. E.g. we’ll often say like “Pretty sure that’s ダメ”.
美味しい (おいしいい) we like just because it’s a fun soft word to throw around. Rolls of the tongue.
コンビニ is way more easy to say than convenience store
So that one please
There’s something about the parsimony of ちょっと。。。as a way to say that something is inconvenient that really delights me.
Just saying something is a bit, a tad, a little, a small amount…
めちゃ
Edit: sorry I realized I talk about expressions. If we go for words, I vote for 滝壺.
よろしくおねがいします = I humbly recommend myself to you
お先に失礼します = Sorry for leaving earlier (than you)
お疲れさま = ??? We did a good job, well earned
Maybe there are actually words for this in English, but I’m not a native speaker… Although they are not really “necessary”, I like them in that they give a sens of thoughtfulness.
がんばって
適当 “How should I do it?” “Oh just 適当.”
I always liked the saying しょうがない. Hopefully I wrote that right.
Meaning it can’t be helped. Which is something I use often with my friends.
I need the ~たち very very much. It’s easier to casualty address a group by one person’s name.
我慢(がまん)する (Gaman) Patience, hold back, endure
Want that おやつ before おやつタイム？
我慢して
Want to punch the idiot who stops in the middle of a crowded path making you almost run I to them.
我慢して
Bousozoku keeping you up and you wanna go say something
我慢して
I think certain pairs are good candidates.
Tatemae and Honne
And to a lesser extent, Giri and Ninjo
vice versa, there is also no japanese word for one English such “F word”
21 comments
木漏れ日 is not a “word” in Japanese, it’s a combination of words to express the idea, the same way it’s done in English.
Can we sing it to the tune of “Come on, Eileen”? 🙂
Sorry ,not the best with writing characters yet but in romaji, “Ichigo ichi-e” is a saying I have started using a lot since I learned it. It translates to “one time, one meeting” meaning there’s some instances in life that you know will only be significant in that moment and you probably won’t encounter that person or situation again. Appreciate the moment 🙂
the example of german is just the words stuck together. I don’t think that’s necessary to import at all lol, unless you like the look of motorvehicle-liabilityinsurance. Some words for specific feelings that you have in Norwegian or Japanese would be better suited, but more because of a ‘oh i never thought of that’ and to actually create a word that makes the attempt to explain something elaborately unnecessary.
Does Japanese prefer to use Chinese words or english words?
間諜 vs spy
電腦vs computer
電話vs phone
Everyone I know would refer to sunlight filtering through trees as “God rays” which I think is pretty badass actually
[Mottainai](https://www.tofugu.com/japanese/mottainai/), a term for regret over something being wasted.
I also want to use the term moshi moshi. I don’t know why, I just like it.
めんどくさい
My girlfriend and I mix a little japanese into our regular conversations at home. Two words we often borrow are ダメ and 美味しい.
ダメ is great because it can be used in place of a few dozen different English words and sentences meaning basically “no” or “don’t do that”. E.g. we’ll often say like “Pretty sure that’s ダメ”.
美味しい (おいしいい) we like just because it’s a fun soft word to throw around. Rolls of the tongue.
コンビニ is way more easy to say than convenience store
So that one please
There’s something about the parsimony of ちょっと。。。as a way to say that something is inconvenient that really delights me.
Just saying something is a bit, a tad, a little, a small amount…
めちゃ
Edit: sorry I realized I talk about expressions. If we go for words, I vote for 滝壺.
よろしくおねがいします = I humbly recommend myself to you
お先に失礼します = Sorry for leaving earlier (than you)
お疲れさま = ??? We did a good job, well earned
Maybe there are actually words for this in English, but I’m not a native speaker… Although they are not really “necessary”, I like them in that they give a sens of thoughtfulness.
がんばって
適当
“How should I do it?”
“Oh just 適当.”
I always liked the saying しょうがない. Hopefully I wrote that right.
Meaning it can’t be helped. Which is something I use often with my friends.
I need the ~たち very very much. It’s easier to casualty address a group by one person’s name.
我慢(がまん)する (Gaman)
Patience, hold back, endure
Want that おやつ before おやつタイム？
我慢して
Want to punch the idiot who stops in the middle of a crowded path making you almost run I to them.
我慢して
Bousozoku keeping you up and you wanna go say something
我慢して
I think certain pairs are good candidates.
Tatemae and Honne
And to a lesser extent, Giri and Ninjo
vice versa, there is also no japanese word for one English such “F word”
猫舌