The word 'tycoon' originally came from Japanese as 'taikun'

'Tycoon' is a word borrowed from Japanese 'taikun'. The word entered the English language some time around 1857.

tycoon [noun] [1857]

• shogun
• a top leader (as in politics)
• a businessman of exceptional wealth and power
• magnate

Meaning: shogun; a top leader (as in politics); a businessman of exceptional wealth and power : magnate.

Etymology: Japanese taikun.

Topics: Economy:Finance.

Origin: From Japanese to English.

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Do you speak a little Japanese when you say 'wakizashi'?

'Wakizashi' is a word borrowed from Japanese 'wakizashi'.

wakizashi

(details not available)
Meaning: Short Japanese sword traditionally worn by samurai.

Etymology: From Japanese wakizashi; its internal word analysis is debated.

Topics: Sports:MartialArts.

Origin: From Japanese to English.

note: One of the traditionally made Japanese swords worn by the samurai in feudal Japan. Its name refers to the practice of wearing it inserted through one's obi or sash.

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When you hear 'tatami' are you hearing English or Japanese?

'Tatami' is a word borrowed from Japanese 'tatami'. The word entered the English language some time around 1614.

tatami [noun] [1614]

Straw matting used as a floor covering in a Japanese home
Meaning: straw matting used as a floor covering in a Japanese home.

Etymology: Japanese.

Topics: Household:Furniture.

Origin: From Japanese to English.

note: From Japanese tatami (畳) derived from the verb tatamu (to fold or to pile). This refers to the early form of the mats which were thin and foldable unlike the modern thick rigid mats.

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Did you know that 'tofu' is actually Japanese?

'Tofu' is a word borrowed from Japanese 'tofu'. The word entered the English language some time around 1771.

tofu [noun] [1771]

A soft food product prepared by treating soybean milk with coagulants (as magnesium chloride or diluted acids)
Meaning: soybean curd food.

Etymology: From Japanese tofu from Chinese doufu.

Topics: Food:Dishes.

Origin: From Chinese to Japanese to English.

note: Meaning: soybean curd food. Etymology: From Japanese tofu from Chinese doufu.

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When you hear 'ramen' are you hearing English or Japanese?

'Ramen' is a word borrowed from Japanese 'ramen'. The word entered the English language some time around 1972.

ramen [noun] [1972]

Quick-cooking egg noodles usually served in a broth with bits of meat and vegetables
Meaning: quick-cooking egg noodles usually served in a broth with bits of meat and vegetables.

Etymology: Japanese ramen.

Topics: Food:Dishes, Food:Staples.

Origin: From Japanese to English.

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When you hear 'katana' are you hearing English or Japanese?

'Katana' is a word borrowed from Japanese 'katana'.

katana

(details not available)
Meaning: Traditionally single-edged Japanese sword.

Etymology: From Japanese katana sword; deeper word history is uncertain.

Topics: Military:Weapons.

Origin: From Japanese to English.

note: A slightly curved single-edged sword historically worn by the Japanese samurai.

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How the Japanese language influenced English with the word 'kimono'

'Kimono' is a word borrowed from Japanese 'kimono'. The word entered the English language some time around 1886.

kimono [noun] [1886]

• a long robe with wide sleeves traditionally worn with a broad sash as an outer garment by the Japanese
• a loose dressing gown or jacket

Meaning: Japanese robe with wide sleeves.

Etymology: Borrowed from Japanese kimono.

Topics: Clothing:Garments.

Origin: From Japanese to English.

note: Meaning: Japanese robe with wide sleeves. Etymology: Borrowed from Japanese kimono.

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Is 'haiku' English, or is it actually Japanese?

'Haiku' is a word borrowed from Japanese 'haiku'. The word entered the English language some time around 1902.

haiku [noun] [1902]

• an unrhymed verse form of Japanese origin having three lines containing usually five, seven, and five syllables respect...
• a poem in this form usually having a seasonal reference

Meaning: an unrhymed verse form of Japanese origin having three lines containing usually five; seven; and five syllables respectively; a poem in this form usually having a seasonal reference compare tanka.

Etymology: Japanese.

Topics: Arts:Visual.

Origin: From Japanese to English.

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The Japanese origins of the word 'poka-yoke'

'Poka-yoke' is a word borrowed from Japanese 'poka-yoke'.

poka-yoke

(details not available)
Meaning: Design or process that prevents mistakes.

Etymology: Japanese poka-yoke combines poka inadvertent error and yokeru avoid.

Topics: Technology:Automation.

Origin: From Japanese to English.

note: A Japanese term that means mistake-proofing or error prevention. It is also sometimes referred to as a forcing function or a behavior-shaping constraint. A poka-yoke is any mechanism in a process that helps an equipment operator avoid (yokeru) mistakes (poka) and defects by preventing correcting or drawing attention to human errors as they occur. The concept was formalized and the term adopted by Shigeo Shingo as part of the Toyota Production System.

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Did you know that 'kendo' is actually Japanese?

'Kendo' is a word borrowed from Japanese 'kendo'. The word entered the English language some time around 1921.

kendo [noun] [1921]

A Japanese sport of fencing usually with bamboo swords

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note: Kendo (剣道) which translates to way of the sword is a modern Japanese martial art derived from traditional swordsmanship (kenjutsu). The name combines ken (剑/剣) meaning sword and dō (道) meaning way path or discipline reflecting its focus on self-cultivation and mental discipline rather than just combat.
Etymology: Japanese 'kendō' from 'ken' sword + 'dō' art

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How the Japanese language influenced English with the word 'yakuza'

'Yakuza' is a word borrowed from Japanese 'yakuza'. The word entered the English language some time around 1964.

yakuza [noun] [1964]

• a Japanese gangster
• an organized crime syndicate in Japan

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Etymology: Japanese, ruffian, gangster

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When you say 'rickshaw' are you speaking Japanese?

'Rickshaw' is a word borrowed from Japanese 'jinricksha'. The word entered the English language some time around 1887.

rickshaw [noun] [1887]

A small covered 2-wheeled vehicle usually for one passenger that is pulled by one man and that was used originally in J...

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note: jin means man - riki means strength or power and sha means carriage. Rickshaws originated in Japan where they were first used in the late 1800s.
Etymology: Alteration of 'jinrikisha'

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When you hear 'sudoku' are you hearing English or Japanese?

'Sudoku' is a word borrowed from Japanese 'sudoku'. The word entered the English language some time around 2004.

sudoku [noun] [2004]

A puzzle in which several numbers are to be filled into a 9x9 grid of squares so that every row, every column, and ever...

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Etymology: Japanese 'sūdoku' short for 'sūji wa dokushin ni kagiru' "the numerals must remain single" (i.e., the digits can occur only once)

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Japanese 'han chō' in the English language

'Honcho' is a word borrowed from Japanese 'han chō'. The word entered the English language some time around 1955.

honcho [noun] [1955]

• boss
• hotshot

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Etymology: Japanese 'hanchō' squad leader, from 'han' squad + 'chō' head, chief

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Did you know that 'shogun' is actually Japanese?

'Shogun' is a word borrowed from Japanese 'sei-i-tai shogun'. The word entered the English language some time around 1727.

shogun [noun] [1727]

One of a line of military governors ruling Japan until the revolution of 1867–68

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Etymology: Japanese 'shōgun'

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Japanese 'bonsai' in the English language

'Bonsai' is a word borrowed from Japanese 'bonsai'. The word entered the English language some time around 1900.

bonsai [noun] [1900]

• a potted plant (as a tree) dwarfed (as by pruning) and trained to an artistic shape
• the art of growing such a plant

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note: The word bonsai comes from Japanese combining bon (盆 tray or shallow pot) and sai (栽 planting or plant) literally meaning tray planting or tree planted in a pot. This term originates from the ancient Chinese practice of penjing (or pun-sai)
Etymology: Japanese, literally, tray planting

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Do you speak a little Japanese when you say 'wabi-sabi'?

'Wabi-sabi' is a word borrowed from Japanese 'wabi-sabi'.

wabi-sabi

(details not available)

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note: In traditional Japanese aesthetics wabi-sabi (侘び寂び) is centered on the acceptance of transience and imperfection.
Etymology: -

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Do you speak a little Japanese when you say 'origami'?

'Origami' is a word borrowed from Japanese 'orikami'. The word entered the English language some time around 1956.

origami [noun] [1956]

The Japanese art or process of folding squares of paper into representational shapes

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Etymology: Japanese, from 'ori' fold + 'kami' paper

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Is 'ayu' English, or is it actually Japanese?

'Ayu' is a word borrowed from Japanese 'ayu'.

ayu

(details not available)

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note: A sweetfish - an amphidromous fish of East Asia - the only member of its genus and family - Plecoglossus altivelis. Named and prized for its sweet-tasting flesh. From Japanese (ayu: sweetfish).
Etymology: -

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The Japanese origins of the word 'emoji'

'Emoji' is a word borrowed from Japanese 'moji'.

emoji

(details not available)

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note: First recorded in 1990–95 from Japanese. Literally 'pictograph'
Etymology: -

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