Japanese has many loanwords from English. Many have gained meanings
different from the original. Words which seem similar but are actually
different in two different languages are called "false friends".
For example, some English words are used as substitutes for a similar
existing Japanese word. For example the Japanese word charenji,
from English "challenge", is used as a substitute for the word
chōsen (挑戦), even when this does not fit the English
meaning.
About アバウト
Rōmaji: abauto
"About" has taken on the meaning vague, lazy, or sloppy. For example,
an abauto na hito (アバウトな人), literally "about person" is
someone who is lazy or not punctual.
Challenge チャレンジ
Rōmaji: charenji
Charenji suru is used as a substitute for
chōsen suru (挑戦する), to attempt a difficult task.
Claim クレーム
Rōmaji: kurēmu
Kurēmu suru means complain or make a complaint about,
particularly one requiring compensation, possibly derived from
"insurance claim".
Cunning カンニング
Rōmaji: kanningu
"Cunning" means cheating in an exam.
Dash ダッシュ
Rōmaji: dasshu
"Dash" in Japanese means a rush or a hurry.
Diet ダイエット
Rōmaji: daietto
Any kind of weight-loss regimen, including exercise-based, is called a
"diet". However, daietto is not used to mean diet in the sense of
"things eaten", which is jōshoku (常食) in Japanese.
Don't mind ドンマイ
Rōmaji: donmai
Donmai means "Never mind!".
Feminist フェミニスト
Rōmaji: feminisuto
A man who pampers women.
Fried potato フライド ポテト
Rōmaji: furaido poteto
"Fried potato" or just poteto means chips (UK) or french fries.
Glamour グラマー
Rōmaji: guramā
"Glamour" is used in Japan as an adjective to describe large-breasted
women.
Goo グー
Rōmaji: gū
The mysterious word "goo" is actually an abbreviation of "good", hence
the shop name "Wonder Goo".
Half ハーフ
Rōmaji: hāfu
The word "half" is used as a noun to mean a person who is mixed-race
or half-Japanese.
Handle ハンドル
Rōmaji: handoru
A car's steering wheel.
Happening ハプニング
Rōmaji: hapuningu
"Happening" means an unexpected occurrence or a surprise.
High tension ハイ テンション
Rōmaji: hai tenshon
A person who is "high tension" in Japanese is not someone who is tense
or nervous, but excited, excitable, or hyperactive. The Japanese comes
from the use of "tension" to mean "voltage", thus a "high tension"
person in Japanese is like a "live wire" in English.
Image イメージ
Rōmaji: imēji
An "image" is an artist's impression. Imēji is used for, for
example, artist's impressions of as-yet-unconstructed buildings.
Juice ジュース
Rōmaji: jūsu
"Juice" in Japanese is used not just for fruit juice, but as a word
for soft drinks in general, including Coca-Cola or even green tea.
Mansion マンション
Rōmaji: manshon
A "mansion" in Japan is a block of flats or condominium.
Pierce ピアス
Rōmaji: piasu
Pierced earrings
Present プレゼント する
Rōmaji: purezento suru
Purezento suru means "give a present".
Print プリント
Rōmaji: purinto
An advertising flyer or a handout at school.
Rōmaji: rifōmu
House redecoration, refurbishment, or repair is called "reform" in
Japanese, possibly from a false construction "re-form".
Seal シール
Rōmaji: shiiru
A sticker.
Sense センス
Rōmaji: sensu
To have good taste may be referred to as sensu ga aru "to have sense" in Japanese.
Smart スマート
Rōmaji: sumāto
Slim, not fat.
Talent タレント
Rōmaji: tarento
TV personality.
Trainer トレーナー
Rōmaji: torēnā
A sweat shirt.
Unique ユーニーク
Rōmaji: yūniiku
"Unique" is used in Japanese as a substitute for
koseiteki (個性的), "individual", "unusual".
