communication

: Why Japanese People Love Abbreviations: The Culture of Shortened Words

Japan is full of shortened words — and once you notice them, you’ll hear them everywhere. From remote control becoming Remo-con to smartphone becoming Sma-pho, abbreviations are a fun and natural part of everyday Japanese communication. 1. Why Japanese People Shorten Words Japanese culture values efficiency and simplicity, but there’s more to it than that. The Japanese language has a natural rhythm made of short syllables, so shortening words makes them easier to say and gives them a catchy, rhythmic sound. That’s why even foreign brand names and people’s names get shortened based on sound, not spelling: Starbucks → Staba ...

: Japanese-Made English: When English Words Take on a Japanese Twist

Japan loves to borrow words from English — but what’s funny is that many of them have taken on completely new meanings here.They sound familiar to English speakers, yet… not quite right.These unique creations are called Japanese-made English, or wasei-eigo (和製英語). Let’s look at some fun examples you might come across in everyday Japan! “Salaryman” and “Office Lady” If you meet someone who introduces himself as a salaryman, he’s simply saying he’s an office worker — someone who earns a monthly salary.And his female colleague? She’s an Office Lady, or OL for short. These words are everywhere in Japan — ...