Everyday things

Wasei-eigo are Japanese words that look English but don't work in English, or mean something else. For example, an English “mansion” is a huge, luxurious house. A normal one is an “apartment” (or a “condo” in the US, if it's owned).

• 🔊

  I live in an apartment near the station.

  駅の近くのマンションに住んでいます。

• 🔊

  Wow, his parents live in a mansion!

  わあ、彼の両親は大豪邸に住んでるんだ！

💡 Tomo's tip: Before using a katakana word in English, pause and ask: is this really English?

A power point is an “outlet” in the US, a “socket” in the UK, and a “power point” in Australia. “Consent” means agreement, so “Where is the consent?” sounds like “Where's the agreement?”

• 🔊

  Is there an outlet I can use?

  使えるコンセントはありますか？

• 🔊

  Can I charge my phone here?

  ここでスマホを充電してもいいですか？

・ノートパソコン → laptop ・ホッチキス → stapler (ホッチキス comes from an old manufacturer's name) ・シャープペンシル → mechanical pencil (US) ・ベビーカー → stroller (US) / pushchair (UK)

• 🔊

  I left my laptop at home.

  ノートパソコンを家に忘れました。

• 🔊

  Can I borrow your stapler?

  ホッチキスを借りてもいい？

💡 Tomo's tip: “Note PC” isn't used in English. “Laptop” is the everyday word!