CONTENTS
Our second article on loan words.
Japanese, in general, is hard to learn.
All the grammar, vocabulary, sayings, and whatnot.
However, if you get to know the background to these it might help you to learn the language.
In this series, we will explore the Japanese language along with its background.
In this case, that is the origin of the words.
Get to know the words in Japanese that aren’t actually Japanese.
Fashion related loan words
Buttons
#1. Button 【ボタン】Botan
Buttons are on a lot of things.
Up until recently, we thought the word "Botan" was a word that came from the English word "Button".
However, the word from Portuguese "botão" turned out to be introduced earlier in history.
Which also means the same as "button".
It is said that buttons were brought into Japan by the Portuguese somewhere around the times in Meiji restoration during the 1860s.
Back then was the time when the Japanese people just started to wear western-style clothing and the use of buttons spread as the western fashion spread.
Trousers
#2. Trousers 【ズボン】Zubon
The word Zubon comes from the French word [jupon] which means a petticoat or an underskirt.
There is also another theory that says the word Zubon, comes from the sound when wearing the trousers, however, both theories do not seem to be clear enough to do further research.
Bags, suitcases, briefcases, satchels…
#3. Bag 【鞄: かばん】Kaban
This word Kaban sounds like a Japanese word but, the original word is not actually Japanese.
Actually nowadays, in Japan, the word "Baggu", which comes from the English word "Bag", is used more commonly, however, the word Kaban was the earlier word used in Japan and is still in use.
History of the word Kaban is also very interesting.
There are many theories related to this word.
Some say it comes from a Chinese word [gé bāo] meaning leather bag, or some say it is the Dutch word "kabas" = a bag.
Either way, the Japanese people couldn't pronounce it in the original form, and it ended up as Kaban.
There are many more words that don't sound the same in the original language, but is a loan word in Japanese.
How was that?
Did you know any of the words in Japanese?
If you have any other topics or categories that you would want me to cover about Japan, let us know in the comment below or leave a message on our Facebook page or Instagram account.
PROFILE
Follow us @Japankuru on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter!
COMMENT
FEATURED MEDIA
VIEW MORE・The new Tokyo flagship for Volcom Japan is a center for all things skateboarding, street fashion, art, and culture, all in the heart of Shibuya! ・Volcom日本旗艦店東京澀谷登場 本格派滑板街頭潮流藝文新據點 #Volcom #japankuru #shibuya #日本購物 #日本潮流 #日本街頭時尚 #澀谷 #東京購物 #東京購物推薦 #東京潮店 #澀谷潮店 #滑板 #雪板 #衝浪 #볼컴 #시부야
Which snacks make the best Japanese souvenirs?~ Jaga Pirika ~ 일본과자 선물 뭐하지?~자가피리카 편~ #pr #calbee #jagapokkuru #japanesesnacks #japanesefood #japanesesouvenir #japantravel #japantrip #naritaairport #hokkaido #나리타국제공항 #일본여행선물 #흔하지않은기념품 #일본쇼핑리스트 #일본과자추천 #고구마과자 #일본간식추천 #일본면세점쇼핑 #개별포장 #일본감자칩 #도쿄나리타공항면세점 #현지인추천 #일본여행 #일본기념품리스트 #자가포쿠루 #자가피리카
Asakusa's Sanja Matsuri, one of the biggest festivals in all of Tokyo, is almost here! Make sure you check out the festival route so you don't miss all the festivities this May. #asakusa #sanjafestival #sanjamatsuri #asakusashrine #sensoji #sensojitemple #japanesefestival #shintoshrine #japaneseculture #tokyo #tokyotrip #tokyotravel #asakusasightseeing #matsuri #japantrip #japantravel #springinjapan #tokyotravel #japankuru #산자마츠리 #아사쿠사 #일본마츠리 #일본여행 #일본5월
Odaiba's DiverCity Tokyo Plaza is home to the famous real-size 20m-tall Unicorn Gundam, and the popular shopping center has even more Gundam on the inside! Check out the Gundam Base Tokyo on the 7th floor for shelves upon shelves of Gunpla, and the Gundam Base Tokyo Annex on the 2nd floor for cool anime merchandise. Both shops have tons of limited-edition items! #pr #odaiba #tokyo #tokyotrip #japantrip #japantravel #PR #divercity #divercitytokyoplaza #tokyoshopping #gundam #unicorngundam #gundambasetokyo #anime #otaku #gunpla #japankuru #오다이바 #다이바시티도쿄 #오다이바건담 #건담 #일본건담 #건프라 #건담베이스도쿄
Evangelion, in miniature!? Tokyo's SMALL WORLDS Miniature Museum is actually a must-see for anime lovers, thanks to the tiny Evangelion Hangar and Tokyo-III... plus a whole universe of other scenes both real and fictional. #smallworlds #smallworldstokyo #tokyotrip #tokyotravel #evangelion #eva #anime #miniature #miniatures #animefigure #japantrip #japantravel #에반게리온 #스몰월드 #에반겔리온 #スモールワールズ #오다이바 #아리아케
Have you sat down for a snack at Sumida Aquarium yet? This aquarium next to Tokyo Skytree is known for its penguins and garden eels, but we can't get enough of their cute snacks! There are lots of good seats around the aquarium, too, so it almost feels like one big cafe. 🐧 • Find out more at Japankuru.com! (Link in bio.) • #japankuru #sumidaaquarium #skytree #tokyoskytree #solamachi #sumida #tokyo #tokyotrip #tokyotravel #aquarium #japanesesweets #themecafe #すみだ水族館 #Japan #日本 #일본 #Japon #ญี่ปุ่น #Japão #япония #japantravel #日本旅行 #日本旅遊 #japan_of_insta #japantrip #traveljapan #japan🇯🇵 #igerstokyo #explorejapan
For anime fans, the Evangelion areas at Small Worlds Miniature Museum are a must see! The tiny miniature people in the Evangelion Hangar look like ants beneath the moving Unit-01, Unit-00, and Unit-02! And over in Tokyo-III, characters like Shinji, Rei, and Katsuragi live life on a miniature scale. #odaiba #tokyo #tokyotrip #japantrip #japantravel #ariake #smallworlds #miniaturemuseum #smallworldstokyo #tokyotravel #evangelion #eva #anime #miniature #miniatures #animefigure #japankuru #스몰월드 #에반게리온 #오다이바 #오다이바관광 #오다이바스몰월드 #미니어쳐