There are many English words used in Japan. So, you may convey your intention by saying only English words. If you pronounce the words in the Japanese way, you will be understood better.

English words are pronounced as they sound in Japanese. Longer words are abbreviated. Examples: supper market → su-pa-, department store → depa-to, apartment house → apa-to, living room → ribinngu, television → terebi Starbucks → sutaba, ice crean → aisu. handker chief → hannkachi, professional → puro.

Sometimes two words are combined and shortened, e.g. convenient store → konnbini, air conditioner → eakonn, high technology → haiteku. personal computer → pasokonn, smart phone → sumaho, anime song → anisonn, sex harassment → sekuhara. It is also used for personal names, e.g. Brad Pitt → Brapi.

In addition, there are terms that have changed significantly from their original sound. For example; radio → rajio, shirt → shatsu, sweater → se-ta-. Thus, English words have been arranged and incorporated into the Japanese language in a Japanese style. In Japanese, the letters represent the sound heard by you, regardless of the alphabet of the English word. Therefore, they may differ from person to person.

Lesson Experience by the Author