Karen Sandness' Head Scratchers

Submitted by adamrice on 15 December 2006 - 12:14pm. J>E glossaries

The Japanese have been borrowing foreign words ever since their first encounters with Chinese culture nearly 2000 years ago. However, the words often do not survive the borrowing process unscathed. The following is a list of roomaji (Roman alphabet) abbreviations, wasei Eigo (made-in-Japan English), and borrowed words and phrases that have been abbreviated and recombined beyond recognition. What they have in common is that almost none of them are used outside Japan. (Well, Pokemon has gained international currency in the past year or so, but the rest are pretty obscure.)

The glossary began as a catalogue of words that I myself had encountered in translation jobs, personal reading, and travels to Japan. I learned about many of these words from members of the Honyaku Internet mailing list. Some of them came up as genuine “head scratchers,” words and phrases that were impeding someone’s progress in a translation job. Some of the technical and engineering terms were first compiled by Bill Lise and are used here with his permission. Most of the automotive terms were originally compiled by Stephen A. Carter and are also used here with permission. Others came to me through private e-mail from readers of earlier versions of this glossary. You all know who you are, and you are too numerous to mention, but thank you!

Some of these words will be familiar to anyone who has ever lived in Japan, but others are relatively recent coinages or belong to the jargon of a specific occupational group. A few of the words in this list are native Japanese words that are typically written in katakana and therefore sometimes mistaken for gairaigo (borrowed words). A prime example is ヒヤリハット (hiyari hatto), which despite all appearances, is not gairaigo for some kind of hat. Consult the list to see what it actually is.

All entries are given in a-i-u-e-o order, with Japanese script in the first column, a Roman alphabet transcription in the second column, and a definition and commentary in the third column.

3K		kiken, kitsui, kitanai (three undesirable attributes of a job)
３PL	third-party logistics
3S		standardization, simplification, specialization
5S		seiri, seiton, seiso, seiketsu, and shitsuke, the basic principles of TPM (qv)
A/C	account
AV		1) adult video, 2) audiovisual
B2B		business-to-business
BGM		background music
B(k)版	Bk-han	black separation (printing)
B/S	balance sheet
CG		computer graphics
C版		cyan separation (printing)
C面取り	C-mentori	chamfering
COP		crystal-originated particle
CR		1) resistance capacitor, 2) child resistant, 3) card reader
DM		1) direct mail, 2) private message to an individual on a mailing list
DPE		Developing, printing, and enlarging
ESA		electronic spark advance (automotive)
FA		free agent
FC		franchise chain
FP		financial planner
GL		guideline
HP		home page
H/W		[computer] hardware
IC		If “integrated circuit” doesn’t make sense, try “interior coordinator.”
I/C		[highway] interchange
I/F		interface
KYT		kiken, yochi, toreeningu
LBP		laser (beam) printer
L/C		logic control
LL		language laboratory
M+number		“magic number” so that, for example, M9 means nine more victories until clinching the championship
M/C		master cylinder
MFP		multifunctional peripheral
MGM		mukatsuku go byou mae (むかつく五秒前）”five seconds from losing it”
M版	M-han	magenta separation (printing)
ML		mailing list
NG		1) no good, 2) no go, 3) movie outtake
OA		1) office automation, 2) open-ended answer
OB		“old boy,” used in the British sense of alumnus
OHP		overhead projector
OJT	on-the-job training
OL		“office lady,” female clerical worker
OSM		on-site massage
OVA		on-video animation
PA	parking area
P3I		pre-planned product improvement
P/F		perforation
PKF		peace keeping force
PL		1) pail, 2) PL (Perfect Liberty) Kyoudan (PL教団), one of the New Religions, 3) product liability
P/L	profit and loss [statement]
P／M, A/M:	property management, asset management
PPC		plain paper copier
PPK	pinpin korori	Used to describe an elderly person who doesn’t have to suffer through a lot of illness or disability before death but remains mentally and physically active until dying suddenly of a heart attack or stroke.
PQ		from patan kyuu (パタンキュー）a sudden systemic breakdown or crash
PRTR		Pollutant Release and Transfer Registry
R面取り	R-mentori	rounding corners
RE		reverse engineering
SP		security patrol
SPW		spring washer (automotive)
S/W		software
T/M		transmission
TPM		total plant management, total product management. This abbreviation is somewhat known in English-speaking business circles, at least by those who are always on the lookout for new management techniques.
TS		tracking stocks
Tバック	T-bakku	“T-back”: thong panties
VSP		vehicle speed
Wカセット	W-kasetto	double cassette; the prefix “W” is often used to mean “double”
Y版	Y-han	yellow separation (printing)
アイス・キャンディー	aisu kyandii	“ice candy”: a frozen treat similar to a Popsicle
アールをとる	aaru o toru	take the radius
アイテム	aitemu	“item”: something that one “just has to have”
アイ・メート	ai meeto	“eye mate”: guide dog for the blind
アウトパック	autopakku	“out pack”: 1) retail tray packaging, 2) outsourced packaging
アクセル	akuseru	accelerator
アクリル	akuriru	acrylic, especially acrylic fiber
アグロメ	agurome	agglomeration
朝シャン	asa-shan	morning shampoo
アシマネ	ashimane	assistant manager
アス・コン	asu kon	asphalt concrete
アッシー	asshii	“assy,” from the abbreviation for “assembly” (automotive)
アッテネーター	atteneetaa	attenuator
アップトーク	appu tooku	“up talk,” a style of speaking in which the speaker gives the end of each sentence or phrase a higher intonation
アトピー	atopii	a predisposition toward allergies
アナ	ana	“announcer,” often used as a title when the names of television announcers are shown on screen
アナカン	anakan	unaccompanied baggage
アニカラ	anikara	“anime karaoke,” karaoke accompanied by animation
アニメ	anime	animated cartoon
アパコン	apakon	aperture compensation
アブ	abu	shock absorber
アフターサービス	afutaa saabisu	“after service”: services such as repairs and checkups provided to purchasers of a product
アプリ	apuri	(computer) application
アフレコ	afureko	“after recording,” adding sounds to a soundtrack after a movie has been filmed
アポ	apo	appointment
アメカジ	amekaji	American casual
アメフト	amefuto	American football
アーム・ウォマー	aamu uomaa	“arm warmer” A knitted sleeve, analogous to a leg warmer
アムラー	Amuraa	young girls who imitate the style of singer Amuro Namie
アルサロ	arusaro	“arubaito saron,” a “salon” where the hostesses are supposedly part-timers with other jobs
アングラ	angura	underground
アンケート	ankeeto	from French “enquete”: questionnaire
アンコン	ankon	“unconstructed,” an overcoat with very simple lines and no shoulder pads, etc.
アンダーリヤ	andaa riya	rear underbody
アントレ	antore	entrepreneurship
アンビリ	anbiri	unbelievable
イイ	I-i	Iran-Iraq
イージーパンツ	iijii pantsu	“easy pants,” loose-fitting pants with an elastic or drawstring waist
イソ体	iso-tai	isomer
イタカジ	itakaji	Italian casual
イタめし	itameshi	Italian food
一眼レフ	ichigan refu	single lens reflex
イメチェン	imechen	“image change”: what cute little teen idol singers have to go through if they hope to survive in show business past the age of nineteen
イラスト	irasuto	illustration
イルコン	irukon	illumination control
イルミ	irumi	illumination
インクリビジネス	inkuribijinesu	incremental business
インスト	insuto	“instructions,” briefings for market researchers
インディーズ・ビデオ	indiizu bideo	pornographic videos not approved by the　日本ビデオ倫理協会　(Nihon Bideo Rinri Kyoukai)
インテリ	interi	intelligentsia
インパネ	inpane	instrument panel
インフレ	infure	inflation
インポ薬	impo yaku	anti-impotence medication
インマニ	inmani	intake manifold
インメガチャート	inmegachaato	TV test pattern chart, megacycles chart
ウィンカー	uinkaa	“winker”: the turn signal on a car
ウエス	uesu	rag (for wiping)
ウエストモール	uestomooru	weather strip molding
エアコン	eakon	air conditioning
エアサス	ea sasu	air suspension
エアモニ	ea moni	on-air monitor
エーコッコシー	eekakkoshii	[non-gairago] adjective describing someone who is overly concerned with status. Can be used enviously with reference to someone of real accomplishment. Kansai dialect.
エキパイ	ekipai	exhaust pipe
エキマニ	ekimani	exhaust manifold
エコステーション	eko suteeshon	a service station for cars that run on alternative fuels
絵コンテ	e-konte	storyboard (film)
エステ・サロン	esute saron	“esthetic salon,” where people go to get makeovers, massages, facials, etc.
エネトピア	enetopia	a housing development designed with an eye toward energy conservation
エバチップ	ebachippu	“evaluation chip”: special version of a product with features that allow it to be used for evaluation
エフ	efu	tags attached to industrial equipment when defects or malfunctions are discovered. The tag is removed when the problem has been corrected.
エミフィル	emifiru	EMI (electro-magnetic interference) filter
エログロ	eroguro	erotic and grotesque
エンスト	ensuto	engine stall
エンプラ	enpura	engineering plastics
オクション	okushon	a pun on the word manshon, this refers to an apartment whose purchase price is so high that it is stated not in units of ten thousand yen (man) but in units of one hundred million yen (oku).
オードブル	oodoburu	hors d’oeuvres
オナドル	onadoru	“onanism idol”: a fantasy object for masturbation. Formerly オナペット (onapetto).
オバタリアン	obatarian	“aunt”+”battalion”: a rude and obnoxious older woman
オフコン	ofukon	office computer
オペアンプ	opeanpu	operational amplifier
オリフラ	orifura	orientation flat (semiconductors)
オルゴール	orugooru	from German Orgel? music box
顔アップ	kao appu	close-up of a face
ガスクロ	gasukuro	gas chromatography
カステラ	kasutera	a type of pound cake (Portuguese word)
カステン	kasuten	cabinet containing medical instruments (German word)
カゼ	kaze	If “wind” or “cold” doesn’t make sense, and the context is chemical, try “casein.”
カセットコーヒー	kasetto koohii	“cassette coffee”: a single serving of ground coffee in a plastic filter
ガッツポーズ	gattsu poozu	“guts pose”: a triumphant pose assumed by an athlete
カーナビ	kaanabi	car navigation system
カニバリ	kanibari	cannibalization
カミセン	kamisen	“Coming Century”: the younger members of the group V6
カメリハ	kameriha	camera rehearsal
ガヤ	gaya	background chatter on a soundtrack (not gairaigo)
カラバラ	karabara	ballads sung by Karashima Midori
カルウエ	karu-ue	calcium wafer
カルテ	karute	“Karte” (German) patient’s medical chart
ガンクロ	gankuro	(not gairaigo) a darkly tanned face. Fashionable among trendy young people ca. 1999-2000.
カンコロジー	kankorojii	“can ecology”: beautifying a recreational or other public area by picking up empty beverage cans
カンテラ	kantera	an old-fashioned metal lantern (source uncertain)
カンニング	kanningu	“cunning”: cheating on a test
ガンバリズム	ganbarizumu	“gambarism”: the attitude that one must keep going no matter what. From the verb がんばる (ganbaru).
ガンプラ	ganpura	Gundam plastic models
キープサンプル	kiipu sanpuru	“keep sample”: reference sample
ギプス	gipusu	from German “Gips”: plaster cast (for broken bones)
キープボットル	kiipu botoru	“keep bottle”: a bottle of whiskey that a bar customer buys, writes his name on, keeps on a shelf at the bar, and drinks little by little on successive visits.
キャスター	kyasutaa	“caster”: a newscaster
キャスティング・ボート	kyasuting booto	“casting vote”: the deciding vote
キャッチコピー	kyatchi kopii	“catch copy”: In copywriting, large text that appears in ads or brochures to catch the reader’s attention
キャッチセールス	kyatchi seerusu	“catch sales”: an unscrupulous sales practice in which customers are pressured into signing expensive contracts that are hard to break.
キャッチバー	kyatchi baa	“catch bar”: the kind of bar that has touts standing outside trying to lure in customers
キャッチボール	kyatchi booru	“catch ball”: playing catch
キャッチホン	kyatchihon	“catch phone”: call waiting
キャップ	kyappu	the top reporter at a newspaper’s local office
キャラ	kyara	character in a manga (comic book) or anime (q.v.)
ギャラ	gyara	“guaranteed” fee paid to performing artists
キャリア	kyaria	career government employee
キャンギャル	kyangyaru	“campaign gal”: model featured in an advertising campaign
キャンピングカー	kyanpingu kaa	“camping car”: trailer, caravan
キーワード	kiiwaado	“keyword”: buzzword, catch phrase
グッズ	guzzu	“goods”: promotional items
クーラー	kuuraa	“cooler”: air conditioner
グライコ	guraiko	graphic equalizer”
クラクション	kurakushon	“klaxon”: car horn
クラサバ	kurasaba	client server
グラビア	gurabia	short for “photogravure”
グランド	gurando	“ground” (electrical)
クリコン	kurikon	Christmas concert
グルイン	guruin	group interview
グルメ	gurume	gourmet
クレパス	kurepasu	pastel crayons
クレーム	kureemu	“claim”: customer complaint
クロカン	kurokan	“cross country”: an off-road vehicle
クロコン	kurokon	cross country skiing
グロス	gurosu	lip gloss
クロスニコル	kurosu nikoru	crossed Nichol prism
ケアウエル	kea ueru	wellness care
軽トラック	kei-torakku	lightweight truck
ゲーセン	geesen	[video] game center
ゲートボール	geetobooru	“gate ball”: a game similar to croquet
公園デビユー	kouen debyuu	“park debut”: bringing one’s child to the local park to play for the first time.
合同コンパ	goudou konpa	a “mixer”
コギャル	kogyaru	obsessively trend-conscious teen-age girls who may offer themselves for 援助交際 (enjo kousai, usually translated as “compensated dating”) with older men in order to finance their lifestyle
コスプレ	kosupure	“costume play”: dressing up as one’s favorite manga or anime character
コズミックボーリング	kozumikku booringu	“cosmic bowling”: bowling in a bowling alley that is lit up like a disco with lots of flashing lights
コネ	kone	“connections” in the sense of knowing the “right” people
コピー	kopii	1) photocopying; 2) the blurb on a book jacket
コマ	koma	frame in a film or video
コマソン	komason	“commercial song”: commercial jingle
子マダム	komadamu	wealthy women who strive to follow the fashions exactly and be seen in all the right place
コミケット	komiketto	“comic market”: a convention where amateur manga artists sell their work
コミュニケーター	komyunikeetaa	“communicator”: operator in a telemarketing business
コラム	koramu	“column”: a stand-alone feature article framed by a box
コールテン	kooruten	corduroy
コレポン	korepon	correspondence
コングラ	kongura	computer graphics
コンサバ	konsaba	conservative
コンスト	konsuto	control strip
コンテ	konte	“continuity” in film making
コンパ	konpa	a group drinking party held at a bar or restaurant
コンパニオン	konpanion	a young woman whose job it is to demonstrate products, hand out pamphlets, etc. at conventions and trade shows
コンパネ	konpane	1) plywood panel or 2) control panel
コンパレートする	konpareeto suru	to compare
コンビニ	konbini	convenience store
コンペ	konpe	competition
コンロッド	konroddo	connecting rod (automotive)
サイド・リーダー	saido riidaa	“side reader”: a supplementary reader in a foreign language classroom
サービス	saabisu	can mean “service,” but also refers to items or services that a store gives away along with a purchase, i.e. “freebies.”
サーメット	saametto	ceramic metal. “Cermet” is also used in English writing about the field of ceramics technology
サウンドロゴ	saundo rogo	“sound logo”: a commercial jingle
ざくろブーム	zakuro buumu	popularity of pomegranates, which contain phytoestrogens
サドンデス	sadondesu	“sudden death” overtime
スブエコ	sabo eko	sub-economizer (electronics)
サラドレ	saradore	salad dressing
サンケア指数	sankea shisuu	sun protection index
サンスポ	sansupo	Sankei Sports
サントラ	santora	soundtrack
シール・セット	shiiru setto	“seal set”: a set of stickers
ジージャ	jiija	jeans jacket
ジーパン	jiipan	jeans, dungarees
シグラ	shigura	signal ground
シスオペ	shisuope	system operator; “sysop” is also used in English
シズルカット	shizuru katto	“sizzle cut”: a mouth-watering image in an advertising. (The English term is “sizzle shot.”)
シネコン	shinekon	cinema complex
シビル・ミニマム	shibiru minimamu	“civil minimum”: essential infrastructure
シプレヒコール	shipurehi kooru	“Sprech (German word for “speak”) + call”: a voice call
ジベタリアン	jibetarian	young people who sit on the ground (jibeta) or sidewalk
ジャストクロック	jasuto kurokku	“just clock”: an internal clock that is always correct
ジャスピン	jasupin	in perfect focus
シャネラー	Shaneraa	“Chaneler”: young women completely outfitted in Chanel clothing and accessories. There are corresponding terms for fans of other designers.
シャーレ	shaare	“Schale” (German) a laboratory dish
ジャンパー	janpaa	“jumper”: a windbreaker jacket
シュークリーム	shuu kuriimu	fake French “choux crme”: creampuff
ジュンロン	junron	Junlon, a synthetic fiber
省エネ	shou ene	energy conservation
ジョントラ	jontora	John Travolta
シルボン紙	shirubon shi	lens-cleaning paper
シンクロ	shinkuro	oscilloscope
シンクロ納入	shinkuro nounyuu	synchronous supply
シーンタフネス性	shiin tafunesusei	“scene toughness”: the ability of a video camera to hold a scene steady
シンポ	shinpo	symposium
スカイライン	sukairain	“skyline”: a scenic mountain road
スキャントーク	skyantooku	“Scan Talk”: a barcode system for recording and playing back brief sequences of sound (brand name)
スキンシップ	skinshippu	“skinship”: emotional communication through touch
スキンレディー	sukin redii	“skin lady”: a saleswoman who goes door to door selling condoms
スケールメリット	sukeeru meritto	“scale merit”: economies of scale
スタンガン	sutangan	stun gun
スタンディング	sutanding	free-standing bar
スチコン	suchikon	Styrol condensor
スッチ	succhi	short for “stewardess”
捨てポジ	sutepoji	photographic prints that you don’t keep
ストパー	sutopaa	straight perm
スパファク	supafaku	Much more innocent than it sounds, this is student slang for the restaurant chain “Spaghetti Factory.”
スペアナ	supeana	spectrum analyzer
スポドリ	supodori	sports drink
スライダック	suraidakku	variable autotransformer
スリーター	suriitaa	“threeter”: a three-wheeled bicycle
スルーレート	suruureeto	slew rate
セカンドスクール	sekando sukuuru	“second school”: an outdoor environmental educational program for city children
セカンド・バッグ	sekando baggu	“second bag”: a zippered carrying case
セックスフレンド	sekkusu furendo	“sex friend”: someone with whom one is not romantically involved but frequently has sexual relations with anyway. Also known as やりとも(yaritomo).
セット・メーカー	setto meekaa	manufacturer of assembled products
ゼネコン	zenekon	general contractor
ぜり	zeri	“jelly”: sweet flavored gelatin dessert. The most popular flavors are コーヒー and ワイン.
セリーグ	Se Riigu	Central League
セル付	seru-tsuki	with a self-starter
セルフアップネジ	serufu appu neji	“self up screw”: captive screw
セルフスタンド	serufu sutando	“self stand”: self-service gasoline station
ゼンスト	zensuto	general strike
スピコン	supikon	speed controller
ソゲ、ソーゲ	soge, sooge	(not gairaigo) Dialect variation ofそう　(sou).ソーゲナ(soogena)= そんな (sonna)
ソフトクリーム	sofuto kuriimu	“soft cream”: soft-serve ice cream
ソープランド	soopurando	“soap land”: a bath house/massage parlor offering sexual services. Formerly トルコ(toruko) from “Turkish bath,” but changed after protests from Turks resident in Japan.
ソルベン率	soruben ritsu	solvency ratio
ダイヤ	daiya	1) diamond, or 2) train schedule
タウルケット	tauruketto	“towelket”: a type of bed linen resembling a large beach towel and used to cover one’s self in hot weather
ダウンサイジング	daunsaijingu	“downsizing”: switching from mainframe to personal computers
タクトタイム	takuto taimu	“tact time”: has to do with productivity, but discussions on the Honyaku mailing list indicate that its exact meaning may vary from company to company.
タコジェネ	takojene	tachogenerator
ダストボックス	dasuto bokkusu	“dust box”: Dumpster
タックシール	takku shiiru	“tack seal”: a round gummed sticker
ダボ	dabo	dowel
ダルメージ	darumeeji	Dulmadge-type screw
ダンする	dan suru	make a done deal
チクソ性	chikusosei	thixotrophy (“the property of certain gels to liquefy when subjected to vibratory forces”)
チクソモールド	chikuso moorudo	thixomolding (plastic and semiconductor industries)
チップ抵抗	chippu teikou	SMT resistor
チャームポイント	chaamu pointo	“charm point”: most attractive feature
チャリ（ンコ）	chari(nko)	bicycle
チョベリグ	choberigu	very, very good (teen slang)
チョベリバ	choberiba	very, very bad (teen slang)
チョムカ	chomuka	very sickening (not gairaigo, teen slang)
チンピラ	chinpira	a young punk, young yakuza gangster (not gairaigo)
ディジカメ	dijikame	digital camera
ディジボル	dijiboru	digital voltmeter
デニる	deniru	to eat at Denny’s
デノミ	denomi	“denomination”: reducing the face value of currency after inflation has created impossibly high numbers
テープカット	teepu katto	“tape cut”: ribbon cutting ceremony
テーブルタップ	teeburu tappu	“table tap”: a power strip
デフレ	defure	deflation
テレクラ	terekura	“telephone club”: a telephone chat line/”dating” service
テレコ	tereko	tape recorder
テレ放題	tere houdai	NTT’s unmetered telephone service
テレワーク	terewaaku	“telework”: telecommuting
テロ	tero	terrorism
テロップ	teroppu	on-screen titles
ドーアップ	doo appu	extreme close-up
ドイト	doito	a “do-it-yourself” store
トーキ	tooki	“talkie”: a prerecorded announcement
ドクター・ストップ	dokutaa sutoppu	“doctor stop”: being ordered by one’s doctor to give up such habits as drinking, smoking, overeating, etc.
ドチャキャン	docha kyan	abbreviation of “dotanba de kyanseru suru” (cancel at the last minute)
トップページ	toppu peeji	“top page”: the home page of a Web site. See ホームページ.
トップランナー	toppu rannaa	“top runner”: a system of benchmarking against the best-in-class performance
ドラコン	dorakon	driving contest
トラポン	torapon	transponder
トランス	toransu	transformer
トルコン	torukon	torque converter
ドルペッグ	doru peggu	“dollar peg”: being pegged to the dollar
トレペ	torepe	tracing paper
ドロア	doroa	drawer
ナイス・ミディ・パス	naisu midi pasu	“nice middy pass”: a discount rail pass for groups of women over 30 who are traveling together
ナイラッチ	nairacchi	nylon latch
ナウい	naui	“nowy”: up-to-date (slang from the 1980s)
ナウナウイズム	naunauizumu	“now-now-ism”: being interested only in the here and now without any regard for the future
ナシュプロ	nashupuro	national project
ナースコール	naasu kooru	“nurse call”: a patient’s call button in a hospital
なつメロ	natsumero	“natsukashii melody”: nostalgic melody
ニッカド電池	nikkado denchi	nickel cadmium battery
ニュートラ	nyuutora	“new traditional”
ニューハーフ	nyuu haafu	“new half”: transsexual
人間ドック	ningen dokku	“human [dry]dock”: a thorough physical exam
ネグる	neguru	neglect
ネチズン	nechizun	Netizen
ネック	nekku	bottleneck
ノーパン	noopan	“no panties”: used to describe various establishments where the waitresses wear short skirts and no underpants.
ノーヘル	nooheru	without a helmet
ノーマーク	noomaaku	“no mark”: not covered, not observed, occurring off the radar. Used especially to refer to a rival company’s having been first to develop a new product.
ノンコンデザイン	nonkon dezain	nonconforming design
ノンセクション	non sekushon	“non section”: unaffiliated
ノンセクト	non sekuto	non-sectarian
バイじい	baijii	:Viagra ojiisan”: an old man who takes Viagra
ノンポリ	non pori	non-political
バイキング	baikingu	“Viking”: a smrgsbord or buffet dinner, from the Scandinavian origins of the smrgsbord (and the difficulty of transcribing smrgsbord into katakana, undoubtedly)
ハイス	haisu	high-speed steel
バイター	baitaa	“biter”: ice cream on a stick
パイプ	paipu	“pipes”: channels, official or otherwise
パイプ・カット	paipu katto	“pipe cut”: vasectomy
バイふューエル車	bai fyuueru sha	dual fuel vehicle
ハイミス	hai misu	“high miss”: older unmarried woman
ハイヤー	haiyaa	“hire”: a “hire car,” a car and driver that can be contracted for short periods of time
ハウス・ミヌカン	hausu manukan	“house mannequin”: sales clerk in a fancy boutique clothing store
ハウリング	hauringu	“howling”: audio feedback
パーキング・ドライバー	paakingu doraibaa	“parking driver”: parking valet
バーコード	baakoodo	“bar code”: the comb-over hairstyle favored by men vainly attempting to hide their baldness
パジャマ・コール	pajama kooru	“pajama call”: late-night phone call
バージン・ロード	baajin roodo	“virgin road”: the aisle that a bride walks down
バスコン	pasukon	bypass capacitor
バストフィット	basuto fitto	“bust fit”: the way a bra fits
バストレ	basu-tore	bass-treble
パソコン	pasokon	personal computer
パーソナル化	paasonaru-ka	personalization, when a product stops being a novelty or luxury and becomes a consumer item that “everyone” has, due to lower costs
パチスロ	pachisuro	slot machine in a pachinko parlor
パチプロ	pachipuro	professional pachinko player
バックシャン	bakkushan	“back”+German “schoen”: used to describe a woman who looks beautiful only from the back
パチモン	pachimon	cheap knockoffs of famous brands (not gairaigo)
パッサージ	passaaju	“passage”: a glassed-over arcade
バッタモン	battamon	merchandise obtained by buying out the inventories of failed retailers instead of going through normal wholesale channels
バッティング	battingu	“butting”: 1) intruding on someone else’s turf, 2) having a time or schedule conflict
バッテン	batten	dialect word used in Kyushu and a few other places for keredomo（but).
バテレン	bateren	“padre”: the old name for the Portuguese priests who came to Japan in the sixteenth century
バーテン	baaten	bartender
パトカー	patokaa	patrol car
パトライト	patoraito	“patrol light”: a rotating warning light similar to the one on a “patokaa.”
パナホール	panahooru	Panasert hole (semiconductors)
パナマックス	panamakkusu	Panamax, the maximum size of ship that can pass through the Panama Canal
パンタクール	pantakuuru	Capri pants, pedal pushers
ハーフ	haafu	“half”: a person of mixed race, usually Japanese and something else
ハーフミラー	haafu miraa	“half mirror”: 50% beam splitter
パーマ	paama	permanent wave
ハマトラ	hamatora	“Yokohama traditional”: a style of clothing popular in the late 1970s and resembling a Catholic school uniform
バラ	bara	bulk storage
パラサイト・シングル	parasaito shinguru	“parasite single”: a single person who earns enough to live alone but prefers to live rent-free with his or her parents
バリカン	barikan	barber’s clippers
パリーグ	pariigu	Pacific League
バリコン	barikon	variable condenser
パルスモータ	parusu moota	“pulse motor”: stepping motor
バルボル	baruboru	“valve volt”: vacuum tube volt meter
ハローワーク	haroo waaku	“Hello Work”: the new name for the Japanese government employment agency
パ（ワ）ステ	pa(wa)sute	power steering
ハンスト	hansuto	hunger strike
パンスト	pansuto	short for パンティーストッキング(panty stocking), aka pantyhose.
パンタロン	pantaron	(French) “pantalon”: cropped pants
ハンドキャリアー	hando kyariaa	“hand carrier”: employee of a messenger or delivery service
ハンドリフト	handorifuto	“handlift”: pallet jack, manual forklift
パンピ	panpi	short for ippan piipuru (“most people)
ピアス	piasu	“pierce”: ear or body piercing
ヒーポン	hiipon	heat pump
ビオトープ	biotoopu	“biotope”: a wildlife refuge
ビジネス・プロデュース	bijinesu purodyuusu	“business produce”: starting up and developing a business
ピスコ	pisuko	piston corer
ビタビ復号	Bitabi fukugou	Viterbi decoding
ビシチェ	bisuche	bustier
ピッキング	pikkingu	“picking”: a distributor picking up merchandise form a storage facility
ピットイン	pitto in	“pit in”: pit stop
ヒッパレ	hippare	hit parade
ヒップボーン	hippuboon	“hip-borne”: hip hugger [pants]
ビニハン	binihan	vinyl (plastic) headed hammer
ビニボン	binibon	pornographic magazines sold wrapped in plastic
ヒーロ・パケージ	hiiro pakeeji	“hero package”: a commercial in which the product is the “hero” of the segment
ヒヤリハット	hiyari hatto	(not gairaigo) a close call, a near miss
ビルジャック	birujakku	“building highjack”: a hostage situation
ピンクちらし	pinku chirashi	a flyer advertising a sex-related business
ファイアストーム	faiasutoomu	“fire storm”: a celebratory bonfire
ファストン	fasuton	fast on [terminal]
ファミコン	famikon	“family computer”: home video game machine. A trademark used generically
ファミレス	famiresu	family restaurant
フィンドレビン	findorebin	vinyl drainpipe with fins
フェースシート	feesu shiito	“face sheet”: 1) top copy, 2) questionnaire that asks for a demographic profile
フェミニスト	feminisuto	“feminist”: can literally mean “feminist,” but it also refers to a man who practices “ladies first” etiquette.
プチブル	puchiburu	petit bourgeois
フライング	furaingu	“flying”: a false start in an athletic competition
ブラウン官	Buraun kan	cathode ray tube
プラスアルファ	purasu arufa	“plus alpha”: a little more than usual
プラスドライバー	purasu doraibaa	“plus driver”: Phillips screwdriver (from the shape of the head)
ブラック	burakku	“black”: a person with a poor credit rating, who is therefore blacklisted
ブラピ	Burapi	Brad Pitt
プラボットル	purabottoru	plastic bottle
フラマグ	furamagu	flywheel magnet
プラモデル	puramoderu	plastic model
プリクラ	purikura	“Print Club”: a photo booth that prints out cards and stickers of the resulting photograph. These are then traded among friends.
プリーケー	purii-kee	prepaid cellular phone (keitai denwa) service
フリーター	furiitaa	a person who doesn’t have a steady job but survives on a series of temporary or part-time jobs
フリーダイヤル	furii daiyaru	“free dial”: toll-free telephone call
ブリッコ	burikko	a young girl who affects an exaggeratedly sweet and innocent manner (1980s slang)
フリーマ	furiima	free market or flea market
プリン	purin	“pudding”: sweet egg custard
プレスコ	puresuko	“prescoring”: recording the music or sound effects before filming a scene
フレキ	fureki	flexible cable
フレコン	furekon	flexible conduit
フレコン化	furekonka	changing something to full remote control
ブレスト	buresuto	brainstorming
プレゾン・エイド	purezon eido	presentation aid
フロアレディー	furoa redii	“floor lady”: a kind of bar hostess
プログレ	purogure	progressive rock
プロレス	puroresu	professional wrestling
ペアガラス	pea gurasu	“pair glass”: double glazing
ヘア・マニキュアー	hea manikyuaa	“hair manicure”: temporary hair dye or streaks
ペアリング	pearing	“pairing”” an unmarried couple living together
ベークオフ	beeku ofu	“bake off”: when a bakery bakes its wares from dough brought in from elsewhere
ベイ、ベー	bei/bee	used in northern dialects instead of darou or the tentative form of the verb, as in egu bee for ikou “Let’s go.”
ベースアップ	beesu appu	“base up”: salary increase. Abbreviated as ベア(bea).
ペーパードライバー	peepaa doraibaa	“paper driver”: a person who has a current driver’s license but doesn’t own a car
ペチャパイ	pechapai	(not gairaigo) flat chested
ベテラン	beteran	“veteran”: an older worker with extensive experience. Also used jokingly to refer to an old piece of equipment. Not used to refer to people who have served in the military.
ベッドタウン	beddo taun	“bed town”: bedroom community
ペットボトル	petto bottoru	“PET bottle”: clear plastic beverage bottle
ベビーオール	bebii ooru	“baby all”: a one-piece garment with snaps up the front, sort of like a jumpsuit for babies
ベビーサークル	bebii saakuru	“baby circle”: play pen
ヘリ	heri	helicopter
ヘルス	herusu	“health”: a type of massage parlor
ベル友	beru tomo	a person with whom one communicates by pager (pokeberu)
ポイント・メーク	pointo meeku	“point make”: making up only parts of one’s face instead of doing a full make-up job
ボキャ貧	bokyahin	lacking the words to say what one means. (Bokya is short for “vocabulary”)
ポケバイ	pokebai	“pocket bike”: a very small motorbike
ポケハロ	pokeharo	“pocket hello”: a “pocket Hello Kitty” that combines a pedometer and a tamagotchi
ポケベル	pokeberu	“pocket bell”: pager, beeper
ポケモン	Pokemon	“pocket monster”: Just in case you’ve been on another planet for a while, I’ll explain that this is the name of an internationally popular cartoon series.
ポジフィルム	poji firumu	positive film
ホッチキス	hocchikisu	“Hotchkiss”: stapler (from a brand name)
ボディコン	bodikon	“body consciousness”: wearing tight clothes to show off one’s body
ボディビル	bodibiru	bodybuilding
ポテチ	potechi	potato chip
ホトマル	hotomaru	photo multiplier
ホーム	hoomu	railway platform
ホーム・エステ	hoomu esute	“home esthetics”: a service that goes to clients’ homes to give beauty treatments
ホームスチール	hoomu suchiiru	“stealing home” in baseball
ホームドラマ	hoomu dorama	“home drama”: soap opera
ホームドレス	hoomu doresu	“home dress”: house dress, plain dress for everyday wear
ホームページ	hoomu peeji	“home page”: used to refer to an entire Web site. See トップページ(toppu peeji).
ポリ公	pori-kou	slang for police officer
ポリ袋	pori bukuro	polyethylene bag
ボリューム	boryuumu	“volume”: any kind of adjustment knob, not necessarily for sound
プロマネ	puromane	project manager
マイコン	maikon	1) microcomputer, 2) moving (animated) icon
マイナスシーリング	mainasu shiiringu	“minus ceiling”: a budget which is reduced in comparison to the previous fiscal year
マイブーム	mai buumu	“my boom”: something that a person is currently obsessed with or fascinated by
マイペース	mai peesu	“my pace”: at one’s own pace
マーケット・イン	maaketto in	“market in”: incorporating the needs of the market into a product
マザコン	mazakon	mother complex
マスコット	masukotto	“mascot”: a small thing that a person values (not only animals but also inanimate objects)
マスコミ	masukomi	mass communications, mass media
マスター	masutaa	“master”: the owner of a bar
マテハン	matehan	materials handling
マナーボタン	manaa botan	“manner button”: the button that prevents a cellular phone from ringing out loud in a public place
マニューシャ	manyuusha	minutia
マネロン	maneron	money laundering
ママチャリ	mamachari	the kind of bicycle favored by housewives running errands around their neighborhood
マルチ	maruchi	1) multimedia, 2) multilevel marketing
マンション	manshon	“mansion”: a condominium apartment
ミシュラン	mishuran	“Michelin”: a guidebook to anything, not just to tourist sites and restaurants
ミス	misu	mistake
ミスコン	misu kon	“miss contest”: a beauty contest to name “Miss Tofu” or something like that
ミスターレディー	misutaa redii	“Mr. Lady”: a transvestite
ミッション	misshon	1) transmission, 2) stick shift car
ミニコミ	minikomi	communications within a small range
ミーハー	miihaa	overly fascinated with and impressed by celebrities (not gairaigo)
ムック	mukku	“magazine”+ “book”: a thick illustrated publication on a single topic printed to look like a magazine
ムーバー	muubaa	“mover”: a mechanical ride
メーカーオプション	meekaa opushon	“maker option”: factory-installed option
メカ	meka	mechanism
メーク	meeku	make up
メール	meeru	“mail”: used [exclusively?] for e-mail
メクラキャップ	mekura kyappu	blank plug
メモる	memoru	to take notes
メリット	meritto	“merit”: advantage, strong point
メルアド	meru ado	e-mail address
メル友	merutomo	a friend with whom one corresponds by e-mail-
メルヘンチック	merhenchikku	from the German word “Maerchen”: having a fairy tale atmosphere
メンテ	mente	maintenance
モガ	moga	“modern girl”: a flapper (slang from the 1920s)
モータリゼーション	mootarizeeshon	“motorization”: the spread of car ownership within a developing country
モーテル	mooteru	“motel”: However, this usually refers to a rabu hoteru.
モバイラー	mo