SPAM musubi (see definition for "musubi" below). This is a list of Japanese loanwords in Hawaii in three categories: Food, Objects, and Miscellaneous.
Note that there are other Japanese words common among the Japanese-American population (such as "okazu" and "obaachan"), but not as well-known among Hawai'i's general population. Such words have not been included here. Also, Japanese words such as "anime," () "karaoke," () "samurai," (侍) and "sushi" () which have entered the English language on a national level have not been included either.
It is also interesting to note that some words are not from the standard Japanese language. They instead originated from Japan's regional dialects. For example, the word bobora is said to be spoken only in certain prefectures, especially in western Japan where many of the Japanese immigrants came from. It originates from the Portugese word "abobora" meaning Japanese pumpkin.
Food
- bento (, べんとう): Box lunch geared for portability for picnics, etc. It typically has rice, a main dish of meat or fish, and side dishes. It used to be food on a paper plate placed inside a thin cardboard box. Now, it's all in convenient (but posionous when heated by the food) plastic containers molded for each dish.
- manju: Confection with sweet azuki bean paste inside.
- miso soup (): Soup made of soy bean paste called miso. "Miso-shiru" in Japanese.
- mochi (): Rice cake. Commonly pounded and eaten during New Year's, as in Japan. Sweet azuki beans are commonly eaten with mochi.
- mochi crunch: Rice crackers seasoned with shoyu. Also called kaki mochi. In Japanese, it's called "arare."
- musubi: Rice ball wrapped in dried seaweed paper. SPAM musubi has a piece of SPAM® luncheon meat on top. In Japanese, the word "onigiri" is more commonly used for rice ball.
- shoyu (): Soy sauce. "Shoyu rice" is when you sprinkle shoyu over the rice.
- sukiyaki (): Thin sliced beef and vegetables (including tofu) simmered in a skillet or pan in sukiyaki sauce. It is also the title of a No. 1 hit song in the U.S. made popular by Kyu Sakamoto in 1963. (The Japanese title of the song is totally different: Ue o muite aruko. The song has nothing to do with sukiyaki food.)
- teriyaki (): Grilled meat basted with a sauce made of shoyu and sugar. Meat words such as "chicken" is often appended. Often seen on plate lunch menus.
- tako (): Octopus. Often used in a local dish called poke (pronounced POH-kay) in which case it is called "tako poke."
- tofu (): Soy bean curd. (This word's origin is China.)
Objects
- benjo (): Toilet. Say this in Japan and they might laugh at you. "Otearai" (お手洗い) or "toire" (トイレ) is more common in Japan. (See also: Japanese toilet).
- bobora: A country hick fresh off the boat from Japan. Also called "Japan bobora." Not standard Japanese. It's from a regional dialect. Based on the Portugese word "abobora," meaning Japanese pumpkin.
- boro boroz: Dirty clothes. Literally rags. What you wear when you paint your house.
- chawan cut: A hairstyle that was common among little Japanese girls. It looked like someone put a bowl (茶碗, chawan) over the head and cut around the rim. In Japanese, it is called "okappa."
- daikon legs: Daikon ( or 大根) is a large white radish having a stubby shape. So this refers to Japanese women's legs that look short and stubby. This is rumoured to be the result of sitting on the floor for long periods. But since sitting on chairs is more common now, more Japanese women have long and slender legs.
- giri-giri: The swirl in your hair. This is not standard Japanese as giri-giri has a totally different meaning in normal Japanese. "Giri-giri" or "giri" originates from local dialects spoken in mainly western Japan where it means tsumuji, the standard word for the hair swirl.
- hanakuso: What you get when you pick your nose. "Hana" means nose, and "kuso" means waste. "Kuso" in Japanese can also mean human excrement.
- hanabuddah (or hanabata): The liquid version of hanakuso when you have a runny nose. Hana means nose, but buddah (butter) is not really Japanese. The real word in Japanese is hana-mizu (literally, "nose water").
- hanabuddah days: Hanabuddah is most commonly seen on young children who neglect to wipe their runny noses. Thus, hanabuddah days refers to one's youth in Hawai'i.
- hashi (also known as ohashi) chopsticks
- Kikaider (or Kikaida): Super hero character from Japan which was very popular in the 1970s.
- shishi: Urine or urinate. "I gotta go shishi" is a common phrase. Another related pidgin word is "5-4-4" which also means to urinate; when each digit is read in Japanese it reads "go shi shi".
- zori: Rubber slippers. Also zoris (plural).
Misc.
- bocha: Take a bath. Originally from "bocha-bocha" a real Japanese word meaning splash.
- bon dance (): Annual summer dance held outside at Buddhist temples to greet the returning souls of the deceased. They dance in a circle around a tower where people sing and beat taiko drums. The most famous bon dance song is "Tanko-bushi" (炭坑節).
- habut/habuteru: To feel grumpy or resentful especially after you feel offended by something. Not standard Japanese, originated from local dialects.
- jan ken po: The children's game of paper (open hand), rock (fist), and scissors (peace sign). In Japanese, it is simply called "jan-ken." The Japanese also do not say what they say in Hawai'i (janken na manken an saka saka po ...) before they show their hands. This jan-ken-po prelude can also differ depending on the island.
- shibai: A false act. Often refers to politicians or other influential persons who put on a false face.
- skebe: Horny. In Japanese, "H" (etchi) is more commonly used than "skebe."
- skosh: Just a little. Say it like when someone is pouring you a strong drink. Comes from "sukoshi."
- Japanee: Japanese.
External links
References
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