Romanization Lookup Table of certain Japanese (Clipped) Loanwords or Japanese-made English words
Table of contents
This page shows the preferred (and enforced) romanization of certain clipped loanwords or Japanese-made English words.
If you see used loan words in titles that are missing and could be romanized differently, please contact us on Discord so we can standarize them!
Loaned, Clipped (Slang), or Japanese-made English Words That Retain Japanese Influence
| Expression | Romanization (Primary Title) | Romanization (Alternative Title) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| アパート | Apaato | Apartment | From アパートメント (apaatomento, “apartment”). |
| アプリ | Apuri | App | From アプリケーション (apurikeeshon, “application”). |
| アラサー | Arasaa | Around 30 | From compound: around + thirty (30). |
| アラフォー | Arafoo | Around 40 | From compound: around + forty (40). |
| アラフィフ | Arafifu | Around 50 | From compound: around + fifty (50). |
| アラカン | Arakan | Around 60 | From compound: around + kanreki (還暦). |
| バリキャリ | Barikyari | From compound: baribari (“energetic”) + career woman (キャリアウーマン). | |
| ドＳ / ドＭ | Do-S / Do-M | From 度 (do, “degree” or “extreme”) + Sadist / Masochist. | |
| ド<noun> | Do-<noun> | Prefix compound: 度 (do, “degree” or “extreme”) + noun (e.g., Do-hentai, Do-inaka). | |
| チャラ男 | Charao | From charai (“flashy, shallow”) + 男 (otoko, “man”). | |
| セフレ | Sefure | Sex Friend | From セックスフレンド (sekkusu furendo, “sex friend”). |
| ドル | Doru | Idol | From アイドル (aidoru, “idol”). |
| クリ / クリちゃん | Kuri / Kuri-chan | From クリトリス (kuritorisu, “clitoris”). | |
| ラブホ | Rabuho | Love Hotel | From ラブホテル (rabu hoteru, “love hotel”). |
| ゲーセン | Geesen | Game Center | From ゲームセンター (geemu sentaa, “game center”). |
| スパダリ | Supadari | Super Darling | From スーパーダーリン (suupaa daarin, “super darling”). |
| ギャル | Gyaru | Gal | From English “gal”; now a native subcultural label (fully assimilated loanword). |
| メインキャラ | Mein Kyara | Main Character | From loan + assimilated clip of キャラクター (kyarakutaa). |
| サブキャラ | Sabu Kyara | Sub Character | Clipped and assimilated slang compound. (Side Character) |
| モブキャラ | Mobu Kyara | Mob Character | From モブ (mobu, “mob”) + clipped キャラクター (kyarakutaa). |
| 派手キャラ | Hade Kyara | Hybrid slang: native + assimilated. | |
| 陰キャ / 陰キャラ | Inkya / Inkyara | From compound: 陰 (in, “shadow”) + キャラクター (kyarakutaa). | |
| リア充 | Riajyuu | Normie | From real + juujitsu suru (“fulfilled in real life”). |
| バイト | Baito | Part-time Job | From ドイツ語 arbeit (“work”); fully assimilated. |
| ざまぁ | Zamaa | Slangy interjection / exclamatory noun phrase that comes from ざまぁみろ |
Clipped (Slang) Loaned Words Translated To English Equivalents
| Expression | Romanization In Primary Title | Romanization In Alternative Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| ロリ | Loli | From; Lolita (ロリータ) | |
| ロリコン | Lolicon | From compound; Lolita Complex (ロリータ + コンプレックス) | |
| ブラコン | Brocon | From compound; Brother Complex (ブラザー + コンプレックス) | |
| シスコン | Siscon | From compound; Sister Complex (シスター + コンプレックス) | |
| ファザコン | Father-con | From compound, hypenated due to semi-clipped; Father Complex (ファザ + コンプレックス) | |
| マザコン | Mother-con | From compound, hypenated due to semi-clipped; Mother Complex (マザ + コンプレックス) | |
| ラブコメ | Romcom | Love Comedy / Rabukome | From compound; Japanese-made English Love Comedy (ラブコメディ) |
| コスプレ | Cosplay | Kosupure | From; Costume Play (コスチュームプレー) |
Non-Clipped Loaned or English-Made Words
| Expression | Romanization In Primary Title | Romanization In Alternative Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| ザーメン | Semen | Samen | From German, Romanized to English equivalent |
| 乙女ゲーム | Otome Game | From Japanese-made English |