Why do the Japanese use English words?

Question

For example, they'll use English colors to describe stuff like pink, blue, etc in katakana, but why not the French word for pink? Or why no Indonesian for pink? Why was English chosen as their main language for katakana words?

Answer 1

Japanese has katakana words from most languages, but English is the major one because they really began major trading to the West (specifically American and England) after Commodore Perry came bursting through. Before that time Japan was trying to stay fairly isolated. This brought a wave of technology from the West and it's easier to name things after what they're already called rather than come up with their own. The end of World War II and a second explosion of technology and knowledge just added to what had happened in the past.
Nowadays, with it being mandatory that all schoolchildren learn English, it's just wiggled its way into regular Japanese speech; either to be cute, to seem international, or just because it's easier to say than the Japanese word. (I know I would rather say pinku than momoiroi.)

Answer 2

By placing English lyrics into the tune, it makes the tune look cooler and extra catchy. I have heard many Japanese youths quote and sing english songs, however they dont memorise the phrases, best the sounds. They haven't any notion what the meanings of the english phrases are, they identical to the band and the tune. Many occasions the tune writers simply seem up english phrases they feel are cool and could also be similiar to a Japanese phrase, however in many instances the meanings and grammar aren't ideal.

Answer 3

A good reason why is that young kids arent learning kanji so well anymore. Between that and the influx of foreign media, it is a natural progression.

All of the words use from english can be said in japanese, but 1) many of the kids study english 2) the cant/havent/wont learn the kanji 3) they want to separate the word from the true japanese lexicon.

So you get seku hara for sexual harrasment. If course they can say it in japanese but if they use seku hara, it makes it seem more foreign to japan and is gives the word a meaning outside of the japanese culture. And many people under 30 probably couldnt write the kanji equivalent for that word if their life depended on it.

Answer 4

coz Japan's most closely related foreign country is the United States, which uses English language. And most Japan young generation of Japan has actually lost their "Japanese essence", in my opinion. They're not pure Japanese anymore in cultural sense. That's why there are a lot of English words use in Japanese language these days.

And, there is Indonesian for pink: it's "merah jambu". Merah means read, and jambu means guava. But yes, nowadays people tend to use the word "pink" rather than "merah jambu".

Answer 5

that's not really true, English is just the current preferred borrowing buddy.

Historically, Japanese has borrowed the most from the Chinese language, including the onyomi pronounciation and the kanji characters. but you asked about katakana words so...

A lot of japanese words are loaned from other languages, like "pan" for bread from the portueguese, "arbeit" from German (arubaito in japanese means part-time work), etc.

English has also become the language of all things pop and hollywood, and it's immensely alluring worldwide. it's also seen as being "hip" and "cool" to use random english words not just in Japan but in other countries like Taiwan as well.

Answer 6

All international languages borrow words from other languages to various degrees. English uses several words from Japanese, from Chinese, from Cantonese, etc. The primary sources of borrowed words in English have been Latin, Greek, and French. Japanese borrows heavily as well. The main sources have been Chinese, which was the primary source of culture in the region, and English. The borrowing from English is due to the tremendous respect afforded the Americans after their unexpededly reasonable treatment after world war 2, and the tremendous influence of the U.S. financially, culturally, and socially after world war 2.

Answer 7

Because they are easier to pronounce Id say, plus the fact that the US kind of rebuilt Japan and I'd say that we had a bit of an influence on them after we dropped bombs on them...Anyways yeah its a simple thing we went in and rebuilt and I can't think of the word lol my bf and I were talking about this the other day lol...

Answer 8

For one thing, the US occupied Japan after WWII and thereby influenced everything from government to popular entertainment.