# Borrowed phrases or words that don't carry the original meaning when used in Japan
**URL:** https://community.wanikani.com/t/borrowed-phrases-or-words-that-dont-carry-the-original-meaning-when-used-in-japan/49681
**Category:** Japanese Language
**Created:** [February 25, 2021, 3:44am UTC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/borrowed-phrases-or-words-that-dont-carry-the-original-meaning-when-used-in-japan/49681 "2021-02-25T03:44:16Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 2
### Author:  [@monkeyshine89](https://community.wanikani.com/u/monkeyshine89)
#### Post date: [February 25, 2021, 5:13am UTC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/borrowed-phrases-or-words-that-dont-carry-the-original-meaning-when-used-in-japan/49681/21 "2021-02-25T05:13:02Z")
Ah sorry very vigorous auto complete.
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### Author:  [@Chellykins](https://community.wanikani.com/u/Chellykins)
#### Post date: [February 25, 2021, 5:20am UTC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/borrowed-phrases-or-words-that-dont-carry-the-original-meaning-when-used-in-japan/49681/22 "2021-02-25T05:20:31Z")
I don’t think this is a borrowing, but in Japanese, pulling someone’s leg (足を引っ張る）means holding them back, not telling a joke.
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### Author:  [@monsuta87](https://community.wanikani.com/u/monsuta87)
#### Post date: [February 25, 2021, 5:57am UTC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/borrowed-phrases-or-words-that-dont-carry-the-original-meaning-when-used-in-japan/49681/23 "2021-02-25T05:57:11Z")
my first thought was cunning 😆
Also ミス as a mistake
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### Author:  [@Ladymerelan](https://community.wanikani.com/u/Ladymerelan)
#### Post date: [February 25, 2021, 6:07am UTC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/borrowed-phrases-or-words-that-dont-carry-the-original-meaning-when-used-in-japan/49681/24 "2021-02-25T06:07:53Z")
Yup, I live in one of those $$$$ hahaha
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### Author:  [@NicoleIsEnough](https://community.wanikani.com/u/NicoleIsEnough)
#### Post date: [February 25, 2021, 6:43am UTC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/borrowed-phrases-or-words-that-dont-carry-the-original-meaning-when-used-in-japan/49681/25 "2021-02-25T06:43:28Z")
A German loanword mashup is アルバイト which comes from Arbeit. The German word means „work“ (or „job“, depending on context) but in Japanese it specifically means part-time job.
I guess the Japanese think that we Germans are slackers and that our day jobs are comparable to Japanese part-time jobs 🤣
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### Author:  [@NanaNanaNana](https://community.wanikani.com/u/NanaNanaNana)
#### Post date: [February 25, 2021, 7:08am UTC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/borrowed-phrases-or-words-that-dont-carry-the-original-meaning-when-used-in-japan/49681/26 "2021-02-25T07:08:41Z")
For the lucky individuals who only have 35 hour weeks in Germany, I can see where people who work 60 or 70 hours a week might view this as “part-time” although it is considered “full-time”.
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### Author:  [@Csinger](https://community.wanikani.com/u/Csinger)
#### Post date: [February 25, 2021, 7:12am UTC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/borrowed-phrases-or-words-that-dont-carry-the-original-meaning-when-used-in-japan/49681/27 "2021-02-25T07:12:59Z")
One I hear from time to time is the standalone phrase 「ドンマイ」, which comes from the English phrase “don’t mind” but means “don’t worry about it”.
> [@CDR-Strawberry](#):
>
> “American dog” (corn dog) because the first time I tried to order one in a conbini, the poor worker had no clue what a コーンドッグ
This is more or less true, although I believe “American dogs” are made with wheat batter, so “corn dog” would technically be incorrect. Granted, “American dog” is also a misnomer, so it’s kind of a moot point.
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### Author:  [@NicoleIsEnough](https://community.wanikani.com/u/NicoleIsEnough)
#### Post date: [February 25, 2021, 7:14am UTC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/borrowed-phrases-or-words-that-dont-carry-the-original-meaning-when-used-in-japan/49681/28 "2021-02-25T07:14:59Z")
Yeah, in Japan they seem to have a strong focus on “time spent in the office” - regardless of the output.
Although, to be fair, 35-hour-jobs are not the norm in Germany (I only ever had 40-hour-jobs) and there are many people who also do 60-70 hours a week.
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### Author:  [@drdru](https://community.wanikani.com/u/drdru)
#### Post date: [February 25, 2021, 7:38am UTC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/borrowed-phrases-or-words-that-dont-carry-the-original-meaning-when-used-in-japan/49681/29 "2021-02-25T07:38:55Z")
I find ベランダ used to mean balcony quite confusing.
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### Author:  [@Nemuitanuki](https://community.wanikani.com/u/Nemuitanuki)
#### Post date: [February 25, 2021, 7:50am UTC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/borrowed-phrases-or-words-that-dont-carry-the-original-meaning-when-used-in-japan/49681/30 "2021-02-25T07:50:18Z")
I’m too lazy to read the thread right now. Has any mentioned “straight” tea?
I thought straight tea would mean no sugar and just tea. Straight up tea.
I got a mouthfull of sugar.
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### Author:  [@Leebo](https://community.wanikani.com/u/Leebo)
#### Post date: [February 25, 2021, 7:57am UTC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/borrowed-phrases-or-words-that-dont-carry-the-original-meaning-when-used-in-japan/49681/31 "2021-02-25T07:57:12Z")
What, like 午後の紅茶? I guess they mean “not ミルクティー or レモンティー,” the other two products in that line.
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### Author:  [@Nemuitanuki](https://community.wanikani.com/u/Nemuitanuki)
#### Post date: [February 25, 2021, 8:05am UTC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/borrowed-phrases-or-words-that-dont-carry-the-original-meaning-when-used-in-japan/49681/32 "2021-02-25T08:05:58Z")
I thought straight meant unsweetened 😭
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### Author:  [@Leebo](https://community.wanikani.com/u/Leebo)
#### Post date: [February 25, 2021, 8:11am UTC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/borrowed-phrases-or-words-that-dont-carry-the-original-meaning-when-used-in-japan/49681/33 "2021-02-25T08:11:47Z")
Ah, yeah, they do have you covered, you just have to look for the “sugarless straight tea” lol 🙂
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### Author:  [@alo](https://community.wanikani.com/u/alo)
#### Post date: [February 25, 2021, 8:18am UTC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/borrowed-phrases-or-words-that-dont-carry-the-original-meaning-when-used-in-japan/49681/34 "2021-02-25T08:18:04Z")
Veranda is the English word although it may be more commonly used in England and the commonwealth.
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### Author:  [@NicoleIsEnough](https://community.wanikani.com/u/NicoleIsEnough)
#### Post date: [February 25, 2021, 8:20am UTC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/borrowed-phrases-or-words-that-dont-carry-the-original-meaning-when-used-in-japan/49681/35 "2021-02-25T08:20:02Z")
But veranda means porch rather than balcony, or am I mistaken here? At least that’s the meaning of the German word Veranda…
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### Author:  [@alo](https://community.wanikani.com/u/alo)
#### Post date: [February 25, 2021, 8:29am UTC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/borrowed-phrases-or-words-that-dont-carry-the-original-meaning-when-used-in-japan/49681/36 "2021-02-25T08:29:01Z")
I’ve heard it used for any outdoor enclosed space but that was in places like Hawaii. That could just be Japanese influence the other way.
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### Author:  [@drdru](https://community.wanikani.com/u/drdru)
#### Post date: [February 25, 2021, 9:40am UTC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/borrowed-phrases-or-words-that-dont-carry-the-original-meaning-when-used-in-japan/49681/37 "2021-02-25T09:40:52Z")
At least in French ‘veranda’ has a unique meaning of a porch surrounded by windows. If you call a balcony a veranda people will definitely not understand.
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### Author:  [@Simian60](https://community.wanikani.com/u/Simian60)
#### Post date: [February 25, 2021, 9:59am UTC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/borrowed-phrases-or-words-that-dont-carry-the-original-meaning-when-used-in-japan/49681/38 "2021-02-25T09:59:45Z")
> [@Leebo](#):
>
> This one is adapted from British English, I believe. “Mansion” can mean a luxurious apartment apparently. (At least Wiktionary lists that as British English for [mansion](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/mansion))
I think that may be an error.
You can convert a mansion to multiple flats, but a flat/apartment could only ever be a mansion sarcastically.
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### Author:  [@Leebo](https://community.wanikani.com/u/Leebo)
#### Post date: [February 25, 2021, 10:05am UTC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/borrowed-phrases-or-words-that-dont-carry-the-original-meaning-when-used-in-japan/49681/39 "2021-02-25T10:05:47Z")
> [@Simian60](#):
>
> I think that may be an error.
>
> You can convert a mansion to multiple flats, but a flat/apartment could only ever be a mansion sarcastically.
This site, which says it is “Powered by Oxford,” lists “a large block of flats” as a British English meaning as well.
> **[Dictionary.com | Meanings & Definitions of English Words](https://www.dictionary.com/)**
>
> The world's leading online dictionary: English definitions, synonyms, word origins, example sentences, word games, and more. A trusted authority for 25+ years!
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### Author:  [@adamstan](https://community.wanikani.com/u/adamstan)
#### Post date: [February 25, 2021, 10:06am UTC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/borrowed-phrases-or-words-that-dont-carry-the-original-meaning-when-used-in-japan/49681/40 "2021-02-25T10:06:34Z")
In Polish “weranda” can mean a porch, but also a, how to say it, enclosed balcony - with ceiling and windows. (Or maybe I’ve been misusing the word my whole life 😮 )
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