Wasei
/wa.seː/noun
A Japanese term meaning made or created in Japan, especially in reference to cultural forms or products modeled on foreign originals.
Did you know?Wasei appears in terms such as wasei-eigo, literally “Japanese-made English,” describing Japanese expressions built from English-looking words that may not exist in English.
Etymological Timeline
Old Chinese
Old Chinese
和
“A character associated with harmony, joining, or agreement; later borrowed into Japanese with the reading wa.”
Middle Chinese
Middle Chinese
和 (hwa)
“A Sino-Japanese source form connected with harmony and Japan-related usage.”
Middle Chinese
Middle Chinese
製 (tɕeH)
“To make, manufacture, or produce; the source of Japanese sei.”
Classical Japanese
Japanese
和製 (wasei)
“Made in Japan; literally a Japanese-made production.”
20th Century
Modern Japanese
和製英語 (wasei-eigo)
“Japanese-made English: Japanese coinages formed from English elements or modeled on English.”
Modern English
English
wasei
“A specialized loanword used in English discussions of Japanese-made cultural forms, language, and products.”
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