are Japanese-language expressions that are based on English words, or on parts of English phrases, but do not exist in standard English, or do not have the meanings that they have in standard English. In linguistics, they are classified as pseudo-loanwords or pseudo-anglicisms.
Definition and examples
Wasei-eigo words, compound words and portmanteaus are constructed by Japanese speakers on the basis of loanwords derived from English and embedded into the Japanese lexicon with refashioned, novel meanings diverging significantly from the originals.
An example is , derived from "handle" with the meaning of "steering wheel", with the full phrase meaning designated driver. Some wasei-eigo terms are not recognizable as English words in English-speaking countries; one example is , which refers to physical contact between close friends or loved ones and appears to be a portmanteau of skin and kinship. In other cases, a word may simply have gained a slightly different meaning; for instance, does not mean "cunning", but "cheating" (on an academic test). Some wasei-eigo are subsequently borrowed from Japanese into other languages, including English.
Confusion with gairaigo
Wasei-eigo is often confused with gairaigo, which refers simply to loanwords or "words from abroad". Some of the main contributors to this confusion are the phonological and morphological transformations that they undergo to suit Japanese phonology and syllabary. These transformations often result in truncated (or "backclipped") words and words with extra vowels inserted to accommodate the Japanese mora syllabic structure. These include acronyms and initialisms particular to Japan (see list of Japanese Latin alphabetic abbreviations). Wasei-eigo can be compared to , which are Japanese pseudo-sinicisms (Japanese words created from Chinese roots) and are also common.
History and process
There was a large influx of English loanwords introduced to Japan during the Meiji period, which was an important factor in Japan's modernization. Because they were so quickly accepted into Japanese society, there was not a thorough understanding of the actual meaning of the word, leading to misinterpretations and deviations from their original meaning.
Since English loanwords are adopted into Japan intentionally (as opposed to diffusing "naturally" through language contact, etc.), the meaning often deviates from the original. When these loanwords become so deeply embedded in the Japanese lexicon, it leads to experimentation and re-fashioning of the words' meaning, thus resulting in wasei-eigo.
Social connotations and main users
Though there is disagreement about the assumption that the majority of wasei-eigo are created by advertisers, the audience that predominantly uses wasei-eigo is youth and women. This links the meanings of the words with the idea of "foreignness". Because of this, wasei-eigo (and some English loanwords) is often used as a method for speaking about taboo and controversial topics in a safe and neutral way.