Japanese language/Catalogs/Shingo

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新語 (shingo, 'new word')

Recently-coined popular new words in Japanese are recognised in an annual competition in Japan; the top ten winners are unveiled each December. The words reflect a range of important political or economic issues as well as Japanese popular culture. The following lists includes some of the more notable winners:

2009

  • 新型インフルエンザ Shingata infuruenza: 'new-type influenza', commonly known as 豚インフルエンザ buta infuruenza 'swine flu'.
  • 粗食系男子 Soshokukei danshi: literally 'herbivorous man', referring to thrifty young men who are interested in fashion but less concerned with sex or making money.[1]
  • 政権交代 Seiken Kootai: 'change of government', a frequently-used phrase in 2009 due to the election of the Democratic Party of Japan under then-leader Yukio Hatoyama.
  • 事業仕分け Jigyoo shiwake: 'budget request screening': one of the first acts of the Hatoyama government was to launch a public review of government-funded projects; in unprecedented scenes that were widely reported in the media, government politicians demanded that bureaucrats and project leaders justify their funding applications, and often recommended cuts instead.[2]

2008

  • アラフォー Ara-foo: age and gender group comprising women 'around' the age of 40; wasei-eigo (和製英語, literally 'made-in-Japan English') from English 'around forty'.
  • グ~ Gu~: 'good!'; popular catchphrase of a Japanese celebrity, based on the English expression.

2007

  • ミ王子 Hanikami ooji: literally 'shy prince', referring to a young Japanese golfer widely seen as modest and humble.

Footnotes

  1. Japan Times: 'Blurring the boundaries'. 10th May 2009.
  2. Japan Times: ''Politically binding' budget screening over'. 28th November 2009.