Kids Web Japan

Q. Are any Japanese words used by other languages?

A.

There are many Japanese words that are used in foreign languages. For example, many languages use the word tsunami, which comes from Japanese. In addition, lots of Japanese words related to food have been borrowed by other languages. For example, umami, one of the five basic flavors (in addition to sweet, sour, salty and bitter) comes from Japanese.

Until 2000, scientists hadn’t proven that umami was a separate taste, but it was still well-known in Japan for a long time. Umami ingredients are important to Japanese foods, especially soups, so even before its existence was scientifically proven, Japanese people were very familiar with the taste of umami.

Recently, Japanese food has become more popular in other countries, and the Japanese names of dishes and ingredients are now being used in other languages. These include miso, tofu, sushi, ramen, edamame, and more.