Some Japanese words are insults in Chinese
Japanese and Chinese share many written words. Some mean the same thing, some mean something completely different.
LOL in Japanese is 草. In Chinese, 草 is Fxck.
There are many words in Japanese and Chinese that are written the same. Some have the same meaning. Some mean something totally different.
Vocab
- 草
kusa
LOL / lmao
slang
Literally "grass".
In Chinese
In Chinese internet slang 草 (cǎo, "grass") substitutes for 肏 (cào), a vulgar verb roughly equal to English "Fxck". Same character, different tone, far harsher register than the Japanese "LOL".
- 愛人
aijin
a lover, an affair
polite
Specifically someone you should not be with.
In Chinese
In Chinese 愛人 (àiren, simplified 爱人) is your husband or wife. Introducing your spouse as your 愛人 in Japan tells the room you are having an affair. Same two characters, opposite respectability.
- 邪魔
jama
a nuisance
casual
Someone getting in your way.
In Chinese
In Chinese 邪魔 (xiémó) means an evil spirit or demon. The everyday Japanese greeting お邪魔します (roughly "sorry to intrude") reads to a Chinese speaker much closer to "here comes the devil".
- 娘
musume
daughter
casual
In Chinese
In Chinese 娘 (niáng) is mother. The same character jumps a whole generation depending on which language is reading it.
- 手紙
tegami
a letter
polite
The kind you put in an envelope and post.
In Chinese
In Chinese 手紙 (shǒuzhǐ, simplified 手纸) is toilet paper. Writing that you are sending someone 手紙 reads very differently across the two languages.