Introduction
If you’ve ever studied Japanese and thought, “Hey, this word looks just like English!” — but you might be wrong! 😅
Japanese uses many loanwords written in katakana. Some are easy to understand, like コンピューター (computer). But others are “false friends” — they look familiar to English speakers but have very different meanings in Japanese.
In this post, we’ll explore 14 katakana words that often confuse English learners.
With clear explanations, example sentences, and fun facts, you’ll never mistake “pants” or “talent” again!
Katakana False Friends Lists
レンジ (renji) — microwave oven🔥
What it looks like: “range”
What it actually means in Japanese: a microwave oven
📝 In Japan, レンジ refers to a microwave, not a stovetop or a range of choices.
It’s short for 電子レンジ (denshi renji), literally “electric microwave.”
このカレー、レンジで温めてください。
(Kono karee, renji de atatamete kudasai.)
→ Please heat up this curry in the microwave.
✅ If You Actually Mean “Range” in Japanese
If you want to say “range” in Japanese — like a cooking stove, variety, or distance — here are the proper words:
- ガスコンロ (gasu konro) → stove
- 範囲 (han’i) → scope, extent, variety
- 射程 (shatei) or 距離 (kyori) → range/distance (e.g., in physics or shooting)
She has a wide range of interests.
→ 彼女は興味の範囲が広いです。
(Kanojo wa kyoumi no han’i ga hiroi desu.)
コンセント (konsento) — electrical outlet🔌
What it looks like: “consent”
What it actually means in Japanese: an electrical outlet or socket🔌
📝 In Japan, コンセント has nothing to do with permission — it’s where you plug in your phone or laptop.
この部屋にはコンセントがありません。
(Kono heya ni wa konsento ga arimasen.)
→ There’s no outlet in this room.
✅ If You Actually Mean “Consent”…
If you want to say “consent” in Japanese (as in permission), the correct word is 同意 (doui).
You need to obtain the person’s consent.
→ご本人の同意を得る必要があります。
(Go-honnin no doui o eru hitsuyou ga arimasu.)
マンション (manshon) — apartment / condominium🏢
What it looks like: “mansion”
What it actually means in Japanese: a multi-unit apartment building (often modern or mid-rise)
📝 In Japan, マンション refers to a condominium-style apartment — not a luxurious estate. Even a small 1-bedroom flat in a city can be called a “manshon”.
新しいマンションに引っ越しました。
(Atarashii manshon ni hikkoshimashita.)
→ I moved into a new apartment.
✅ If You Actually Mean “Mansion”…
If you want to say “mansion” in the English sense (a huge, luxurious house), the word in Japanese would be 邸宅 (teitaku) or 豪邸 (gōtei), though both are formal or literary.
He lives in a huge mansion.
→ 彼は大きな豪邸に住んでいます。
(Kare wa ookina gōtei ni sundeimasu.)
サラリーマン (sarariiman) — office worker 👨💼
What it looks like: “salaryman”
What it actually means in Japanese: a male company employee (especially full-time, white-collar)
📝 In Japan, サラリーマン refers to a typical office worker — someone who commutes daily, wears a suit, and works for a company. The word is very common in Japanese, but rarely used in natural English.
彼は典型的なサラリーマンだ。
(Kare wa tenkeiteki na sarariiman da.)
→ He’s a typical office worker.
テンション (tenshon) — energy level / excitement 🎉
What it looks like: “tension” (as in stress or pressure)
What it actually means in Japanese: mood, energy, emotional excitement
📝 In Japanese, テンション doesn’t refer to stress or strain. Instead, it describes how hyped, energetic, or enthusiastic someone is.
For example, “テンションが高い” means someone is full of energy or in a great mood — not anxious!
今日はテンションが高いね！
(Kyou wa tenshon ga takai ne!)
→ You’re really hyped up today!
✅ If You Actually Mean “Tension”…
If you’re talking about stress, pressure, or nervousness, use Japanese words like 緊張 (kinchou) or ストレス (sutoresu).
I always get nervous before presentations
→プレゼンの前はいつも緊張します。
(Purezen no mae wa itsumo kinchou shimasu.)
I’ve been feeling stressed lately.
→最近ストレスがたまっています。
(Saikin sutoresu ga tamatteimasu.)
タレント (tarento) — TV personality / celebrity 💃
What it looks like: “talent” (as in skill or ability)
What it actually means in Japanese: a celebrity or entertainer, especially someone who frequently appears on television
📝 In Japanese, a タレント is someone who is regularly seen on variety shows, talk shows, or commercials.
They might be singers, comedians, or just famous for being famous — having a special skill isn’t required.
あのタレントはバラエティ番組によく出てる。
(Ano tarento wa baraeti bangumi ni yoku deteru.)
→ That celebrity often appears on variety shows.
✅ If You Actually Mean “Talent”…
If you want to talk about someone’s skill or natural ability, use Japanese words like 才能 (sainou) or 能力 (nōryoku).
She has a talent for music.
→彼女には音楽の才能があります。
(Kanojo ni wa ongaku no sainou ga arimasu.)
クレーム (kureemu) — complaint 😠💢
What it looks like: “claim”
What it actually means in Japanese: a complaint, especially from a customer
📝 In Japanese, クレーム is used almost exclusively to mean a negative complaint — often in customer service or business settings.
It does not mean “to file a claim” in the legal or insurance sense.
お客様からクレームが入りました。
(Okyakusama kara kureemu ga hairimashita.)
→ We received a complaint from a customer.
✅ If You Actually Mean “Claim”…
If you’re referring to “claim” as in asserting ownership or filing for compensation, Japanese uses words like:
- 主張 (shuchou) – a personal claim or assertion
- 請求 (seikyuu) – a financial/legal claim
- 保険金の請求 (hokenkin no seikyuu) – an insurance claim
You need documents to file an insurance claim.
→保険金を請求するには書類が必要です。
(Hokenkin o seikyuu suru ni wa shorui ga hitsuyou desu.)
パンツ (pantsu) — underwear 🩲
What it looks like: “pants” (trousers)
What it actually means in Japanese: underwear — such as briefs, boxers, or panties
📝 In Japanese, パンツ refers to what you wear under your clothes. This can lead to awkward misunderstandings, especially for American English speakers, where “pants” means outerwear.
パンツが見えてるよ！
(Pantsu ga mieteru yo!)
→ Your underwear is showing!
✅ If You Actually Mean “Pants” (Trousers)…
In Japanese, the word for pants or trousers is ズボン (zubon).
Use this when talking about jeans, slacks, or any legwear that goes on the outside.
I’m wearing new pants today.
→今日は新しいズボンをはいています。
(Kyou wa atarashii zubon o haiteimasu.)
スマート (sumaato) — slim / stylish 😎
What it looks like: “smart” (intelligent)
What it actually means in Japanese: slim, well-dressed, or stylish in appearance
📝 In Japanese, スマート describes someone’s physical appearance — especially being slender, neat, or fashionably put-together.
It does not refer to intelligence or mental ability, as it does in English.
彼はスマートな体型をしています。
(Kare wa sumaato na taikei o shiteimasu.)
→ He has a slim figure.
✅ If You Actually Mean “Smart” (Intelligent)…
To say someone is intellectually smart in Japanese, use words like:
- 頭がいい (atama ga ii) – literally “has a good head”
- 賢い (kashikoi) – wise or clever
- 聡明な (soumei na) – bright or intelligent (more formal)
She’s very smart.
→彼女はとても頭がいいです。
(Kanojo wa totemo atama ga ii desu.)
サイン (sain) — signature / autograph ✍️
What it looks like: “sign” (as in a symbol, notice, or gesture)
What it actually means in Japanese: a written signature, especially an autograph from a celebrity
📝 In Japanese, サイン typically refers to a handwritten name — either a regular signature or an autograph from a famous person.
It doesn’t refer to signs on the street, gestures, or signals like in English.
有名人にサインをもらった。
(Yūmeijin ni sain o moratta.)
→ I got an autograph from a celebrity.
✅ If You Actually Mean “Sign” (Street sign, symbol, etc.)…
To talk about a sign as in a visual notice or indicator, use:
- 標識 (hyoushiki) – road sign or symbol
- 看板 (kanban) – signboard or storefront sign
- 合図 (aizu) – signal or cue
This sign means “No Parking.”
→この標識は駐車禁止を意味します。
(Kono hyoushiki wa chuusha kinshi o imi shimasu.)
サービス (sābisu) — free extra / special offer 🆓🎁
What it looks like: “service” (as in customer service or assistance)
What it actually means in Japanese (in many cases): something given for free / a bonus / extra item or effort
📝 In Japanese, サービス often refers to a free or extra item, given as a gesture of goodwill — especially in restaurants, stores, or personal interactions.
While it can also mean “service” in the English sense (as in 接客サービス), it’s commonly used to mean “on the house” or “bonus.”
今日はデザートをサービスしますね。
(Kyou wa dezaato o sābisu shimasu ne.)
→ I’ll give you dessert on the house today.
✅ If You Actually Mean “Service” (customer care, assistance)…
When talking about professional service, use:
- 接客 (sekkyaku) – customer service
- サービス業 (sābisu-gyō) – the service industry
- 対応 (taiō) – handling, response
The customer service at this shop is very polite.
→この店は接客サービスがとても丁寧です。
(Kono mise wa sekkyaku sābisu ga totemo teinei desu.)
バイキング (baikingu) — buffet-style meal 🍽️
What it looks like: “Viking” (as in Norse warriors)
What it actually means in Japanese: a buffet-style meal, where you can eat as much as you like
📝 In Japanese, バイキング refers to an all-you-can-eat meal, typically found in hotels or restaurants.
It has nothing to do with Scandinavia, longships, or horned helmets! The term originated from a hotel in Japan in the 1950s, which borrowed “Viking” to market a new Western-style buffet.
朝食はホテルのバイキングを利用しました。
(Choushoku wa hoteru no baikingu o riyou shimashita.)
→ I had the hotel buffet for breakfast.
✅ If You Actually Mean “Viking” (the historical warrior)…
In Japanese, use:
- バイキング族 (baikingu-zoku) – Viking people
- 北欧の海賊 (hokuō no kaizoku) – Nordic pirates
- ヴァイキング (vaikingu) – more historically accurate katakana (less common)
He’s interested in Viking history.
→彼は北欧の海賊の歴史に興味があります。
(Kare wa baikingu no rekishi ni kyōmi ga arimasu.)
パワースポット (pawā supotto) — spiritual energy spot 🗻
What it looks like: “Power spot” — like a place to charge your phone or a tech hub?
What it actually means in Japanese: A sacred or mystical place believed to be filled with spiritual energy.
📝 In Japanese culture, パワースポット is not about electricity or gadgets—it’s a spiritual hotspot. The term is uniquely Japanese and doesn’t directly translate into natural English.
旅行中に有名なパワースポットに行きました。
(Ryokōchū ni yūmei na pawā supotto ni ikimashita.)
→ I visited a famous power spot during my trip.
スピリチュアル (supirichuaru) — mystical or metaphysical 🔮
What it looks like: “Spiritual” — related to religion or deep inner reflection?
What it actually means in Japanese: In Japanese, スピリチュアル often refers to new-age beliefs, mystical experiences, and unseen forces — such as seeing auras, sensing guardian spirits, astrology-based fortune-telling or healing with “energy” or “power stones”.
📝 While it looks like the English word “spiritual,” in Japan it often leans toward the supernatural or occult, rather than organized religion or emotional depth. It can carry a slightly mysterious, vague, or even suspicious vibe, depending on the context.
彼女はスピリチュアルが好きで、パワーストーンを集めています。
(Kanojo wa supirichuaru ga suki de, pawā sutōn o atsumeteimasu.)
→ She’s into mystical stuff and collects power stones.
オリエンテーション (orienteeshon) — introductory session 🧭
What it looks like: “orientation” (as in direction, angle, sexual orientation, etc.)
What it actually means in Japanese: an introductory session for new students, employees, or participants
📝 In Japanese, オリエンテーション almost always refers to an introductory briefing or guidance session given at the start of a school term, job, training, event, etc.
It’s especially common in universities and companies.
It does not typically refer to direction, spatial positioning, or identity (as it might in English).
入社初日にオリエンテーションがあります。
(Nyūsha shonichi ni orienteeshon ga arimasu.)
→ There will be an orientation on the first day of work.
✅ If You Actually Mean “Orientation” (direction or identity)…
When referring to direction, position, or identity, use:
- 方向 (hōkō) – direction
- 向き (muki) – orientation or facing
- 性的指向 (seiteki shikō) – sexual orientation
The house has a south-facing orientation.
→その家は南向きです。
(Sono ie wa minami-muki desu.)
Awareness about sexual orientation has been increasing.
→性的指向についての理解が広がってきました。
(Seiteki shikō ni tsuite no rikai ga hirogatte kimashita.)
Conclusion
Katakana words often feel familiar to English speakers — but as we’ve seen, many are “false friends” that can lead to surprising misunderstandings.From コンセント (not “consent”) to スマート (not “smart”), these words are uniquely Japanese in meaning and usage.
✨ Want to sound more like a native speaker?
Check out my online Japanese lessons and learn how to use words like sumimasen naturally in real conversation!
