[Surprising!] Quiz on Words Whose Names Have Changed from the Past to the Present

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A chōkki is a sleeveless garment worn under outerwear; it’s synonymous with a vest. Its origin is said to be either from the Japanese term meaning “directly worn” (chokugi) or from the Portuguese word for jacket, “jaqueta.” It’s interesting to consider how the term became established.

turtleneck

“Tokkuri” got its name because its shape resembles a sake flask called “tokkuri.” On the other hand, “turtleneck” is named because it resembles a turtle stretching its neck out from its shell. Both names are metaphors based on shape.

chalk

The reading of 白墨 is “hakuboku.” It’s made by kneading calcined gypsum with water and letting it harden. Incidentally, most chalk used today falls into two types: those that use calcined gypsum and those that use calcium carbonate. In other words, strictly speaking, not all of them are the same.

dresser

A kyōdai, literally “a stand with a mirror,” refers to a dressing table. In Japan it’s synonymous with a dresser, but abroad it’s a bit different. In the UK and France, the word “dresser” actually means a type of kitchen cabinet or hutch. If you use the term without knowing this, it can lead to a major misunderstanding.

cabin attendant, flight attendant

Stewardess is a term that originated as the female version of "steward," meaning caretaker. However, as time went on, it came to be seen as an inappropriate expression and fell out of use. Incidentally, a similar term to the answer is flight attendant.

Major League Baseball

If you’re a longtime baseball fan, you probably recognized it right away. The media in Japan used to say “Dai League,” didn’t they? In fact, in the United States, people sometimes call the Major Leagues the “Big Leagues,” and it’s thought to come from that.

Baby powder

Tenkafen is starch extracted from Trichosanthes cucumeroides (Japanese snake gourd). Its appearance and use are almost the same as baby powder. However, since baby powder’s main ingredient is corn, their origins differ. Tenkafen is still sold today, so if you’re curious, try comparing them.