Quiz on things whose names differ between the past and now. Differences between old terms and modern terms.

Keyboard playerSAKI
I’ve been playing the Electone since I was six, mainly performing Disney music, anime songs, and music from dramas and films. I post performance videos on YouTube and social media, and I also give concerts. Building on my Electone experience, I took up synthesizer and piano during my student years and performed at school-sponsored events. As a writer, I’ve covered not only music-related topics but a wide range of genres, so I hope to draw on my experience to deliver articles that make readers think, “I want to try that!” or “I want to listen to that!”

When you compare old words with modern ones, there are times when they refer to the same thing but are called completely different names, making you think, “Huh? What is that?” and get confused.

In this article, we’ll present items whose names have changed from the past to the present in a quiz format.

As you imagine how familiar items and various terms that were commonly used in the past are carried on today under new names, give it a try.

Once you learn that this word used to be that word, you’ll find yourself wanting to tell someone about it!

Quiz on things called differently in the past and now. Differences between old terms and modern terms (21–30)

What is “leopard print” called nowadays?

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Leopard

The term “leopard print” comes from leopard, which means hyō (leopard) in English. Nowadays, it’s more commonly called leopard print than hyō print.

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Hane Keisuke

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What is the “millibar” called nowadays?

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hectopascal

The unit of atmospheric pressure used to be “millibars (mb),” but to standardize with international norms, Japan switched to “hectopascals (hPa)” on December 1, 1992. The numerical values themselves remain the same: 1 millibar = 1 hectopascal.

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Hane Keisuke

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In conclusion

Looking at things that have changed between old and modern expressions makes it easy to understand how the Japanese language has evolved. A quiz on things that are called differently now and then can also spark lively conversations with people from different generations. Be sure to share those “I didn’t know it used to be called that!” discoveries during time with family and friends!