Quiz on things whose names differ between the past and now. Differences between old terms and modern terms.
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!
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Quiz on things called differently in the past and now. Differences between old terms and modern terms (21–30)
What is “mizugashi” called nowadays?NEW!
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fruit
Before the Edo period, the word kashi (sweets) referred to things like nuts and fruit. Some time after artificially made confections became widespread, people began, around the Edo period, to call moisture-rich fruits mizugashi to distinguish them from man-made sweets. The term is still sometimes used today on kaiseki restaurant menus. You might picture a jelly-like sweet such as mizu-yokan, but that’s not what it means.
What is “痴呆症” called nowadays?NEW!
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dementia
In 2004, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare decided to change the term from “chiho” (senility) to “ninchi-sho” (dementia). The reasons cited were that the term “chiho” itself is discriminatory and does not accurately describe the symptoms. There were also opinions that the old name was hindering early detection.
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!