Japanese words of Dutch origin
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From 1609 the Dutch starting trading in Japan from the factory of Hirado. From 1640, they were transferred to Dejima, and from then on until 1854 remained the only Westerners allowed access to Japan. Numerous exchanges occurred, leading to a branch of Western learning in Japan known as Rangaku, or "Dutch learning". Also several examples of vocabulary were adopted from Dutch into the Japanese language.
| Japanese rōmaji | Japanese (kanji or kana) | Dutch (origin) | English meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| arakku | アラック | arak | arack | |
| arukari | アルカリ | alkali | ||
| asubesuto | アスベスト | asbest | asbestos | |
| bīru | ビール, 麦酒 | bier | beer | |
| buriki | ブリキ | blik | tin, tin plate | |
| dansu | ダンス | dans | dance | |
| dokku | ドック | dok | (dry) dock | |
| dontaku | ドンタク | zondag (Sunday) | day off, holiday | See also handon. |
| erikuteru | エリクテル | electriciteit | electricity | Now obsolete. |
| garasu | ガラス, 硝子 | glas | window glass | |
| gasu | ガス | gas | gas | |
| gomu | ゴム | gom | rubber, gum | |
| handon | 半ドン | zondag (sunday) | half-day holiday | Compound of Japanese han (half) and dontaku). Now obsolete. |
| hisuterī | ヒステリー | hysterie | hysteria | |
| hoppu | ホップ | hop | hop | |
| inki / inku | インキ / インク | inkt | ink | inku(インク) is common now. Inki(インキ) is obsolescent. |
| kaban | カバン | kabas | bag | |
| kanfuru | カンフル | kamfer | camphor | |
| karan | カラン, 下欄 | kraan | tap (faucet) | Could have come from German "Kran". |
| kinīne | キニーネ | kinine | quinine | |
| kokku | コック | kok | cook | |
| konpasu | コンパス | kompas | compass | |
| kōhī | コーヒー, 珈琲 | koffie | coffee | |
| koppu | コップ | kop | drinking glass | May have come from Portuguese "copo". |
| koruku | コルク | kurk | cork (material) | |
| madorosu | マドロス | matroos | sailor | |
| manto | マント | mantel | cloak, mantle | |
| marariya | マラリヤ | malaria | malaria | |
| masuto | マスト | mast | mast (of a ship) | |
| mesu | メス | mes | (knife) scalpel | |
| moruhine | モルヒネ | morfine | morphine | |
| nikkeru | ニッケル | nikkel | nickel | |
| orugōru | オルゴオル | orgel | (organ) music box | |
| otenba | お転婆 | ontembaar | (untameable) a tomboy | The derivation is not certain and could be coincidental. |
| pen | ペン | pen | pen | |
| pinsetto | ピンセット | pincet | tweezers | |
| pisutoru | ピストル | pistool | pistol | |
| ponpu | ポンプ | pomp | pump | |
| poruda | ポルダ | polder | low lying land reclaimed from the sea | |
| rampu | ランプ | lamp | lamp | |
| randoseru | ランドセル | ransel | knapsack | |
| ransetto | ランセット | lancet | lancet | |
| renzu | レンズ | lens | lens | |
| ryukkusakku | リュックサック | rugzak | rucksack. | |
| sāberu | サーベル | sabel | sable | |
| safuran | サフラン | saffraan | saffron | |
| siroppu | シロップ | siroop | syrup | |
| supoito | スポイト | spuit | syringe; fire engine | |
| yōdo | ヨード | jodium | iodine | |
| zukku | ズック | doek | canvas cloth; plimsolls |
