False friends when learning Japanese

When learning Japanese, false friends—words that appear similar to those in a learner’s native language but have different meanings—can present unique challenges. These linguistic traps are particularly significant for learners whose first language (L1) shares some historical or lexical connections with Japanese, such as Chinese or English. Below is an overview of how false friends affect Japanese language learning:

Types of False Friends in Japanese

1. Loanword Cognates: Many Japanese words are derived from English or other languages (known as gairaigo). However, their meanings often shift over time, creating “false cognates.” For example:
   • Purasu (プラス) means “advantage” in addition to “plus.”
   • Mansion (マンション) refers to an apartment building, not a luxurious house.
2. Semantic Shifts: Words that have undergone a change in meaning can mislead learners into assuming they know the correct usage. This is common with loanwords and shared kanji vocabulary between Japanese and Chinese.
3. Kanji False Friends: Learners from Chinese-speaking backgrounds may encounter kanji characters that look identical but have different meanings in Japanese. For instance:
   • The character 手紙 (tegami) means “letter” in Japanese but translates to “toilet paper” in Chinese.

Challenges Caused by False Friends

• False Sense of Familiarity: Loanwords or shared vocabulary can give learners the impression that they understand a word’s meaning, leading to errors in comprehension and usage ⁴.
• Semantic Confusion: Words with divergent meanings across languages require learners to unlearn their L1 associations before mastering their L2 meanings ³.
• Cognitive Demands: Recognizing and correctly interpreting false friends demands higher cognitive effort, as learners must actively distinguish between L1 and L2 meanings ³.

Strategies for Overcoming False Friends

1. Awareness Training: Teaching learners about common false friends and their correct meanings can help mitigate errors. Cognate awareness has been shown to significantly improve vocabulary acquisition ^{2, 3}.
2. Contextual Learning: Encouraging learners to study words in context helps them understand nuanced meanings and usage.
3. Contrastive Analysis: Comparing L1 and L2 vocabulary systematically can highlight differences and reduce confusion ¹.
4. Practice with Native Materials: Exposure to authentic Japanese texts or conversations can reinforce correct word usage.

False friends are a common hurdle in learning Japanese, especially for speakers of languages with lexical overlap. By understanding these linguistic pitfalls and employing targeted strategies, learners can navigate them more effectively and enhance their proficiency.

References

• True and False Cognates of Japanese, Chinese and Philippine Languages: A Contrastive Analysis

• Morphological and cognate awareness in L2 Japanese word learning: evidence from Chinese-speaking learners

• Unpacking cross-linguistic similarities and differences in third language Japanese vocabulary acquisition among Chinese college students

• How L1 Loanwords Can Create a False Sense of Familiarity with L2 Vocabulary Meaning and Usage