Wasei-eigo (和製英語, Japanese-made English, English words coined in Japan) are Japanese pseudo-Anglicisms: English constructions not used in the English-speaking world or by native English speakers, but that appear in Japanese.
Some common examples are sararīman = "salaryman" meaning 'white-collar worker'; ōeru = OL standing for "office lady" meaning 'female office worker'; "walkman", a brand name for a portable audio player; etc.
Some wasei-eigo have in turn been borrowed as pseudo-Anglicisms in other countries
This should not be confused for foreign words gairaigo, which generally refer to words from European languages, especially English.
Wasei-eigo is also distinct from Engrish, as these are actual Japanese words used in Japanese conversation—not attempts at speaking English.[1]
Wasei-eigo can be compared to wasei kango (和製漢語, Japanese-created kango (Chinese compounds)), which are Japanese pseudo-Sinicisms (Japanese words created on Chinese roots), and are also extremely common.
Many Japanese-created kango refer to uniquely Japanese concepts. Examples include daimyō (大名), waka (和歌), haiku (俳句), geisha (芸者), chōnin (町人), matcha (抹茶), sencha (煎茶), washi (和紙), jūdō (柔道), kendō (剣道), Shintō (神道), shōgi (将棋), dōjō (道場), and seppuku (切腹).
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