One question asked whether people truly understood the original meaning of certain words. For example, *tsukanu koto* actually means something unrelated to the conversation so far, though many respondents were unsure.
Language has always evolved, and the rise and fall of words reflects the times. Expressions such as *kogal*, which became popular among high school girls in the late 1990s, or *MD* (Sony’s MiniDisc released in 1992), have already disappeared from dictionaries. Even *Famicom*, Nintendo’s 1983 home console, was among the 1,000 words removed from Sanseido’s *Dictionary of Words That Disappeared*, published in 2023.
At the same time, new expressions continue to emerge with every generation. In the latest survey, more than 70 percent of respondents said new words had increased with the spread of SNS (social networking services). Teenagers gave examples such as *shabai*, used to describe someone being unavailable or a situation being uncool, and *aa-ne*, a shortened way of saying *naruhodo ne* (“I see”).
But the survey also tested whether people understood the original meaning of long-established words. One example was *yakubusoku*. While often used to mean lacking ability, its original definition is that a role is too small for someone’s abilities. Only 45.1 percent of respondents answered correctly.
Another word was *niyakeru*. Many people in their fifties described it as smiling happily or sheepishly, but the original meaning is to be effeminate or weak. Respondents were surprised, though some recalled being told not to *niyakeru* when scolded at school.
Similarly, *shiodoki* is now widely taken to mean the end of something or the time to give up, with nearly half of respondents using it that way. However, the original meaning is the right or favorable time. One respondent in their twenties admitted, “I didn’t really know Japanese. I got it wrong.”
These findings illustrate how language both adapts and drifts from its origins.
https://newsonjapan.com/article/147037.php