和製英語と英語の違いを説明するシリーズLost in Translation
第7回の今日は”電子レンジ”です。

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Lost in Translation Part 7
電子レンジ / レンジ (Microwave Oven / Microwave)

Tyler Ayala

The Japanese word レンジ - ‘range’ in English- is a derivative of an English word with a wide variety of meanings and applications- such as: a driving range in golf, a stovetop range, a mountain range and countryside.

Each of these meanings of range can be implied without additional explanation. For example, if used in context, I can simply say ‘range’ instead of ‘mountain range’.

Though there are a wide variety of uses for this word, none of them are equivalent to ‘microwave’. In addition, since ‘range’ can be used contextually and we find both microwaves and stoves in the kitchen, this can cause an extra bit of uncertainty.　Range, in general, is not often used for ‘stove’- as in the picture on the bottom left. However, it is never used to mean ‘microwave’ these days. When the microwave first came out, range would occasionally be added to the name- but no longer.

As well as the word ‘microwave’, we have a variety of different names that we use in casual situations in reference to a microwave and the uses for a microwave. For example:

-(Zap, Nuke ) it for 15 minutes = Cook it in the microwave for 15 minutes.

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※The English described in this blog is from an American perspective. Cultural reactions and vocabulary might be different in other countries like Canada, Britain and Australia.

Lost in Translation Part.7 電子レンジ（Microwave Oven）