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VocabularyJLPT N5 · core

パソコン

パソコン
hepburn pasokon

personal computer, PC

Part of speech · noun

Pattern visualization

no decomposition available

Examples

  1. パソコンで仕事をします。
    I work on a computer.
  2. 新しいパソコンが欲しいです。
    I want a new computer.
  3. パソコンの使い方を教えてください。
    Please teach me how to use a computer.

Collocations

パソコン (pasokon, personal computer)パソコンを使う (pasokon o tsukau, use a computer)ノートパソコン (nooto pasokon, laptop)パソコン教室 (pasokon kyoushitsu, computer class)パソコンが壊れる (pasokon ga kowareru, the computer breaks down)

Mnemonic

パソコン — pasokon, a loanword from English "personal computer". Written in katakana. The original パーソナルコンピューター is among the longest of loanwords. Japanese took one piece from each word ── パソ from "personal", コン from "computer". The same knack as スマホ ── grab the head of the first word and the head of the second, and join them. English shortens to the initialism "PC"; Japanese clips syllables into パソコン. One machine, two ways to shorten. Korean borrowed "keompyuteo" almost whole, and Chinese coined 电脑 ("electric brain") ── one machine, three languages, three roads to a name.

Quick check

  1. パソコン is a clip made of which two pieces?

Listed inJLPT N5 · core
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