Japanese wordplay
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Japanese wordplay relies on the nuances of the Japanese language and Japanese script for humorous effect.
Japanese double entendres have a rich history in Japanese entertainment, because of the way that Japanese words can be read to have several different meanings and pronunciations (homographs). Also, several different spellings for any pronunciation and wildly differing meanings (homophones). Often replacing one spelling with another (synonyms) can give a new meaning to phrases.
Goroawase
Goroawase is an especially common form of Japanese wordplay whereby homophonous words are associated with a given series of letters, numbers or symbols, in order to associate a new meaning with that series. The new words can be used to express a superstition about certain letters or numbers. More commonly, however, goroawase is used as a mnemonic technique, especially in the memorization of numbers such as dates in history, scientific constants, and phone numbers.
Numeric substitution
Every digit has a set of possible phonetic values, due to the variety of valid Japanese(kunyomi and onyomi), and English-origin pronunciations for numbers in Japanese. Often readings are created by taking the standard reading and retaining only the first syllable (for example roku becomes ro). Goroawase substitutions are well known as mnemonics, notably in the selection of memorable telephone numbers for commercial services, and in the memorization of numbers such as years in the study of history.
Mnemonics are formed by selecting a fitting reading for a given number from the list below.
| Number | Japanese kunyomi readings | Japanese onyomi readings | English readings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | maru, ma | rei, re | o, zero, ze |
| 1 | hitotsu, hito, hi | ichi, yi | wan |
| 2 | futatsu, fu, futa | ni | tsū, tū |
| 3 | mitsu, mi | san, sa | surī |
| 4 | yon, yo, yotsu | shi | fō |
| 5 | itsutsu, itsu | go, ko | faibu, faivu |
| 6 | mutsu, mu | roku, ro | shikkusu |
| 7 | nana, nanatsu, na | shichi | sebun, sevun |
| 8 | yatsu, ya | hachi, ha, ba | eito |
| 9 | kokonotsu, ko | kyu, ku | nain |
| 10 | tō | ju, ji | ten |
Examples
As Mnemonics
1492 (the year of discovery of America) can be memorized as: iyo! kuni ga mieta! (derived as follows: i (1) yo (4)! ku (9) ni (2) (ga mieta)!), meaning: "Wow! I found a country!"
23564 (23 hours, 56 minutes, 4 seconds, the length of a sidereal day) can be read "ni-san-go-ro-shi", which sounds very similar to "nii-san koroshi" (兄さん殺し), or in English killing one's brother.
Other Examples
4649 "yoroshiku" (derived as follows: "yo" (4) "ro" (6) "shi" (4) "ku" (9)) means: "Nice to meet you."
18782 can be read "i-ya-na-ya-tsu" (いやなやつ) – meaning unpleasant guy
37564(two times 18782) can be read "mi-na-go-ro-shi" (みなごろし), meaning massacre, or kill them all
893 can be read "ya-ku-za" (やくざ) or Yakuza. It is traditionally a bad omen for a student to receive this candidate number for an examination.
573 stands for "ko-na-mi" or Konami. This number appears in many Konami telephone numbers and as a high score in Konami games.
3923 "san kyu ni san", or "Thank you Nissan!". Found in the Online Comics of NBC TV Show Heroes, for which Nissan is a sponsor.
In Popular Culture
Goroawase is used extensively in Mahou Shoujotai Arusu, where it introduced by the main character as a method to more easily remember and cast spells.