長い単語恐怖症
nagai tango kyoufushou
The English phrase hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia is translated into Japanese as 長い単語恐怖症 (nagai tango kyoufushou).
This phrase refers to the fear of long words.
How do you pronounce it?
nagai tango kyoufushou
Did you know?
- The Japanese term is purely semantic, whereas the English version is an ironic construction. While the English word is intentionally long to mock the very thing it describes, the Japanese version is a straightforward description that lacks this linguistic irony.
- Because the word 長い (nagai) describes both physical length and temporal duration, a listener might jokingly interpret this phobia as a fear of words that take a 'long time' to pronounce. This adds a layer of linguistic ambiguity not present in the English term.
- The term 恐怖症 (kyoufushou) is a compound where 恐怖 means 'fear' and 症 means 'illness' or 'syndrome', framing phobias as medical conditions rather than just emotional states.
Examples in context
- 彼は長い単語恐怖症です。Kare wa nagai tango kyofusho desu.He has hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia.
- 長い単語恐怖症は珍しい病名ですね。Nagai tango kyofusho wa mezurashii byomei desu ne.Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia is a rare name for a condition, isn't it?
- 長い単語恐怖症の人は、難しい本を読みづらいです。Nagai tango kyofusho no hito wa, muzukashii hon o yomizurai desu.People with hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia find it hard to read difficult books.
Example conversation
Two students are discussing unusual psychological terms in a library.
- 蓮 Renこの単語、すごく長いね。Kono tango, sugoku nagai ne.This word is extremely long.
- 陽葵 Himariこれ、長い単語恐怖症のことだよ。Kore, nagai tango kyofusho no koto dayo.This is actually about hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia.
- 蓮 Ren名前自体が恐怖を煽っているよ。Namae jitai ga kyofu o aotte iru yo.The name itself is intimidating.
- 陽葵 Himari蓮くんの言う通りだね。Ren-kun no iu tori dane.You are right, Ren.
