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In the last several hundred years，English has borrowed words and expressions from other languages.It may surprise you that English has taken lots of words from Japanese.Here are two examples.
In English，tycoon refers to a very rich businessman.Tycoon comes from the Japanese taikun，meaning “great lord or prince”．
In the mid1800s，the United States was ready to use military (军事的) power to force Japan to reopen business with the West.When American officer Matthew Perry arrived in Japan，he refused to meet with anyone other than the highest leader in the country.
The Japanese introduced their shogun (a general) to Perry.But they were concerned that the English translation would not seem powerful enough to Perry.So they introduced their shogun using the title taikun.
The word tycoon soon became popular in America.It came to mean “top leader”．Even Abraham Lincoln began to like the word.When he was president，people called him tycoon as well.
The next example is hunkydory.This word means “fine” or “free of trouble or problems”．
The word hunkydory is actually a combination (结合) of words from two languages.The first part of the word，“hunky”， means “in a safe place”．
In the mid1800s，“hunk” was a word that children in New York City used in street games.In this game，one or more players run after other players，trying to touch them with their hands.If the players reach the safe place before being caught，they are considered “safe”．
The story of the second part of the word “dory” comes from the Japanese word honchodori.This was believed to be a street in Japan where American soldiers went to have fun while they were working there.
【语篇解读】 几百年以前，英语向其他语言“借词”来扩充词汇量，以丰富其含义。我们会发现英语中有很多词来源于日语，下面让我们一起来看两个例子吧。
1．Why did Matthew Perry visit Japan?
A．To see the top leader in Japan.
B．To learn more about the Japanese culture.
C．To conquer Japan.
D．To make it do business with the West again.
D [细节理解题。根据第三段．..use military(军事的)power to force Japan to reopen business with the West.可知Matthew Perry出访日本的目的是为了打开日本的大门，迫使其同西方国家进行交易。]
2．What did tycoon mean at first in America?
A．Great prince.
B．Top leader.
C．Powerful businessman.
D．Rich person.
B [细节理解题。根据第五段It came to mean“top leader”．可知tycoon在美国流行后，最初是“最高领导人”的意思。]
3．What do we know about hunkydory?
A．It could be explained as being in a dangerous place.
B．It came from a street game in New York.
C．It had the same meaning as honchodori.
D．It joined two words of different languages together.
D [细节理解题。根据第七段The word hunkydory is actually a combination (结合)of words from two languages.可知hunkydory实际上是两种语言的合成词。]
4．Which of the following is the main idea of the text?
A．There are English words borrowed from Japanese.
B．English has more words than Japanese.
C．Language changes are happening more and more quickly.
D．Japanese will change into English in the end.
A [主旨大意题。根据全文可知，文章主要介绍了从日语中发展而来的英语词汇。]
