are Japanese-language expressions based on English words, or parts of word combinations, that do not exist in standard English or whose meanings differ from the words from which they were derived. Linguistics classifies them as pseudo-loanwords or pseudo-anglicisms. Wasei-eigo words, compound words and portmanteaus are constructed by Japanese speakers on the basis of loanwords derived from English and embedded into the Japanese lexicon with refashioned, novel meanings diverging significantly from the originals. An example is , derived from "handle" with the meaning of "steering wheel", with the full phrase meaning designated driver. Some wasei-eigo terms are not recognizable as English words in English-speaking countries; one example is , which refers to physical contact between close friends or loved ones and appears to be a portmanteau of skin and kinship. In other cases, a word may simply have gained a slightly different meaning; for instance, does not mean "cunning", but "cheating" (on a test). Some wasei-eigo are subsequently borrowed from Japanese into other languages, including English itself. Confusion with gairaigo Wasei-eigo is often confused with gairaigo, which refers simply to loanwords or "words from abroad". Some of the main contributors to this confusion are the phonological and morphological transformations that they undergo to suit Japanese phonology and syllabary. These transformations often result in truncated (or "backclipped") words and words with extra vowels inserted to accommodate the Japanese mora syllabic structure. Wasei-eigo, on the other hand, is the re-working of and experimentation with these words that results in an entirely novel meaning as compared to the original intended meaning. Compared to other Japanese word classes Wasei-eigo is distinct from Engrish, the misuse or corruption of the English language by native Japanese speakers, as it consists of words used in Japanese conversation, not an attempt at speaking English. These include acronyms and initialisms particular to Japan (see list of Japanese Latin alphabetic abbreviations). Wasei-eigo can be compared to , which are Japanese pseudo-Sinicisms (Japanese words created from Chinese roots) and are also extremely common. History and process There was a large influx of English loanwords introduced to Japan during the Meiji period, which was an important factor in Japan's modernization. Because they were so quickly accepted into Japanese society there was not a thorough understanding of the actual meaning of the word, leading to misinterpretations and deviations from their original meaning. Since English loanwords are adopted into Japan intentionally (as opposed to diffusing