History of Japanese "Vulgar" Vocabulary


This has been bothering me for a long time. I'm not sure which words are used
in Japan in modern times for refering to things like sex, cursing, and going
to the bathroom, and I don't know of a good source to learn these things from.
I haven't been able to find any non-blog-esque sources.

Moreover, even if a source tells me that the word for sex or going to the
bathroom are loan words, I'm left wondering what the words for these ideas
were before the usage of the loan words.

The fact that these ideas must have existed before Western influence makes me
think that I'm missing something.




Loaner words have definitely taken a big bite out of Japanese, but the tried-
and-true original words are always around. Unless reference is being made to a
concept that truly was not around in times before Western influence (like the
television, or computer, etc.), there will always be an original phrase or
word that was used first and may still be more polite or formal to use.

As far as understanding vocabulary with regards to more taboo (for lack of a
better word) subjects, the solution for you is to go more scientific when
you're searching for a word. There are absolutely words for using the restroom
which may seem avoided simply because there is little reason to use them in
daily conversation and they may cause discomfort.

I.e., imagine telling your friend very directly, "I am going to the bathroom
to urinate." Most would rather say something vague like "I'm going to the
restroom/the men's room/the ladies' room" or back in the day, the classic "I
need to powder my nose." Some of us are more comfortable with directly
expressing that we are going to "take a piss" or "have to pee" and the like,
but in Japanese you will see that sort of directness in relation to vulgar
topics only in the younger crowd or very, very close friends/siblings.

Curse words are of course very present, often the same as you can expect from
the English language--vulgar references to people, excrement, and the like--
and a few surprises that are perhaps a bit more ancient that involve corpses.
But curse words are again more of the young in their use, or used in
expressing solitary frustration. If you want to be rude, you might just go for
a few subtle jabs by changing your conjugations. Or it's always fun to speak
excessive _keigo_ when you want to insult someone as it then comes off as
sarcastic, "yes, your majesty"-esque. Honestly, rather than cursing at
someone, it's more common to just speak more rudely to them, or just alter the
way you say "you".

As for more sexual concepts, believe me the words are there. There will be
more technical or scientific words, and there will be artistic innuendo-laced
phrases that protect Japanese subtlety (usually involving sharing pillows),
and there will be much more to-the-point verbs like penetration or whatnot.

Modern Japanese loves its loaner words but it also loves its subtlety and its
tradition. The words are there if you get yourself a good dictionary and study
up. I recommend the app "imiwa?" because it more than covers any and all of
your questions about the versatility of the language and has a wide array of
words and idioms spanning history.

