カタカナ文房具 Stationaries in Katakana
こんにちは！
In Japan, some stationery items (文房具 ぶんぼうぐ) have unique ways of being referred to, especially in katakana. These terms we introduce today are widely used in everyday conversation and are instantly recognizable to most Japanese speakers, so check them out!
ホッチキス Stapler
Example Sentence
A: 小学生（しょうがくせい）のころ、ホッチキスの芯（しん）に色（いろ）塗（ぬ）ったよね
When we were in elementary school, we used to color the staples, didn't we?B: わかる〜やったやった
I know~ I did it too.
セロハンテープ scotch tape
ガムテープ duct tape
Example Sentence
A: セロハンテープ持（も）ってる？
Do you have scotch tape by any chance?B: ごめん今（今）ガムテープしかないや
I only have duct tape right now.
ハサミ scissors
Example Sentence
A: ハサミで紙をチョキチョキ切るから、じゃんけんで「チョキ」らしいよ
I heard ‘scissors’ in rock-papar-scissors is called ‘choki’ because it sounds snip-snip when cutting paper with scissors.
B: へ〜そうなんだ。じゃんけんぽん！
Oh I see. Rock, papar, scissors! (Janken pon!)
シャーペン
Mechanical pencil
シャーペン is the shorten word of シャープペンシル(sharp pencil)
This name reflects the pencil's ability to maintain a sharp point without the need for sharpening.
Example Sentence
A: うわ、テストなのに筆記用具（ひっきようぐ）忘（わす）れた。。シャーペン貸（か）してくれない？
Oh no, I forgot my writing tools for the test. Can I borrow your mechanical pencil?B: いいよ〜消（け）しゴムも渡（わた）しとくね
Sure thing~ here's the eraser too.
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I enjoyed this post, but maybe you could introduce how the stationary got their names? I think non-Japanese would be fascinated that staplers are named after the Hotchkiss company...