Since most keyboard-related terms are English- or Chinese-based, we frequently encounter situations where we can write and know what it means, but do not know how to read it.
Especially for Japanese, English and Chinese are all “katakata” readings, so you may encounter many situations where you don’t know how to read something.
KawamuraI have also had a very troubling experience when I went to cover a keyboard event.
In this issue, we asked “Siko,” the Japanese marketing manager at Lofree’s headquarters, how she pronounces such concerns.
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Sikoさんのポスト▷▷
It comes with audio, so please listen to them one at a time!
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List of keyboard-related terms that I’m not sure how to read.
Here is the list we asked Siko to read out this time.
| terminology | Chinese notation | Description. | type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gateron. | Jiadalong | Chinese key switch manufacturer, offering a wide range of switch types. | key switch |
| Outemu | day-care worker in a kindergarten, nursery school, etc. | A Chinese brand offering high quality mechanical key switches at low prices. | key switch |
| TTC | hand in which the dealer goes out on their initial deal | Chinese manufacturer offering key switches and mouse switches. | key switch |
| Huano | huahoukou | Mainly manufactures mouse switches and has expanded into keyboard switches. | key switch |
| MoYu Studio | Warehouse | Manufactures custom keycaps and artisan keycaps. | key switch |
| Lingbao | leopard (Panthera pardus) | Emerging brand of key switches, noted for innovative design. | key switch |
| Fei | flying | Provides switch springs and keyboard internal components. | key switch |
| YOK | Yaokatsu (Chinese political party) | Primarily offers heavy keyswitches, suitable for custom builds. | key switch |
| Zeal PC | ultramodern lifestyle | Provides high-quality, high-priced custom switches. | key switch |
| Haimu | common crane (Grus grus) | Brand names that manufacture keyboard switches and other peripherals | key switch |
| Kailh. | triumph | Key switch brands | key switch |
| Tecsee | Special Western Region (esp. China and India, but also Sakhalin and the Kuril Islands) | Key switch brands | key switch |
| Gazzew | – | Key switch brands | key switch |
| Choc. | – | Key switch brands | Keyswitch type |
| Domikey. | polynomial | Custom keycaps, especially SA profile manufacturing, are noted. | keyboard |
| VIA | – | Popular software for configuring custom keyboard key layout and behavior. | system |
| Wuque Studio | laccolith | Beijing-based custom keyboard brand | brand |
| Akko | Akshobhya (the immovable buddha) | Keyboard Brand | brand |
| Epomaker | treasured | Keyboard Brand | brand |
| Lofree | Lokuhi | Keyboard Brand | brand |
| Nuphy. | henbane (Hyoscyamus niger) | Keyboard Brand | brand |
| PC | – | Polycarbonate material. Used in component parts of key switches. | raw materials |
| POM | – | Polyoxymethylene material. Used in key switches and plates. | raw materials |
| POK | – | Polyketone material. | raw materials |
Reading difficulty level｜★☆☆☆ (easy)
Let’s start with words whose pronunciation in Japanese is almost identical to their pronunciation in English.
Gateron.
Gateron is well known for its key switches.
There may be many ways to read it, but the major one is “gatron”.
TTC
TTC, a key switch manufacturer.
Perhaps “TTC” is the correct answer to this as well, honestly.
Fei
Fei” may not be very familiar to many people in Japan.
This is a good “fey”.
YOK
YOK” makes “heavy” keyswitches with high pressing pressure
This is read as “yoke”.
Zeal PC
Zeal PC” makes high-end key switches.
The key point is that the “zirpcy” and the “Z” part is not “zee”.
Haimu
Key switch manufacturer “Haimu
This looks like “high moo” as it is.
It sounds kind of cute.
The key seems to be that the intonation is on the “m”, not the “c”.
Gazzew
Gazzew, a manufacturer of key switches
Not “gazoo,” but closer to “gazoo.”
Choc.
Choc”, the standard name for low-profile key switches
I get the impression that this is read quite differently, but it seems to be read as “chock”.
Domikey.
Keycap brand “Domikey”.
is like “domiki”.
They don’t seem to stretch it with a “squeak.”
Akko
Akko” manufactures keyswitches and keyboards
This is not “akko,” but rather the pronunciation of “A,” which is somewhere between “e” and “a.”
In katakana, it is “eakko.
Lofree
Lofree” keyboard brand
It is pronounced with the bottom behind the upper front teeth as it is a firm “L” pronunciation.
In katakana, it is “Lofree”.
PC
POM
POK
Three materials often used for key switches.
This is “peacey,” “pom,” and “pock” as it is.
Reading difficulty｜★★☆☆ (a little difficult)
Then the difficulty level increases a bit.
Here is one where the English letter and the Japanese pronunciation do not match up a bit.
Outemu
This brand offers cheap key switches.
It seems to be pronounced like “outem.”
The point is that it’s not an “otem.”
Tecsee
Tecsee” offering MX standard low-profile key switches
I had thought it was “techcy”, but it seems that the “C” is not pronounced, but “tessie”.
VIA
VIA” keymap modification software
This is pronounced “via”, not “via”.
Epomaker
Epomaker” offers custom keyboards with high cost performance.
It appears to be pronounced “ipo-maker,” not “epo-maker.”
Nuphy.
NuPhy is a keyboard brand.
This is because the expression “ph” is not found in Japanese.
It is difficult to write it down in katakana, so please confirm it by ear.
Reading difficulty｜★★★ (difficult)
Now, here is where the real work begins.
Me, I was mostly wrong.
Huano
Huano” manufactures and sells replacement mouse microswitches for gaming mice.
This reads “Fano”.
Many of you probably read it like “Hewano.”
MoYu Studio
According to Siko, “This is totally Chinese pinyin.
In China, a system called “pinyin” was developed to alphabetize the unique pronunciation of Chinese characters.
I guess you could call it “Mo You Studio.”
Lingbao
This is also a very Chinese reading.
It sounds like “limbao.”
You don’t pronounce the “g”.
Kailh.
A very common word in the keyboard community is this “Kailh,” but I could not figure out how to read it.
It sounds like “kyle,” but probably more like “kayloo.”
Wuque Studio
The last one is this.
KawamuraI read it as “DUBLU-UCU”.
It seems to be pronounced “ooo-choo-studio.”
Pinyin, it is difficult.
Conclusion｜Now you can enjoy face-to-face events with peace of mind.
These are just a few of the keyboard-related terms that I am a little unsure about reading, and Siko, Lofree’s Japanese marketing manager, taught me how to read them.
Now you can speak confidently at in-person keyboard events!
If you are a Lofree fan, please follow Siko’s SNS as well.
