About the Word:

It comes from the Japanese kara (“empty”) + ōke, short for ōkesutora(“orchestra”).

该词来历语日语的kara(空的)和ōke(“乐团”的缩写)，即“空荡荡的乐团”。

Karaoke became popular in Japan among businessmen in the late 1970s, andgained widespread popularity in the U.S. in the late 1980s.

上世纪70年代后期，卡拉OK初步在日本商务人士傍边盛行起来，上世纪80年代后期盛行于美国。

2、Kowtow 屈从、献媚

Language of Origin: Chinese

来历语：汉语

About the Word:

It comes from the Chinese kòutóu – kòu (“to knock”) plus tóu (“head”) – andoriginally referred to kneeling and touching one’s head to the ground as asalute or act of worship to a revered authority.

该词来历语汉语里的“叩头”一词，即以双膝跪地、头触地的方法对权重人士标明尊敬。

The noun arrived in English in the early 1800s, and within a few decadeshad taken on the “fawn” or “suck up” verb meaning we use today.

该词在19世纪前期被吸纳进英语词汇，后来几十年间，该词在英语中的意思逐步固定为“凑趣、献媚”。

3、Ketchup 西红柿酱

Language of Origin: Malay

来历语：马来语

About the Word:

This all-American condiment started out as a spicy, fermented fish sauce inMalaysia.

如今已变成美国标志性佐料的西红柿酱最初步在马来西亚来历时其实是一种带辣味的发酵鱼露。

That version, known as kěchap, made its way first to Europe and then to theNew World, where tomatoes eventually became the defining ingredient.

那种鱼露的名字叫kěchap，最早传到欧洲，然后才抵达美洲新大陆，在那里，kěchap的主料逐骤变成了西红柿。

Elsewhere, ketchup retains an earlier identity. Traditional Englishketchup, for example, is a pureed seasoning based on mushrooms, unripe walnuts,or oysters.

在其他国家，西红柿

酱仍然保存正本的配料。例如，传统的英式西红柿酱是由蘑菇、没有老到的核桃或牡蛎制成的酱料。

4、Hazard 风险

Language of Origin: Arabic

来历语：阿拉伯语

About the Word:

Hazard dates to the time of the Crusaders and involves a game ofchance.

Hazard一词的来历要追溯到十字军东征时期，与投机游戏有关。

According to the most likely theory, the original hazard (“al-zahr,” inArabic) was a die. Players would roll the dice and bet on the outcome.

可以性最高的一种说法是，hazard最初步其实就是个骰子。玩家经过掷骰子、猜点数来赌输赢。

English got the word from French. In English, hazard eventually came toname any chance, risk, or source of danger.

英语中的hazard一词来历于法语，指机缘、风险或风险的源头。