The Oxford English Dictionary has added “senpai,” “bingsu,” “ramyeon,” and “yokai,” signaling how deeply Korean and Japanese pop culture has embedded itself in global English. From anime fandom to K-drama cafés and video game mythology, these words are no longer niche—they’re part of everyday vocabulary.
The Oxford English Dictionary has officially added a new wave of Korean and Japanese words — which means your pop culture slang now comes with academic backing.
Among the new entries? “Senpai,” “bingsu,” “ramyeon,” and “yokai.”
Yes, senpai — the upperclassman or mentor figure immortalized in anime — is now dictionary-certified.
Bingsu, Korea’s iconic shaved-ice dessert piled high with fruit, condensed milk, or Oreo chaos, is officially part of English vocabulary.
And ramyeon gets its own recognition, distinct from Japanese ramen, acknowledging Korea’s instant noodle legacy.
Then there’s yokai — the umbrella term for spirits and supernatural beings in Japanese folklore. These creatures have long existed in mythology, but global audiences now recognize them thanks to anime, video games, and digital art. From mischievous tricksters to eerie forest apparitions, yokai culture has fully crossed over.
The OED doesn’t add words casually. They track sustained usage in English-speaking media and daily life. So this isn’t a trend moment — it’s documentation of cultural influence.
