44490
I know what the term means, just curious about the katakana spelling.
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2017-03-16T17:57:26.113
44486
2017-07-11T21:41:36.630
2017-07-11T21:41:36.630
11104
18435
question
katakana
Why is the term オナニー written in katakana?
It's derived from the Biblical story of
[Onan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Onan), which would mean its origin is
foreign.
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2017-03-16T18:05:58.037
44487
2017-03-16T18:05:58.037
9971
44486
answer
More specifically, [オナニー is from German
_Onanie_](http://www.weblio.jp/content/%E3%82%AA%E3%83%8A%E3%83%8B%E3%83%BC).
Interestingly, German apparently borrowed the term from older English _onania_
([per Duden's etymology
here](http://www.duden.de/rechtschreibung/Onanie#block-duden-tiles-4)), which
in turn was a derivation of [the name _Onan_ from the Biblical
story](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Onan) mentioned by user Nothing at all.
As a relatively recent non-native borrowed term, オナニー is thus written in
katakana.

(Incidentally, Japanese learners quickly figure out the use of _o-_ as an
honorific prefix. Do not use this prefix when asking someone in Japanese,
_"what shall we do?"_ )
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2017-03-16T19:20:39.313
44490
2017-03-16T19:20:39.313
5229
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answer