pachinko

American  

[puh-ching-koh] / pəˈtʃɪŋ koʊ /

noun

1. a Japanese pinball game played on a vertical machine in which slots struck by the player's ball release other balls that in turn are exchanged for noncash prizes.

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pachinko British  

/ pəˈtʃɪŋkəʊ /

noun

1. a Japanese game similar to pinball

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Etymology

Origin of pachinko

1950–55; < Japanese, equivalent to pachin click! (imitative) + -ko diminutive suffix

Explanation

Pachinko is a Japanese arcade game, similar to pinball but without the flippers. If you are in Japan and have a yen for gambling, try pachinko instead of a slot machine. Pinball aficionados may be familiar with this Japanese loaner, a 20th century word that means a form of pinball popular in Japan. The first part of the word is imitative and is eerily similar to English ka-ching! the –ko on the end is a diminutive suffix. If you need a little color in your life, do an image search on the word.

Example Sentences

"Konami shifted its strategy for a while, away from console games, and focused its efforts on the amusements markets, things like pachinko machines," Mr Dring said.

From BBC • Aug. 30, 2025

Linebacker Kenneth Murray made the pick, but only after the ball bounced through a pachinko machine of hands, those of defenders Nick Nieman and JT Woods.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 24, 2023

A construction crane snapped and a window at a pachinko parlor was shattered in Kagoshima city, southwestern Japan.

From Seattle Times • Sep. 18, 2022

In the weeks and months that followed, shopping centres switched off escalators, factories pared back assembly line times, and pachinko gambling parlours - famous for their flashing lights and noisy machines - were temporarily shut.

From Reuters • Jul. 28, 2022

In Thursday’s video, Full Circle showed off some examples, including an absolutely massive ramp and a structure that looked like a skyscraper-tall pachinko board.

From The Verge • Jul. 14, 2022