Pronunciation Guide
Japanese has only five basic vowel sounds, a, i, u, e, o: a as in “taco”; i as in “ski”; u as in “uber”; e as in “egg”; o as in “oat.” Vowels are short unless marked with a macron indicating a long sound. The r is slightly rolled. The g is hard as in “get.” Pronunciation of each syllable is quite even and unaccented.
aikidō aikido; Japanese martial art of harmonizing life energy for self defense
baka idiot, jerk, fool
bōken adventure
bōya boy
bunchin paperweight
chissoku choking, suffocation
dagashi Japanese-style penny candy
dango round dumpling made of mochi rice flour
doro dango mud or dirt ball
dōjō dojo; a school or practice hall for training in martial arts
dōzo please come in
genkan entryway
gi uniform for aikido (or other martial arts) training
gyōza Japanese-style pan-fried Chinese dumplings
hāfu half, a term for biracial people in Japan
hai yes
han group or team
hisha flying chariot in the game of shōgi
hōjicha a kind of green tea that is roasted to a brown color
irasshaimase shopkeeper’s welcome
iyada no way, not a chance
judō judo; a competitive Japanese martial art involving throws or takedowns
juku cram school
kanji Chinese characters used in Japanese writing
kawaī cute
ken right, authority
kendō kendo; Japanese martial art that uses bamboo swords
ki 氣 or 気 life force or life energy, a central focus of aikido
koma playing pieces in the game of shōgi
kun name suffix for a boy, as in Mori-kun
mada not yet
mikan Japanese mandarin orange
mochi glutinous rice
mugicha barley tea, often served chilled
nage a throw in aikido
nā a word/sentence ending for emphasis
nō brain, mind
oi hey!
ōshō king in the game of shōgi
ryū dragon
ryūma dragon horse in the game of shōgi
sābisu from the English word “service,” meaning on the house
san name suffix, polite, as in Takemura-san
sensei teacher, teacher of martial arts
shōgi Japanese chess-like game
Shōnan coastal region in Japan’s Kanagawa Prefecture along Sagami Bay
sugoi or sugei (slang) cool, amazing, great, impressive, wow!
tatami a mat made of woven straw that is stretched over a filling and used as flooring in a traditional Japanese house or room; each mat is a standard size, and room sizes are described in tatami units (a six-mat room, an eight-mat room, etc.)
uchi a strike in aikido
unchi poop
uragiru to betray, to turn traitor
yakitori grilled chicken on skewers