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Japanese Vocabulary
If you've done very much websurfing, chances are you've noticed that
most anime related websites, fan fiction, etc. has a little Japanese mixed it. For the
English-speaking viewer, this can be annoying. Below is a list of some common Japanese
terms and what they mean. If you know of a term you think I should add, please email me
with the term and definition. Enjoy!!
Note: I don't speak Japanese, so I cannot guarantee that these are totally correct, although I'm pretty sure they are. If the list needs any corrections, email me.
Phrases | People | Planets | Dates | Suffixes | Animals | Colors | Numbers | Misc.
Japanese Term - English Translation
Aishiteru – I love you
(Domou) arigatou (gozaimasu) – Thank you (very much); adding ‘gozaimasu’ makes it more formal
Daijou-bu – I/he/she/it is all right
Dewa ashita – Until tomorrow (See you tomorrow)
Douitashimashite - You're welcome (It's nothing)
Dozo yoroshiku - Pleased to meet you
Genki desu – I am (in) good (spirits)
Gomen (nasai) – I’m (very) sorry
Hajimemashite - Hello (when first meeting someone)
Ja matta – See you later (informal)
Ja ne – See you later (informal)
Konban wa – Good evening
Konnichiwa – Good afternoon
Moshi moshi – Hello (on the phone)
Nihongo ga sukoshii hanasemasu – I can speak a little Japanese
Ogenki desu ka – How are you (Lit. ‘Are you in good spirits’)
Ohayou (gozaimasu) – Good morning (adding ‘gozaimasu’ makes it more polite)
Okaeri (nasai) – Welcome home
Sayonara – Farewell (more formal)
Suki desu – I like you
Sumimasen – Forgive me; Pardon me (said when entering a shop, or when getting someone’s attention)
Tadaima – I’m home
Wakarimasen – I don’t understand
Watashi wa _____ desu – I am _______
Watashi wa ____ sai – I am ____ years old
Yatta – I/you/he/she did it!
Youkoso – Welcome
* = Honorific; drop the first ‘o’ to make it casual; ending of ‘san’ can be changed to ‘chan’, ‘sama’, etc
Boku – I (slightly masculine)
Chichi – Father (when referring to your own)
Haha – Mother (when referring to your own)
Hime - Princess
Imoutosan – Younger sister
Jou - Queen
Kami(-sama) – God
kenkaku – Swordsman
kodomo - Child
Megami(-sama) - Goddess
Minna(-san) - Everyone
*Obaasan – Grandmother; also, a term used to address an older woman
*Obasan – Aunt
*Obocchan - Son
*Ojiisan – Grandfather; also, a term used to address an older man
*Ojisan – Uncle
*Ojousan - Daughter
*Okaasan – Mother (when addressing your own or talking about someone else’s)
*Oneesan – Older sister
*Oniisan – Older brother
onna – Woman
Ore – I (very masculine)
otoko – Man
otome – Maiden
*Otousan – Father (when addressing your own or talking about someone else’s)
*Otoutosan – Younger brother
Ou - King
Ouji - Prince
Sessha – I (very humble); ‘this unworthy one’
Shishou – Master (in a martial arts sense)
shoujo – Young woman
shounen – Young man
tomodachi – Friend(s)
Watashi – I (slightly feminine)
Suisei - Mercury
Kinsei - Venus
Chikyuu - Earth
Kasei - Mars
Mouksei - Jupiter
Dosei - Saturn
Tennousei - Uranus
Kaiousei - Neptune
Meiousei - Pluto
Nichiyoubi - Sunday
Getsuyoubi - Monday
Kayoubi - Tuesday
Suiyoubi - Wednesday
Mokuyoubi - Thursday
Kinyoubi - Friday
Doyoubi - Saturday
Ichigatsu - January
Nigatsu - February
Sangatsu - March
Shigatsu - April
Gogatsu - May
Rokugatsu - June
Shichigatsu - July
Hachigatsu - August
Kugatsu - September
Jugatsu - October
Juichigatsu - November
Junigatsu - December
Ashita - Tomorrow
-chan – Indicates affection; used on young children, among female friends, and sometimes between people in love
-kun – Mr; used toward those who are the same age, or of
equal station as yourself; somewhat masculine
-san – Mr/Mrs; used toward those who are older, or of a higher station than yourself
-sei - In some series, -sei is included to identify a planet (i.e. Namek-sei)
-sensei – Teacher, instructor
kame - Turtle
kitsune – Fox
neko – Cat
ookami – Wolf
ryuu - Dragon
usagi - Rabbit
akai – Red
aoi – Blue
midori – Green
shiroi – White
ichi - One
ni - Two
san - Three
yon/shi - Four
go - Five
roku - Six
nana/shichi - Seven
hachi - Eight
ku - Nine
juu - Ten
juu(number) – 10 + (number) (Thus, juunana à juu (10) + nana (7) = 17)
(number)juu – 10 x (number) (Thus, hachijuu à juu (10) x hachi (8) = 80)
hyaku – 100
(number)hyaku – 100 x (number) (Thus gohyaku à hyaku (100) x go (5) = 500)
ai – Love
aku – Evil, bad
arashi – Storm
baka – Stupid, foolish
bara – Rose
bishoujo - lit. 'beautiful girl'; in anime it means any really good looking girl
bishounen - lit. 'beautiful boy'; in anime, it means any really good looking guy
chibi – Small; runt
chikara – Power, strength
chizu – Map
demo – But
densetsu – Legend, legendary
geta – Old-fashioned sandals
gi – Old-fashioned loose shirt, often with long sleeves; usually worn by men
ginga – Galaxy
gozaru – A form of ‘to be’
hai – Yes
hakama – Old-fashioned wide-legged pants; usually worn by men
hanasemasu – To speak
hikari – Light
himitsu – Secret
hitomi – Eye(s)
honou – Flames, fire
ichiban – No. 1, best, first
iie – No
inori – Prayer
katana – Full-length Japanese sword
kawaii – Cute, adorable
kaze – Wind
ken – Sword
kenjutsu – Swordsmanship
ki – Life force
kibou – Hope
kimochi – Feelings
kitto – Surely
kodachi – Short sword similar to a wakizashi
koi – Love
kokoro – Heart
mirai – Future
mizu – Water
namida – Tear(s)
nani - What
niji – Rainbow
no – Shows possession (ex: “Himura no ken” = “Himura’s sword”)
obi – Sash that is tied around the waist when wearing a kimono
onegai shimasu – Please
otaku - Obsessed fan; enthusiast (when used to refer to anime)
saikyou – Strongest
senshi – Soldier, warrior
sobakasu – Freckles
sora – Sky
sugoi – Cool (in the slang tense), impressive
sukoshii – A little
tabi – Journey
tamashii – Spirit, soul
tenshi – Angel
tsuki – Moon
tsuyoi – Strong
umi – Ocean, sea
unmei – Fate, destiny
utsukushii – Beautiful
wakizashi – Short sword that was usually worn with a katana
yakusoku – Promise
yami – Darkness
yoake – Dawn
yume – Dream