Common Japanese Words and Phrases
NOTE 2: The Japanese language has single vowel sounds and double vowel sounds and is not tonal. Double vowel sounds sound like the single vowel sounds, but are held for a longer duration. Double vowel sounds are indicated with double vowels, ie "aa", "ii", "uu", or "ee"; whereas a double 'o' sound is indicated by a "ou", to avoid confusion with the "oo" sound (as in "ooh, neat!") . Here is a chart showing the pronunciation of the vowel sounds:
a - the 'a' sound in "father" i - the 'i' sound in "magazine" u - the 'u' sound in "push" e - the 'e' sound in "egg" o - the 'o' sound in "noble" ai - pronounced like "eye-ee" ei - long 'a' sound, as in "say" ou - long 'o' sound, as in "oh, my" (indicates double 'o' sound)
NOTE 3: As always when translating between one language to another, sometimes there is no direct translation and sometimes, a phrase may mean different things, depending on the context. Sometimes the literal translation has a better colloquial meaning in English. I haven't taken any Japanese classes, and I've tried to be as accurate as possible, but if you notice any errors, please let me know.
A-B-C: slang, similar to "first, second, and third base", where C is "all the way" abunai: "be careful", "watch out", or "it's dangerous" aho: derogatory term, similar to "asshole" aniki: older brother (like oniisan) ano: umm... ai: love aishiteru: I LOVE you (compare to suki) arigatou: thank you (short form) arigatou gozaimas: thank you very much (half form) baka: "idiot" or "stupid" or "jerk" bakemono: monster baka-yaro: derogatory term, similar to "asshole" or "bastard" betsuni: it's nothing boku: (masculine) I (child, informal) chikuso: swear word, similar to "shit" or "damn" or "damn it" chotto matte: wait a second chotto matte kudasai: please wait a moment daijoubu: "are you all right?" or "I'm all right", depending on tone demo: but domo arigatou gozaimas: thank you very much (full form) doshte: why dozo: please (when offering a guest refreshment, for instance or welcoming a guest inside the house) ganbatte: "work hard", or "do your best" gomen: I'm sorry (short form) gomen nasai: I'm very sorry gomen ne: I'm sorry (short form) hai: "yes" or "yes, Sir" or "yes, Ma'am" hanashte!: let me go! hayaku!: "hurry!" or "quickly, now!" hentai: Animated pornography. Its direct translation means "pervert" and refers to any scene or movie that explicitly presents nudity or sexual acts. Can also be used to describe a person who is strange or out of the ordinary. hime-sama: princess honto: "really" or "truly" iie: no iko!: go! ikuzo: let's go itadakimas: thanks for the meal ittai!: ouch! ja ne: see ya! (informal) jodan: joke kami: god, hair, or paper kami-sama: God kampai!: cheers! kancho: captain kawaii: cute kawaiikune: not cute (extremely informal, what Ranma says to Akane) kaze: wind kohai: lower classman, used to address someone belonging to the same school or organization who is younger (compare to sempai) koko: here kokoro: heart konbanwa: good evening konnichiwa: good day, hello kore: this kudasai: please kuso: swear word similar to "shit" or "bloody hell" masaka: "it can't be" or "that's impossible" matte: wait, as in "wait for me!" (informal) minna: everyone (sometimes used as in minna-san) mizu: water moii: it's OK already moshi moshi: hello (usually used only when answering the phone) nani: what nanda: where naze: why nigeru!: "run away!" or "flee!" ningen: human obaasan: grandmother obasan: aunt ocha: tea ohayo: good morning ojiisan: grandfather ojisan: uncle okaasan: mother okairi: "welcome back" or "welcome home", in response to tadaiima omai: "why you" or "hey, you" omedetou: congratulations oneechan: older sister onegai: please oni: ogre (a creature with horns) oniisan: older brother ore: (masculine) I (adult informal) otousan: father oyaji: father (very disrespectful) oyasumi: good night piku piku: the sound of blinking; this is used most often in fanfic and originates from Ranma 1/2 anime sayonara: good-bye sempai: upper classman, used to address someone belonging to the same school or organization who is older (compare to kohai) sensei: teacher, other professional person (e.g. doctor) shiine!: die! shikashi: but, however, nevertheless shimatta: swear word, similar to "shit" shimpai suru: to worry skebe: pervert sona bakana: that's impossible sugoi: wonderful, great suki: I love/like you sumimasen: excuse me suteki: it's great, wonderful tadaiima: I'm home. taihen: terrible, awful tasukete!: help! tomodachi: friend ureshi: I'm so happy. urusai: literally, "noisy", as in "you're being noisy" colloquially, "shut up" or "be quiet" uso: "it's a lie" or "you're kidding me" utskushii: beautiful wakarimashta: it is understood (colloquially, "I understand") watashi: I yama: mountain yamette: stop yada!: (feminine) "stop it!" or "no way!" yare yare: colloquially "well, well", "oh, my", "my, my", "oh, dear", "oh, brother" yatta!: I did it! yokata: I'm glad yoroushku: nice to meet you yoush!: colloquially "OK, let's go!" or "all right, let's do it!" yume: dream
mother: okaasan father: otousan or oyaji (very informal) older brother: oniisan or aniki older sister: oneechan aunt: obasan uncle: ojisan grandmother: obaasan grandfather: ojiisan
-sama Very respectful ending. Not normally used with someone's names. Used to people of superior status, like your boss, or to your guests as a host. Envelopes should be addressed with "-sama". A shopkeeper might call a customer "o-kyaku-sama" (Respected Mr. Customer). sensei A respectful term meaning "teacher", also used with physicians. Frequently used to refer to experts in a field or people in any respected occupation. Lawyers, master chefs, fashion designers, and even some manga artists are called "sensei". Sometimes used like an honorific with a name or title, as in "kouchou-sensei" (Mr. Principal, Sir). -san Usual term of respect. It can stand for Mr. and Ms., and is attached to either first or last names, and names of occupations like "o-mawari-san" (Mr. Policeman). You use it for strangers and people you don't know well, but are more or less the same social status. When in doubt, use "-san". However, never use "-san" with your own name or your family members' names. Also, it shouldn't be used to refer to famous people, since a small degree of intimacy is implied. High school girls are usually called "-san". sempai Somebody in the same general social class, but socially superior to you. "Sempai" can also be used as an honorific. Older students may be addressed respectfully as sempai, especially by girls. -kun Used by a socially superior male to a socially inferior male. Familiarly used among male students and boys who grew up together. Recently, some teachers call girl students and some bosses call office ladies with "-kun", but it's still considered a masculine suffix. High school boys are called "-kun". Girls go from "-chan" to "-san" in high school, but boys go through a period of "-kun" in between. - Calling someone by a family name alone is being very familiar (or rough). Calling someone by given name alone is less rough, but more familiar. Using no honorific when one is expected can be an expression of contempt. -chan Intimate form of address. Families that are close use it, and "-chan" is often used to, and by, very young children. Used with given names, abbreviations of given names, and nicknames, but not family names. Children who grow up together (like Madoka and Hikaru), may keep using "-chan" into adulthood. Note: to call a social superior "-chan" without reason is very insulting.