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You can enjoy pronouncing the Japanese terms if you get off to a good start in learning the sounds. The pronunciation of Japanese words is very simple, in that any word in the language is made up of one or more short syllable sounds called "The Fifty Sounds" or Go Ju no On".

The consonants of Japanese are usually pronounced as those of English. The vowels are pronounce as follows:

A -"ah" as the a in father
E -"eh" as the a in way
I -"ee" as the i in marine
O -"oh" as the o in oboe
U -"oo" as the u in rule

 

And Courtesy of Ake no Myojo Budo...

Glossary of Japanese Terms - Japanese Lookup

Japanese Word Phonetic Pronunciation English Translation
age ah-gay upward
aikido i-key-do martial art: "the way of hamony"
anza anza informal sitting
arigato gozaimashita a-re-ga to go-ze-mash ta formal ‘thank you very much’
arigato a-re-ga to informal ‘thank you’
ashi ash-e Foot or step
ate ah-ta strike
barai bar-e sweep
benjo ben-jo bathroom
bo bo long staff, about 6 feet long
bogu bo-goo chest protector
bojitsu bo-jit-sue the art of the bo
boken bo-ken wooden sword
bokuto bo-kew-to wooden sword
boshi bo-she hat
bushido boo-she-do the ‘way of the warrior’
chojo cho-jo senior in a dojo
chudan chew-don middle position
chui chewy warning penalty
daisho di-show traditional two sword set
dan Don, or dan blackbelt rank, literally "man"
do do way
do ita simasi te do eta simash ta you are welcome
dojo do-jo place to study the way, literally "way place"
dojo kun do-jo kun school principles
domo arigato do-mo a-re-ga to thank you very much
dozo do zo Please, or please come in
dozo osakini do zo o-sak-in-e please go before me
empi em-pe elbow
gaeshi ga-ishe turn upside down
gedan ga-don lower position
genki deska gen-ke deska ‘I am fine’
geri gere (garý) kick
gi ge martial arts uniform
gokyo go-que five fundamental teachings
gomen nassai go men na si ‘I am sorry’
goshinjitsu Go shin jit sue art of self defense
gyaku uchi Ga-que ooche reverse strike
hai hi yes
haishi hi-she back of hand
hajime ha-ji-ma begin
hajime mashite ha-ji-ma ma-she-ta How do you do?
hakama ha-ka-ma traditional leggings for aikido
handaken han da ken four finger knuckle
hansoko han so ko disqualification
hantai han ti call for decision in sparring
happiken hape ken name of kata: to use the elbow like a monkey in eight directions
hara hara center line or stomach
hasso has-so upright posture
hidari hi dar e left
hikiwake hi-ke-wa-ka draw, as in draw a sword
hineri hin-ar-e twist
hirate hir-at-a open hand
hita he-ta down
hiza geri heza gere knee kick
hoko kata hoko kata walking form
ima e-ma now, at once
isogi i-so-ge hurry up
iye e-a no
ippon i-pon full point
irashimaste ir ashe masta welcome
irimi ir-e-me bringing the opponent close
jigotai ji-go-ti defensive stance
jigohontai ji-go-hon- ti fundamental defensive stance
jikun ji-kun time, time’s up
jo jo short ( about 4 foot) staff or walking stick
joseki jo-sek-e upper place in dojo (right side of shoman)
ju ju gentle, or the number ten
judo Ju do martial art; "gentle way"
kai ki association
kaiso ki-so the founder of the style
kama kama sickle, a martial arts weapon
kamae kama guard
kamaete ko-mi-e-ta prepare to begin
karatedo kar-a-ta-do empty hands way
karateka kar-a-ta-ka a student of karatedo
kata kata form, shoulder
kata-juji-jime kata- ju-ge-jima cross arm choke
katana ka-ta-na Japanese long sword
keiko ke-ko practice
keirei ke-ra ceremonial bow
kekomi ka-ko-me thrusting kick
kendo ken-do martial art: "way of the sword"
kentsui kent-su-e hammer fist
ki ke inner energy, spirit
kiai Ke-i vocal expression of ki
kiotsuke ke-oat-su-ka attention
kohira ni ko-hir-a knee this way
kochira no kachi ko-chir-a no kache winner of the match
kodomo ko-do-mo children
kogeki ko-ga-ke offensive
kohai ko-hi lower kyu rank
koken ko-ken ridge hand
kokyu ko-que breathing
kon nichi wa ko neche wa good day
kote ko-ta forearm
kumbanwa kum-ban-wa greeting; "good evening"
kumite ku-me-ta multiple person prearranged fighting form
kuzushi ku-zu-she balance breaking
kyo koy-o principle
kyu que step or rank below black belt, literally "boy"
ma-ai mi-i proper distance
mae mi-a front
mae geri mi-a gere front kick
maede ma-da stop
makawara makawara striking board
masseki ma-se-ke left side of shoman; lower seat
mate mata wait
mawaru kata mawaru kata turning form
mawashi mawashe circular motion
mawashi geri mawashe gere roundhouse kick
men men head
migi mige right
migi mae mawaru mige mi-a mawaru right front turn
migi ushiro mawaru mige u-shear-u mawaru right back turn
mikazuki geri mika-zu-ke gere crescent kick
mizo ochi mizo oche solar plexus
moi ichi do moy-itch-e do "once again"
mokuso mo-ku-so meditate
morote mor ot double
morote neko ashi mor ot neko ash-e double cat step
mudansha mu-dan-sha ranks below black belt
nage na-ga throw
nage waza na-ga waza throwing techniques
naihanchin ni-han-chin sideways stance
naname na-na-ma angle
neko ashi neku ash-e cat step
nekozeken nekoo-ze-ken cat back wrist
Nihon ne-hon Japan (formal, archaic)
no no prefix meaning "of"
nukite ni-ku-ta spear hand
o genki deska o genke desk-a "are you fine?"
okake kudasai okaka kudasi have a seat
onegai shimasu o-negi shima-su "may I practice with you?"
obi o-be belt
oha yo o-hi-o ‘good morning"
omedito gonzaimaste o-med-e-to go-zi-mas-ta congratulations
Osu oos, or os common greeting in karate: push ahead, yes, sir, never give up, a sign of respect, affirmation, recognition, etc.
otagai ni rei o-tag-na ne ra bow to each other
oyasu minassai oy-yas-u min-a-si "good night"
randori ran-dor-e free exercise
rei ra bow
ritsurei rit-soar-ra standing bow
ryu ru school
sai sigh three pronged martial arts weapon
samurai sam-ur-i knight of medieval Japan
sayonara si-o-nara "good bye"
seiken sa-ken horizontal punch
seinen sa-nen students age 16 and above
seiretsu sa-ret-su "line up"
seito sa-to student
seiza sa-za formal sitting position
seizarei sa-za-ra sitting bow
sempai sem-pi senior student, higher rank
sensei sen-sa teacher
sensei ni rei sen-sa ne ra bow to the teacher
shiai she-i sparring match or contest
shihan she-han leader of club or style
shinai shin-i bamboo practice sword
shinzen shin-zen place of honor
shisei she-sa posture or stances
shizen hontai dachi shi-zen hun-ti dache fundamental natural stance
shizentai shi-zen-ti natural stance
Shodan-Dai sho-dan di next in line for black belt
shomen sho-men Front, another name for place of honor
shonen sho-nen students 12 - 15 years old
Shorinjiryu shore-in-ji-roo the way of the great northern Shaolin Temple; a synthesis of Okinawan and Japanese philosophies and techniques which also reflects much of the Chinese influence on karate-do; a system which stresses rapid body movements, mobility, with emphasis upon the use of kumite, kata, and armor; originated by Kori Hisataka
shotei sho- ti heel of palm
shuriken shur-ri-ken throwing stars
shuto sho-to knife hand
so deska so deska "is that so?", sometimes "ah, so deska"
sonomama so-no-ma-ma "Freeze!"
sorematte sor-a-ma-ta "That’s all"; end
soshi so-she push
sotomata so-to-ma-ta open or outer
sukoshi su-ko-she a little
sumi su-me corner
suwari su-war-e sitting
tai ti body
tai-sabaki ti-sa-bake body turning movement
tanshiki kumite tan-she-ke single technique kumites
tanto tan-to knife less than 12 inches long
tatami ta-ta-me Japanese straw floor mat
tate ken ta-ta ken vertical fist
te ta hand
tegatana teg-a-tana cutting edge of hand or forearm
tenkai ten-ki turning motion
tori tor-e attacker
tsuki zu-ke thrust
tsushin zu-shin concentrating mind
uchimate oo-che-ma-ta closed stance
ude oo-day arm; forearm
uke oo-ka defender
ukemi oo-kem-e breakfall
unsoko un-so-ko basic foot movements
uraken ur-a-ken back fist
ushiro oo-sher-o back, behind
waki wa-ke by the side of
wakizashi wa-ka-za-she short (companion) sword
waza ari waza are half point
yame ya-ma "Stop!"
yang yang Active, male universal principle
yin yin Passive, female universal principle
yoko yo-ko side
yonen yo-nen youngest students
yoshi yoshe "continue"
yudansha yu-dan-sha black belts
yudansha kai yu-dan-sha ki an association of black belts
yukkuri yu-kure slowly
yumi-ashi yu-me ash-e normal walking
zanchin zan-chin "ending mind"; perfect completion
zarei zar-e more formal kneeling bow
zenshin zen-chin "preparing mind"
zori zor-e Japanese sandals

Glossary of Japanese Terms - English Lookup

English Translation Phonetic Pronunciation Japanese Word
a little su-ko-she sukoshi
a student of karatedo kar-a-ta-ka karateka
Active, male universal principle yang yang
an association of black belts yu-dan-sha ki yudansha kai
angle na-na-ma naname
are you fine? o genke desk-a o genki deska
arm; forearm oo-day ude
art of self defense Go shin jit sue goshinjitsu
association ki kai
attacker tor-e tori
attention ke-oat-su-ka kiotsuke
back fist ur-a-ken uraken
back of hand hi-she haishi
back, behind oo-sher-o ushiro
balance breaking ku-zu-she kuzushi
bamboo practice sword shin-i shinai
basic foot movements un-so-ko unsoko
bathroom ben-jo benjo
begin ha-ji-ma hajime
belt o-be obi
black belts yu-dan-sha yudansha
blackbelt rank, literally "man" Don, or dan dan
body ti tai
body turning movement ti-sa-bake tai-sabaki
bow ra rei
bow to each other o-tag-na ne ra otagai ni rei
bow to the teacher sen-sa ne ra sensei ni rei
breakfall oo-kem-e ukemi
breathing ko-que kokyu
bringing the opponent close ir-e-me irimi
by the side of wa-ke waki
call for decision in sparring han ti hantai
cat back wrist nekoo-ze-ken nekozeken
cat step neku ash-e neko ashi
center line or stomach hara hara
ceremonial bow ke-ra keirei
chest protector bo-goo bogu
children ko-do-mo kodomo
circular motion mawashe mawashi
closed stance oo-che-ma-ta uchimate
common greeting in karate: push ahead, yes, sir, never give up, a sign of respect, affirmation, recognition, etc. oos, or os Osu
concentrating mind zu-shin tsushin
congratulations o-med-e-to go-zi-mas-ta omedito gonzaimaste
continue yoshe yoshi
corner su-me sumi
crescent kick mika-zu-ke gere mikazuki geri
cross arm choke kata- ju-ge-jima kata-juji-jime
cutting edge of hand or forearm teg-a-tana tegatana
defender oo-ka uke
defensive stance ji-go-ti jigotai
disqualification han so ko hansoko
double mor ot morote
double cat step mor ot neko ash-e morote neko ashi
down he-ta hita
draw, as in draw a sword hi-ke-wa-ka hikiwake
elbow em-pe empi
empty hands way kar-a-ta-do karatedo
ending mind; perfect completion zan-chin zanchin
five fundamental teachings go-que gokyo
Foot or step ash-e ashi
forearm ko-ta kote
form, shoulder kata kata
formal ‘thank you very much’ a-re-ga to go-ze-mash ta arigato gozaimashita
formal sitting position sa-za seiza
four finger knuckle han da ken handaken
free exercise ran-dor-e randori
Freeze! so-no-ma-ma sonomama
front mi-a mae
front kick mi-a gere mae geri
Front, another name for place of honor sho-men shomen
full point i-pon ippon
fundamental defensive stance ji-go-hon- ti jigohontai
fundamental natural stance shi-zen hun-ti dache shizen hontai dachi
gentle, or the number ten ju ju
good bye si-o-nara sayonara
good day ko neche wa kon nichi wa
good morning o-hi-o oha yo
good night oy-yas-u min-a-si oyasu minassai
greeting; "good evening" kum-ban-wa kumbanwa
guard kama kamae
half point waza are waza ari
hammer fist kent-su-e kentsui
hand ta te
hat bo-she boshi
have a seat okaka kudasi okake kudasai
head men men
heel of palm sho- ti shotei
horizontal punch sa-ken seiken
How do you do? ha-ji-ma ma-she-ta hajime mashite
hurry up i-so-ge isogi
I am fine gen-ke deska genki deska
I am sorry go men na si gomen nassai
informal ‘thank you’ a-re-ga to arigato
informal sitting anza anza
inner energy, spirit ke ki
is that so?, sometimes ah, so deska so deska so deska
Japan (formal, archaic) ne-hon Nihon
Japanese long sword ka-ta-na katana
Japanese sandals zor-e zori
Japanese straw floor mat ta-ta-me tatami
kick gere (garý) geri
knee kick heza gere hiza geri
knife hand sho-to shuto
knife less than 12 inches long tan-to tanto
knight of medieval Japan sam-ur-i samurai
leader of club or style she-han shihan
left hi dar e hidari
left side of shoman; lower seat ma-se-ke masseki
line up sa-ret-su seiretsu
long staff, about 6 feet long bo bo
lower kyu rank ko-hi kohai
lower position ga-don gedan
martial art: "the way of hamony" i-key-do aikido
martial art: "way of the sword" ken-do kendo
martial art; "gentle way" Ju do judo
martial arts uniform ge gi
may I practice with you? o-negi shima-su onegai shimasu
meditate mo-ku-so mokuso
middle position chew-don chudan
more formal kneeling bow zar-e zarei
multiple person prearranged fighting form ku-me-ta kumite
name of kata: to use the elbow like a monkey in eight directions hape ken happiken
natural stance shi-zen-ti shizentai
next in line for black belt sho-dan di Shodan-Dai
no e-a iye
normal walking yu-me ash-e yumi-ashi
now, at once e-ma ima
offensive ko-ga-ke kogeki
once again moy-itch-e do moi ichi do
open hand hir-at-a hirate
open or outer so-to-ma-ta sotomata
Passive, female universal principle yin yin
place of honor shin-zen shinzen
place to study the way, literally "way place" do-jo dojo
please go before me do zo o-sak-in-e dozo osakini
Please, or please come in do zo dozo
posture or stances she-sa shisei
practice ke-ko keiko
prefix meaning "of" no no
prepare to begin ko-mi-e-ta kamaete
preparing mind zen-chin zenshin
principle koy-o kyo
proper distance mi-i ma-ai
push so-she soshi
ranks below black belt mu-dan-sha mudansha
reverse strike Ga-que ooche gyaku uchi
ridge hand ko-ken koken
right mige migi
right back turn mige u-shear-u mawaru migi ushiro mawaru
right front turn mige mi-a mawaru migi mae mawaru
roundhouse kick mawashe gere mawashi geri
school ru ryu
school principles do-jo kun dojo kun
senior in a dojo cho-jo chojo
senior student, higher rank sem-pi sempai
short ( about 4 foot) staff or walking stick jo jo
short (companion) sword wa-ka-za-she wakizashi
sickle, a martial arts weapon kama kama
side yo-ko yoko
sideways stance ni-han-chin naihanchin
single technique kumites tan-she-ke tanshiki kumite
sitting su-war-e suwari
sitting bow sa-za-ra seizarei
slowly yu-kure yukkuri
solar plexus mizo oche mizo ochi
sparring match or contest she-i shiai
spear hand ni-ku-ta nukite
standing bow rit-soar-ra ritsurei
step or rank below black belt, literally "boy" que kyu
stop ma-da maede
Stop! ya-ma yame
strike ah-ta ate
striking board makawara makawara
student sa-to seito
students 12 - 15 years old sho-nen shonen
students age 16 and above sa-nen seinen
sweep bar-e barai
teacher sen-sa sensei
thank you very much do-mo a-re-ga to domo arigato
That’s all; end sor-a-ma-ta sorematte
the ‘way of the warrior’ boo-she-do bushido
the art of the bo bo-jit-sue bojitsu
the founder of the style ki-so kaiso
the way of the great northern Shaolin Temple; a synthesis of Okinawan and Japanese philosophies and techniques which also reflects much of the Chinese influence on karate-do; a system which stresses rapid body movements, mobility, with emphasis upon the use of kumite, kata, and armor; originated by Kori Hisataka shore-in-ji-roo Shorinjiryu
this way ko-hir-a knee kohira ni
three pronged martial arts weapon sigh sai
throw na-ga nage
throwing stars shur-ri-ken shuriken
throwing techniques na-ga waza nage waza
thrust zu-ke tsuki
thrusting kick ka-ko-me kekomi
time, time’s up ji-kun jikun
traditional leggings for aikido ha-ka-ma hakama
traditional two sword set di-show daisho
turn upside down ga-ishe gaeshi
turning form mawaru kata mawaru kata
turning motion ten-ki tenkai
twist hin-ar-e hineri
upper place in dojo (right side of shoman) jo-sek-e joseki
upright posture has-so hasso
upward ah-gay age
vertical fist ta-ta ken tate ken
vocal expression of ki Ke-i kiai
wait mata mate
walking form hoko kata hoko kata
warning penalty chewy chui
way do do
welcome ir ashe masta irashimaste
winner of the match ko-chir-a no kache kochira no kachi
wooden sword bo-ken boken
wooden sword bo-kew-to bokuto
yes hi hai
you are welcome do eta simash ta do ita simasi te
youngest students yo-nen yonen

Counting

one ichi   eleven ju-ichi   twenty one ni-ju-ichi   forty yon ju
two ni   twelve ju-ni         forty-four yonjushi
three san     ·     ·   seventy nana ju
four ji     ·     ·   seventy seven nana ju nana
five go     ·     ·   one hundred hyaku
six roku                  
seven shichi                  
eight hachi                  
nine ku                  
ten ju   twenty ni-ju   thirty san-ju      

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Nihon Takaiyama Karatedo Compendium, compiled by Renshi Al Hergenhan, January 13, 1995.

Essential Shorinjiryu Karatedo, Masayuki Hisataka, Charles E. Tuttle, Rutland, Vermont, 1994.

Scientific Karatedo, Masayuki Hisataka, Japan Publications, Inc., 1976.

Aikido Glossary, J. L. Merchant, December 7, 1988.

Shorinjiryu Kenryukan Handbook, Kyoshi Myron Lubitsch, Draft, January 2000.