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Handy Japanese Dictionary

Quick Japanese Pronunciation Lesson!

The letter "a" has a long sound, like in the word "father"

The letter "e" is pronounced like the "a" in "may"

The letter "i" is pronounced like the "e" in "greedy"

The letter "o" is pronounced like to word "oh"

The letter "u" is pronounced like the "o" in "boo"

When the letters "ou" appear next to each other, they make a long "uu" sound. For example: "Gokou".

When the letters "ai" appear next to each other, they make an sound like "ie" in the word "Die".

The letters "tsu" are hard to explain. Place your tongue at the roof of your mouth as if you were going to pronounce a "t", but instead of "t" say the word "zoo". It should sound like the word "zoo", but with a sharp beginning. It's pronounced quickly and when listening to a Japanese person say it, it just sounds like they're saying "su".

When the letters "oo" appear next to each other, just make a long "Oooh" sound.

The letters "ei" are pronounced like "ey" in the word "Hey".

Dictionary

ai- love

aishiteru- I love you

akai- red

anata- you

anata tachi- all of you/them/they (when tachi follows a name it means and company or and others
i.e.: Heero tachi; Heero and others which means the other Gundam pilots.)

ankoko- darkness

aoi- blue

ara- in the morning

arigatou- thank you (using domo is a simpler form. arigatou is a thanks. domo arigatou gozaimasu is with respect.)

asa- morning

asoko- that place, over there

atama- head

atarashii- new

atatakai- warm

baasan- old woman

baka- stupid

basan- aunt

botan- button

bujutsu- martial arts

butsu- strike/hit

byooin- hospital

chairoi- brown

chan- used after a girl's name, shows that she is a little girl (i.e. Sasami-chan)

chibi- small, mini, tiny

chigaimasu- that's not true

chikatetsu- subway

chatto matte- wait a moment

dia- great

daigaku- university or college

daijobu- okay or I'm fine

daijobu desu ka- "are you okay?" or "is it ok?"

daijobuka- "are you alright?"

dare- "who?"

demo- but or however

densetsu- legend

desho- probably

doko- "where?"

doo itashimashite- "you're welcome"

dore- which

doushitano- "what happpend?" also "what's the matter with you?" "what's wrong?"

doushite- "why?"

dozo- please

ichi- one

jin- used after a planetary race such as the Namecks (i.e. Nameck-jin) means the same as the prefix ling, (i.e. Earthling)

kaeru- frog

kai- kingdom, world, realm

kausha- company

kaishi- mysterious death

kakkoi- gorgeous

kaku- hidden

kakumei- revolution

kami- God

kamikami- gods

kanojo- she

kare- he

kasa- umbrella

katta- "I won!"

kawa- river

kawaii- cute

kawaikunee- not cute

kaze- wind

kekkon- marriage

kiiroi- yellow

kiite kudisia- "attention please"

kingin- gold and silver

kirei- beautiful

kisama- "you, you bastard!" (Gokou to Freeza ^_^)

kissaten- coffee shop

kitsune- fox

kiyou- mirror

kodomo- child

koko- here

kokode tomete kudasa- "stop....please."

kokojanai- not present

kokoro- emotion or heart

koku- black

koban wa- "good evening!"

konnichi wa- a greeting, usually "good afternoon."

koohii- coffee

koojoo- factory

koori- ice

koorime- ice woman

koorima- ice demon

kore wa- literally means "this is?" mean "what the?!"

korewa ikura desuka- "how much is this?"

korewa nan desuka- "what's this?"

kouma no tsurugi- demon's sword

kun- when kun is used after a name it's usually for boys with respect (i.e. Nick-kun)

kustu shita- socks

kustu- shoes

kuusou- fantasy

kuwabarakuwabara- "my God!"

kyoo wa ii tenki desu ne- "nice weather today, isn't it?"

kyooshitsu- classroom

kyuuketsu- sucking blood

kyuusu- teapot

ma- devil

maboroshii- mysterious

mado- window

mae- before

makai- devil world

manga- Japanese comic

maru- zero

masaka- "impossible!" also means "it can't be true!!!!!"

mata omeni kakaritai to omoi masu- "I hope to see you again!"

matte- wait

me- woman

mejiro- silver-eyed

midori- green

minna- everyone

mizu- water

moshi moshi- hello

muda- useless

murasaki- purple

naifu- knife

naka- middle

nan de- "what is it?" or "why?"

nandemonai- nothing

nani- "what?"

neko- cat

ni- two

nihon ryori ga tabetai to omoi masu- "I like to eat Japanese food."

ningenkai- human world

ningin- carrot

o genki desu ka- "how are you?"

ocha- tea

odango- dumpling

odokasu- scared

ofukuro- mommy

ohayo- good morning

oikusu dees ka- "how old are you?"

oishi- delicious

ojiisan- grandfather

okaeri nasai- "welcome home!"

okusan- wife

omedetou- congratulations

onaka ga suita- "I'm hungry."

oneechan- older sister

onegai- please

oniichan- older brother

onna- female

ore ga yarou- "leave it to me!" or "I'll do it!"

osoko- there

osokunate- late

otanjoobi onedetoo gozaimas- "happy birthday"

otoko- male

otoko no hito- man

otoko no ko- boy

ototoy- the day before yesterday

ou- king

owaru- to end

oyaji- daddy

oyasumi nasai- "good night"

rei- soul

ryuu- dragon

sama- lord (i.e. Kaiyosama or King Kai)

san- three or when used after a name, it usually is for a formal meeting of respect, (Mr. Mrs. Miss)

satsu- kill or murder

sayonara- "goodbye."

sei- century

seifuku- uniform

senpai- when used after a name it means an upperclassmen

sensei- teacher

senshi- soldier

shi- master

shima- island

shimatta- "damn it!"

shimbun- newspaper

shinjite- believe

shinketsu- heart's blood

shinsetsu- kind

shinu- die

shiroi- white

shirubaa- silver

shisutaa- sister

shita- bottom, beneath, or below

shizuka- quiet

shokubutsu- plant

shokudo- dining room

shouka- crystallization

soba- near or close by

soko- this place or there

sonna- an expression of disbelief

sou da- "oh yes."

sukaato- shirt

suki- like or favorite

suteki- steak

tadamia- "I'm home."

tenechigai- half sister or half brother

tantei- detective

tatemono- building

tenki- weather

tenshi- angel

terebi- television

tetsudatte kudasai- "can you help me please?"

to mattekudisia- stop

toire wa doko des ka- "where is the restroom?"

tonkee- watch or clock

tomodachi- friend

tonari- next to or adjacent

toshokan- library

tousan- father

tsuki- moon

tsukue- desk

uchi- house or home

ue- top or above

umi- sea

urusai- "shut up!" or "silence!"

usagi- bunny or rabbit

ushiro- back, behind or rear

uta- song

wakarimasu ka- "do you understand?"

wakatta- "I know." or "I understand."

yama- mountain

yamayama- mountains

yarou- jerk

yadda- "I did it!"

yokatta- intense gratefulness, often "Thank God!"

yoko- side or beside

yoru- at night

yoshi- "good!" or "all right!"

yukata- robe

yuki- snow

yuroshiku- "nice to see you."

yuubinkyoku- post office

yuumie- famous

zaashi- magazine

zoko- tribe

zutto- forever