カテゴリー: Japanese Culture Words

狐

KITSUNE

fox / fox spirit (supernatural trickster in Japanese folklore)

一石二鳥

ISSEKI NICHOU

killing two birds with one stone / one stone, two birds

初詣

HATSUMOUDE

first shrine or temple visit of the New Year

花火

HANABI

fireworks

洋服

YOUFUKU

Western-style clothing / clothes (general)

正月

SHOUGATSU

New Year / New Year's holiday period

市民

SHIMIN

citizen / resident / townsperson

お祭り

OMATSURI

festival / matsuri

お弁当

OBENTOU

bento / packed lunch / lunchbox

一生懸命

ISSHOU KENMEI

with all one's might / earnestly / as hard as one can

外国人

GAIKOKUJIN

foreigner / non-Japanese person

映画館

EIGAKAN

movie theater / cinema

動物園

DOUBUTSUEN

zoo

祭り

MATSURI

festival / celebration / festive gathering

神

KAMI

Shinto deity or spirit

帯

OBI

sash or belt worn with kimono

畳

TATAMI

woven straw mat flooring used in traditional Japanese rooms

鳥居

TORII

Shinto shrine gate or entrance portal

盆栽

BONSAI

bonsai / miniature tree art

柔道

JUDO

a Japanese martial art and Olympic sport focused on throws, grappling, and submission techniques, founded by Jigoro Kano in 1882

絵文字

EMOJI

pictograph character; the small digital icons used in electronic communication — originally a Japanese invention for mobile phone text messaging

蕎麦

SOBA

buckwheat noodles — thin Japanese noodles made from buckwheat flour, served hot in broth or cold with dipping sauce

刺身

SASHIMI

sashimi — thinly sliced raw fish or seafood served without rice, accompanied by soy sauce, wasabi, and shredded daikon, showcasing the pure flavor of the ingredient

禅

ZEN

zen / Buddhist meditation sect

うどん

UDON

udon / thick noodles

俳句

HAIKU

haiku / three-line poem

カラオケ

KARAOKE

karaoke / singing to recorded music

着物

KIMONO

kimono / traditional Japanese garment