Guide to Japanese Pronunciation
Although the Karate terminology is in Japanese, it is very easy to pronouce
if you follow a few simple rules:
In the case of vowels, that is the letters a, e, i, o, u, pronouce them in the following manner (this is the only way they are ever pronouced):
In the case of the double vowel "ei", its pronunciation has no equivalent in standard English, but is to be pronounced as the "ay" is pronounced in words like "nay" in the Yorkshire dialect
In the case of the letter "y", it is never pronounced like the letter "i" as it is often in English in words like "cry", but always pronounced like the "y" in the word "yes"
In the case of the letter "g", it can be pronounced like the letter "g" in "go" and also like the "ng" in the words "bring", "king" and "sing", but never pronounced like the "g" in the word "gentle". With the exception of the words "gedan", "geta" "go", "gohon" and "gyaku", the "g" will be pronounced like "ng".
The other letters in the Karate terminology are pronounced as they are in English.
Glossary of Japanese Words
The following is a table of Japanese words which are commonly used in
martial arts, their phonetic pronunciation and the English meaning:
Japanese Word | Phonetic Pronunciation | English Meaning | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Sensei | Sen - sei | Teacher | ||
Sempai | Sem - pai | Senior Student | ||
Dojo | Do - jo | Training Hall | ||
Kiai | Kee - ai | Yell of Spirit | ||
Hai | Hi | Yes | ||
Gi | Ghee | Uniform | ||
Seiza | Say - zah | Kneel or sit | ||
Rei | Ray | Bow | ||
Arigato | Are - e - ga - toe | Thank you | ||
Yasume | Ya - sue - may | Relax or rest | ||
Yame | Ya - may | Stop | ||
Mukuso | Muk - kuh - so | Meditation | ||
Karate | Kar - rah - tey | Empty Hand | ||
Kumite | Coom - i - tay | Sparring | ||
Kata | Cat - ah | Forms | ||
Hidari | Ha - dar - ree | Left | ||
Migi | Mig - ee | Right | ||
Shomen-ni | Sho - men - nee | Front | ||
Jodan | Joe - dahn | Face level | ||
Chudan | Chew - dahn | Chest level | ||
Gedan | Gay - dahn | Low level | ||
Keage | Kay - ah - geh | Snap | ||
Kekomi | Keh - koh - me | Thrust | ||
Hajime | Hah - ji - me | Start | ||
Mawate | Ma - wa - teh | Turn | ||
Otagai-Ni | O - teh - gai - nee | Turn and bow | ||
Counting: | ||||
ichi | itch | one | ||
ni | knee | two | ||
san | san | three | ||
shi | shee | four | ||
go | goe | five | ||
roku | rook - u | six | ||
shichi | shee - see | seven | ||
hachi | hach - ee | eight | ||
ku | ku | nine | ||
ju | ju | ten | ||
Stances - "dachi" (dah - chee) is added at the end of each stance: | ||||
Hachi ji | Hah - chee - gee | Open-leg (relax) | ||
Heisoku | Hay - so - koo | Attention | ||
Zenkutsu | Zen - kut - sue | Front | ||
Kokutsu | Koh - kut - sue | Back | ||
Kiba | Key - bah | Horse riding | ||
Sanchin | San - chin | Hour glass | ||
Shiko | Shee - ko | Horse riding (45 degrees) | ||
Musubi | Moo - sue - bee | Attention (45 degrees) | ||
Neko Ashi | Nee - ko ash - ee | Cat | ||
Blocks - "uke" (U - key) is added at the end of each block: | ||||
Jodan | Joe - dahn | High Block | ||
Chudan | Chew - dahn | Middle Block | ||
Soto | So - toe | Outside to inside | ||
Uchi | Oo - chee | Inside to outside | ||
Shuto | Shoe - toe | Knife - hand | ||
Gedan Barai (no uke) | Geh - dahn bar - eye | Low Block | ||
Punches - "tsuki" (tsue - key) is added at the end of punch: | ||||
Oi | Oh - ee | Lunge | ||
Gyaka | Gya - koo | Reverse | ||
Yama | Yah - mah | U - punch | ||
Strikes - "uchi" (U - chee) is added at the end of strike: | ||||
Shuto | Shoe - toe | Knife - hand | ||
Tettsui | Tet - Tsue | Hammer Fist | ||
Empi | Em - pee | Elbow | ||
Uraken | Er - rah - ken | Back - fist | ||
Kicks - "geri" (gary) is added at the end of kick: | ||||
Mae | Mah - eh | Front | ||
Yoko | Yoh - koh | Side | ||
Mawashi | Mah - wah - she | Round | ||
Ushiro | Oo - she - row | Back | ||
Mae - keage | Mah - eh kay - ah - geh | Front snap | ||
Mae kekomi | Mah - eh keh - koh - me | Front thrust | ||
Yoko keage | Yoh - koh kay - ah - geh | Side snap | ||
Yoko kekomi | Yoh - koh keh - koh - me | Side thrust |
More terms??… | ||
Goju-ryu | Hard-soft style | |
Karate-do | Empty hand Way | |
Formal Phrases | ||
Onegai shimasu | Please do me the favor (of) | |
Arigato gozaimasu | Thank you | |
Douzo | Here/Please | |
Shitsure shimasu | Excuse me | |
Mo ichi do/Mo i kai | One more time | |
Seiza | Sitting on heels, sitting politely | |
Mokuso | Meditate | |
Titles | ||
Kancho | Head of School (Kimo Sensei) | |
Sensei | Teacher | |
Yudansha | Black belt level students | |
Sempai | Senior | |
Kohai | Junior | |
Mon-te | Other students/Followers | |
San | Mr./Ms. --, polite form of address | |
Commands | ||
Shugo | Formation/Make formation | |
Kiotsuke | Attention | |
Rei | Bow | |
Yoi | Formal position | |
Arete | Present hands/ready position | |
Kamae ite | Come to Kamae | |
Hajime | Begin | |
Yame | Stop | |
Mawate/Mawashite | Turn/Rotate | |
Kakuji | Free timing/By your own count | |
Geritsu | Stand up | |
Suwate | Sit down | |
Fighting Terms | ||
Kime | Focus | |
Ma-ai | Range, engagement distance | |
Kokyu | Breath | |
Kumite | Fight, Contest | |
Kiso/Yakuso Kumite | Pre-arranged fight | |
Ippon Kumite | Single technique fight | |
Ju Kumite | Free fight | |
Hara/Tanden | Center/ Body's balance point | |
Mune | Chest | |
Se | Back | |
Dojo | Place of the Way | |
Shomen | Front of Dojo, symbolic for founder and teachers | |
Kamidana | Shrine | |
Directions | ||
Mae | Front | |
Ushiro | Rear | |
Migi | Right | |
Hidari | Left | |
Jodan | Upper level/Head | |
Chudan | Middle level/Chest | |
Gedan | Lower level/Down | |
Karada | Body | |
Ashi | Foot/leg | |
Ude | Arm | |
Te | Hand | |
Kote | Wrist | |
Yubi | Finger | |
Ashiyubi | Toe | |
Kansetsu/Kubi | Joint | |
Atama | Head | |
Kubi | Neck | |
Kata | Shoulder | |
Hiji | Elbow | |
Koshi | Lower Back | |
O naka | Stomach | |
Hara/Tanden | Center/ Body's balance point | |
Mune | Chest | |
Se | Back | |
Mei | Eye | |
Mimi | Ear | |
Kihon Waza | Basic Techniques | |
Kamae | Fighting/Combat position | |
Kiai | Spirit meeting/Spirit yell | |
Meisuki | Eye punch/keeping eye contact | |
Dachi | Stance | |
Kihon/Sanchin | Basic/Sanchin/Hourglass | |
Neko ashi | Cat Foot | |
Zenkutsu | Long or front | |
Shiko | Low / Straddle | |
Shizentai | Natural | |
Rei | Stance resembling character rei: | |
Tsuru | Crane/One foot | |
Suki | Thrust or Punch | |
Seiken | Power fist/Basic fist | |
Shuto | Knife edge/Chop | |
Empi/hiji suki | Elbow strike | |
Hiraken | Flat fist/2'nd knuckle fist | |
Gyakuken | Opposite fist/Undercut | |
Kentsui | Hammer fist | |
Uraken | Backfist/Snap | |
Shote | Palm strike | |
Nuki te | Knife hand/Fingertip strike | |
Chukoken | Middle knuckle fist | |
Kekoken/Ipoken | One knuckle/Foreknuckle fist | |
Koken | Wrist attack | |
Keri/geri | Kick | |
Mae | Front | |
Ashi barai | Foot sweep | |
Fumikomi | Stamp | |
Kakuto | Heel | |
Uesokutei | Ball of foot | |
Tsumasaki | Toe | |
Sokuto | Edge of the Foot | |
Kosa geri | Inside foot/cross | |
Ushiro | Back | |
Hiku geri | Pulling kick | |
Hiza geri | Knee kick | |
Kin geri | Groin kick | |
Soto | Side | |
Mikazuki | Inside crescent kick with sole of foot | |
Mawashi | Round (Roundhouse) | |
Kekomi | Pushing | |
Keage | Snap/Rising | |
Ni-dan geri | Two-level / Double kick | |
Uke | Defensive/responsive technique | |
Hiki uke | Pulling defense | |
Kake uke | Open/grabbing defense | |
Ukesuki | Block/punch | |
Ura uke/kaku uke | Back/hooking defense | |
Ko uke | Wrist defense | |
Mawashi uke | Turning/Rotating defense | |
Juji uke | Cross block | |
Yama uke | Mountain block | |
General Techniques | ||
Nage waza | Throwing techniques | |
Kansetsu waza | Joint techniques | |
Osu | (to)Push | |
Hiku | (to)Pull | |
Tobu | (to)Jump, to fall | |
Tsukamau | (to)Grab | |
Otosu | (to) Get rid of a grab/to strip | |
Tatsu | (to) Strike | |
Ukemi | Passive/to receive/to roll | |
Kata | Form | |
Koryu | Classical | |
Sanchin | Three battles | |
Saifa | Break and smash | |
Seiunchin | Fight by pulling and controlling | |
Shisochin | Fighting in four directions | |
Seipai | 18 hands | |
Sanseru | 36 hands | |
Sesan | 13 hands | |
Kurarunfa | Hold in place and crush | |
Suparinpe/Pichurin | 108 hands | |
Tensho | Knock down/control with the palms | |
Toitsu Fukyu | Training (Standardization & Dissemination) | |
Fukyu | Dissemination | |
Geki sai | Attacking and tear |