COMPLIMENTS OF: COLUMBIA FINANCIAL PRINTING CORP (516) 931-3800)
ENGLISH - JAPANESE
JAPANESE - ENGLISH
***** (ROMANIZED/ROMAJI)A LANGUAGE LEARNING DICTIONARY
*****
BY
BERNARD F MC MAHON COLUMBIA PUBLISHING COMPANY*****
Definitions and Usage of Common WordsSpecialized and Limited Elementary Vocabulary for
Beginning English and Japanese Language Students, and Tourists.
*****INTRODUCTION
This book is intended to be used by both English and Japanese students of either language. It is designed for elementary students of both languages. As most Japanese students have already had several years of the study of the English language as is required within the Japanese educational system, a book of this type could help to reenforce the knowledge of English they already have. More confidence and reassurance could be the end product of the use of this book. Many Japanese students can already read English fluently, and yet encounter differculty in speaking English.
As this book attempts to enter into the area of English and Japanese thinking system, it could help the student to better understand the thinking process of both languages. Memorizing the words of a foreign language is one thing, learning to speak the language is another step, but learning to think in the other language is the most important objective in learning to speak a foreign language.
No claims or guarantees are intended to be expressed by the author, just a hopeful desire that students of either languge will in some small way benefit from utilizing this book.
THE AUTHOR
*****
NOTATIONS
The following notations are referred to throughout this dictionary to assist the student in learning the various basic characteristics of both English and Japanese grammar. Many explanations are expressed in Japanese Romaji (Romanized Japanese) for the native Japanese student. The English speaking student can disregard explanations written in Japanese (Romaji), as those notations or explanations are intended to help the Japanese student only.
NOTE 1: By ROMANIZED Japanese writing we refer to using the Roman alphabet to write the sounds of the Japanese language. There are two types of romanized Japanese. The system used in this dictionary is named after Dr. Hepburn, and accordingly, is called the Hepburn System. The other system is called the Nippon-shiki System. The Nippon-shiki System came into use in the late 1930's. The Hepburn system is commonly used in teaching the Japanese language to English speaking students, and it is mostly regarded as the superior of the two systems for that purpose. The Hepburn System has been used since the late 1880's. Those students of the Japanese language who decide to advance further into the language will next learn to read and write, KATAKANA, then HIRAGANA, and eventually KANJI (Chinese characters). These are the sequential steps taken by all Japanese children learning to read in elementary school.
The Oriental has for thousands of years experienced reading Chinese ideographic characters. As these characters derived originally from picture writing over 4,000 years ago, a visual image is actually perceived through the oriental brain as pictures. Orientals reading romanized Japanese or Chinese do not see those pictures, instead they must read the words as westerners do and interpret the meanings. The text form of reading is processed in an entirely different part of the brain. It requires a different kind of effort on their part in order to interpret as they read.
NOTE 2: ROMAJI - Literally means roman characters. ROMA = ROMAN and JI = CHARACTER(S). ROMAJI refers to both the HEPBURN SYSTEM and the NIPPON-SHIKI SYSTEM of Romanized Japanese. The Author has made a major change in the Hepburn System of Romaji, in that the double vowels OO, II, and UU are written as double letters, as follows:
| HEPBURN | AUTHOR'S SYSTEM | MEANING |
| TOKYO | TOOKYOO | TOKYO |
| OKII | OOKII | BIG, LARGE |
| SATO | SATOO | SUGAR |
NOTE 3: SINGULAR OR PLURAL - There is no singular or plural case in Japanese. (except - see NOTE 5)
NOTE 4: MASCULINE AND FEMININE - There is no masculine or feminine case in Japanese.
NOTE 5: PLURALIZATION of certain words can be accomplished by adding the Japanese suffix -tachi or -domo to particular words. FOR EXAMPLE: watakushi = I
watakushi-tachi = we, watakushi-domo = we
anata-tachi = you(s)
hito-tachi = persons (people),
NOTE 6: SPOKEN QUESTION MARK - In speaking Japanese one actually speaks the question mark.
FOR EXAMPLE :
Kore wa hon desu.. (Jap.)
this book is (Lit.)
This is a book. (Eng.)
(The above is a positive statement.)
Add KA to the following sentence:
Kore wa hon desu ka. (Jap)
this book is ? (Lit)
Is this a book? (Eng)
By adding ka to the above positive statement, the sentence is converted into an interrogative sentence. Any positive statement in Japanese can be readily converted into an interrogative sentence by merely adding ka to the end of the sentence.
EXAMPLE: Yokohama e ikimasu. (Jap.)
Yokohama to going (Lit.)
I (or you) are going to Yokohama (Eng.)
Add ka to the following sentence:
Yokohama e ikimasu ka (Jap.)
Yokohama to going ? (Lit.)
Are you (or I) going to Yokohama? (Eng.)
(SEE NOTE 7 )
NOTE 7: THINKING IN JAPANESE (CONTEXT)
In Japanese conversation, as in the above two sentences (NOTE 6), the subject is not included in the sentence and is understood by context. This is an important aspect of thinking in Japanese. The student must learn to think in Japanese. The subject of a sentence in Japanese conversation is frequently not included and is left to context. Thinking in Japanese is the most difficult part of learning to speak the language. Practice and frequent conversational experience is the key to learning to speak Japanese fluently. Reading romanized Japanese or actual Japanese character writing on a daily exercise basis is an excellent tool in learning to speak and think in the language.
Japanese people think and structure their thoughts in a very different way than English speaking people. Also, the configuration of thinking of English speakers is quite different and especially foreign to Japanese speakers. There is much more grammatical structural regimentation required in Japanese polite forms of speech. English speaking students learn these sentence formations by practice and habit. The student must speak in Japanese daily --- even if only to one's self. Of course, the best method is to learn to imitate Japanese sentence structure and expressions by listening to Japanese people speaking the language. Speaking Japanese to fellow English speaking students, is helpful, but it is not as good as speaking to a native Japanese. The student will ultimately learn that thinking in Japanese is very different than in English.
NOTE 8: POSTPOSITIONS (TENIOHA)
There are no prepositions in the Japanese language. Instead, postpositions are used. The only difference between the English preposition and the Japanese postposition is, that prepositions appear before the words they signify in English, whereas in Japanese the equivalent of the English preposition - the postposition, always follows the word it signifies.
FOR EXAMPLE:
JIDOOSHA DE IKIMASU. (Jap.)
automobile by I will go (Lit.)
I will go by automobile. (Eng.)
NOTICE: de is equivalent to by in English. It follows (as a postposition) the word jidoosha de (automobile by). In English the by comes first (by automobile ).
NOTE 9: - POSSESSIVE CASE - The apostrophe S equivalent in English is expressed in Japanese as a postposition, no. I is simply added to a Japanese word verbally to make the word become possessive.
FOR EXAMPLE: Anata no hon desu. (J)
your book (it) is (L)
The book is yours. (E)
no in Japanese (is a postposition), and is the same as the apostrophe S in English. It is also equivalent to the preposition OF in English, but it signifies a possessive or controlled sense and not in a directional sense.
NOTE 10: SENTENCE STRUCTURE - A simple sentence in Japanese has the following basic diagrammatical configuration:
SUBJECT OBJECT VERB
Watakushi wa hon wo yomimasu. (J)
i book will read (L)
I will read the book. (E)
NOTICE: The above sentence is not actually the the way Japanese people usually speak. The usual sentence would be: Hon wo yomimasu. (J)
Book will read (L)
I will read the book. (E)
By context, the I in the above sentence is assumed in Japanese sentence construction. (SEE: NOTE 7)
NOTE 11: PERSONAL PRONOUNS (POLITE FORM)
First person singular: I - watakukshi, watashi or atashi
First person plural: we - watakushi-tachi, watashi-tashi or atachi-tachi
we - watakushi-domo, watashi-domo or atashi-domo
* * * * *
Second person singular: YOU - anata, anta (slang / vulgar impolite form)
Second person plural: YOU(S)- anata-gata, anata-tachi
* * * * *
Third person singular: HE, SHE- kono kata, (this person - nearby)
Third person singular: HE, SHE- sono kata, (that person - slightly distant)
Third person singular: HE, SHE- ano kata, (that person - over there/further)
NOTICE: Ad tachi or domo to pluralize personal pronouns, (SEE: NOTE: 5) - kono kata-tachi, sono kata-tachi, ano kata-tachi = they. The meaning of each of these three words depends upon the position (physically) of the persons indicated.
NOTE 12: The L, Q, V, and X consonants. There is no L, Q, V, or X sound in the Japanese language. When spelling foreign words containing the letter L in romanized (romaji) Japanese, the letter R is used in place of the foreign letter L. Accordingly, London would be written Rondon. Hotel would be written Hoteru (this is an adopted English word along with numerous other English words that have been adopted into the Japanese language). In English the flower Lilac, another word adopted into Japlanese is called rairaku - notice the conversion of the L. Other words adopted into Japanese such as, lace = reisu, lamp = rampu, lard = raado, - Latin = Raton, and many more simply convert the L sound to a similar R syllable. Acutally, there is no anatomical reason why a Japanese person can not pronounce the English letter L. The author is of the opionion that the Japanese people have been unknowingly and inadvertantly conditioned to think or beleive that they are incapable of pronouncing the letter L correctly, as a result of many years of earlier educational instruction, inference and experince in converting the L to the Japanese R.
SPECIAL NOTATION - THE CONSONANT L: Unfortunately, the native Japanese teachers of English for more than 140 years have taught their students to replace the L in words in English and other languages with the Japanese R sound. This idea was based upon the structure of the Japanese syllablory. There are no written single characters for consonants in the Japanese form of writting. R is expressed in the Japanese syllabary (similar to our alphabet, but composed of syllables only) as RA, RI, RU, RE, RO. There is no single consonant for the letter R, as all Japanese language written words are written in syllables. The letter N is the only single written consonant in the Japanese form of writting.
When the sound of the consonants Q, V, and X are required to adopt or express foreign words and sounds, the basic fifty sounds of the Japanese syllabary , the nasal sound, and the secondary syllabary consonant sounds are used, such as G, Z, D, B, and P.
THE SECONDARY SYLLABARY CONSONENT SOUNDS ARE BELOW |
| GA | ZA | DA | BA | PA |
| GI | JI | JI | BI | PI |
| GU | ZU | ZU | BU | PU |
| GE | ZE | DE | BE | PE |
| GO | ZO | DO | BO | PO |
(SEE NOTE 13, for the five vowels and a chart for the basic fifty sound syllabary (goju-on).
NOTE 13: THE FIVE VOWELS A - I - U - E - O - Pronounciation of the five vowels is essential in speaking the Japanese language perfect. Master pronounciing the five vowels, the N (nasal sound), learn to trill the R, and you will speak perfect Japanese. It is also esentiual that you menorize the Japanese vowels in the following order - A, I, U, E, O. Hold a mental picture of this configuration of letters in your mind.
PRONOUNCIATION OF THE VOWELS - A I U E O
A - As in fAther, never as in Ate.
I - As in Ink, or like the I in goIng. The Japanese I is always pronounced to sound like the long E in English. It is pronounced exactly like the I in the Spanish language.
II - As in HawaII, pronounced like a very long E as the E in Easy,--- a long EE sound.
U - As in TabU (Taboo)., pronounced like the OO sound in the English word tOO.
UU - As in BOOt, pronounced like a BOO sound as a ghost or spook might make...
E - As the A in ate, as the A in able.
O - As the O in over, as the O in opinion.
OO - Just pronounce the O twice as long as usual.
N - ng - The nasal sound as the ng in bang, sang, fang, or hang.
NOTE 14: - THE JAPANESE BASIC SYLLABARY |
| A | KA | SA | TA |
MA | HA | NA | YA | RA |
WA |
I |
KI | SHI | CHI | MI | HI | NI | RI |
||
| U | KU | SU | TSU | MU | FU | NU | RU |
||
| E | KE | SE | TE | ME | HE | NE | YE |
RE |
|
| O | KO | SO | TO | MO |
HO |
NO | YO | RO | WO |
| N |
(There is no alphabet in Japanese, instead they have the Japanese syllabary of fifty syllable sounds (GO-JU-ON).
NOTE 15: - CONSONANTS AND DOUBLE CONSONANTS
NOTE 16: - CONJUGATION OF VERBS
NOTE 17: - N THE NASAL SOUND - The N sound in Japanese sounds similar to the ng sound in the English word among. i.e., when the N nasal sound appears at the end of a Japanese word. It also sounds like the ng sound in the Englilsh word hungry. When the N appears in the beginning of a Japanese syllable, it is pronounced as an ordinary N in English.
NOTE 18: - SYLLABLIZING JAPANESE WORDS - When pronouncing Japanese words, each word should be broken into syllables, just as you would do in Engllish. It is quite simple to seperate the syllables in Japanese to help you to properly pronounce words. The basic rule to syllablize a Japanese word is to end each syllable with a single or souble vowel (A,I,U,E,O), and to start each syllable with a consonent (K, E, T, M, A, H, N, Y, R, W). These nine consonents are the primary consonants in Japanese. They are pronounced the same as in Englilsh - except that the R is pronounced differently as it is always trilled. By the way, the R is trilled in almost all occidental languages. Learning to trill the R is a must in order to pronounce Japanese correctly. When using the letter R to represent the L in foreign languages - (SEE: NOTE: 12).
NOTE: 19 - PRONOUNCING DIPTHONGS -
NOTE: 20 - LONG OR DOUBLE VOWELS - II, OO, UU. -
NOTE : 21 - CONJUGATION OF VERBS - In the Japanese Lanaguage the verbs are more than conjugated as we English speaking persons understand verbal conjugation. The Japanese conjugation of verbs goes beyound present, future and past tense. The complete understanding of the extensive use of verbal conjugation in Japanese, is the key to a complete understanding and fluent speech capacity and understanding of this language. The Japanese language is a beautiful language. Like Japan's art, it's verbal expression is most beautiful to those who learn the details of this noble culture. It isn't easy to learn Japanese thinking, their culture, their ethics, and their morals. It takes time, effort and intensive study. In the end American students of the Japanese language and Japanese students of the English language will both enter new worlds of culture and knowledge. Two great nations, two very different ways of life can unite, compliment each other, grow together, and contribute together in making this a better world. It is difficult for any student of any country to learn to speak a foreign language. However, the rewards in learning to speak a foreign language, especially Japanese are endless. Thinking in a second language, will open a forever box of continuously new curios every day.
In Japanese verbal conjugation they have additional verbal capabilities such as, desirative, undesirative, intentional, positive and negative expressions, and a number of other types of conjugational tools. These verbal characteristics of the Japanese language are one of the tricks to mastering the Japanese language.
Japanese students of English must contend with similar problems, as it is just as difficult for Japanese students to learn the techniques of English conversation. Language was the tool used by all humans throughout history to communicate and share their thoughts and ideas. Through language, all peoples can compare concepts and interrelate to make this a better world.
*****EXPLANATION AND MEANINGS
OF GRAMMATICAL EXPRESSIONS
We often assume that those beginning to learn a language have a good working knowledge of gramma. This is not always the case. Therefore, the author decided to define breifly the meaning of some of the grammatical expressions that follow. As both the American and Japanese student can readilly observe, a number of the grammatical expressions that follow are somewhat unfamiliar, as is required by each of these two very different languages. These grammatical functions will gradually become familiar to the students as they progress in their studies.
*****ADJECTIVE - of, relating to, of functioning as an adjective to signify a word not standing by itself, a word that is used as a part of the numerous classes of languages, and specifically serves as a modifier of a noun, denoting a quality of a thing - it's extent, quantity, description to specify a thing as distinct form from something else.
DESIRABLE VERB - is a verb in Japanese that is conjugated to indicate that it is desirable to perform the action that the verb meaning represents. FOR EXAMPLE: the verb to write kaku, would be written, Kakitai desu = I would like to (desire to) write. SEE NOTE 16 - for detailed explanation of how Japanese verbs are conjugated.
FEMININE - having female gender, a word in the female gender.
HONORIFIC - In Japanese, an expression of honor, verbally in the form of a prefix or a suffix, creating an honorific word, a polite phrase or conveyence of honor or respect, belonging to or constituting a class of grammaticsl forms used in speaking Japanese to indicate curtesy, respect or acknowledgement of a socially superior person.
MASCULINE - having male gender, a word in the male gender.
NOUN - the name of any person, place or thing.
NEGATIVE VERB - is a verb in Japanese that is conjugated to indicate that the action of the verb will not occur. FOR EXAMPLE: the verb to write kaku, would be written, Kakimasen. = I will not write. SEE NOTE 16 - for detailed explanation of how Japanese verbs are conjugated.
OBJECT - a noun, or noun equivalent, towards which the action of a verb is directed, or is governed by in English is a preposition, however, (in Japanese) it is governed by a postposition (a Japanese gramatical expression). NOTE: postposition - - - post meaning after the word signified.
PAST TENSE - same meaning in both languages - of or designating a tense that indicates an event, action or state of time that has already occured or gone by, an earlier event, previous event, a past action or time. FOR EXAMPLE: the verb to write kaku, would be written, kakimashita. = I wrote.
PLURAL - in English and other languages - designation of more than one, the plural form of the word, meaning more than one, a plural number of that which is being signified. Actually, their is no plural word form in the Japanese language. SEE NOTE 3, for details on the Japanese form or pluralization.
POSSESSIVE CASE - A case, form or construction, expressing possession, ownership, a product of, a possessive pronoun (his, ours, yours etc.), possessive adjective (my, your, her, etc.), possessive case of a noun - expressed by an apostrophy ('s). There is no apostrophy ('s) in Japanese, as the possessive case is expressed by the use of a postposition (NO). (SEE NOTE 8 and NOTE 9)
POSTPOSITION - in the Japanese language what is known as a postposition is used as the equivalent to a preposition in Englilsh. Prepositions in English always preceed the word that is signified. In Japanese the postposition always follows the word it signifies. However, the actual words used are somewhat similiar, but not exactly the same in meaning. (SEE NOTE: 8)
POSITIVE VERB - In Japanese, a positive verb is one that has been conjugated to indicate that the action of the verb will occur eventually. FOR EXAMPLE: the verb to write kaku, would by written Kakimasu = I will write. or I shall write. (SEE NOTE: 16 - CONJUGATION OF VERBS)
PREPOSITION - A word expressing and indicating the relationship between a noun, pronoun or noun phrase which follows the preposition. There is no prepositions in Japanese, instead a postposition is used. (SEE NOTE :8)
PRONOUN - A word used in place of a noun. It acts as a noun and represents a person or thing previously mentioned or known, or being asked about.
SUBJECT - The noun or its equivalent, the main point of a sentence, the matter of the thought of a sentence.
SLANG
UNDESIRABLE VERB- is a verb in Japanese that is conjugated to indicate that it is undesirable to perform the action that the verb meaning represents. FOR EXAMPLE: the verb to write kaku, would be written, kakitaku nai. = I would not like to (desire to) write. (SEE NOTE: 16 - for detailed explanation of how Japanese verbs are conjugated.
VERB -
VULGAR -
A - The indefinite article a can not be translated into Japanese. A book - hon, a cat - neko, a pen - pen, a horse - uma, are translated in context as there is no equivalent to the English a in Japanese. There is no article in Japanese.
ABDOMEN - onaka, hara, (vulgar), I have a pain in my stomach. - Onaka ga itai desu.
ABLE - dekiru (dekimasu), - I am not able to do that. = Sono koto wa watakushi ni wa dekimasen. - I was not able to do this work. = Kono shigoto wa watakushi ni wa dekimasen deshita
ABOUT (around, almost) - gurai, goro, kurai, hodo, bakari. At about one o'clock. = Ichi-ji goro ni. - It was about eight o'clock. = Hachi-ji goro deshita.
ABOVE (up, on, upon) - ue , ue ni (above, upon, on). Up and down. = ue shita. shita = down, below. - The lamp is above the table. = Rampu wa teburu no ue ni desu.
ABROAD = gaikoku, kaigai, - I lived abroad for five years. = Watakushi wa kaigai ni go-nen sundeimashita.
ACCENT - akusento, - Your English accent is very good. = Anata no beikokugo no akusento wa taihen yoroshi desu. - The accent in the Japanese language is very easy. = Nihon-go no akusento wa taihen yasashi desu. That person's Japanese accent is bad. = Ano shito no Nihon-go no akusento wa warui desu. - Your accent is truly good. = Anata no akusento wa hontoo ni yoroshi desu. AGAIN - mata
AKAI - red
AMERICA - Amerika an adopted English word, beikoku is based on the Japanese sound of the Chinese characters (BEIKOKU) which in in Chinese literally means = BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY in both the Japanese and Chinese written language. AMERICAN (language) - amerikago, beikokugo
AMERICAN (person) - amerika-jin, beikoku-jin, - Kono shito wa amerika-jin desu. (Jap). this person american person is (Lit) This person is American. (Eng)
ANIMAL - doobutsu, kadamono
AROUND (about, almost) - gurai, goro, kurai, hodo, bakari.
ARTISAN - takumi
BEAUTIFUL - utsukushii, kirei, - Your kimono is beautiful. - Anata no kimono wa utsukushii desu. How beautiful the pen is. - Ma! Pen wa kirei desu. It is a beautiful thing. - Kirei koto desu.
BELOW (under, beneath, down) - shita, shimo, - (below, beneath,) under the sky = sora no shita, - under (below) or beneath = no shita ni, - Your hat is under (below or beneath) the table. = Anata no booshi wa teburu no shita ni desu.
BENEATH (below, under) - shita, shimo, below (beneath, under) the sky = soro no shita, - (SEE: below, SEE :down)
BIG - ookii , It is big. - Ookii desu.
BLACK - kuroi, - The book is black. - Hon was kuroi desu. It is black. - Kuroi desu.
BOOK - hon, The book is big. - Hon wa ookii desu. The book is mine. - Watakushi no hon desu.
BOOK STORE - honya
BOYFRIEND - koibito, - This person is my boyfriend. - Kono shito wa watakushi no koibito desu.
BURMA - Biruma
BURMESE (language) - Birumago
BURMESE (person) - Bioruma-jin
BUTCHER - nikuya
BUTCHERSHOP - nikuya
CAT - neko
PAPER - kami
PENCIL - empitsu
THIS - kore
FROM THIS POINT ON
THIS PAGE IS STILL UNDER CONSTRUCTION AND CONVERSION.
WE APOLOGIZE! IT WILL BE COMPLETED SOON. . .
CHILD - ko
CHILDREN - kodomo
CHINA (chinawhare) - shinamono
CHINA (country) - Shina
CHINESE (language) - Shina-go
CHINESE (people) - Shina-jin
CHAIR - isu
DAILY - mainichi no
DAILY NEWSPAPER - nikkan shimbun
DAISY - hinagiku
DANCER - dansa
DANGEROUS - abunai, - It is dangerous. = Abunai desu. -It was dangerous. = Abunai deshita.
DAUGHTER - musume (my daughter)
DAY - nichi, hi, hira, - one day = ichi nichi, two days = futatsuka, three days = mikka, four days = yokka, five days = itsuka. What day of the month is it today? (E) Kyo wa nan nichi desi ka? (J) today what day is(it) ? (L) Today is the 11th of May. (E) Kyo wa go-gatsu juichi nichi desu. (J) today 5 month 11 day (it) is (L)
DEALER (shopkeeper) - ya (ya is a suffix part of a word in Japanese. (SEE: shop - for details of the meaning of this word and it's ussage)
DESK - tsukue
DESTINY - ammei
DICTIONARY - jibiki
DIRTY - kitanai - The paper is dirty = Kami wa kitanai desu. - My suit has become dirty. = Watakushi no yoofuku wa kitanaku narimashita.
DISH - sara, osara (polite form)
DOWN (below, under, beneath) - shita, shimo - Look down. = Shita wo goran nasai. I went down stairs. = Watakushi wa shita e yukimashita. (SEE: below, under, beneath)
DRY - kawaita (adj) - This is dry land. = Kore wa kawaita tochi desu.
DRY (climate) - kansoo shita
EAR - mimi, - My ear hurts = Watakushi no mimi wa itai desu.
EARRING - mimikazari
EARTH (planet earth) - chikyuu
EARTH (soil) - tsuchi, -
EIGHT - hachi, yattsu, - It is now eight oclock. = Ima, hachi-ji desu.
EIGHTEEN - juu-hachi
EIGHTH - dai-hachi
EIGHTH (floor) - hakkai
EIGHTY - hachi-juu
ENGLAND - Igirisu
ENGLISH (language) - Igirisugo
ENGLISH (person) - Igirisu-jin
ENTER (to) - hairu, (v), hairimasu, - Don't enter. = Haitte mo ikemasen. Is it ok if I enter now? = Ima, haitte mo yoroshii desu ka. - When may I enter? = Itsu, haitte ii desu ka. - Is it ok to enter here? = Koko e hairu koto wa ii desu ka
FLOWER - hana
FLOWERSHOP - hanaya
FLORIST - hanaya
FRANCE - Furansu
FRENCH (language) - Furansu-go
FRENCH (person) - Furansu-jin
FROM - kara
FRUIT - kudamono
FRUITSTORE - kudamonoya
GIRLFRIEND - koibito, - This person is my girlfriend. - Kono shito wa watakushi no koibito desu.
This person my girlfriend is (Lit.)
GOD - kami
HEART - (one's physical heart)
HEART - heart (as an emotional expression - not as a physical heart
HEIGHT - takasa, -
Kono tatemono takasa wa dona kurai desu ka
this building height which about is(it) ?
About what is the height of this building?
HORSE - uma, To ride a horse. - Uma ni noru.
I will ride a horse. - Uma ni norimasu
Can you ride a horse? - Uma ni norimasu ka?
(SEE: NOTE 4)
HUMAN - hito
I - watakushi, Explain the silent (u) in watak'shi.), my - watakushi no, we - watakushitachi, we - watakushidomo NOTICE: Very young children drop the w and the ku from this word and say atashi instead of watakushi. Sometimes when talking to younger children, the word atashi is used instead of watakushi by adults. (atashi no = my or mine. Among women the ku in the word watakushi is often completely left out. For a young women to say watashi instead of watakushi, it is considered cute or even femenine.
IMPORTANT (serious) - juudai, -
Kore wa juudai mondai desu. (J)
this serious matter is
This is a serious matter.
This is an important matter.
INK - inki
IS - desu, - (is or by context = (it) is)
IT - (no such word in Japanese), the IT is sometimes assumed as a part of the Japanese sentence by context.
(J) Watakushi no pen desu.
(L) my pen (it) is
(E) It is my pen.
(J) Teburu no ue ni arimasu.
(L) table of above at is
(E) It is on the table.
Notice: No word for it in above two sentences. Also notice no article the.
NE: Beikoku-go no kotoba - (it), Nihon-go no ho arimasen. Nihon-go no kotoba (koto) wa - sukoshi onaji imi desu. keredomo - honto ni onaji kotoba janai desu. Taihen sukoshi dake, onaji imi desu. Beikoku-go de (koto) wa (thing) desu.
ITALIAN (language) - Itariya-go
ITALIAN (person) - Itariya-jin
ITALIAN (thing(s) - Itariya no mono
ITALY - Itariya
KANGAROO - kangaru
KILL - korosu , I will kill = koroshimasu, I killed = koroshimashita, I will not kill = koroshimasen, I didn't kill = koroshimasen deshita, I would like to kill. = koroshitai desu.
KNIFE - naifu
KNIGHT - samurai
LAMP - rampu
LITTLE - chiisai
LOVER - koibito
MAN - otoko, danshi, kata, - A male person. = Otoko no hito. - Two men. = Otoko futari. - Three men.= Otoko sannin.
MANNERQUIN - manekin
MATTER (a business matter) -
Shoobaijoo no mondai desu. (J)
business of matter (it) is (L)
It is a business matter.
Shoobaijoo = (in this case) trade, business, professional
MATTER (event, subject matter) - mondai
ME - watakushi,(we - watakushitachi or watakushi-domo), (SEE: definition of I).
MEAT - niku
MOUNTAIN - yama
MY - watakushi no, (my book - watakushi no hon), (It is my book. - Watakushi no hon desu.)
NEXT MONTH - raigetsu ni
NINE - ku, kokonotsu, kyuu
NINETY - ku-juu, kyuujuu
NOW - ima
ON - ue
PAPER - kami
PEN - pen
PRETTY - kirei, It is pretty. = Kirei desu. The cat is pretty. = Neko wa kirei desu. The cat is small. = Neko wa chisai desu.
PERSON - shito, kata (see: NOTE 11)
RECENT - saikin
RECENTLY - saikin, konogoro
RED - akai
ROMAN (person) - roma-jin
ROMAN (language) - romago
ROMAN (writing) - romaji
ROME - roma
SERIOUS - juudai ???
SHAVE - suru, (v. to shave), I am going to shave. = Hige wo surimasu. - Did you shave today? = Kyo wa hige wo surimashita ka? - I would like to shave. = Hige wo suritai desu. - I would like to shave now. = Ima, hige wo suritai desu.
SHOE - kutsu
SHOE STORE - kutsuya
SHOP (place of business, a dealer) - mise, in compound words the sufix (ya) is added, FOR EXAMPLE - hana = flower, ya = shop, by combining both words we have a compound word hanaya = flower shop, or florist. - That florist (flower shop) is expensive. = Ano hanaya wa takai desu. - That shop is expensive. = Ano mise wa takai desu. - niku = meat, ya = shop, nikuya = butcher shop (butcher's). - What does that shop sell? = Ano mise de nani wo utte imasu ka?
kudamono = fruit kudamonoya = fruit store (or shop)
yao = vegitable(s) yaoya - vegitable shop (store)
SMALL - chisai, - The stone is small. = Ishi wa chisai desu. - honya = bookshop or bookstore
SOME - ikuraka, - I would like to eat some fruit. = Kudamono otabetai desu. NOTE: otabetai (would like to eat) - is a very polite form. Notice the o that proceeds tabetai is an honorific expression. Kudamono tabetai desu. = the same meaning, but it is more polite and gracious to say otabetai. (SEE THE WORD HONORIFIC (HON) under ABBREVIATIONS).
STONE - ishi
STORE - ya, (SEE - the word shop - for more details.), ya means either store, shop or dealer in Japanese.
SWEETHEART - koibito
THE - there is no word for the in the Japanese language. There is no article in Japanese. The word the is understood by context in Japanese conversation.
EXAMPLE: Neko wa kirei desu. (Jap)
cat beautiful is (Lit)
The cat is beautiful. (Eng)
THIS - kore (nearby), kono (a bit further away),
EXAMPLE: Kore wa hon desu. (Jap)
this book (it) is (Lit)
This is a book. (Eng)
EXAMPLE: Kono hon wa akai desu (Jap)
this book red (it) is (Lit)
This book is red (Eng)
TODAY - kyo
TOMORROW - ashita
TOMORROW MORNING - ashita no asa
TOMORROW NITE - ashita no ban
TONIGHT - komban, - Tonight at 8 oclock. = Komban hachi ji
UNDER (below, beneath) - shita, shimo, (SEE: below, beneath, down)
VEGITABLE - yao
VEGITABLE SHOP - yaoya
YOU - anata (polite form)
YOU (plural) - anatagata, anatatachi, NOTE: The English word you can be pluralized in Japanese by adding the suffix - gata or tachi to anata. (SEE: NOTE 5)
TRUE - hontoo, - It is true. = Hontoo desu. - It is not true. = Hontoo de wa arimasen. - It wasn't true. = Hontoo de wa arimasen deshita.
VOLUME - hon
WE - watakushitachi, watakushidomo, (auctually, we = I, pluralized in Japanese).
WHITE - shiroi
YOU - anata, - You are my friend. = Anata ga watakushi no tomodachi desu.
YOUR - anata no
JAPANESE - ENGLISH
(ROMANIZED/ROMAJI)
Specialized and Limited Vocabulary for Language Students
(A LANGUAGE LEARNING DICTIONARY)
Definitions and uses of words in sentences.
ABUNAI - dangerous, - It is dangerous. = Abunai desu.
AI - love (ai suru / (the verb) - to love)
AI SURU - to love
AKAI - red
AMERIKA - America (the country - America)
AMERIKA GO - American language. -
I speak English. (E)
watakushi hanashimasu beikokugo (L)
Watakushi wa Beikokugo hanashimasu (L)
AMERIKA JIN - American person, -
This person is American. (E)
konokata desu Amerikajin (L)
Konokata wa Amerikajin desu. (J)
AMERIKA NO JIDOOSHA - American automobile
This is an American automobile. (S)
kore desu beikoku no jidoosha (L)
Kore wa beikoku no jidoosha desu. (J)
Ne: (ue ni) Beikokugo no kotoba (an) nihongo ni arimasen.
AMMEI - destiny
ANATA - you
ANATAGATA - you (plural)
ANATA NO - your
ANATATACHI - you (plural)
ASHITA - tomorrow
ASHITA NO ASA - tomorrow morning
ASHITA NO BAN - tomorrow night (tomorrow nite)
CHISAI - small, - The book is small. = Hon was chisai desu. - The child is small. = Kodomo wa chisai desu.
DANSA - dancer
DOOBUTSU - animal
HITORI DE - alone - -(O-HITORI DE IRASHAIMASU KA - Are you going alone?) - - (HITORI DE SOKO E YUKIKASHITA. - I went there alone.) - - (HITORI DE DEKIMASEN. - I can not do it myself.) - - (HITORI DE DEKIMASU. - He can do it alone.)
HON - book, volume
IMA - now
ISHI - stone
KEDAMONO - animal
KAMI - paper
KAMI - God
KARA - from
KOIBITO - boyfriend, girlfriend, lover -
EXAMPLE: This person is my girlfriend (boyfriend or sweetheart).
NIHONGO DE: Kono shito wa watakushi no koibito desu.
NE: Nihongo de kono shito no imi wa onna to otoko to kotoba ga onaji desu. Keredomo, Beikokugo no ho wa, so janai desu. Beikoku de, onna no koibito wa GIRLFRIEND desu, otoko no koibito wa BOYFRIEND desu.
IKURAKA - some. Ikuraka mizu wo kudasai. = Please give me some water. - Ikuraka no pan tabemasu. = I will eat some bread. - Ikuraka kudamono tabetai desu. = I would like to eat some fruit.
KOKORO - heart, inner-conscience, inner-self, soul, inner-spirit
KONO - this
KONOGORO - recently
KORE - this
KUROI - black
KYO - today
MAINICHI - daily
NEKO - cat
SAIKIN - recent, recently
UMA - horse
UTSUKUSHI I - beautiful
SHIROI - white
WATAKUSHI - I , me
WATAKUSHI NO - my
-YA - shop, store, dealer, - NE: hanaya = flower shop - florist (onaji desu), - nikuya = butcher shop, - butcher (onaji desu). I will go to the butcher's. = Watakushi wa nikuya e ikimasu. (NE: butcher's to butcher to wa onaji imi desu.)