Japanese Words and Phrases
The following is a list of all the Japanese words and phrases used in Dandelion Through the Crack and their equivalent English translation.
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Japanese |
English |
| abura-age | thin, deep-fried tofu |
| Ahh, soh desu ne. Kodomo no tame ni. | Yes, that is so. For the sake of the children. |
| Amerika made ittara kane wa nambo demo aru. | If you get to America there is plenty of money. |
| anata | a respectful pronoun meaning “you” |
| Ara! Sumanai-na. | Oh! I am so sorry. |
| Arigatoh. | Thank you. |
| Arigatoh gozaimashita. | Thank you so much. (Thank you very much.) |
| asagao | morning glory flower |
| Atsui desu ne? | It’s hot, isn’t it? |
| baishakunin | marriage broker |
| baka | stupid |
| bakatare | someone who is not smart (stupid) |
| beta-beta | sticky, yellow mixture of a small portion of white rice mixed with mashed sweet potatoes |
| boshi | hat |
| Chotto matte. | Wait a minute. |
| daikon | long, white, plump radish |
| daikon-ashi | Daikon is the long, white Japanese radish, usually plump. Ashi means leg in Japanese. To be called daikon-ashi means one has ugly legs. |
| Dete kita, dete kita! | It’s come up! It’s come up! |
| Dotchi demo ii. | Either one is fine. |
| Eh, bippin san da na! | What beauty! |
| eta | a name for a social underclass in feudal Japan – primarily those who dealt with death – undertakers, leatherworkers, executioners, etc |
| furo | bath |
| furoshiki | traditional Japanese wrapping cloth |
| furu doh-gu ya | dealer of used equipment |
| futon | bed |
| gaman | perseverance |
| geta | a form of Japanese footwear that resembles both clogs and flip-flops |
| gobo | Japanese burdock |
| Gomen na sai ne. | I am sorry. |
| haiku | traditional Japanese poetry with three lines consisting of 5, 7, and 5 syllables each |
| hakujin | Caucasian |
| Hato poppo. | Come, pigeons. |
| hatsu mono | first of the season |
| Hayai desu ne! | How fast you are! |
| hibachi | a traditional Japanese heating device designed to hold charcoal |
| honto | TRUE |
| Honto desu ka? | Is that so? |
| ichi, ni, san | one, two, three |
| inarizushi | fried tofu skins filled with flavored rice |
| iriko | small, dried sardine |
| issei | first generation |
| kama | multi-purpose bladed tool |
| kamisama | God |
| ken | province |
| kerai | servant |
| Ki wo tsukete, ne. | Be careful. |
| kimono | full length traditional Japanese garment. |
| kitsune | a fox |
| Kiyo-chan, yatte cho dai, ne? | Kiyo, will you do it, please? |
| koden | gift money |
| koike | strawberry runners with baby plants on the ends (Ko means child and ike means to plant.) |
| koji | fermented rice |
| koko | vegetables pickled in brine. (tsukemono) |
| Koko e kaette kuru na, Shinji | Never return home, Shinji. |
| kokoro-bosoi | sad and lonely |
| Komatta-na. | What a predicament. |
| Kore wa. | I am trying to smooth out the rough exterior. |
| Korede anshin shita. | Now I am ready to die. |
| Kotoshi da na, Mama. | This is the year, Mama. |
| kurushii | a soft cry of agony |
| kuse | a habit one tolerates or even forgives |
| kuzu | crumb or leftover |
| Ma-ah, kawaii desu ne! | How cute she is! |
| manju | sweet pastry |
| Mata kite ne. | Please come again. |
| misoshiru | soy bean paste soup |
| mitsu-boshi | Mitsu means three and boshi means stars. |
| mizu | water |
| mizu-ate | irrigating |
| Moh shinde itte mo it. | With this I am relieved. |
| Moh sukoshi gaman o shina kereba. | You must stick with it (persevere) a bit longer. |
| moh sukoshi gaman o shite | persevere a bit longer |
| muga-muchyuu | the state when one is on the verge of drowning—flapping and kicking with fury to stay afloat |
| muri mo nai | it’s understandable |
| Nani ka wasure mashita? | Has he forgotten something? |
| nappa | cabbage |
| nasu | eggplant |
| niisan | older brother |
| nisei | second generation |
| nori | dried seaweed |
| obaka san da ne | my little dumb person |
| obenjo | outhouse |
| obento | a single-portion takeout or home-packed meal |
| ocha | tea |
| ochazuke | a simple Japanese dish made by pouring green tea, soup, or hot water over rice |
| o-chichi | breast milk |
| ofuro | bathtub |
| Ohayo gozaimasu. | Good morning. |
| ohiya | water |
| ohn | having to pay someone back for favors |
| ojisan | uncle |
| Ojisan, nani o shite imasu? | Uncle, what are you doing? |
| okayu | rice gruel |
| okazu | Similar to sukiyaki, an everyday dish of vegetables cooked with chicken, beef, or pork and flavored with soy sauce and a bit of sugar. |
| Omame o yaru kara. | I will give you some beans. |
| omaru | chamber pot |
| omedetoh | congratulations |
| Onegai itashimasu. | I beg your assistance. |
| Onen-ne. | Go to sleep. |
| oni | monster |
| onigiri | rice ball |
| o-te-te | little hands |
| oyasumi | sleep well |
| Oyasumi na sai. | Rest well. |
| oyatsu | mid-afternoon snack |
| ryokan | hotel |
| sakura | flowering cherry tree |
| sanba-san | traveling midwife |
| sato-imo | a kind of potato |
| satori | a deep sense of knowing that comes with age |
| Sato-san, doka? | Mr. Sato, how about it? |
| Sato-san, sumanai ga | I hate to impose, Mr. Sato. |
| Shikataga nai ne. | There is nothing that can be done. It can’t be helped. |
| shimin | shi means four and min means people. Shimin means fourth class, the lowest of Japan’s social scale. |
| Shinji to Riichi no kodomo da yo. | It’s Shinji and Riichi’s children. |
| Shinpai shinai de Kamisama no tokoro ni itte | Don’t worry about us, and go to your God. |
| shi-shi | children’s expression for urinating |
| shogi | Japanese chess |
| shoji | a room divider or door made of translucent rice paper |
| shoyu | soy sauce |
| Soko, soko! | There! There! |
| Sorede anshin suru. | I am so relieved. |
| sukoshi zutsu | a little bit at a time |
| Sumanai desu kere domo. | I am so sorry but I need to go to the bathroom. |
| sunomono | a vinegary salad |
| suribachi | Japanese mortar and pestle |
| sushi | a food made of vinegared rice combined with other ingredients (uncooked and in some cases cooked), such as fish or vegetables |
| Suteki da na! | How elegant! |
| taihen deshita ne | a long and difficult drive |
| Taihen desu ne? | It is difficult, isn’t it? |
| takuwan | a pickle made from daikon radish |
| tatami (mat) | a floor covering made from rice straw |
| tawashi | round Japanese porcupine-like brush |
| tem-pu-ra | deep fried, battered food |
| Tochan | Daddy |
| Tochan mo tai hen da ne | It is hard for Tochan too. |
| Tochan wa doko? | Where is Tochan? |
| tofu | bean curd |
| tonde koi | come flying to me |
| Tondemo nai koto ni natte shimatta. | I wonder how I became such a terrible burden on everyone. |
| tororo-imo | a root vegetable which is ground/grated and flavored in different ways, such as with grated daikon, or miso shiru soup, or even just soy sauce |
| Toshi tottara dame da na-a. | When one gets old, it’s not so good. |
| tsukemono | vegetables pickled in brine (koko) |
| umani | a stew of root vegetables and chicken |
| ume | plum |
| umeboshi | salted plum |
| ume-no-ki | flowering Japanese plum tree |
| wakame | dried seaweed |
| Wakarimashita. | I understand. |
| yangu. | Japanized English word for “young man” |
| Yoh kite kureta. | How good of you to come. |
| Yoh-yaru na. | You surely do (work) well. |
| Yokatta na! | How lucky! |
| Yokatta ne. | That’s good. |
| Yoku kangae ta monda. | You thought things well. |
| Yoku kangae ta mono desu ne? | What did you think of all this? |
| Yoku yatta monda. | We did well. |
| Yoku yatte kureru. | You do so well for us. |
| Yoroshiku onegai itashi masu. | I thank you for your future care and concern. It is a salutation, similar to “How do you do.” |
| yukata | cotton robe |
| zabuton | flat chair pillow |
| Zazen o kunde! | Prepare yourself (mentally before tackling a big or difficult job)! |
| zori | sandals |
| zyubako | Japanese lacquered lunch box normally divided into 3 sections and frequently colored a deep orange and/or black. |