japanese · 1
words i'm learning
1 · Quiet & Noisy
| Kanji | Hiragana | Romaji | English | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 静か | しずか | shizuka | quiet | na-adjective · "sh" as in shoe |
| うるさい | うるさい | urusai | noisy, loud | i-adjective · also means "annoying" |
2 · Clean & Dirty
| Kanji | Hiragana | Romaji | English | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 綺麗 | きれい | kirei | clean, beautiful | na-adjective · final "i" is clipped |
| 汚い | きたない | kitanai | dirty | i-adjective |
3 · Sun & Moon
| Kanji | Hiragana | Romaji | English | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 太陽 | たいよう | taiyou | sun | "tai" rhymes with "tie" |
| 月 | つき | tsuki | moon | "ts" at start is one sound, not two |
4 · Family
Family words come in two forms — plain (used when talking about your own family to outsiders) and polite (used when addressing your family directly, or talking about someone else's). Both are shown.
| Kanji | Hiragana | Romaji | English | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 家族 | かぞく | kazoku | family | |
| 父 / お父さん | ちち / おとうさん | chichi / otousan | father | ちち = own; おとうさん = polite/other |
| 母 / お母さん | はは / おかあさん | haha / okaasan | mother | はは = own; おかあさん = polite/other |
| 夫 / ご主人 | おっと / ごしゅじん | otto / goshujin | husband | おっと = own; ごしゅじん = polite/other |
| 妻 / 奥さん | つま / おくさん | tsuma / okusan | wife | つま = own; おくさん = polite/other |
| 息子 | むすこ | musuko | son | |
| 娘 | むすめ | musume | daughter | |
| 兄 / お兄さん | あに / おにいさん | ani / oniisan | older brother | あに = own; おにいさん = polite/other |
| 姉 / お姉さん | あね / おねえさん | ane / oneesan | older sister | あね = own; おねえさん = polite/other |
| 弟 | おとうと | otouto | younger brother | long "ou" — held for two beats |
| 妹 | いもうと | imouto | younger sister |
5 · Personality & Appearance
| Kanji | Hiragana | Romaji | English | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| お洒落 | おしゃれ | oshare | stylish | "sha" as in "Shah" |
| 面白い | おもしろい | omoshiroi | funny, interesting | i-adjective |
| 優しい | やさしい | yasashii | kind, gentle | "ii" is a long vowel — held |
| 格好いい | かっこいい | kakkoii | cool, good-looking | double "k" — pause before it |
| 可愛い | かわいい | kawaii | cute | "ii" held · the iconic one |
| 賢い | かしこい | kashikoi | intelligent, clever | i-adjective |
| 忙しい | いそがしい | isogashii | busy | i-adjective · "shii" held for two beats |
| 有名 | ゆうめい | yuumei | famous | na-adjective · long "uu" — held for two beats |
6 · Professions
| Kanji | Hiragana | Romaji | English | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 医者 | いしゃ | isha | doctor | "sha" as in shoe + ah |
| 弁護士 | べんごし | bengoshi | lawyer | |
| 看護師 | かんごし | kangoshi | nurse | |
| 先生 | せんせい | sensei | teacher | also used respectfully for doctors, professors, lawyers |