Japanese Words of the Week
Year 1: July 2022-August 2023
Episode 61- Driver’s License Process, Shimano Biker’s Festival, and Cycling Nagano’s Alps
Sangaku
山岳 (さんがく)
= Mountains - as in, a mountain range or mountainous region. (Also, the King of the Mountains in the Tour is Sangakushyou, or “Mountain prize”)
Aisukurimu zutsu
アイスクリーム頭痛 (アイスクリームずつう)
= “Brain freeze”, literally an ice cream headache
Episode 60- Workplace Health Exams, Painting Kutaniyaki Pottery, and Flea Markets in Japan
Tsuru
ツール
= “Tour” when talking about the Tour de France
Oyogu
泳ぐ (およぐ)
= to swim
Episode 59- Miyazaki's New Film, Movie Theaters in Japan, & Marine Day BBQ Party
Eiga
映画 (えいが)
= movie
Abunai
危ない (あぶない)
= dangerous
Episode 58- Aliens, Japanese Festivals, Pet Stores, and JET Program Pay
Oomori
大盛り (おおもり)
= large serving size
Okane
お金 (おかね)
= money
Episode 57- Hydrangeas, Cycling Routes, Japanese Work Culture, and Egg Mascots
Ajisai
紫陽花 (アジサイ)
= hydrangea
Mugicha
麦茶 (むぎちゃ)
= barley tea
Episode 56- Animals, Anime, and Air Conditioners
Hashira
柱 (はしら)
= pillar, post, support (can be a person too)
Yugen
幽玄 (ゆうげん)
= subtle grace and profound beauty that you can feel but not necessarily see
Episode 55- One Year Podcast Anniversary, Life in Japan As Foreigners So Far
Ase
汗 (あせ)
= sweat
Shyuunenn
周年 (しゅうねん)
= anniversary
Episode 54- Japan's Ice Cream Capital, Gunma JBCF Cycling Race, and Spirited Away Bath House
Tsuyu
梅雨 (つゆ)
= rainy season (not to be confused with the similar sounding word for dipping sauce!)
Kurogoma
黒ゴマ （くろゴマ）
= black sesame (and a delicious ice cream flavor here!)
Episode 53- Hyakumangoku Festival in Kanazawa & Guest Podcast Appearances
Tsuchinoko
槌の子 (つちのこ)
= mythical (or real?) snake-like creature
Gyoretsu
列行（ぎょうれつ）
= parade, procession
Episode 52- Listener Questions, Types of Kimono, & Grocery Store Staples
Ninjin
人参 (にんじん)
= carrot
Nichibotsu
日没（にちぼつ）
= sunset
Episode 51- Bike Racing in Nagano, Japan's Secret Hot Spring Society, Mt. Ontake, and Kiso's Turquoise Rivers
Saru
猿 (さる)
= monkey
Shyukyou
宗教（しゅうきょう）
= religion
Episode 50- Uchinada Kite Festival, Tooth Fairy, and Birthdays in Japan
Tako
凧 (たこ)
= kite
Tanjobi
誕生日 (たんじょうび)
= birthday
Episode 49 - Earthquakes in Ishikawa Prefecture, All You Can Eat Strawberry Picking, and Bikepacking
Jishin
地震 (じしん)
= earthquake
Hige
髭 (ひげ)
= beard
Episode 48 - Bike Racing in Gunma, School Turned Museum, Golden Week in Japan, and Giveaway!
Shuchu suru
集中する(しゅうちゅうする)
= to concentrate
Shugendo
修験道
= a religion based on a mix of Buddhism and Shinto mountain worship, literally the "Way [of] Trial [and] Practice"
Episode 47 - Tonami Tulip Fair, Japanese Library Cards, Meeting Students & Bike Race Prep
Toshokan
図書館 (としょかん)
= library
Kando
感度 (かんど)
= feeling moved or deeply satisfied, sensitivity
Episode 46 - Leasing A Car In Japan, New School Schedules, Elections, & My 'Nyamber' Cat Cards
Otsukaresama deshita
お疲れ様でした (おつかれさまでした)
= literally “you must be tired” but used in a variety of contexts (especially in the workplace) to mean “thanks for your hard work,” “well done”, “good work”, etc.
Mushitori Shonen
虫取り少年 (むしとりしょうねん)
= bug hunter (as in, the young kids with bug nets we see around the neighborhood)
Episode 45 - Field Trip Episode! Come With Us and Our Family on a Trip Around Japan (Tokyo, Kyoto, & Kanazawa)
(no words this week - unusual format for our family trip episode!)
Episode 44 - Peak Cherry Blossoms, Alphabetical Sorting in Japanese?, Leasing A Car, and JET Programme Results
Doki doki
ドキドキ
= onomatopoeia for heart beating quickly (can mean you are feeling excitement, nervous, love, fear, etc.)
Saikai
再会 (さいかい)
= reunion
Episode 43 - Road Racing in Shizuoka, Renting A Car In Japan, & Fitting Two Bikes Inside A Kei Car
Ocha
お茶 (おちゃ)
= tea
Chui
注意 (ちゅうい)
= caution, attention
Episode 42 - Spring Equinox, School Sports Day, New Foods, and No Masks
Shubun no Hi
春分の日 (しゅんぶんのひ)
= Spring (Vernal) Equinox
Daikon
大根 (だいこん)
= literally “big root”, type of radish
Episode 41 - We Rode Bikes to Ono in Fukui Prefecture! Japanese Guesthouses, Castles, Bikepacking, and Dinosaurs
Kyoryu
恐竜 (きょうりゅう）
= dinosaur
Mukashi banashi
昔話 (むかしばなし)
= folktale, story, legend
Episode 40 – Zeb's Pro Cycling Team Spot, High School Graduation in Japan, and Haircuts
Kami
髪 (かみ）
= hair
(note that different intonations and kanji for “kami” can also mean “paper” 紙 or “god” 神)
kuritsu, keirei, chyakseki
区立 (くりつ), 敬礼 (けいれい), 着席 (ちゃくせき)
= stand up, bow, sit down
Episode 39 – New Bike Day, the Emperor's Birthday, and Hinamatsuri (Girl's Day)
Ume
梅 (うめ）
= a japanese fruit like a mix between a plum and apricot (prunus mume)
Okino doku ni
お気の毒に (おきのどくに）
= my condolences, what a pity, I’m sorry for you
Episode 38 – Thousands of New Japanese Islands Discovered, Konkatsu Marriage Parties, and Dancing Cats
Konkatsu
婚活 (コンカツ）
= matchmaking for marriage (Kon 婚 comes from Kekkon 結婚, meaning marriage. Katsu 活 comes from Katsudou 活動, meaning activity)
Emoji
絵文字 (エモジ）
= emoji (we borrow this word in english!)
Episode 37 – Sapporo Snow Festival Trip Pt. 2! Plus Valentines Day in Japan
Ai
愛
= love (true love, as opposed to koi (恋) which is romantic or passionate love)
Panku
パンク
= flat tire
Episode 36 – Jozenkei Yukitouro Candle Event & Onsen in Hokkaido: Sapporo Snow Festival Trip Pt. 1!
Betsu betsu
別々(べつべつ)
= separately, individually
Ushi
牛 (うし)
= cow
Episode 35 – What's So Great About Glasses and Curtains in Japan? Plus Bike Racing Updates
Megane
眼鏡 (めがね)
= glasses
Haru
春 (はる)
= spring
Episode 34 – Nabe, Shimenawa on Sacred Trees, Bike Racing in Japan, and Screaming Birds
Unagi
鰻 (うなぎ)
= eel
Mikka bouzu
三日坊主 (みっかぼうず)
= an idiom that literally means “three day monk”, but is used to describe when you quit something just a few days after starting it.
Episode 33 – Unique Izakaya Food, College Entrance Exams, and Zeb on the School Website
Dou
道 (どう)
= a path, road, way, method, or dogma
Kujira
鯨 (クジラ)
= whale
Episode 32 – Coming of Age Day, Earthquakes, and Kutaniyaki
Kutaniyaki
九谷焼
= style of Japanese porcelain from Kutani in Ishikawa Prefecture, known for being painted with five classic colors or gosai-de (五彩手) (green, blue, yellow, purple, and red).
Shinshin
心身 (しんしん)
= mind and body (not to be confused with the different kanji of Episode 30’s “shinshin” word of the week!)
Episode 31 – New Years in Japan! Mailing Nengajo, Reiwa 5, and Annie's Police Visit
Hanabi
花火 (はなび)
= fireworks
Nebukuro
寝袋 (ね ぶくろ)
= sleeping bag
Episode 30 – How Did We Celebrate Christmas in Japan?
Shinshin
深々 (しんしん)
= steadily falling snow, an onomatopoetic word for a sound with no sound
Meri Kurisumasu
メリークリスマス
= Merry Christmas
Episode 29 – Kimono Fitting, Making a Reservation in Japanese, Nomihoudai, & Zeb’s Birthday
Guropperu
グロッペル
= Graupel (snow pellet precipitation, like soft hail)
Raisetsu
雷雪 (らいせつ)
= thundersnow
Episode 28– Futomaki Sushi Cooking Class, Italian Dinner, and International Paper Sizes
Makisu
巻きす (まきす)
= bamboo sushi rolling mat
Kekkou desu
結構です (けっこうです)
= formal and polite way to decline something, or say “that’s fine” – can be used both affirmatively and negatively based on expression and tone
Episode 27 – Hyakumansan Half-Marathon, Hail, and Howling Wind
Hashiru
走る (はしる)
= to run
Fuafua
ふわふわ
= fluffy, puffy
Episode 26 – We Baked a Pumpkin Pie in Our Microwave – Happy Thanksgiving From Japan!
Daijoubu des
大丈夫です (だいじょうぶです)
= It’s ok, that’s alright, I’m good
Ganbare!
頑張れ (がんばれ)
= Interjection that means do your best! Keep at it! Good luck! Read more about it on this blog post.
Episode 25 – Why is Annie In The Newspaper? Elementary School Visits and Kanazawa Cooking Class
Otama
お玉 (おたま)
= ladle
Yaki
焼き (やき)
= fire grilled, tempering, also suffix for -ware (like ceramics)
(not to be confused with 夜気 (やき) or night air, cool evening)
Episode 24 – Kanazawa Day! Leaf Peeping at Kenrokuen and Lantern Festival at the Castle
Momijigari
紅葉狩り (もみじがり)
= leaf hunting (fall-leaf viewing for red maple leaves)
Omutsu
お襁褓 (おむつ)
= diaper
Episode 23 – Here’s What Went Wrong On Our Latest Japan Cycling Adventure…
Kagura
神楽 (かぐら)
= traditional Shinto music and dancing to please the gods
Oishigeru
生い茂る (おいしげる)
= to be overgrown
Episode 22 – How Did We Celebrate Halloween in Japan?
Noriben
のり弁 (のりべん)
= nori (seaweed) bento box lunch
Kabocha
南瓜 (かぼちゃ)
= pumpkin
Episode 21 – 90 Days in Japan – Is It Still What We Hoped?
Nichibotsu
日没 (にちぼつ)
= sunset
Hinoiri (日の入り- ひのいり) and Kure (暮れ - くれ) also mean sunset
Kiigo
季語 (きご)
= seasonal words (frequently used in haikus)
Episode 20 – Watching the F1 Race at Suzuka Circuit (Part 2!)
Tsuki
月(つき)
= moon, month
Eki
駅 (えき)
= train station
Episode 19 – Surprise Anniversary Trip & Best Dinner Yet in Japan (Part 1!)
No words this week, they’re in part 2!
Episode 18 – We Rode Bikes From Kanazawa to Shirakawa-Go
Aoshingou
青信号 (あおしんごう)
= “blue” traffic light, but means green light
Hashi
橋 (はし)
= bridge
not to be confused with other “hashi” pronunciations, using different kanji and pitch accent:
箸 (はし) = Chopsticks
端 (はし) = Corner/edge
Episode 17 – Japan Borders Are Open Again!
Yokosou
(ようこそ)
= welcome
other ways to say welcome include:
irasshaimasu (いらっしゃいませ)
(used by store employees to welcome guests – literally “come in”)
okairi nasai (おかえりなさい)
(welcome back or welcome home)
Benri
便利 (べんり)
= convenient, handy, useful
Episode 16 – Our Noto Peninsula Cycling Trip in Japan’s Ishikawa Prefecture
Kirei
綺麗(きれい)
= beautiful, lovely, fair (kirei na keshki is beautiful view)
Hantou
半島 (はんとう)
= peninsula
(not to be confused with the same pronunciation of hantou, but a different kanji= 反騰 - はんとう , a reactionary price rise)
Episode 15 – Hello From Kanazawa Castle Park, JET Programme Dinner, & Mailing Packages From Japan
Kouen
公園(こうえん)
= (public) park
Yuubinkyoku
郵便局 (ゆうびんきょく)
= post office
Episode 14 – School is in Session! Zeb’s First Week of Classes, Japanese Lessons, and Meeting Neighbors
Noboru
登る (のぼる)
= to climb
Nihongo
日本語 (にほんご)
= Japanese language
Episode 13 – Furnishing our Japanese Apartment, Bike Riding, and Visiting Kanazawa
Semi
蝉 (せみ)
= cicadas
Raishu
来週 (らいしゅう)
= next week
If you listen to the end of our podcast, you know that in each episode we share a new Japanese word of the week! In case you miss any (or you just want to read back through past words), this page contains a list of all the words.
Click here for the words from Year Two
They’re listed by in episode order (starting with the most recent), and have the Japanese words written in romaji, katakana/hiragana, and their kanji form, along with the english translation. As always, feel free to email us if you notice we got anything wrong, or if you have any questions!
Episode 12 – Hiking Mt. Hiei & Daimonji Bonfires (Gozan no Okuribi!) Our Trip to Kyoto for Obon (Part 2)
Aki
秋 (あき)
= fall/autumn
Boushi
帽子 (ぼうし)
= hat/cap
(below are other meanings of “boushi” different kanji, & different pitch accents)
防止 (ぼうし) = prevention, check
亡姉 (ぼうし) = one’s late elder sister
亡子 (ぼうし) = deceased child
(not to be confused with boshi (ぼし/母子) which means mother and child!
Episode 11 – Sanjyusangendo Temple, Kiyomizu Dera, & Obanzai Dinner! Our Trip to Kyoto for Obon (Part 1)
No words this week, they’re in part 2!
Episode 10 – Our First Week in Uchinada, Japan: Beaches, Bikes, & Buying Furniture
Kurage
海月 (くらげ)
= jellyfish
Koban
交番 (こうばん)
= police box
Episode 9 – Part 2: How Did Annie Get to Japan?
Kanpai
乾杯 (かんぱい)
= cheers, bottoms-up
Episode 8 – We’re in Japan! Part 1: Zeb’s JET Programme Training in Tokyo & Arrival in Uchinada
Nenkyuu
年休 (ねんきゅう)
= paid time off, annual leave
Episode 7 – Road Trip: Final Day Before Departure to Japan, Visas, & International Drivers’ Permits!
Ryoko
旅行 (りょこう)
= trip, travel
ii, na?
(いいな)
= to describe feeling of jealousy (good explanation and examples in this blog)
Episode 6 – Omiyage, Checking vs. Shipping Bags, & Planes vs. Trains
Shouganai
仕様がない (しょうがない)
= it can't be helped; it is inevitable; nothing can be done
Atsui
(same pronunciation but different meanings with different kanji, & different pitch accents)
熱い(あつい)
= hot (this kanji is usually about something you touch/eat/drink, a fever, or something intangible like a passionate or heated discussion)
暑い (あつい)
= hot (this kanji is usually for hot weather or climate)
厚い(あつい)
= thick, heavy
Episode 5 – Phone Contracts, Culture Shock, & Breakfast in Japan
Nezumi
鼠 (ネズミ)
= rat/mouse
Kawaii
可愛い (かわいい)
= cute, loveable
Episode 4 – Apartment Contracts in Japan!
-sama
-さま (様)
= very formal honorific, added to names when addressing superiors in business settings, honored customers, and divine entities
Sugoi!
凄い (すごい)
= wow! Exclamation that can mean…Great! Terrible! Amazing! Incredible! That’s strong! OMG!
Episode 3 – Contact From My JET Programme Predecessor
Wakuwaku suru
わくわくする
= to be excited
Tokidoki
時々 (ときどき)
= sometimes, at times
Episode 2 – Learning About Our JET Programme Placement
Yasashi
優しい（やさしい）
= kind, gentle, easy-going, tender, warm-hearted
Oyu
お湯 (おゆ)
= warm/hot water, bath water (but not boiling)
Episode 1 – Moving to Japan, the What, the Why, & the Where
Moshi moshi
もしもし
= casual greeting when answering the phone – literally translates to “to say to say”, but means “hello?” over the phone. Read more about it on this blog
Natsukashi
懐かしい (なつかしい)
= nostalgia, a fond memory from the past