Japanese for Karate & Conversation 🥋🗣️

Karate Terminology (空手用語)

Here are essential Japanese terms used in Karate. Click the "Speak" button to hear the pronunciation. Understanding these will help you in your journey to master the art.

Romaji	English	Speak
Dōjō	Training hall	🔊
Sensei	Teacher/Instructor	🔊
Senpai	Senior student	🔊
Kōhai	Junior student	🔊
Rei	Bow	🔊
Osu	A sign of respect and affirmation	🔊
Hajime	Begin/Start	🔊
Yame	Stop	🔊
Kamaete	Get into position/ready	🔊
Mawatte	Turn around	🔊
Mokusō	Meditation	🔊
Naore	Return to ready position	🔊
Yasume	Rest/At ease	🔊
Shōmen ni Rei	Bow to the front	🔊
Sensei ni Rei	Bow to the teacher	🔊
Otagai ni Rei	Bow to each other	🔊
Jōdan	Upper level (face area)	🔊
Chūdan	Middle level (stomach area)	🔊
Gedan	Lower level (lower body)	🔊
Migi	Right	🔊
Hidari	Left	🔊
Mae	Front	🔊
Ushiro	Back / Rear	🔊
Yoko	Side	🔊
Zenkutsu-dachi	Front Stance	🔊
Kōkutsu-dachi	Back Stance	🔊
Kiba-dachi	Horse Stance	🔊
Nekoashi-dachi	Cat Stance	🔊
Fudō-dachi	Immovable Stance	🔊
Sanchin-dachi	Hourglass Stance	🔊
Shiko-dachi	Sumo Stance	🔊
Heisoku-dachi	Feet Together Stance	🔊
Musubi-dachi	Formal Attention Stance	🔊
Heikō-dachi	Parallel Stance	🔊
Hangetsu-dachi	Half-Moon Stance	🔊
Jōdan Age Uke	Upper Rising Block	🔊
Soto Uke	Outside Block	🔊
Uchi Uke	Inside Block	🔊
Gedan Barai	Lower Sweeping Block	🔊
Shutō Uke	Knife Hand Block	🔊
Morote Uke	Augmented Block	🔊
Jūji Uke	X-Block	🔊
Haishu Uke	Back Hand Block	🔊
Osae Uke	Pressing Block	🔊
Kakiwake Uke	Wedge Block	🔊
Seiken-zuki	Forefist Punch	🔊
Gyaku-zuki	Reverse Punch	🔊
Oi-zuki	Lunge Punch	🔊
Kizami-zuki	Jab Punch	🔊
Ura-zuki	Uppercut Punch	🔊
Tate-zuki	Vertical Fist Punch	🔊
Kagi-zuki	Hook Punch	🔊
Yama-zuki	Mountain Punch (U-Punch)	🔊
Uraken Uchi	Back Fist Strike	🔊
Tettsui Uchi	Hammer Fist Strike	🔊
Enpi Uchi	Elbow Strike	🔊
Shutō Uchi	Knife Hand Strike	🔊
Haitō Uchi	Ridge Hand Strike	🔊
Teishō Uchi	Palm Heel Strike	🔊
Nukite	Spear Hand	🔊
Mae Geri	Front Kick	🔊
Mawashi Geri	Roundhouse Kick	🔊
Yoko Geri	Side Kick	🔊
Ushiro Geri	Back Kick	🔊
Hiza Geri	Knee Kick	🔊
Mikazuki Geri	Crescent Kick	🔊
Tobi Geri	Jumping Kick	🔊
Nidan Geri	Double Jump Kick	🔊
Ashi Barai	Foot Sweep	🔊
Kakato Geri	Heel Kick / Axe Kick	🔊
Kin Geri	Groin Kick	🔊
Ushiro Mawashi Geri	Reverse Roundhouse Kick	🔊
Kata	Form or pattern of movements	🔊
Kumite	Sparring	🔊
Kihon	Basics/Fundamentals	🔊
Bunkai	Analysis/application of kata	🔊
Ippon Kumite	One-step sparring	🔊
Jiyū Kumite	Free sparring	🔊
Zanshin	Remaining mind/awareness	🔊
Kiai	A shout or yell to focus energy	🔊
Kime	Focus/Decisive blow	🔊
Maai	Distancing	🔊
Tai Sabaki	Body movement/evasion	🔊
Kuzushi	Unbalancing the opponent	🔊
Mushin	Mind of no mind	🔊
Fudōshin	Immovable mind	🔊
Dōgi/Gi	Karate uniform	🔊
Obi	Belt	🔊
Kyū	Rank (for colored belts)	🔊
Dan	Rank (for black belts)	🔊
Yūdansha	Black belt holder	🔊
Makiwara	Striking post	🔊
Shinpan	Referee	🔊
Aka	Red (competitor)	🔊
Shiro	White (competitor)	🔊
Ippon	One full point (victory)	🔊
Waza-ari	Half point	🔊
Yūkō	Effective point (less than waza-ari)	🔊
Hantei	Judgement/Decision	🔊
Kachi	Victory	🔊
Make	Defeat	🔊
Hikiwake	Draw	🔊
Hansoku	Foul/Disqualification	🔊
Jōgai	Out of bounds	🔊
Ichi	One	🔊
Ni	Two	🔊
San	Three	🔊
Shi/Yon	Four	🔊
Go	Five	🔊
Roku	Six	🔊
Shichi/Nana	Seven	🔊
Hachi	Eight	🔊
Kyū/Ku	Nine	🔊
Jū	Ten	🔊

Conversational Japanese (日常会話)

Master these common Japanese phrases for everyday situations. Click the "Speak" button to hear the pronunciation. These phrases are a great starting point for anyone new to the language.

Romaji	English	Speak
Ohayō gozaimasu	Good morning (formal)	🔊
Ohayō	Good morning (informal)	🔊
Konnichiwa	Hello/Good afternoon	🔊
Konbanwa	Good evening	🔊
Sayōnara	Goodbye (formal)	🔊
Jā ne / Mata ne	See you/Bye (informal)	🔊
Oyasuminasai	Good night	🔊
Ittekimasu	I'm leaving (and coming back)	🔊
Itterasshai	Take care (response to ittekimasu)	🔊
Tadaima	I'm home	🔊
Okaerinasai	Welcome home	🔊
Arigatō gozaimasu	Thank you (formal)	🔊
Arigatō	Thanks (informal)	🔊
Dōmo arigatō	Thanks a lot	🔊
Dō itashimashite	You're welcome	🔊
Sumimasen	Excuse me/I'm sorry	🔊
Gomen nasai	I'm sorry (more personal)	🔊
Onegai shimasu	Please	🔊
Dōzo	Here you are/Go ahead	🔊
Hajimemashite	Nice to meet you	🔊
Dōzo yoroshiku onegai shimasu	Pleased to make your acquaintance	🔊
O-genki desu ka?	How are you?	🔊
Genki desu	I'm fine	🔊
O-namae wa nan desu ka?	What is your name?	🔊
Watashi no namae wa ... desu	My name is...	🔊
... kara kimashita	I am from...	🔊
Doko ni sunde imasu ka?	Where do you live?	🔊
Nansai desu ka?	How old are you?	🔊
... sai desu	I am ... years old	🔊
Ii tenki desu ne	The weather is nice, isn't it?	🔊
Atsui desu ne	It's hot, isn't it?	🔊
Samui desu ne	It's cold, isn't it?	🔊
Hai	Yes	🔊
Iie	No	🔊
Wakarimasu	I understand	🔊
Wakarimasen	I don't understand	🔊
Nihongo ga hanasemasen	I don't speak Japanese	🔊
Eigo o hanasemasu ka?	Do you speak English?	🔊
Mō ichido onegai shimasu	Once more, please	🔊
Yukkuri hanashite kudasai	Please speak slowly	🔊
Kore wa nan desu ka?	What is this?	🔊
Sore wa ikura desu ka?	How much is that?	🔊
Toire wa doko desu ka?	Where is the bathroom?	🔊
Eki wa doko desu ka?	Where is the station?	🔊
Kore o kudasai	This one, please	🔊
Menyū o onegai shimasu	May I have the menu, please?	🔊
O-kaikei o onegai shimasu	Check, please	🔊
Itadakimasu	Thank you for the meal (before)	🔊
Gochisōsama deshita	Thank you for the meal (after)	🔊
Oishii desu	It's delicious	🔊
Kanpai!	Cheers!	🔊
Onaka ga sukimashita	I'm hungry	🔊
Nodo ga kawakimashita	I'm thirsty	🔊
O-mizu o kudasai	Water, please	🔊
Tasukete!	Help!	🔊
Daijōbu desu ka?	Are you okay?	🔊
Daijōbu desu	I'm okay	🔊
Byōin wa doko desu ka?	Where is the hospital?	🔊
Guai ga warui desu	I feel sick	🔊
Kore o misete kudasai	Please show me this	🔊
Shichaku dekimasu ka?	Can I try this on?	🔊
Kādo de haraemasu ka?	Can I pay by card?	🔊
Fukuro o onegai shimasu	A bag, please	🔊
Ganbatte kudasai	Do your best/Good luck	🔊
Omedetō gozaimasu	Congratulations	🔊
Otsukaresama deshita	Thank you for your hard work	🔊
Sugoi desu ne	That's amazing, isn't it?	🔊
Hontō ni?	Really?	🔊
Sō desu ka	I see/Is that so?	🔊
Zannen desu	That's a shame/pity	🔊
Mochiron	Of course	🔊
Chotto matte kudasai	Please wait a moment	🔊
Ki o tsukete	Take care	🔊