This is a partial table of hiragana.

This
shows the basic characters. The
pronunciation is given above each
character. See thepronunciation
page for more information on how to
pronounce the sounds.
To see how to write each of the hiragana
gohere.
These are the characters used to form
Japanese words. Hiragana is kind of like
the Japanese alphabet. Unlike the
English alphabet, however, every
Japanese character has the exact same
sound as it's name and most characters
are made of a consonant sound followed
by a vowel. This makes it less of an
'alphabet' and more of a 'syllabary'.
The Japanese also use two other
character sets. The one for foriegn words
is calledkatakana and the one with
characters which represent words or
parts of words (not sounds) is called
kanji.

Hiragana Writing
aiueo
a: This is pronounced similarly to the 'a'
in 'awful'.
i: This is pronounced similarly to the 'ee'
in 'feet'.
u: This is pronounced similarly to the
'oo' in 'mood'.
e: This is pronounced similarly to the 'e'
in 'met'.
o: This is pronounced similarly to the 'o'
in 'cold' .

Some words you can now read in Japanese:

blue (n.)
house

no

up, above, over, on top

good
nephew
picture
(n.)
love (n.)

This is a partial table of katakana. This

shows the basic characters. The
pronunciation is given above each
character. See thepronunciation page for
more information on how to pronounce
the sounds.
To see how to write each of the katakana
gohere.
These are the characters used to form
words that have foreign origins. NonJapanese names are written in katakana.
Sometimes it is also used as a
replacement for "difficult" kanji or for
emphasis. Animal and fruit names are
often written in katakana for these
reasons.
Katakana is like hiragana in that every
basic character has the exact same
sound as its name. However, since there
are more sounds in foreign words than in
Japanese, katakana has more characters
and combinations than hiragana does.
Together, hiragana and katakana are
called the 'kana.'

Katakana Writing
Katakana is the set of characters that is used to form words that have foreign origins.
Non-Japanese names are written in katakana. Sometimes it is also used as a
replacement for "difficult" kanji or for emphasis. Animal and fruit names are often written
in katakana for these reasons.
Katakana is like hiragana in that every basic character has the exact same sound as its
name. However, since there are more sounds in foreign words than in
Japanese, katakana has more characters and combinations than hiragana does. One
important character that is only used inkatakana is the chouon.
chouon: This katakana character does not
have its own pronunciation. It is used to
extend the vowel sound that comes before it.
In hiragana, if you wanted to extend
the asound in a word, you would write an
additionala character. In katakana, this is
done using thechouon instead.
The chouon can be used to extend any

vowel sound.

The spelling of katakana words of foreign origins is supposed to be based on

pronunciation. The sounds are generally matched to words as most Japanese hear
them. Unfortunately, there are some limitations. Aside from the character n, every
character in katakana is made of a vowel attached to a consonant. This means that
where there should be two consonants next to one another in a foriegn word, there is a
vowel between them in the Japanese version of the word. Also, since Japanese has
only five vowel sounds, and a limited number of consonants, substitutions are often
made with the "closest" sound, sometimes making the words sound very little like the
original. There is also the problem that some katakana words have been based on the
spelling of the word instead of the pronunciation.
Please note, also, that NOT all words in katakana come from English. In recent times,
the majority of imported words in Japanese come from English, however, this was not
always the case. There are many words that have been imported from Portuguese,
Dutch, or German. There are, for example, two words for "glass" in Japanese. One
is garasu and the other is gurasu. Garasu comes from Dutch, and means only glass the
substance. Gurasu comes from English and means only 'a cup made of glass.'
Remember that katakana words are not actually the words that they are based on. Try
not to be tempted to use their original pronunciation as a substitute. Often, the original
word sounds so different from the Japanese version that it is completely
unrecognizable to Japanese ears.
Some general rules for rendering English words into katakana:
In words that contain an r sound after a vowel, the katakana word usually just extends
the vowel sound.
Ex: mark -> ma-ku (The - in these examples represents the chouon, above.)
Ex: fork -> fo-ku
The v sound is generally replaced by the b sound.
Ex: video -> bideo
D and t, when they do not have a vowel after them, are usually replaced
with do and to, respectively.
Ex: dress -> doresu
Ex: contest -> kontesuto

The "j" sound, when it doesn't have a vowel after it, is usually replaced with ji.
Ex: orange -> orenji
The other single consonant sounds, when they do not have a vowel after them, are
usually replaced with the appropriate consonant followed by u. (Some notable
exceptions to this are the words cake and steak, which turn into ke-ki and sute-ki.)
Ex: class -> kurasu
Ex: club -> kurabu
Ex: home -> ho-mu
L and r are both replaced with characters from the ra ri ru re ro line of the katakana
table.
Ex: milk -> miruku
Ex: room -> ru-mu
The "see" sound is generally replaced with shi. (The newer combination of
a se or su character followed by a half-sized u is used in some words.)
Ex: sink -> shinku
The tu sound is generally replaced with chu. (The newer combination of
the to character followed by a half-sized u is used in some words.)
Ex: tube -> chu-bu
The soft "th" sound is replaced with characters from the sa shi su se so row of the
katakana table.
Ex: thank you -> sankyu-
Ex: bath -> basu
The hard "th" sound is replaced with characters from the za ji zu ze zo row of the
katakana table.
Ex: weather -> ueza-
Since the only w sound in Japanese is wa, all other w sounds are generally replaced
with u.
Ex: wine -> wain
Ex: waiter -> ue-ta-
Ex: whisky -> uisuki-
Words that have a short vowel followed by a consonant will often double the consonant.
(This is not the case when the consonant is n.)
Ex: truck -> torakku

Ex: bed -> beddo

Ex: pet -> petto
Ex: pen -> pen
The "y" sound, except when followed by a, o, or u, is usually replaced with i.
Ex: you -> yu-
Ex: year -> iya-
In order to make foreign words sound more like their originals, additional character
combinations have been introduced. These new combinations represent fa, fi, fe, fo, si,
ti, tu, di, du, wi, we, wo, va, vi, vu, ve, vo, tsa, tsi, tse, tso, che, she, and je. This means
that words that came into the language earlier will sometimes follow different spelling
rules than words that have been introduced more recently. Unfortunately, most
Japanese people do not actually pronounce some of the new characters as they are
intended to be used (especially the characters with v and w). So, the spelling has
become more complicated without making the pronunciation much better. Some words
even have more than one acceptable spelling now.
Ex: fork -> ho-ku (old ho spelling)
Ex: fork -> fo-ku (new fo spelling)
Ex: vendor -> benda- (old be spelling)
Ex: vendor -> venda- (new ve spelling, still usually pronounced as be)
Now that we've gotten all that tedious explanation out of the way, let's get on to actually
writing the characters.

These are the 80 kanji learned by first year elementary students in Japan.
Click for a printable version.
If you would like to see what these kanji mean and how to read them,
go to the First Year Kanji Explainations page.

First Year Kanji

ONE
ICHI ITSU hito- hito(tsu)

one

one person

January

TWO
NI futa futa(tsu)

two

two people

February

THREE
SAN mi mi(tsu) mit(tsu)

three

triangle

three days; third day of the month

FOUR
SHI yo yo(tsu) yot(tsu) yon

square, quadrilateral

four people

four times

FIVE
GO itsu itsu(tsu)

May

five days; 5th of the month

fifth floor

SIX
ROKU mu mu(tsu) mut(tsu) mui

six o'clock

six days; 6th of the month

hexagon

SEVEN
SHICHI nana nana(tsu) nano

July

seven days; 7th of the month

seven weeks

EIGHT
HACHI ya ya(tsu) yat(tsu) you

eight

eight days; 8th of the month

bamboo flute

NINE
KYUU KU kokono kokono(tsu)

nine times

September

nine days; 9th of the month

TEN
JUU JIT- too to

ten o'clock

full, enough, sufficient

ten days; 10th of the month

HUNDRED
HYAKU

100 yen (100

100 times, hundredfold

300

THOUSAND
SEN chi

one thousand yen

to tear to pieces

a thousand years, a very long time

DAY, SUN, JAPAN

NICHI JITSU hi -bi -ka

Sunday

Japan

three days ago

MOON, MONTH
GETSU GATSU tsuki

moon

Monday

December

FIRE
KA hi -bi ho-

Tuesday

Mars

fireworks, firecrackers

WATER
SUI mizu mizu-

Wednesday

bathing suit, swim suit

seawater

TREE, WOOD
BOKU MOKU ki ko-

Thursday

tree

wooden sword

METAL, GOLD, MONEY

KIN KON kane kana- -gane

Friday

money

metal

SOIL
DO TO tsuchi

Saturday

(special reading)

clay

souvenir

UP
JOU SHOU ue -ue uwa- kami a(geru) a(garu) a(gari)
nobo(ru) nobo(ri) nobo(seru) nobo(su)

on top of that, moreover

go up, rise

raise, lift up

DOWN, UNDER, BASE

KA GE shita shimo moto sa(geru) sa(garu) kuda(ru)
kada(ri) kuda(su) -kuda(su) kuda(saru) o(rosu) o(riru)

underline

go down, descend

please

RIGHT
U YUU migi

right side

right hand

right turn

LEFT
SA hidari

left side

left-handedness, left-hander; drinker

left hand

BIG, GREAT
DAI TAI oo- oo(kii) oo(ini)

big, large

university, college

(special reading)

mass meeting, tournament

adult

MIDDLE, IN
CHUU naka

center, middle

back (of body)

in the morning

SMALL
SHOU chii(sai) ko- o-

elementary school

small

whisper, low voice

ENTER, PUT IN
NYUU i(ru) -i(ru) -i(ri) i(reru) -i(re) hai(ru)

enter

put in, insert

entrance

entrance examination

GO OUT, PUT OUT

SHUTSU SUI de(ru) -de da(su) -da(su)

exit, exit ramp

memory

departure, starting out

MAN
DAN NAN otoko

man

boy

male, man

WOMAN
JO NYO NYOU onna me

woman

girl

goddess

CHILD, SMALL THING

SHI SU ko -ko -(k)ko

girl

boy

hat

HUMAN BEING
JIN NIN hito -ri -to

Japanese person

popularity

lover, sweetheart

MOUTH
KOU KU kuchi

mouth

entrance

(human) population

EYE, ITEM
MOKU BOKU me -me ma-

eye

alarm clock

item one

HAND, HOLDER OF AN OCCUPATION

SHU ZU te te- -te ta-

hand

skilled, good at

singer

EAR
JI mimi

ear

right ear

left ear

FOOT, SUFFICE
SOKU ashi ta(riru) ta(ru) ta(su)

foot

ankle

lack, shortage, insufficiency

Note: Although foot and leg are both pronounced ashi, the kanji are different. The kanji for foot is
. The kanji for leg is .

WHITE
HAKU BYAKU shiro shira- shiro(i)

white (adj.)

pure white

confession

RED
SEKI SHAKU aka aka(i) aka(ramu) aka(rameru)

red (n.)

red (adj.)

baby

BLUE, GREEN
SEI SHOU ao ao(i)

blue (adj.)

blue sky

green grass

STUDY, SCHOOL
GAKU mana(bu)

school

learn

math

SCHOOL, CHECK
KOU

school

principal, headmaster

proofreading

AHEAD
SEN saki ma(zu)

teacher, doctor

last week

senior, superior

LIFE, BE BORN, STUDENT

SEI SHOU i(kiru) i(kasu) i(keru) u(mareru) u(mare) umare
u(mu) o(u) ha(eru) ha(yasu) ki nama

student, pupil

teacher, doctor

raw foods, uncooked food

YEAR
NEN toshi

every year

this year

last year

MOUNTAIN
SAN yama

mountain

Mt. Fuji

volcano

RIVER
SEN kawa

river, stream, brook

upstream, upriver

brook, small stream

FLOWER
KA hana

flower

fireworks

vase

RAIN
U ame ama- -same

rain

heavy rain

rain gutter

RICE FIELD
DEN ta

country, rural district

rice paddy

Tanaka (common Japanese last

name)

STONE
SEKI SHAKU KOKU ishi

small rock

pebble

coal

SHELLFISH
kai

seafood

shellfish

shell

FOREST
RIN hayashi

small forest; Hayashi (Japanese last

name)

pine forest

apple (usually written in hiragana or

katakana)

FOREST (Larger/thicker than hayashi)

SHIN mori

forest, woodland

SEE
KEN mi(ru) mi(eru) mi(seru)

look, see

be able to see, be visible

show, let see

STAND, ESTABLISH
RITSU RYUU ta(tsu) tate- -da(te)-da(teru)

to stand

stand out, be conspicuous

standing up, rising

REST
KYUU yasu(mu)

rest, vacation

holiday, day off

weekly holiday

HEAVEN
TEN ame ama-

weather

angel

Milky Way

GAS, SPIRIT
KI KE

health, good spirits

weather

sickness

BOOK, BASIS, THIS, ORIGIN

HON moto

Japan

book

real thing, genuine article

DOG
KEN inu inu-

dog

puppy

watchdog

BUG, INSECT
CHUU mushi

bug, insect

hairy caterpillar

decayed tooth

GRASS
SOU kusa kusa- -gusa

grass

seaweed

weed

VEHICLE, WHEEL
SHA kuruma

car, vehicle

bicycle

train, electric train

NAME
MEI MYOU na -na

name

surname, family name

famous

RIGHT
SEI SHOU tada(shii) tada(su) masa masa(ni)

right, correct

right answer

noon

SOUND
ON -NON IN oto ne

sound

music

pronunciation

EARLY, QUICK
SOU SA- haya(i) haya(maru) haya(meru) sa-

early, quick

early, quickly

Good morning.

KING
OU

king

queen, mistress

Pope

VILLAGE
SON mura

villager

cities, towns, and villages

Azuma Village (a village in Gunma

Prefecture, Japan)

TOWN
CHOU machi

town mayor

cities, towns, and villages

Town of Nitta

BAMBOO
CHIKU take

(or )

stilts

bamboo grove

(special reading)

bamboo sword (used in kendo)

AIR, SKY, EMPTY

KUU sora a(ku) a(ki) a(keru) kara muna(shii)

airport

karate

empty can

THREAD
SHI ito

woolen yarn

thread end, beginning, clue

cotton yarn (thread)

CHARACTER
JI aza

Roman letters

kanji (Chinese characters)

numbers

EVENING
SEKI yuu

evening

supper

setting sun

GEM, ROUND OBJECT

GYOKU tama tama- -dama

eyeball

10 yen coin

egg (alternate characters)

LETTER, WRITINGS
BUN MON fumi

(also read )

letter, character

grammar

literature

POWER
RYOKU RIKI chikara

human power [strength]

electrical power

force, strength, energy

CIRCLE, YEN
EN maru(i) maru

roundness

12 yen (12 )

round, circular

Second Year Kanji

DRAW, PULL
IN hi(ku) hi(ki) hi(ki)- -bi(ki) hi(keru)

pull

drawer

50% discount

FEATHER, WING
U ha wa hane

feathers, down

feather quilt, down blanket

one bird (wa is the counter for

birds and rabbits)

CLOUD
UN kumo -gumo

cloud

rain clouds

dark clouds

park, public garden

paradise

zoo

GARDEN
EN sono

DISTANT
EN ON too(i)

far

farsightedness

roundabout way

WHAT, WHICH, HOW MANY

KA nani nan nani- nan-

what time

what month

geometry

SUBJECT OF STUDY
KA

science

school subject

(department of) surgery

SUMMER
KA GE natsu

summer vacation

early summer

midsummer

HOUSE, FAMILY
KA KE ie ya uchi

house

family

rent (of a house)

SONG
KA uta uta(u)

song

sing

singer

PICTURE, PLAN
GA KAKU

movie, cinema

movie theater

foriegn film

TURN, TIME
KAI E mawa(ru) -mawa(ri) mawa(su) mawa(shi)

one time, once

walk around (wander around)

this time

MEET, SOCIETY
KAI E a(u) a(waseru)

conversation

company

meet a friend

sea

seashore

overseas

picture

picture book

oil painting

SEA
KAI umi

PICTURE
KAI E

OUTSIDE
GAI GE soto hoka hazu(su) hazu(reru)

outsider, foriegner, alien

exterior, outside

foriegn countries

ANGLE, HORN
KAKU kado tsuno

(animal) horn, antler

triangle

square

PLEASURE, COMFORTABLE, MUSIC

GAKU RAKU tano(shii) tano(shimu)

fun

music

paradise

ACTIVE, LIVE
KATSU

activity

life, a living

active volcano

BETWEEN, INTERVAL
KAN KEN aida ma

time, period of time

X Y

X Y

be in time

between X and Y

ROUND
GAN maru maru(i) maru(meru)

pill

just like; completely

cannon ball

ROCK
GAN iwa

rock

reef

lava, volcanic rock

face

washing one's face

complexion

steam train

steam pressure

steamship

FACE
GAN kao

STEAM
KI

WRITE DOWN
KI shiru(su)

diary

article, news

write clearly, specify

RETURN
KI kae(ru) kae(su)

return home

Welcome home!

the way back, return trip

BOW
KYUU yumi

archery

Western archery

bow and arrow

cattle, cow, bull, ox

(cow's) milk

beef

COW
GYUU ushi

FISH
GYO uo sakana -zakana

fish

goldfish

seafood, marine products

CAPITAL
KYOU KEI KIN

Kyoto (former capital of

Japan)

Tokyo

Peking, Beijing

STRONG
KYOU GOU tsuyo(i) tsuyo(maru) tsuyo(meru) shi(iru)

strong

study

robbery

TEACH
KYOU oshi(eru) oso(waru)

teacher

teach

church

NEAR
KIN KON chika(i)

near (in space), not far

neighborhood

recently

OLDER BROTHER
KEI KYOU ani

(special reading)

older brother

brothers, siblings

brother-in-law

SHAPE
KEI GYOU kata -gata katachi

shape, form

doll
(in the shape of a human)

rectangle

PLAN, COMPUTE
KEI haka(ru) haka(rau)

total, sum total

clock

thermometer

ORIGIN
GEN GAN moto

spirits, health, energy

New Year's Day

as it was before

SAY, SPEECH
GEN GON i(u) koto

say, speak

word, language

dialect

PLAIN, ORIGINAL
GEN hara

grassland, prairie

glacier

primary color

family register

shutter

cabinet, cupboard

DOOR
KO to

OLD
KO furu(i) furu- -furu(su)

old (not used for people)

used, secondhand

archaeology

noon

morning, AM

afternoon, PM

NOON
GO

AFTER, BEHIND
GO KOU nochi ushi(ro) ushiro ato oku(reru)

from behind

afternoon

later, afterwards

LANGUAGE, WORD, TELL

GO kata(ru) kata(rau)

Japanese language

English language

tale, legend

CONSTRUCTION, MANUFACTURE
KOU KU

engineering

carpenter

under construction

PUBLIC
KOU KU ooyake

in public

public park

community center

WIDE
KOU hiro(i) hiro(maru) hiro(meru) hiro(garu) hiro(geru)

wide, spacious

advertisement, public notice

plaza, open square

INTERCOURSE, INTERCHANGE
KOU maji(waru) maji(eru) ma(jiru) ma(zaru) ma(zeru) -ka(u)
ka(wasu)

police box

traffic, transport

intersection, crossroads

LIGHT
KOU hikari hika(ru)

light

lightning

light year

THINK
KOU kanga(eru) kanga(e)

think

archeology

unimaginable

GO, CONDUCT, LINE

KOU GYOU AN i(ku) yu(ku) -yu(ki) -yuki -i(ki) -iki okona(u)

go

bank

trip, travel

HIGH
KOU taka(i) taka -daka taka(maru) taka(meru)

senior high school

tall, expensive

high speed

YELLOW
KOU OU ki ko-

yellow

yolk

Yellow Sea

FIT, COMBINE
GOU GAT- KAT- a(u) -a(u) a(i) ai- -a(i) -ai a(wasu) a(waseru)
-a(waseru)

total, sum total

acquaintence

suit, look good with

valley stream

(special reading)

gorge, valley

country

national language, Japanese

international

VALLEY
KOKU tani

Hasegawa (common surname )

COUNTRY
KOKU kuni

BLACK
KOKU kuro kuro(i)

black

blackboard

blackhearted, malicious

NOW, PRESENT, THIS

KON KIN ima

now

(special reading)

today

this week

(special reading)

this year

(special reading)

this morning

TALENT, AGE COUNTER

SAI

three years old

genius

talent, ability

SLENDER, THIN, MINUTE

SAI hoso(i) hoso(ru) koma(ka) koma(kai)

thin, slender

long and thin

details, particulars

MAKE
SAKU SA tsuku(ru) tsuku(ri) -zuku(ri)

to make

hand made

product, (piece of) work

CALCULATE
SAN

arithmetic, calculation

addition

budget, estimate

STOP
SHI to(maru) -do(mari) to(meru) -to(meru) -do(me) ya(meru) ya(mu)

stop (on Japanese stop signs)

stop smoking (quit smoking)

ban, prohibition

CITY, MARKET
SHI ichi

Numata city

cities, urban communities

marketplace

bow and arrow

arrow (mark),

arrowhead

ARROW
SHI ya

OLDER SISTER
SHI ane

older sister; miss; young

woman

sisters

older sister

mysterious, strange

memory, recollection

recall, recollect

wrapping paper

letter

paper

THINK
SHI omo(u)

PAPER
SHI kami

TEMPLE
JI tera

old temple

temple

Ginkaku Temple (silver

pavilion temple in Kyoto)

SELF
JI SHI mizuka(ra) ono(zukara)

self, one's self

self confidence

automatic

TIME, HOUR
JI toki -doki

one o'clock

time, period

sometimes

ROOM
SHITSU muro

meeting room

Japanese style room

indoors

COMPANY, SOCIETY
SHA yashiro

society

a company

company president

WEAK
JAKU yowa(i) yowa(ru) yowa(maru) yowa(meru)

weak

weakling

complaints

NECK, HEAD, LEADER

SHU kubi

neck

wrist

prime minister

fall, autumn

autumnal equinox

this (next) fall

this week

last week

one week

spring

vernal (spring) equinox

spring breeze

AUTUMN
SHUU aki

WEEK
SHUU

SPRING
SHUN haru

WRITE, WRITING
SHO ka(ku) -ga(ki) -gaki

to write

library

document, note

LITTLE, FEW
SHOU suku(nai) suko(shi)

little by little

boy

girl

place, site, spot, space

factory

parking space/lot, car park

PLACE
JOU ba

COLOR
SHOKU SHIKI iro

complexion

primary color

yellow

EAT, FOOD
SHOKU JIKI ku(u) ku(rau) ta(beru)

to eat

meal, board

food

HEART
SHIN kokoro -gokoro

heart

worry, be uneasy

be releived, be at ease

NEW
SHIN atara(shii) ara(ta) ara- nii-

new

fresh

newspaper

PARENT, RELATIVES, INTIMATE

SHIN oya oya- shita(shii)

parents

father

kind, friendly

DRAWING
ZU TO haka(ru)

map

library (building)

library (room)

NUMBER
SUU SU kazu kazo(eru)

math

arithmetic

a number of times, several

times

WEST
SEI SAI nishi

west

northwest

Western Hemisphere

VOICE
SEI SHOU koe kowa-

voice

(animal) cry , roar

loud voice

STAR
SEI SHOU hoshi -boshi

star

planet

Mars

FINE WEATHER
SEI ha(reru) ha(re) ha(re)- -ba(re) ha(rasu)

clear sky

fine day

barometer

CUT
SETSU SAI ki(ru) -ki(ru) ki(ri) -ki(ri) -gi(ri) ki(reru) -ki(reru) ki(re)

-ki(re) -gi(re)

to cut

important, weighty

stamp

ticket

fingernail clippers

SNOW
SETSU yuki

snow

to snow

snowman

SHIP
SEN fune funa- -bune

ship

balloon

captain (of a ship)

line

underline

Tobu Line (for trains or

busses)

LINE
SEN

BEFORE
ZEN mae -mae

before noon, AM

name, given name

three days ago

ORGANIZE, GROUP
SO ku(mu) kumi -gumi

join hands

group of three people

TV program

RUN
SOU hashi(ru)

to run

runner

Thank you for the meal.

many

probably, maybe

large number, multitudes

MANY
TA oo(i)

THICK, GREAT
TAI TA futo(i) futo(ru)

sun

Pacific Ocean

be fat

BODY, FORM
TAI TEI karada

body

body weight

physical training, P.E.

STAND, COUNTER FOR VEHICLES/MACHINES

DAI TAI

2 computers

kitchen

typhoon

subway

earthquake

map, atlas

pond

battery

reservoir

GROUND
CHI JI

POND
CHI ike

KNOW
CHI shi(ru) shi(raseru) shi(reru)

information, notice, report

to know

knowledge

green tea

black tea

light brown

lunch

daytime, day

lunch break

TEA
CHA SA

DAYTIME
CHUU hiru

LONG, HEAD
CHOU naga(i)

long

length

height

company president

kill two birds with one stone

chicken (meat)

swan

breakfast

breakfast

(special reading)

this morning

BIRD
CHOU tori

MORNING
CHOU asa

STRAIGHT, FIX
CHOKU JIKI JIKA tada(chini) nao(su) -nao(su) nao(ru) nao(ki)
su(gu)

fix

get better (get well)

honest, frank

straight

PASS, COMMUNICATE
TSUU TSU too(ru) too(ri) -too(ri) -doo(ri) too(su) too(shi) -doo(shi)
kayo(u)

traffic, transit, passage

main street

through, throughout

YOUNGER BROTHER
TEI DAI DE otouto

brothers

brother-in-law

younger brother

shop

clerk, store employee

main office/store

two points

point in dispute

boiling point

SHOP
TEN mise

POINT
TEN

ELECTRICITY
DEN

electricity

microwave

telephone

(electric) train

battery

e-mail

SWORD
TOU katana

Japanese sword

(special reading)

sword

winter

winter vacation

winter solstice

HIT, THE PRESENT

TOU a(taru) a(tari) a(teru) a(te)

at the time, in those days

being on duty, person on duty

proper, right, as it should be

razor

WINTER
TOU fuyu

EAST
TOU higashi

east

Tokyo

east exit

(an) answer

to answer

answer a question

ANSWER
TOU kotae

HEAD, COUNTER FOR LARGE ANIMALS

TOU ZUTO atama kashira -gashira

head

three cows

headache

SAME
DOU ona(ji)

same

at the same time

in the same way

WAY
DOU TOU michi

sidewalk, footpath

street

backstreets, secret paths

READ
DOKU TOKU TOU yo(mu) -yo(mi)

to read

reading matter, book

reader, subscriber

INSIDE
NAI DAI uchi

shy

phone extension, inner line

within, less than, inside of

SOUTH
NAN NA minami

south

South Pole

south exit

meat

muscle, sinews

pork

FLESH
NIKU

HORSE
BA uma uma- ma

horse

stilts

fool, idiot, stupid

SELL
BAI u(ru) u(reru)

selling place

sell

vending machine

buy

shopping

go shopping

BUY
BAI ka(u)

WHEAT
BAKU mugi

wheat

wheat flour

rye

HALF
HAN naka(ba)

half

half a day

1:30, half past one

NUMERICAL ORDER, ONE'S TURN

BAN

first, most, best

number, serial number

TV program

police box

order, turn

dad

father

grandfather

FATHER
FU chichi

WIND, MANNER
FUU FU kaze kaza- -kaze

wind

typhoon

electric fan

Japanese style

bath

balloon

DIVIDE, MINUTE, UNDERSTAND

BUN FUN BU wa(keru) wa(ke) wa(kareru) wa(karu) wa(katsu)

to understand

one minute

half

HEAR
BUN MON ki(ku) ki(koeru)

(be able to) hear

to listen to

newspaper

RICE, AMERICA
BEI MAI kome yone

U.S.A

polished white rice

unpolished rice

STEP, WALK
HO BU FU aru(ku) ayu(mu)

to walk

go for a walk/stroll

sidewalk, footpath

mother

grandmother

mother

MOTHER
BO haha

DIRECTION, WAY
HOU kata -kata -gata -nata

one's way of speaking

in the direction of x, toward x

method, way, technique

north

North Pole

Northern Hemisphere

NORTH
HOKU kita

EVERY
MAI -goto(ni)

every day

every month

every year

every morning

YOUNGER SISTER
MAI imouto

younger sister

sisters

younger daughter

TEN THOUSAND
MAN BAN

ten thousand

one hundred thousand

by some slim chance

shoplifting

BRIGHT, CLEAR
MEI MYOU a(kari) aka(rui) aka(rumu) aka(ramu) aki(raka) a(keru)
-a(ke) a(ku) a(kuru) a(kasu)

/ (special
readings)

tomorrow

(special reading)

the day after tomorrow

bright, light, cheerful

plain, clear, evident

CRY, SOUND
MEI na(ku) na(ru) na(rasu)

a scream

(animal) cry,call

to ring

hair (on one's head)

blanket

yarn

school gate

specialty, profession

specialist

tonight, this evening

midnight, middle of the night

dawn, daybreak

vegetable

baseball

wild, wild nature

friend

friend

close friend

HAIR
MOU ke

GATE
MON kado

NIGHT
YA yo yoru

FIELD
YA no no-

FRIEND
YUU tomo

EMPLOY, TASKS
YOU mochi(iru)

prepare, get ready

things to do, business, errand

have things to do

DAY OF THE WEEK

YOU

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

COME
RAI ku(ru) kita(ru) kita(su)

to come

visitor, guest

future

COUNTRYSIDE, LEAGUE
RI sato

hometown, birthplace

mountain village

REASON, ORDER
RI

reason, cause

impossible, unreasonable

science, science department

SPEAK
WA hana(su) hanashi

telephone

help, aid, care

to speak

Third Year Kanji

BAD
AKU O waru(i) waru

the worst

bad

not smart, dumb

PEACEFUL, INEXPENSIVE
AN yasu(i) yasu(maru) yasu yasu(raka)

inexpensive

safe, not dangerous

uneasiness, anxiety

DARK
AN kura(i)

dark

code, password

gloomy, dim

DOCTOR, MEDICINE
I

doctor

dentist

veterinarian

COMMIT
I

commitee

board of education

commitee member

MEANING, MIND
I

meaning

caution, attention

nastiness, ill-natured person

RAISE
IKU soda(tsu) soda(chi) soda(teru)

education

physical education

to bring up, to raise

MEMBER
IN

company employee, staff

member

all members

shop clerk

INSTITUTION
IN

hospital

(medical) clinic

graduate student

DRINK
IN no(mu) -no(mi)

drink, beverage

to drink

bar, drinking establishment

CARRY, FORTUNE
UN hako(bu)

fate, fortune

carry, transport

to have good luck

SWIM
EI oyo(gu)

swimming

to swim

breast stroke

STATION
EKI

train station

station employee

boxed lunch available at train

stations

CENTER
OU

center, central

epicenter (of an earthquake)

SIDEWAYS
OU yoko

pedestrian crosswalk

side, sideways, width

to lie down

HOUSE, SHOP
OKU ya

roof

book shop

room

WARM
ON atata(ka) atata(kai) atata(maru)
atata(meru)

temperature

hot spring

greenhouse, hot-house

CHANGE INTO
KA KE ba(keru) ba(kasu)

culture

change, transformation

ghost, apparition

LOAD
KA ni

luggage, baggage, parcel

packing

take a load off

WORLD, BOUNDS
KAI

world, universe

boundary, bounds, limits

the entertainment world

OPEN
KAI hira(ku) hira(ki) -bira(ki) hira(keru)
a(ku) a(keru)

open the window

the window is open

open a meeting

FLOOR, LEVEL
KAI

stairs, steps

second floor

basement, cellar

COLD
KAN samu(i)

cold (weather)

coldness

the chills

FEEL
KAN

feeling, sense

be moved, be impressed

sensitive

CHINESE, MAN
KAN

Chinese characters

Chinese-Japanese dictionary

groper of women

PUBLIC BUILDING
KAN

movie theater

Japanese inn

library

SHORE
GAN kishi

beach, sea shore

opposite bank, further shore

RISE, WAKE
KI o(kiru) o(koru) o(kosu)

to wake up

to wake (something) up, to

cause to wake

to happen, to occur

TERM, EXPECT
KI GO

third school term

term, period

term-end test

VISITOR, CUSTOMER
KYAKU KAKU

visitor, guest

passenger seat (of car), seat (in

theater)

STUDY EXHAUSTIVELY
KYUU kiwa(meru)

(honorable) customer,
(honorable) guest

research, study

study of natural laws

URGENT, HURRY, SUDDEN

KYUU iso(gu) iso(gi)

sharp turn

hurry

ambulance

GRADE
KYUU

students of the same grade

Japanese proficiency test level

two

advanced class, higher grade

ROYAL PALACE, SHINTO SHRINE

KYUU GUU KU miya

labyrinth, maze

visit to a shrine

Miyazaki Prefecture (on the

island of Kyushu)

BALL
KYUU tama

baseball (the game)

light bulb

the Earth

GO AWAY
KYO KO sa(ru) -sa(ru)

last year

the past

retreat, evacuate, withdraw

BRIDGE
KYOU hashi

bridge

iron bridge

the Joumou (large) Bridge

WORK, BUSINESS
GYOU GOU waza

lesson, instruction

graduation

open for business

MUSICAL COMPOSITION, CURVE

KYOKU ma(garu) ma(geru)

famous song

turn to the right

name of a song

BUREAU, LOCALITY
KYOKU

post office

after all, in conclution

local

SILVER
GIN

bank

silver colored

silver hair

DISTRICT, WARD
KU

school district

to punctuate, mark off by a

comma

SUFFER, BITTER
KU kuru(shii) -guru(shii) kuru(shimu)
kuru(shimeru) niga(i) niga(ru)

bitter

hard, painful, distressing

suffer, be distressed

Shinjuku Ward (in Tokyo)

IMPLEMENT
GU

furniture

tool

utensil, implement, appliance

MASTER, FAMILIAR TITLE, YOU

KUN kimi -gimi

you (used with friends or

inferiors)

Mr. Tanaka (used with friends

or inferiors)

you (plural) (used with friends

or inferiors)

CONNECT, PERSON IN CHARGE

KEI kaka(ru) kakari -gakari

chief clerk

information desk clerk

relationship, connection

LIGHT
KEI karu(i) karo(yaka)

light (not heavy)

light class car

light meal, snack

BLOOD
KETSU chi

blood

bleeding, hemorrhage

nosebleed

DECIDE
KETSU ki(meru) -gi(me) ki(maru)

decide

be decided, be settled

decision (of a contest)

GRIND, RESEARCH
KEN to(gu)

research, study

rice polisher

knife sharpener, whetstone

PREFECTURE
KEN

Gunma Prefecture

prefectural office

prefectures (Tokyo, Hokkado,

etc.)

STORAGE CHAMBER
KO KU kura

garage, parking space

warehouse

cashbox, strong box

LAKE
KO mizuumi

lake

on the lake

lakeside, lake shore

TURN TOWARD
KOU mu(ku) mu(ki) -mu(ki) mu(keru)
-mu(ke) mu(kau) mu(kou) mu(kou)

the other side, the opposite

side, the other party

head towards ~

geared toward elementary

school students

GOOD FORTUNE, HAPPINESS

KOU saiwa(i) sachi shiawa(se)

happy, fortunate

unhappiness, misfortune

good luck, good fortune

PORT
KOU minato

airport

port

NUMBER, DESIGNATION
GOU

telephone number

traffic light, signal

room number 3

ROOT
KON ne -ne

Japanese white radish

roots, basis

roof

FESTIVAL
SAI matsu(ru) matsu(ri) matsuri

festival

national holiday

culture festival

PLATE
sara

dishwashing

ice cube tray

saucer

SERVE, DO
SHI JI tsuka(eru)

work, job

it can't be helped

serve God

DIE
SHI shi(nu) shi(ni)

die

corpse, dead body

desperately, for one's dear life

USE
SHI tsuka(u) tsuka(i) -tsuka(i) -zuka(i)

to use

angel

use, employ, apply

BEGIN
SHI haji(meru) -haji(meru) haji(maru)

beginning

opening ceremony (of a school

term)

begin to write

FINGER, POINT
SHI yubi sa(su) -sa(shi)

thumb (lit. parent finger)

fingerprint

to point

TOOTH
SHI ha

tooth, teeth

dentist

toothbrushing, toothepaste

POETRY
SHI

poem, poetry

poet

epic poem

NEXT
JI SHI tsu(gu) tsugi

next

next time

second son

(ABSTRACT) THING, AFFAIR

JI ZU koto

work, job

construction work

office

HOLD
JI mo(tsu) -mo(chi) mo(teru)

to hold

bring

feeling, sensation

STYLE, CEREMONY
SHIKI

wedding ceremony

graduation ceremony

Japanese style

REAL
JITSU mi mino(ru)

experiment

in reality

fact, reality

COPY
SHA utsu(su) utsu(ru)

a photograph

take a photo

PERSON
SHA mono

doctor

scholar

young person, youth

MAIN, MASTER
SHU SU nushi omo

master, husband

pet owner

housewife

PROTECT
SHU SU mamo(ru) mamo(ri) mori -mori

protect

good-luck charm

babysitting, babysitter

TAKE
SHU to(ru) to(ri) to(ri)- tori- -do(ri)

take

dustpan

receive, take in, accept

ALCOHOLIC DRINK
SHU sake saka

alcohol, beer, liquor, wine etc.

Japanese rice wine, sake

liquor store

RECEIVE
JU u(keru) -u(ke) u(karu)

reception desk, receptionist

receipt

take a test, sit an exam

STATE
SHUU su

State of Alaska

state capital

Kyushu (southernmost of the

four main islands of Japan)

PICK UP
SHUU JUU hiro(u)

pick up a stone, gather stones

catch a taxi

narrowly escape with one's life

END
SHUU o(waru) -o(waru) o(eru)

the end, ending, conclusion

finish reading

last, final

LEARN, CUSTOM
SHUU nara(u) nara(i)

study, take lessons in

practice

bad habit

COLLECT
SHUU atsu(maru) atsu(meru) tsudo(u)

gather, collect vi

gather vt

stamp collecting

LIVE
JUU su(mu) su(mau) -zu(mai)

home address

dwelling house, residence

I live in Numata.

HEAVY, DUPLICATE
JUU CHOU e omo(i) omo(ri) kasa(neru)
kasa(naru)

heavy, weighty

body weight

weight

LODGE
SHUKU yado yado(ru) yado(su)

homework

hotel charge

take shelter from the rain

PLACE
SHO tokoro -tokoro dokoro

place, spot, site

four places, four sites

kitchen

HOT, SUMMER HEAT

SHO atsu(i)

hot and humid, swealtering

hot (weather)

best wishes for the hot season

HELP
JO tasu(keru) tasu(karu) suke

help vt

help, assist vi

help each other

LUMINOUS
SHOU

55th year of the Showa Era

EXTINGUISH, SPEND
SHOU ki(eru) ke(su)

dissapear

turn off the lights/power

(rubber) eraser

TRADE
SHOU akina(u)

goods for sale, commodities

trade, business, commerce

store, shop

CHAPTER, BADGE
SHOU

Chapter 1

writing, composition

armband, arm badge

WIN, EXCEL
SHOU ka(tsu) -ga(chi) masa(ru)

to win

victory, championship

winner

RIDE, GET ON
JOU no(ru) -no(ri) no(seru)

get on/ride a bicycle

passenger

transfer, change trains/busses

PLANT
SHOKU u(eru) u(waru)

plant, vegetation

to plant

botanical garden

REPORT, SPEAK HUMBLY

SHIN mou(su) mou(shi)-

I'm very sorry. I have no

excuse.

to apply for, make a proposal

application, petition

BODY, ONE'S PERSON

SHIN mi

height (of a person)

transformation

place where one come's from

GOD, MIND
SHIN JIN kami kan- kou

god, God

god of death

Shinto shrine

TRUE, GREAT
SHIN ma ma

truth, reality

center, middle

straight (ahead), honest

DEEP
SHIN fuka(i) -buka(i) fuka(maru)
fuka(meru)

deep

depth, profundity

of great interest

ADVANCE
SHIN susu(mu) susu(meru)

to advance

evolution, progress

a step forward

WORLD, AGE
SEI SE yo

aid, care, everyday affairs

world

Lupan the 3rd

PUT IN ORDER
SEI totono(eru) totono(u)

tidy up one's hair, put one's hair

in order

integer

symmetry

FORMER TIMES
SEKI SHAKU mukashi

Long, long ago...

legend, old/fairy tale

WHOLE
ZEN matta(ku) sube(te)

all, the whole, entirely

not at all (used w/ neg.

sentences)

all members

safety, security

PHASE, MUTUAL, MINISTER OF STATE

SOU SHOU ai
partner, opponent

consultation, discussion

SEND
SOU oku(ru)

broadcasting

farewell (send off) party

CONCEIVE
SOU SO

imagination

civility, courtesy

daydream, fantasy

BREATH
SOKU iki

breathe in

breathe out

a sigh

as usual, as ever

to send, to escort (a person

somewhere)

QUICK
SOKU haya(i) haya- haya(meru)
sumi(yaka)

quick, fast

speed

at once, immediately

FAMILY
ZOKU

family, household

relative

a noisy band of
motorcycle/scooter riding
delinquents

OTHER
TA

another person, other people

the rest, the others

murder, homicide

STRIKE
DA u(tsu) u(chi)

hit/drive in a nail

OPPOSITE, OPPOSE
TAI TSUI

absolute

opposite

oppose, object to

Mariners vs. Yankees

WAIT
TAI ma(tsu) -ma(chi)

hold on a second

wait for a train

invitation

GENERATION, SUBSTITUTE, CHARGE

DAI TAI ka(waru) ka(wari) -ga(wari) ka(eru)

hit the 'A' key

preliminary (previous)
arrangement

yo shiro

the 70s

room rent

represent, stand for

ORDINAL NUMBER PREFIX

TOU fuyu

Meeting Room 2

first impression

third party

TITLE, TOPIC, PROBLEM

DAI

problem, matter, question

homework

title

COAL, CHARCOAL
TAN sumi

coal

carbonated water

carbon

SHORT
TAN mijika(i)

short (not used for heights)

short term

short time

TALK
DAN

consultation, discussion

joke

political talk

WEAR, ARRIVE, STICK

CHAKU JAKU ki(ru) -gi ki(seru) -ki(se)
tsu(ku) tsu(keru)

wear/put on a dress

bathing (swimmin) suit

kimono

arrival

POUR, CONCENTRATE
CHUU soso(gu)

caution, attention

to pour

to place an order

PILLAR
CHUU hashira

power pole, electric pole

grandfather's clock, wall clock

TOWN SUBSECTION, MISC. COUNTER

CHOU TEI

3-chome (town sub-section 3)

kichen knife

just, exactly

NOTEBOOK
CHOU

bankbook

diary

TONE, INVESTIGATE, PREPARE

CHOU shira(beru) shira(be) totono(u)
totono(eru)

investigate, look into, look up

condition, state (of health),

tone, key

seasonings

CHASE
TSUI o(u)

chase, run after

overtake, catch up with

persue, follow up

FIX, SET
TEI JOU sada(meru) sada(maru) sada(ka)

set meal, day's special

plans, schedule

notebook, account book,

register

regular (fixed) holiday

GARDEN, YARD
TEI niwa

garden, yard

rock garden

home, family, household

FLUTE
TEKI fue

whistle

windpipe

flute player

IRON
TETSU

railway

subway

iron reinforced concrete

TURN
TEN koro(garu) koro(geru) koro(gasu)
koro(bu)

revolve, rotate

bicycle

fall down, tumble over

METROPOLIS
TO TSU miyako

cities

capital city

city of Tokyo

DEGREE, TIME
DO TO TAKU tabi

three times, three degrees

just, exactly

temperature

THROW, SEND IN
TOU na(geru) -na(ge)

throw

pitcher

throw out, abandon

BEAN
TOU ZU mame mame

bean

tofu

soy milk

ISLAND
TOU shima

island

island country

Nakajima (Japanese surname)

HOT WATER
TOU yu

hot water

public bath house

boiling water

CLIMB
TOU TO nobo(ru)

to climb

appear, come on stage

registration

EQUAL, CLASS
TOU hito(shii) -ra

those guys

divide equally

equality, impartiality

MOVE
DOU ugo(ku) ugo(kasu)

animal

move

automobile

be moved, be impressed

CHILD
DOU warabe

child, juvenile

fairy tale, nursery tale

children's song, nursery rhyme

FARMING
NOU

agriculture

farmer

farm

WAVE
HA nami

waves

electromagnetic waves, radio

waves

tsunami, tidal wave

DISTRIBUTE
HAI kuba(ru)

deal cards

worry, anxiety

color arrnagement (scheme)

TIMES, DOUBLE
BAI

four times, quadruple

multiple

to double

BOX
hako

box

first-aid kit

mail box

FIELD
hata hatake -batake

fields

cultivate a field

flower garden

START, EMIT
HATSU HOTSU

discovery, detection

departure

explosion

OPPOSE
HAN HON TAN so(ru) so(rasu)

oppose, object to

break the law, act contrary to

anti-war

SLOPE
HAN saka

steep slope/hill

slope

upward slope, ascent

BOARD, PLATE
HAN BAN ita

blackboard

sign, signboard

board

SKIN
HI kawa

skin

fur

apple skin/peel

SAD
HI kana(shii) kana(shimu)

sad

tragedy, tragic drama

grief, sadness

BEAUTIFUL
BI MI utsuku(shii)

beautiful

art, the arts

art museum

NOSE
BI hana

nose

nosebleed

runny nose, nasal discharge

BRUSH, WRITING
HITSU fude

pencil

writing/paint brush

fountain pen

ICE
HYOU koori hi

ice

glacier

shaved ice dessert with

flavored syrup

EXPRESS, SURFACE, TABLE

HOU omote -omote arawa(su) arawa(reru)

announce, make public, publish

express, represent, manifest

bingo grid

SECOND
BYOU

one second

second hand (of a clock)

five minutes eleven seconds

ILLNESS
BYOU HEI ya(mu) -ya(mi) yamai

sickness, illness, disease

hospital

death of illness

ARTICLE
HIN shina

article, thing, goods

food products, foodstuffs

(piece of) work, producation,

performance

LOSE, BEAR
FU ma(keru) ma(kasu) o(u)

to lose

hating to lose

loser, a middle aged woman

who isn't married

SECTION
BU -be

part, section

all, the whole

school club activities

CLOTHES, SUBMIT
FUKU

(Western) clothes

uniform, regulation dress

plain clothes, civilian clothes

FORTUNE
FUKU

social welfare

fortunate, blessed, happy

great fortune, sticky rice cake

stuffed with bean paste

THING
BUTSU MOTSU mono mono

animal

luggage, baggage, load

plants, vegetation

thing (concrete)

FLAT, CALM
HEI BYOU tai(ra) -daira hira hira

peace

weekday

17

17

Heisei Year 17 (the year 2005)

RETURN
HEN kae(su) -kae(su) kae(ru) -kae(ru)

response, reply

return a video

repeat, do again

ENDEAVOR
BEN

study

diligent, hard working

LET GO
HOU hana(su) -(p)pana(shi) hana9tsu)
hana(reru)

free a bird, let go of a bird

the door is left open

all you can eat

TASTE
MI aji aji(wau)

flavor, taste

to taste

tasty, delicious

hobby, interest

ORDER, LIFE
MEI MYOU inochi

(mortal) life

for (one's) life, with all one's

might

orders, command, decree

FACE
MEN omo omote tsura

screen, face of a TV/monitor

washroom (face washing place)

mask, disguise

QUESTION
MON to(u) to9i) ton

question

problem, question

visit

SERVICE
YAKU EKI

be of use, be useful

public office, town hall

actor/actress

DRUG
YAKU kusuri

medicine, drug

drugstore, pharmacy, (chemist

Br. Eng.)

cold medicine

REASON
YU YUU YUI yoshi

reason, cause

freedom

unreserved seat

OIL
YU abura

soy sauce

kerosene

oil painting

HAVE
YUU U a(ru)

There is a birthday party.

thank you

famous

PLAY
YUU YU aso(bu) aso(basu)

to play

amusement park

play, fun, amusement

IN ADVANCE
YO

plans, arrangements, schedule

reservation, preengagement

weather forecast

SHEEP
YOU hitsuji

sheep

lamb

sheep farming

OCEAN, WESTERN
YOU

(Western) clothes

foriegn (Western) film, Western

painting

Pacific Ocean

LEAF
YOU ha

leaf

word, term, language

post card

SUN
YOU hi

sun

proton

MODE, FORMAL TITLE

YOU sama

king

state, appearance

like a ~, in the way of a ~

FALL
RAKU o(chiru) o(chi) o(tosu)

to fall

drop, let fall

calm down, settle down

FLOW, STYLE
RYU RU naga(reru) naga(re) naga(su)
-naga(su)

to flow, to be washed away

interchange

electric current

TRAVEL
RYO tabi

a trip, travel

Japanese inn

traveler

BOTH
RYOU

both

parents

both hands

GREEN
RYOKU ROKU midori

green (color)

green tea

yellow-green

ETIQUETTE, RITE
REI RAI

thanks, appreciation,
expression of gratitude

!!

!!

Attention! Bow! (Often heard

in schools at the beginning of
class or at ceremonies.)

ROW
RETSU

line, queue, matrix

(railway) train

form a line (queue)

TRAIN
REN ne(ru) ne(ri)

practice, training

to practice, to train

training, drill

ROAD
RO -ji

journey

road, street

railway line, track

PEACE, JAPAN
WA O yawa(ragu) yawa(rageru) nago(mu) nago(yaka)

peace, harmony

Japanese style

Japanese->English dictionary

rudeness, impoliteness; Excuse

me.