[vc_row][vc_column][ig_special_heading heading_type=”1″ heading_style=”default” heading_align=”textalignleft” animation_loading=”yes” animation_loading_effects=”fade_in”]Guide to Japanese Pronunciation[/ig_special_heading][vc_column_text animation_loading=”yes” animation_loading_effects=”fade_in”]
Although the Karate terminology is in Japanese, it is very easy to pronounce if you follow a few simple rules:
In the case of vowels, that is the letters a, e, i, o, u, pronounce them in the following manner (this is the only way they are ever pronounced):
- pronounce “a” like the “a” in the word “at”
- pronounce “e” like the “e” in the word “egg”
- pronounce “i” like the “e” in the word “be”
- pronounce “o” like in the word “awe”
- pronounce “u” like the “o” in the word “do”
In the case of the double vowel “ei”, its pronunciation has no equivalent in standard English, but is to be pronounced as the “ay” is pronounced in words like “nay” in the Yorkshire dialect
In the case of the letter “y”, it is never pronounced like the letter “i” as it is often in English in words like “cry”, but always pronounced like the “y” in the word “yes”
In the case of the letter “g”, it can be pronounced like the letter “g” in “go” and also like the “ng” in the words “bring”, “king” and “sing”, but never pronounced like the “g” in the word “gentle”. With the exception of the words “gedan”, “geta” “go”, “gohon” and “gyaku”, the “g” will be pronounced like “ng”.
The other letters in the Karate terminology are pronounced as they are in English.
[/vc_column_text][ig_special_heading heading_type=”1″ heading_style=”default” heading_align=”textalignleft” animation_loading=”no” animation_loading_effects=”fade_in”]Glossary of Japanese Words[/ig_special_heading][vc_column_text animation_loading=”no” animation_loading_effects=”fade_in”]
The following is a table of Japanese words which are commonly used in martial arts, their phonetic pronunciation and the English meaning:
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| Japanese Word | Phonetic Pronunciation | English Meaning |
| Sensei | Sen – sei | Teacher |
| Sempai | Sem – pai | Senior Student |
| Dojo | Do – jo | Training Hall |
| Kiai | Kee – ai | Yell of Spirit |
| Hai | Hi | Yes |
| Gi | Ghee | Uniform |
| Seiza | Say – zah | Kneel or sit |
| Rei | Ray | Bow |
| Arigato | Are – e – ga – toe | Thank you |
| Yasume | Ya – sue – may | Relax or rest |
| Yame | Ya – may | Stop |
| Mukuso | Muk – kuh – so | Meditation |
| Karate | Kar – rah – tey | Empty Hand |
| Kumite | Coom – i – tay | Sparring |
| Kata | Cat – ah | Forms |
| Hidari | Ha – dar – ree | Left |
| Migi | Mig – ee | Right |
| Shomen-ni | Sho – men – nee | Front |
| Jodan | Joe – dahn | Face level |
| Chudan | Chew – dahn | Chest level |
| Gedan | Gay – dahn | Low level |
| Keage | Kay – ah – geh | Snap |
| Kekomi | Keh – koh – me | Thrust |
| Hajime | Hah – ji – me | Start |
| Mawate | Ma – wa – teh | Turn |
| Otagai – Ni | O – teh – gai – nee | Turn and bow |
[/vc_column_text][ig_special_heading heading_type=”2″ heading_style=”default” heading_align=”textalignleft” animation_loading=”yes” animation_loading_effects=”fade_in”]Counting[/ig_special_heading][vc_column_text animation_loading=”no” animation_loading_effects=”fade_in”]
| Japanese Word | Phonetic Pronunciation | English Meaning |
| ichi | itch | one |
| ni | knee | two |
| san | san | three |
| shi | shee | four |
| go | goe | five |
| roku | rook – u | six |
| shichi | shee – see | seven |
| hachi | hach – ee | eight |
| ku | ku | nine |
| ju | ju | ten |
[/vc_column_text][ig_special_heading heading_type=”2″ heading_style=”default” heading_align=”textalignleft” animation_loading=”yes” animation_loading_effects=”fade_in”]Stances – “dachi” (dah – chee) is added at the end of each stance[/ig_special_heading][vc_column_text animation_loading=”no” animation_loading_effects=”fade_in”]
| Japanese Word | Phonetic Pronunciation | English Meaning |
| Hachi ji | Hah – chee – gee | Open-leg (relax) |
| Heisoku | Hay – so – koo | Attention |
| Zenkutsu | Zen – kut – sue | Front |
| Kokutsu | Koh – kut – sue | Back |
| Kiba | Key – bah | Horse riding |
| Sanchin | San – chin | Hour glass |
| Shiko | Shee – ko | Horse riding (45 degrees) |
| Musubi | Moo – sue – bee | Attention (45 degrees) |
| Neko Ashi | Nee – ko ash – ee | Cat |
[/vc_column_text][ig_special_heading heading_type=”2″ heading_style=”default” heading_align=”textalignleft” animation_loading=”no” animation_loading_effects=”fade_in”]Blocks – “uke” (U – key) is added at the end of each block[/ig_special_heading][vc_column_text animation_loading=”no” animation_loading_effects=”fade_in”]
| Japanese Word | Phonetic Pronunciation | English Meaning |
| Jodan | Joe – dahn | Face |
| Soto | So – toe | Outside to inside |
| Uchi | Oo – chee | Inside to outside |
| Shuto | Shoe – toe | Knife – hand |
| Gedan Barai (no uke) | Geh – dahn bar – eye | Low Block |
[/vc_column_text][ig_special_heading heading_type=”2″ heading_style=”default” heading_align=”textalignleft” animation_loading=”yes” animation_loading_effects=”fade_in”]Punches – “tsuki” (tsue – key) is added at the end of punch[/ig_special_heading][vc_column_text animation_loading=”yes” animation_loading_effects=”fade_in”]
| Japanese Word | Phonetic Pronunciation | English Meaning |
| Oi | Oh – ee | Lunge |
| Gyaka | Gya – koo | Reverse |
| Yama | Yah – mah | U – punch |
[/vc_column_text][ig_special_heading heading_type=”2″ heading_style=”default” heading_align=”textalignleft” animation_loading=”yes” animation_loading_effects=”fade_in”]Strikes – “uchi” (U – chee) is added at the end of strike[/ig_special_heading][vc_column_text animation_loading=”no” animation_loading_effects=”fade_in”]
| Japanese Word | Phonetic Pronunciation | English Meaning |
| Shuto | Shoe – toe | Knife – hand |
| Tettsui | Tet – Tsue | Hammer Fist |
| Empi | Em – pee | Elbow |
| Uraken | Er – rah – ken | Back – fist |
[/vc_column_text][ig_special_heading heading_type=”2″ heading_style=”default” heading_align=”textalignleft” animation_loading=”yes” animation_loading_effects=”fade_in”]Kicks – “geri” (gary) is added at the end of kick[/ig_special_heading][vc_column_text animation_loading=”yes” animation_loading_effects=”fade_in”]
| Japanese Word | Phonetic Pronunciation | English Meaning |
| Mae | Mah – eh | Front |
| Yoko | Yoh – koh | Side |
| Mawashi | Mah – wah – she | Round |
| Ushiro | Oo – she – row | Back |
| Mae – keage | Mah – eh kay – ah – geh | Front snap |
| Mae kekomi | Mah – eh keh – koh – me | Front thrust |
| Yoko keage | Yoh – koh kay – ah – geh | Side snap |
| Yoko kekomi | Yoh – koh keh – koh – me | Side thrust |
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