The Japanese encyclopedia

Furigana ふりがな Furigana (ふりがな) are small kana characters printed above or beside kanji to show their pronunciation. They… Hiragana ひらがな Hiragana (ひらがな) is one of the three writing systems used in Japanese, alongside katakana and kanji.… Jōyō kanji 常用漢字 The jōyō kanji (常用漢字) is the official list of 2,136 kanji characters designated by the Japanese… Kana 仮名 Kana (仮名) is the collective term for Japan's two syllabic writing systems, hiragana (ひらがな) and katakana… Kanji 漢字 Kanji (漢字) are the logographic characters adopted from Chinese that form one of the three writing… Katakana カタカナ Katakana (カタカナ) is one of the three writing systems of Japanese, alongside hiragana and kanji. It… Okurigana 送り仮名 Okurigana are the kana characters that follow a kanji in a Japanese word, such as べる… Radicals 部首 Radicals (部首, bushu) are the building blocks of kanji, used to organize and look up characters… Rōmaji ローマ字 Rōmaji (ローマ字) is the use of Latin alphabet letters to write Japanese. It is a tool… Stroke order 筆順 Stroke order (筆順, hitsujun) is the prescribed sequence of pen strokes used to write each kanji… Vertical writing 縦書き Vertical writing (縦書き, tategaki) is the traditional Japanese writing direction where text runs from top to…

Counters 助数詞 Counters (助数詞, josūshi) are suffixes attached to numbers in Japanese to count different kinds of things.… Godan and ichidan verbs 五段・一段 Godan and ichidan verbs are the two regular verb classes in Japanese. They are distinguished by… Japanese conditionals 条件形 Japanese conditionals (条件形) are grammatical forms used to express 'if' or 'when' conditions. There are four… Particles 助詞 Particles (助詞, joshi) are small grammatical markers in Japanese that indicate the relationship between words in… Passive and causative 受身・使役 The passive (受身, ukemi) and causative (使役, shieki) are two Japanese verb conjugations that change who… Relative clauses 連体修飾 Relative clauses (連体修飾, rentai shūshoku) are clauses that modify a noun, placed before it, as in… The copula だ and です だ・です The copula だ (da) and its polite form です (desu) are Japanese words that link a… The te-form て形 The te-form (て形) is a conjugated form of Japanese verbs and adjectives that ends in て… Transitive and intransitive pairs 自動詞・他動詞 Transitive and intransitive pairs (自動詞・他動詞) are sets of Japanese verbs where one verb describes an action… は versus が はとが は and が are Japanese particles that mark the topic and the subject of a sentence…

Genki げんき Genki (げんき) is a widely used Japanese textbook series for university courses, covering elementary grammar, vocabulary,… JLPT 日本語能力試験 The JLPT (Japanese-Language Proficiency Test, 日本語能力試験, Nihongo Nōryoku Shiken) is a standardized exam that measures and… JLPT N1 N1 JLPT N1 is the highest level of the Japanese-Language Proficiency Test, designed to measure advanced proficiency… JLPT N2 N2 The JLPT N2 is the second-highest level of the Japanese-Language Proficiency Test, certifying that a learner… JLPT N3 N3 The JLPT N3 is the third level of the Japanese-Language Proficiency Test, positioned between the basic… JLPT N4 N4 The JLPT N4 is the second level of the Japanese-Language Proficiency Test, measuring ability to understand… JLPT N5 N5 JLPT N5 is the entry level of the Japanese-Language Proficiency Test, designed for beginners who have… Kanji Kentei 漢字検定 The Kanji Kentei (日本漢字能力検定, Nihon Kanji Nōryoku Kentei) is a Japanese exam that tests ability to… Shadowing シャドーイング Shadowing (シャドーイング) is a language learning technique where you listen to a recording of Japanese and… Spaced repetition 間隔反復 Spaced repetition (間隔反復, かんかくはんぷく) is a learning technique where review sessions are scheduled at increasing intervals…

Aizuchi 相づち Aizuchi (相づち) are the short listening noises and phrases Japanese speakers make during conversation—such as はい… Four-character idioms 四字熟語 Four-character idioms (四字熟語, よじじゅくご) are compact Japanese expressions made of exactly four kanji. They often come… Gendered speech 男言葉・女言葉 Gendered speech in Japanese refers to the distinct vocabulary, grammar, and intonation patterns traditionally associated with… Japanese onomatopoeia 擬音語・擬態語 Japanese onomatopoeia (擬音語・擬態語) are words that mimic sounds (giongo) or describe states, movements, and emotions through… Japanese proverbs ことわざ Japanese proverbs (ことわざ) are traditional, pithy sayings that encapsulate cultural wisdom, values, and observations about life.… Keigo 敬語 Keigo (敬語) is the Japanese system of honorific language used to show respect and social hierarchy.… Loanwords 外来語 Loanwords (外来語, gairaigo) are words borrowed into Japanese from other languages, primarily English. They are adapted… Pitch accent アクセント Pitch accent (アクセント) is the system of high and low pitches on syllables in Japanese words.… Sentence-final particles 終助詞 Sentence-final particles (終助詞, shūjoshi) are small words placed at the end of a sentence that convey…

Bushidō 武士道 Bushidō (武士道) is a term for the ethical code of the samurai class in feudal Japan,… Hanami 花見 Hanami (花見) is the Japanese tradition of viewing cherry blossoms (sakura) in spring. It typically involves… Honne and tatemae 本音・建前 Honne (本音, true sound) and tatemae (建前, built front) describe the contrast between a person's private… Ikebana 生け花 Ikebana (生け花) is the Japanese art of flower arrangement, emphasizing harmony, balance, and simplicity through disciplined… Ikigai 生き甲斐 Ikigai (生き甲斐) is a Japanese concept that refers to a sense of purpose or meaning in… Japanese New Year お正月 Japanese New Year (お正月, Oshōgatsu) is the most important holiday in Japan, a multi-day celebration marking… Kabuki 歌舞伎 Kabuki (歌舞伎) is a traditional Japanese theatre form known for its stylized drama, elaborate makeup, and… Kintsugi 金継ぎ Kintsugi (金継ぎ) is the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery with lacquer mixed with gold, silver,… Matsuri 祭り Matsuri (祭り) are traditional Japanese festivals, often tied to Shinto shrines or Buddhist temples, featuring processions,… Obon お盆 Obon (お盆) is a Japanese Buddhist festival honoring the spirits of ancestors, observed annually in mid-August… Omikuji おみくじ Omikuji (おみくじ) are random fortune slips sold or offered at Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples in… Omotenashi おもてなし Omotenashi (おもてなし) is the Japanese concept of wholehearted hospitality, anticipating guests' needs before they are expressed.… Onsen 温泉 An onsen (温泉) is a Japanese hot spring bath, traditionally fed by naturally heated geothermal water.… Senpai and kōhai 先輩・後輩 Senpai (先輩) and kōhai (後輩) describe a hierarchical relationship in Japanese schools, workplaces, and clubs, where… Setsubun 節分 Setsubun (節分) is a Japanese seasonal observance marking the day before the beginning of spring (risshun)… Shinto 神道 Shinto (神道) is Japan's indigenous religion, centered on the veneration of kami (神), which are spirits… Tanabata 七夕 Tanabata (七夕) is a Japanese star festival held on July 7 (or August 7 in some… Ukiyo-e 浮世絵 Ukiyo-e (浮世絵) are Japanese woodblock prints and paintings from the Edo period (1603–1867) depicting the 'floating… Wabi-sabi 侘寂 Wabi-sabi (侘寂) is a Japanese aesthetic centered on the acceptance of imperfection, impermanence, and incompleteness. It… Zen 禅 Zen (禅) is a school of Mahayana Buddhism that emphasizes direct insight into one's own nature…

Bento 弁当 Bento (弁当, bentō) is a single-portion packed meal common in Japanese cuisine, typically consisting of rice,… Dashi 出汁 Dashi (出汁) is the fundamental Japanese stock made by steeping ingredients such as kombu (kelp), katsuobushi… Izakaya 居酒屋 An izakaya (居酒屋) is a casual Japanese pub where people gather to drink and eat small… Matcha 抹茶 Matcha (抹茶) is a finely ground powder made from shade-grown green tea leaves, whisked with hot… Miso 味噌 Miso (味噌, みそ) is a traditional Japanese fermented paste made from soybeans, salt, and kōji (a… Ramen ラーメン Ramen is a Japanese noodle soup dish consisting of wheat noodles served in a meat- or… Sake 日本酒 Sake (日本酒, nihonshu) is a Japanese alcoholic beverage made from fermented rice, water, and koji mold.… Sushi 寿司 Sushi (寿司) is a Japanese dish of vinegared rice combined with various ingredients, typically seafood, vegetables,… Umami 旨味 Umami (旨味) is the fifth basic taste, alongside sweet, sour, salty, and bitter. It was identified… Washoku 和食 Washoku (和食) is the traditional Japanese cuisine recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage. It…

Business card etiquette 名刺 名刺（めいし） are Japanese business cards, and the way they are exchanged is a formal social ritual.… Hanko 判子 Hanko (判子) are personal seals used in Japan in place of a handwritten signature for official… Konbini コンビニ A konbini (コンビニ) is a Japanese convenience store, typically open 24/7, that functions as a dense… New Year cards 年賀状 New Year cards (年賀状, nengajō) are postcards sent in Japan to arrive on 1 January, expressing… Renting in Japan 賃貸 Renting in Japan (賃貸, chintai) is the process of leasing residential property, typically through a real… Rubbish sorting ゴミ分別 Rubbish sorting (ゴミ分別, gomi bunbetsu) is the Japanese practice of separating household waste into categories set… Salaryman サラリーマン A salaryman (サラリーマン) is a Japanese white-collar employee, typically male, who works for a corporation or… Shinkansen 新幹線 The Shinkansen (新幹線) is Japan's high-speed rail network, operated by the Japan Railways Group, connecting major… Train etiquette マナー Train etiquette in Japan is the set of written rules and unwritten expectations that govern behaviour…

Anime アニメ Anime (アニメ) is the Japanese word for animation of any kind, not a genre. In English… Cosplay コスプレ Cosplay (コスプレ) is the practice of dressing as a character from anime, manga, video games, or… Gacha ガチャ Gacha (ガチャ) refers to a randomized draw mechanic, originally from capsule toy vending machines and now… J-pop J-ポップ J-pop (J-ポップ) is an umbrella term for Japanese popular music that emerged in the 1990s, characterized… Karaoke カラオケ Karaoke (カラオケ) is a form of entertainment in which people sing along to recorded instrumental tracks,… Kawaii 可愛い Kawaii (可愛い) is a Japanese adjective meaning cute, lovable, or charming. As an aesthetic, it covers… Light novels ライトノベル A light novel (ライトノベル) is a Japanese publishing category for short, illustrated novels aimed mainly at… Manga 漫画 Manga (漫画) are Japanese comics, typically serialized in magazines and later collected in paperback volumes called… Otaku オタク Otaku (オタク) is a Japanese term for a person with an intense, often obsessive interest in… Vocaloid ボーカロイド Vocaloid (ボーカロイド) is a singing voice synthesiser developed by Yamaha, first released in 2004. Users input…