Japanese language is one of the languages that is quite difficult to learn, but it is also quite attractive.
This language consists of very interesting words and phrases, and we will present some of them to you in this text.
We have chosen some of the most interesting Japanese words and phrases.
We will tell you what these words mean and in what context they can be used.
If you like the Japanese language and if you would like to learn some basic words, then you should not miss this text.
We have prepared for you some cool words from the Japanese language and we are sure that you will like this text.
Basic Japanese Words and Greetings
- Moshi moshi (もしもし)
This is a very common word in the Japanese language and means “hello”. It is a greeting that is used in conversations on the phone, but not on the street.
Actually, if someone calls you on the phone, you should say moshi moshi, which means “hello”. When you answer the phone further conversation can begin.
If someone calls you in Japan, this person will be happy to hear that you know how to answer the phone correctly and how to say hello.
- Ossu (おっす)
This is another very common word in the Japanese language.
In fact, when you meet someone on the street in Japan and when you want to say hello and ask that person how he/she is doing, you can simply say ossu.
Translated into English, it means “what’s up?”
- Ojama shimasu (お邪魔します)
This is also a very funny group of words in Japanese. You should use these cool words when you come to someone or when you are entering someone’s home.
It is not important if you have planned to visit someone or you are coming unexpectedly.
In both cases you should use the phrase ojama shimasu when you are entering someone’s home.
Ojama shimasu means “I am sorry to bother you” or “I am sorry for coming”.
Because of that you should use this phrase any time when you enter the home of someone. It is a sign of respect when you are visiting someone.
- Ojama shimashita (お邪魔しました)
This phrase is related to the previous phrase (ojama shimasu) that we have mentioned, but it is used at the moment when we are leaving someone’s home.
If you were by someone and you want to leave his/her house, you can simply say ojama shimashita. It is something like goodbye.
Ojama shimashita is actually the same phrase as ojama shimasu, but it is always used in the past tense.
Just to repeat, we use the phrase ojama shimasu when we are entering someone’s home in Japan while we use the phrase ojama shimashita when we are leaving someone’s home.
Cool Words Related to Food
- Kuidaore (食い倒れ)
This is another cool word in the Japanese language, and in translation it means to harm oneself, that is, to destroy oneself by eating too much.
As you can see, this word is related to food culture in Japan.
More precisely, the word kuidaore in the Japanese language means that someone has eaten so much that he starts to feel sleepy, that is, he “falls into a coma” from eating so much.
Kuidaore in Japanese has the same meaning as the term “food coma” in English.
Therefore, if you hear kuidaore somewhere in Japan, you should know that someone has just eaten a lot and is therefore very sleepy.
This word is especially used when it’s holiday time, that is, when we all eat a lot.
For example, for Thanksgiving day or New Year’s celebration, the word kuidaore is very present in the daily speech of Japanese people, because that’s when many of them overeat and fall into a “food coma”, as we have already mentioned.
- Kuchi Sabishi (口寂しい)
Another interesting Japanese word related to food is kuchi sabishi. This is a very interesting word that is used very often in the Japanese language.
This word is used when someone wants to say that he is hungry. In literal translation, the word kuchi sabishi means “my mouth is very lonely”.
Of course, this word is used in a figurative sense and it means that someone is very hungry.
- Itadakimasu (いただきます)
There are so many cool words when we talk about food in Japan. One of them is itadakimasu. This word is used by eating and it has the meaning “bon appétit.”
If you are sitting with friends or family and you want to eat together, it is a custom and a sign of respect to say itadakimasu, that is, to wish everyone a good appetite.
In Japan you should never begin with eating before you say this word.
- Gochisousama deshita (ごちそうさまでした)
This phrase is used after you finish your meal. You should always say gochisousama deshita to your host or to someone who gave you food. This way you will be thankful for the meal.
The phrase gochisousama deshita means “thank you for the meal”. You can tell that to one of your friends who prepared a dinner for you or to the waiter in the restaurant who served you.
- Iburo o tsukamu (胃袋をつかむ)
This word or phrase is often used in male-female relationships.
As in many other cultures in the world, in Japanese culture there is a belief that a man can love a woman because of her cooking.
There is a famous saying “Love enters through the mouth”, which symbolizes exactly that what we said.
Therefore, if a woman cooks well she can attract a man and he can love her for her cooking and vice versa.
The same is the case if a man cooks well and a woman falls in love with him because of that.
Anyway, the word or phrase iburo o tsukamu means just that – to fall in love with someone because of his/her cooking abilities.
However, in a literal sense this word or phrase means “to grab someone’s stomach”.
Cool Words Related to Work
- Hataraku toki wa hataraku (働くときは働く)
It is a very common group of words in the Japanese language and it is used in business. This phrase means “to work hard”.
- Otsukaresama deshita (お疲れ様でした)
It is one of the most important sentences that you will use if you decide to work in Japan some day.
This sentence is used to say “hello” to your colleagues when you enter the office.
Therefore, it is the basic greeting to colleagues when you come to work in Japan.
However, this phrase can also mean that someone has worked really hard. These words are usually used between colleagues at work.
Also, if your boss tells you otsukaresama deshita, it means that he confirms you that you have been working hard and probably wants to give you a reward because of your hard work.
Cool Words Related to Life
- Natsukashii (懐かしい)
This is a cool Japanese word that means nostalgia for some past times, that is, something you remember with love.
If you remember your past with a smile, then this is the right word to express it.
Also the word natsukashii can be used to describe memories from the past.
Actually, if you have nice memories from your past and if you want to tell them to someone in Japan, you can use the word natsukashii.
This Japanese word is used to describe something that you remember with a smile.
- Ikigai (生きがい)
This word has a deeper meaning and you will certainly impress the locals in Japan if you say this word to them.
Actually, the Japanese word ikigai is used to denote a living purpose. All of us have a certain purpose in life and that’s exactly the meaning of this word.
If you use a word ikigai in Japan, you have to know that people will be delighted. Just to repeat, this interesting Japanese word means “the purpose of life.”
- Kimazui (気まずい)
This Japanese word is also very popular and it is used to determine some bad moments in life. This word has a negative connotation and it is always used to express something bad.
Actually, the Japanese word kimazui is always associated with some unpleasant and difficult moments that may happen in the life.
In the literal sense the word kimazui means “air that tastes badly”.
- Benkyō ni narimashita (勉強になりました)
This sentence in Japanese indicates something that one has learned. If you hear this sentence, it means that someone has learned something.
Cool Words to Describe a Person
- Kokoro-kubari (心配り)
Another interesting Japanese word is kokoro-kubari. This word describes a person who takes care of dear people very much.
That word best describes a person who takes care not to hurt other people and who only does good things.
Kokoro-kubari is a word used for a person who cares about others and wants to please them.
This word also describes a person who takes care of things as well and who has perfect harmony in life, but also in the relationship with others.
So, if you hear somewhere in Japan a word kokoro-kubari, you have to know that it refers to a mindful person who takes a lot of care for other people.
- Yabal (やばい)
This is another adjective in the Japanese language and it is used to describe someone who is crazy. The adjective yabal means that someone is crazy, both in good and bad contexts.
It actually means that we can say yabal for someone who is mentally ill, but this word can also be used for someone who is crazy in a positive sense.
If someone has done something unexpectedly or if someone has surprised you positively, you can tell that person that he/she is crazy (in a positive context).
You can tell someone that he/she is yabal, but depending on the context, this word will have a positive or negative meaning.
Cool Slang Words
- Sugoi (すごい)
When you hear the word sugoi in Japan, you will probably already understand from the intonation that it is a word related to something positive.
Actually, sugoi in Japanese means that something is awesome or incredible.
- Tanoshi sō desu ne (楽しそうですね)
This is a very common sentence in everyday speech in Japan. It is used to say that something is funny. The connotation of this sentence is always positive.
- Ukeru (ウケる)
This is another Japanese word that is used to describe something funny or hilarious.
It is interesting that the word ukeru is usually used as a symbol on social networks and it means “haha”.
- Daijōbu desu (だいじょうぶです)
This is another sentence that is often used in Japanese to tell that everything is good.
- Cho (ちょ)
This is another cool Japanese word and it means very or super. It is usually used in the context of “super cute” or “very cute”.
Cho is one of the most common slang words in Japan.
- Irusu (居留守)
This is a very interesting Japanese word, that is, a word with a very interesting meaning.
The word irusu has a somewhat funny connotation.
Actually, it describes a situation where someone pretends not to be at home when someone is knocking on the door or rings the doorbell.
You have probably experienced a situation many times when someone rings your doorbell, and you simply don’t want to open it.
Well, when Japanese people find themselves in that situation and when they pretend not to be at home while someone rings their doorbell or knocks on the door, then irusu is the right word to describe it.
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