Japanese Vobabulary

abumi – a stirrup
age – from ageru, to raise, elevate
ai – harmony
aisha – manipulating soft hearted people
amado – lower neck
ametori no jutsu – a trick using a raincoat in the pretence that someone wears it
amigasa – wicker straw hats for hiding the face and hiding messages
anatoshi – trapping
ankokutoshijutsu – techniques for seeing in the dark
arashi – storm
ashi – collective term for all parts of the leg and foot
ashiko – foot claws to accompany the shuko
ate – blow, strike
atemi – strike
atemi – a strike to the opponent to setup a technique
atsu – press
atto – press down
awase – from awaseru, to meet together
bajutsu – horsemanship
bakemonojutsu – ghost arts
bakuhatsugama – kusarigama with container for explosives
bansenshukai – 17th century book of the history & techniques of the iga and koga ninja
barai – from harau, to sweep
battojutsu – the art of drawing and cutting with the sword in a continuous motion while moving to avoid an incoming attack
bisento – battlefield sized halberd; a large and heavy type of ‘naginata’
bo jutsu – art of fighting with a six foot staff
bo shuriken – straight throwing blades
bo – six foot staff, stick
bokken – wooden practice sword
boku – tree
bokuto – wooden practice sword
boryaku – concepts of battle strategy
boshi ken – thumb drive fist
bu – martial arts
budo – martial way
budo – a system of “ways” derivative of the martial arts
budoka – one who studies the martial arts
bugei – martial skill
bugu – martial training weapons
bujin – warrior spirit
bujinkan – ‘Warrior God / Spirit Training Hall’
bujutsu – warrior arts
bushido – ‘way of the warrior’ feudal code of conduct
chakuzen no jutsu – hiding in a ceiling or attic
chi – earth
chikairi no jutsu – infiltration of enemy lines during a battle
chikyu no jutsu – infiltration of enemy lines during battle
chimon – earthly forces
chiton jutsu – use of fire, wood, earth, & metal to help aid escape
chitsumishi – enemy citizen collaborating with a ninja
choho – ninja method for reporting secret investigations
chu – middle
chudan – middle level
chuden – middle level of teachings
chunin – middle rank of a ninja
dai – large, big, great
daisharin – wheel and axel assembly
daisho – ‘long & short’ both Daito and Shoto set of swords
dakentaijutsu – striking body methods, punching, kicking methods of taijutsu
dan – degree of black belt, lit. ‘level’
dan – grade, class, rank, level
deai – initiatory action in combat
den – legend, tradition
densho – traditional scrolls
densho – scrolls and manuscripts, see also makimono
deshi – student do motion; change
do – torso, collective term for all the parts of the trunk of the body; also means ‘way’
do – path, road, way
do – the trunk of the body
dojo – training hall, place to learn the way of the martial arts
doka – pocket warmer
doko – angry tiger
dokubari – poison needles in plant fibre (caltrops)
dokuenjutsu – poison smoke
dome – from tomeru, to stop
don ton jutsu – earth concealment techniques
donohi – medicinal substance
dori – from toru, to seize, catch
endokuken – poison smoke fitted to shuriken
ennyu no jutsu – a trick using a feint to get into an enemy camp
fu – negation
fu – wind
fudo – immobility
fudo kanashibari no jutsu – a method that paralyses a victim with a spell
fudo ken – clenched fist
fudoshin – ‘immovable spirit’
fudoza – immovable seat
fukiya – blow pipes and blow guns
fukume – veiling (covers found on the end of shinobizue)
fukumibari – small pins blown at the eyes from the mouth
fukuro gaeshi zen jutsu – a chikairi no jutsu tactic
fukurogaeshi no jutsu – a toiro tactic
fukuro shinai – leather wrapped split bamboo training sword
furi – to swing
futoroteppo – bronze pistols
gaeshi – from kaesu, to turn over, throw
gakure – from kakureru, to hide, disappear
gando – portable torches used for lighting
ganmen – face, collective term for all facial parts
ganseki – a rock
garami – from karamu, to entangle, entwine
gari – from karu, to reap
gata – one
gata – style, type, pattern
gatame – from katameru, to tighten
gawa – side
ge – low
gedan – lower level
geinyu no jutsu – a chikairi tactic
genin – ninja agent of low rank
genjutsu – arts of illusion
genmai – juice made from unpolished rice
geri – from keru, to kick
geta – wooden clogs
gi – training uniform
gikan – regard for justice
giri – cut, obligation or duty
gishogiin no jutsu – art of forgery
go – five
goe – voice; tone
gogyo – five element transformations
gojo gyoku – principle of five feelings and desires
gokuraku – paradise; heaven
goroshi – from korosu, to kill
gotonpo – five element concealing and escaping methods
gyaku – reverse
gyoku – gem, jewel; testicles
gyokuro – poison made with tea and mixed with soup
hachi – eight
hachimon tonko jujutsu – eight methods of incantation
hakama – men’s formal divided skirt, women’s pleated skirt
han – half
hanateppo – iron bullets fired from a bamboo shaft hiden in flower bundle
hanbo – 3 foot staff
hane age – jump up, spring up
hane – from haneru, to leap, spring up
hane – wing
haori – a type of jacket worn over the kimono
happo biken – eight ways, secret sword
happo shuriken – eight pointed throwing blades
hara – ‘belly’; center of one’s body
haragei – ‘belly art’; intuitive thought
harai – from harau, to sweep
hasami bune – collapsible floats
hashigoyari – ladder spear with peg holes, also used for measuring
hajutsu – the art of escaping by crushing or destroying
heiho – strategy
hengenkashi no jutsu – study and knowledge of the disguises he uses
henka – variation
hi – secret
hi – to fly
hicho – flying bird
hidari – left
hiden – secret teachings
hiji – elbow
hiki – from hiku, to pull
hiken juroppo – ‘sixteen hidden fists’
hira shuriken – flat blades (shaken)
hira – flat, even, level
hira ichimonji no kamae – flat figure one posture
hishi – dried waterchestnuts (caltrops)
hito no jutsu – the skill of the human ????
ho – direction, way; side
ho – principle; direction
hodoki – get loose, get untied
hoi – encircling
hoka no jutsu – setting fires to spread confusion
hoko – encircling tiger
hokojutsu – special-walking arts
hollowed out staffs and canes to conceal blades, chaines, messages, etc
hon – main; true; regular; normal
hotarubi no jutsu – toiro tactic
hyakuraiju – several guns in a circle inside a large barrel
hyo – puma
hyoshi – rhythm
i – mind, heart; will, intention
iaijutsu – the art of drawing and cutting with sword in a continuous motion
iburi dashi – smoking out
ichi – one
ichimonji – the character for one in japanese
idagama – spiked stell or iron spheres (caltrops)
in – soft, negative, dark, female (yin)
inpo – the art of hiding
inton – concealment and camouflage
ippon sugi nobori – special method for cedar tree climbing
iri – from hairu, to enter
ishisao – stone rod (white stone simular to chalk) used for signaling
itaken – broad blades (shaken)
itami – pain
itto – sword
jigoku – hell
jime – from shimeru, to tighten, choke
jin – man
jirai – land mines
jissensekko gijutsu – techniques for scouting in actual battle
jo – 4 foot staff, a stick usually measuring fortyeight to fifty inches in length
jo – top
jodan – upper level
joei no jutsu – to move without making a noise or shadows
jonin – ninja leaders
jo wan – upper arm
ju – ten
juji no ho – method of ten syllables
jumonji – the character for ten in japanese
jutaijutsu – grappling methods, throws, locks, holds, methods of taijutsu
jutsu – techniques; art or method
jutte – a metal anti-sword truncheon
ka – fire
kaeshi – from kaesu, to turn over, throw
kage – shadow
kagi – hook
kaginawa – grappling hook with one to four hooks
kai ki – methods of gaining access
kaiden – master’s certificate
kaiten – rolling
kaku – angle; horn
kama ikada – water crossing device or rafts
kama – sycles
kamae – posture, stance, attitude momentary body posture, physical representation of an inner feeling
kamayari – spear with downward hooks attached
kamigakure no jutsu – gaining access to a castle by befriending an enemy
kanshi – dojo coordinator or supervisor; senior kyu grade student
kappi – lively jump
karamu – to entangle, entwine
karsura otoko no jutsu – a toiro tactic within enemy territory
kasha – ariel runway
kashira – head
kasugai – iron clamps for holding doors closed
kata – one
kata – style, type, pattern, form or prearranged motions, used as a beginning point from where countless variations emerge
katagatae no jutsu – a chikairi tactic for spreading fires
katame – from katameru, to tighten
katana – a long sword
katate – one-handed, single hand
katonjutsu – the use of fire for escapes
kawa – side
kayaka no jutsu – use of fire and explosives
kayakujutsu …
ken – fist or blade
kenjutsu – swordsmanship, art of the sword
keppan – blood oath
keri – from keru, to kick
ki – rise
ki – internal energy, spirit, mind, heart, soul
kiai – ‘spirit shout’, focus life energy. The sound that the body emits naturally when the mind, spirit, and techniques merge as one. A shout or yell to disrupt the opponent
kiaijutsu – power of the voice
kihon – basic, fundamental, foundation of all that is to become
kihon happo – ‘Eight Ways of the Fundamentals’
kikaku ken – head butt
kime – restraint, focus – mental, spiritual or physical
kimon – demon gate (chest muscle)
kimono – traditional dress of the japanese
kinton jutsu – use of metal for escape
kiri – from kiru, to cut
kiri – mist, fog
kiri – single boring spikes
kisha – taking advice of an enemy’s sensual appetite to bribe him
kitsune gakure no jutsu – imitating a fox to hide under water
ko ashi – small steps for walking through foliage and water
ko – child
ko – hook, barb
ko – small
ko – tiger
kobudo – old martial ways
kocho – butterfly
koe – voice; tone
kogoroshi – killing the child (son)
koho – rear, back
kokoro – heart or mental attitude
kokyu ho – breathing method
konpi – surrounding jump
koppojutsu – bone-breaking techniques of taijutsu
koroshi – from korosu, to kill
koryu – old traditions
kosei – offensive
koshi – hip, loin
kosshijutsu – finger weak-point attacks, organ and muscle strikes of taijutsu
koshizashi – hip held gun
kote – wrist, forearm
kotodama – the ancient shinto science of sacred sound and speech
kotsu – bone
kozutsu – wooden guns which fire metal balls
ku – air, sky; emptiness; void
ku – nine
kubi – neck
kuda bashigo – tube ladder
kudaki – from kudakeru, to break, smash, shatter, crack or crush
kuji goshinho – nine syllables method of protection
kuji in – nine syllable seals
kuji kiri – nine syllable slashes
kuji no ho – method of nine syllables
kuji – nine syllables
kujiki – from kujiku, to wrench, sprain
kuki – air
kumo bashigo – cloud ladder
kumo – cloud
kunai giri – digging and leverage tools
kunashi – spade like digging device
kunoichi – ‘nine plus one’; female ninja
kusari dogu – chain weapons
kusari fundo – 3 foot weighted chain
kusarigama – sickle and chain
kuzushi – from kuzusu, to break (the balance of an opponent), taking the opponent’s ‘kamae’ away
kyo – unpreparedness; false
kyojitsu – falsehood and truth
kyojutsu tenkan – theory of alternating appearences of reality
kyoketsu shoge – knife and sickle dagger attached to an 18-foot rope with a weighted ring on the end
kyoman – observation and perception
kyomon – religious teachings
kyonin no jutsu – taking advantage of fears and superstitions
kyu – ‘step’, ‘grade’; rank under black belt, usually the grade of green belt
kyuba – archery and horsemanship
kyudo – archery
kyusho – vital / weak points, pressure points, of the body
ma ai – the combative distance between the two opponents, correct distance
mae – front
maki – volume, book
makimono – scrolls and antique documents
mamukigama – cord and chain
mata – crotch, thigh, groin
mawashi – from mawasu, to rotate
me – eye
men – head; collective term for all parts of the head, the face
men uchi – a strike to the head
menkyo – license or certificate, teacher’s certificate
metsubushi – smoke, sand, pepper, blinding powder or substance; an action that removes sight
metsuke – focal point
mi – body; person
migi – right
mikkyo – esoteric buddhism
mikkyo – secret doctrines
mimi – ear
minomushi no jutsu – toiro tactic
mizu gumo – water crossing devices
moguri – sinking
mokuton jutsu – escape and concealment with trees
mu – mist, fog
mudra …
mune – chest
musan – scattering fog
musha – warrior
mushin – mind to mind; conscious but without thought
muso – without thought
musubi bashigo – loop ladder single cable climbing device
muto – no sword
muto dori – unarmed against a sword
nagamaki – sword blade attached to a pole to create a variation of naginata
nagare – to flow
nagashi – flow
nage – from nageru, to throw
nagedeppo – grenades
naginata – halberd; a 6 or 7 foot staff with a mounted curved blade at one end
naname – diagonal
nashi – none
neko no me no jutsu – skill, or knowledge of the cats eyes (a code used by ninja)
neko te – finger tip weapons of steel for kunoichi
ni – two
nin – ‘perseverance’
nin gu – ninja tools
ninja juhakkei – 18 fundamental skills of the ninja
ninja no hachimon – eight fields of knowledge
ninjato – short curved sword of the ninja
ninjutsu daihi seishintoitso shuyoikkan – sacred methods of ninjutsu to gain an overpowering will
ninpo mikkyo – secret knowledge
no – possessive particle, of
nuki ashi – sweeping step ninja use in walking
o – large, big, great
o soto gari – major outer reaping throw
obi – belt, its uses were holding swords, knives, and fans worn tucked into the folds of the belt
o dachi – great sword, usually 4-6 feet in blade length
oh gama – battlefield version of kusarigama
ohzutsu – mortars
okuden – hidden teachings
omote – outside, front, apparent, the things that can be easily seen and understood
oni – devil, demon, monster
onibi no jutsu – art of the demon fire
ono – battle axe
onshinjutsu – art of invisibility
ori – from oru, to break, fold
osae – from osaeru, to press down
otoshi – from otosu, to drop
oyagoroshi – killing the parent (father)
po – direction, way; side
rai – thunder
randori – freestyle practice
ransetsu – blizzard
rappa – battle disrupters (see also suppa)
rei – bow, salute
rekigaku – study of astrological influences
rokkai – bodily tools used by ninja in the practise of ninjutsu
roku – six
rokushaku bo – six-foot staff, also called ‘Bo’
ryaku – abridgment; outline
ryo – both; two
ryote – two-handed
ryu – dragon
ryu – flowing
ryu – school, tradition, family
ryu ha – style, school of a certain art
ryusei – hand grenades
ryusuiki – sacrifice techniques
sabaki – evasion, footwork
saiminjutsu – ninja hypnotism
san – three
sanjaku tenugi – the three shaku hand towel used for covering the face
sanminjutsu – the three steps
sanshaku bo – three-foot stick, also know as ‘Hanbo’
seiza – seated posture, correct sitting
sempai – any student senior to another
senban nage – techniques for throwing disc’s etc
sennin – mystic
sensei – a teacher, one who comes before you
setsu – snow
shaken – throwing stars
shaki no jutsu – flag discarding (to win the battle)
shako ken – claw and palm strike
shi – finger
shi – four
shiai – ‘matches’ or contests, personal tests
shibari – from shibaru, to tie
shibumi – elegance
shichi – seven
shidoshi – ‘teacher of the warrior way’; godan or higher
shidoshi-ho – ‘junior teacher of the warrior way’; shodan to yondan
shihan – ‘master teacher’; hachidan and above
shikanken – extended knuckle fist
shikko – the method of walking on one’s knees
shikomi zue – a sword cane
shikoro – thin bladed tools and saws
shime – from shimeru, to tighten, choke
shin – heart, mind, spirit
shinai – practice sword made of split bamboo
shinken – ‘live blade’, a real sword, also refers to real combat
shinobi aruki – ninja walking
shinobi ho – the art of stealth
shinobi kai – collapsible oar
shinobi no juhappan – eighteen warrior skills
shinobi no mono – shadow warriors
shinobi shozoku – ninja costume
shinobi tanto – ninja knife
shinobi waza – the art of stealth
shinobi zue – staffs and canes of varying sizes
shinobi – another name for the ninja
shinobigatana – short curved sword of the ninja
shinodake – thin bamboo under water breathing tube
shinto hiho – secret teachings of shinto
shinto – concussion, shock, impact
shishin ken – finger needle strike
shitan ken – thumb pressure strike
shitojutsu – taijutsu, which attacks the nerve centers of the body, using the tips of the fingers
shizen ken – the body as a natural weapon
shizen – natural
shoden – basic level
shomen – the front
shoten no jutsu – climbing to the heavons (vertical, tree climbing)
shoto – short sword
shu – hand; arm
shugyo – austere training
shuko – hand claws indigenous to the Togakure Ryu (also called ‘Tekagi’)
shuriken – throwing blades, stars, discs
shuto ken – open sword hand
sodezutsu – hand held cannon
sojutsu – the art of fighting with a spear
soke – ‘head of the family’, chosen grandmaster or head of a ‘ryu’.
sokuho kaiten – sideways roll
sokuho tobi – sideways leap
sokuyaku – foot strike
sokugyaku – ball of foot kick
sokushi ken – toe kick
soto – outer
sui – water
suihei – horizontal
suiren – water training
suitonjutsu – water escape arts
suki – a momentary opening in guard
suppa – battle disrupters
sutemi – sacrifice techniques, giving up your balance to control your opponents, self abandonment
suzuzue – priests ring topped walking staff
tabi – traditional footwear of the japanese
tachi – long sword, a longer version of the katana. Worn hanging from the belt edge down
tai – large, big, great
tai – the body
taihenjutsu – body adaptation arts; rolling, leaping, silent movement, tumbling
taijutsu – ‘body art’, the unarmed combat methods
taijutsu sosoku – body technique of walking like the wind
tai sabaki – body movement, body evasion, which should be freeflowing, natural, and prudent
taisuru – face, confront, be opposite
taka bashigo – high ladders used for open spaces
takagi – tall tree, large tree
take – bamboo
taki – waterfall
tanden – the abdomen
tanegashima – matchlock rifles
tanto – knife
taomijutsu – fishing nets
taoshi – from taosu, to throw down
taru ikada – flotation pots for crossing shallow water and marshes
tatami – a mat made of ricestraw
te – hand; arm
tekagi – see shuko
ten – from tenjiro, to revolve, rotate
ten – heaven, sky; top
tessen jutsu – iron ribbed fan techniques
tessen – war fan
tetsu – iron
tetsubushi – caltrops
to – and
to – door
to – drop, fell
to – head
to – sword
tobi – leaping and jumping skills
tobi bashigo – leaping ladder
tobi keri – leaping with a kick
tobi kunai – tools used for gaining access
toki – foot
tomeru – to stop
tomoe nage – throwing in a big circle
tomoe – huge comma, comma patterned tile
tori – from toru, to seize, catch
tori – the defender, person who applies the technique to learn
totoku hiyashi – avoiding shuriken blades
tsubo giri – boring tools
tsubute – club throwing missiles
tsugi bune – collapsible boat carried by members of a team
tsuke – from tsukeru, to attach, fix
tsuki – from tsuku, to thrust, a punch
tsure – from tsureru, to take someone along with oneself
tsuri bashigo – hanging ladders with hooks at intervals
uchi – from utsu, to attack, defeat, destroy, conquer, strike
uchi – inside
uchi gake – throwing down by leg work
uchi mata – inner thigh
uchidake – fuses for fire and explosives
ude – arm
uke – from ukeru, to receive, also block, the attacker, person who receives the technique
ukemi – to receive, also refers to breakfalls, the act of taking a controlled fall when thrown
uke nagashi – receiving the attack (counter strike); receiving flow or flowing block
umebi – land mines
ura – inside, back, hidden; the ideas or methods that are not obvious
ushiro – rear, back
wakizashi – short sword
wakizashi teppo – pistol disguised as a wakizashi
waza – art, craft; ability, skill, technique
ya – arrow
yagen – poisons and curatives
yajiri – heavy bladed saws
yari – spear
yamabushi – mountain warriors priests
yamikeigo – ninja practice in the dark
yari – spear
yo – hard, positive, light, male (yang)
yojutsu – supernatural tricks
yoko aruki – sideways walking
yoko – sideways
yokomen – the side of the head
yonshaku bo – four-foot stick, also know as ‘Jo’
yoroi – a suit of armor
yoshin – raising spirit, raising heart
yugake – an archer’s glove
yugei no jutsu – one on one confrontation
yuki waragi – snow sandles
yume no makura – dreams
yumi – an archery bow
zanshin – ‘remaining spirit’ the “follow through” of a technique; one is connected to one’s partner even after the throw in an unbroken flow of ki, simultaneously ready to receive any new attack
zantotsu sabaki – ‘finding the correct angle/distance/free space’
zen wan – forearm
zen – front
zenpo kaiten – forward roll
zenpo – forward, front direction
zeoi – from seou, to carry on one’s back