Shōrinji Kempō Vocabulary
Basic Vocabulary, Numbers, Guide to Pronunciation
PRONUNCIATION GUIDE:
The pronunciation is approximated for native English speakers with no experience of the Japanese vowel sounds. If you are already familiar with the sound of Japanese pronunciation or are a native speaker of, or familiar with other languages, please pronounce the vowels (a, i, u, e, o) as indicated in the Notes at bottom of page.
TIP:
Spoken Japanese consists of combinations of "mora" - these are simple, one-syllable combinations of consonant & vowel. All consonants must have a vowel with them.Vowels can be pronounced on their own or be doubled. The only exception is the letter "n", which doesn't need a vowel. You can break everything down into little syllables.
Examples:
| chinkon | chin - kon |
| arigatou gozaimasu | a - ri-ga-tou go-zai-ma-su |
Note: any vowel written with a "u" after it means the vowel sound is lengthened. This is also indicated in these vocab pages by a bar - eg : ū . This should not be ignored. The most famous anecdote for this is General McArthur saying in Japanese "Please meet my arsehole (koumon)". What he meant was actually "Please meet my advisor" (komon).
Final "u", as in ..... masu - the "u" is pretty much silent. It's there, but during normal, fast speech it's difficult to pick out. You do not need to pronounce it during your usage of words in the dōjō.
| Gen. expressions | Phonetic approximation |
English Translation |
Literal Meaning
/ Usage |
| onegai shimasu | o-NEGUY-she-mass | please | lit: to make a request (negai) |
| arigatō gozaimashita | ari-GA-tohh goz-EYE-mashta | thank you very much | it's a real mouthful - don't try to rush saying it! |
| hai | hi | yes | |
| taisō | TAI-saw | warm-up / exercises | |
| hajimemasu | HAji-may-mass | to begin | eg "taisō o hajimemasu" |
| tsuzukimasu | tsu-Zukey-mass | to continue | |
| owarimasu | oh-WAri-mass | to finish/end | |
| hōwa | HOR-wa | lecture on philosophy | literally "talk [wa] on the way/method [hō] |
| gohō | GO-hoh | hard technique(s) | |
| jūhō | JEW-haw | soft technique(s) | the same "ju" as in Juudou or Jujitsu |
| seihō | SAY-haw | shiatsu-type massage | lit. "alignment method" |
| renshū | REN-shoe | practice | eg "renshū o hajimemasu" or "renshū o tsuzukimasu" (to continue practice) |
| chinkon | Chin-kon | meditation | |
| kiai | key-EYE | the shout made during an attack | lit: "meeting/gathering of the ki (spirit)"; please do not shout "ki-ai" - you are supposed to shout, but not say "shout"'; |
| shusseki | SHOE-ssekee | attendance | eg "shusseki o torimasu" = to take the attendence register |
| happōmoku | hapPOH-mock-uh | all-round vision | lit: sight in 8 directions; no focus on any one specific point. |
| Directions | Phonetic approximation |
English Translation |
Literal Meaning
/ Usage |
| mae | mah-É | in front/ forward | |
| ushiro/ato | U-shiro / A-to | behind/ backward | |
| yoko | yo-ko | side/ sideways |
|
| ue | U-é | up / above | also: uwa, as in "uwa-uke" |
| shita | sh(i)ta | down / below | the "i" in the middle is almost silent when spoken quickly |
| migi | ME-ghee | right | |
| hidari | he-DA-re | left | |
| People & Kit | Phonetic approximation |
English Translation |
Literal Meaning
/ Usage |
| sensei | SEN-say | teacher/instructor | |
| manji | man-jee | the swastika | please see notes on manji on links page |
| sempai | SEM-pie | superior (person) | any person older or more experienced than you |
| kenshi | KEN-she | student(s) of Shorinji Kempo | a word derived from Ken(pou) + shi (disciple) |
| dōjō | DAW-jaw | training hall for martial arts | |
| dōgi | Daw-ghee |
a suit worn for martial arts | derived from (bu)DO+KI(mono); the "k" is softened to a "g" |
| obi | oh-bee | belt | belt as worn on traditional Japanese clothes (not the type that holds your jeans up) |
| Phonetic approximation |
English Translation |
Literal Meaning
/ Usage |
|
| rei ! | ray | in Kempo: hands joined together in front of face | a gesture of respect or an expression of gratitude; a bow is the most frequently seen display of "rei" in Japan. The Hindu/Buddhist derived joined hands at face level with elbows out is specific to martial arts use (the usual way would be with elbows closer to body). |
| gassho rei | The action of pressing palms of the hands together in this way for prayer, or as if in prayer is a "gassho" | ||
| naore ! | na-OH-reh | put hands back down | lit. "to put back into place" |
| kihon | KEY-hon | basic(s) | |
| shūgō | shoe-GAW | assemble; roll-call | |
| seiretsu | SAY-rets-uh | stand in a row; line up | |
| kiritsu | KEY-ritsuh | stand up | |
| yame! | YAM-é | stop! | |
| sensei ni rei ! | "rei" your sensei | similarly: "sempai ni rei" or "otagai ni rei" ("rei" each other) | |
| shōmen ni rei! | show-men | "rei" to the front (ie facing the scroll) | |
| kesshu | ke-ssh(u) | stand hands linked (left thumb in right hand) | lit: ketsu (link) shu (hands); the final 'u' is virtually silent; |
| chakuza | TSHA-ku-za | sit down | the "za" relates to sitting; hence "zazen"=seated meditation |
| anza | ann-za | sit comfortably | sit cross-legged |
| seiza | SAY-za | formal kneeling position | |
| yoi ! | yo-i | get ready | |
| shinkokyū | SHIN-kokyou | new breath | |
| chōsoku | TSHOH-sokuh | breathing control | |
| Phonetic approximation |
English Translation |
Literal Meaning
/ Usage |
|
| keri | KE-ri | kick | in compound it becomes "geri" |
| tsuki | TSU-key | punch | in compound it becomes "zuki" |
| jun | juhn | straight, aligned | used to indicate straight kick with the front foot |
| choku | CHo-ku | straight, direct | as in "choku-zuki" |
| gyaku | ghee-yaku | opposite/reverse | used to indicate use of back hand/foot |
| meuchi | May-uh-chee | strike to the eyes | "me"= eyes; "uchi" = strike |
| kinteki | kin-TEki | the groin area | martial arts specific expression |
| renhankō | ren-HAN-koh | counter attack | lit: following-on attack |
| randori | ran-daw-ri | controlled sparring | free exercise in pairs - not restricted to prescribed moves |
| bōgi | BAW-ghee | defender | also: "shusha" ; lit. "defend/protect - person" |
| kōgi | KAW-ghee | attacker | also: "kōsha" ; lit. "attack - person" |
| maai | ma-eye | distance | |
| Numbers: | |||
| 3 |
san | sun | |
| 4 |
shi | she | |
| 5 |
go | go * see notes on "o" below | |
| 6 |
roku | ro-kuh | |
| 7 |
shichi | she-chee | |
| 8 |
hachi | hat-chee | |
| 9 |
kyū | queue | |
| 10 |
jū | jew | |
|
NOTES: The pronunciation is approximated for English speakers with no experience of the Japanese vowel sounds. VOWELS: a As the 'u'
in the 'cut 1) the Japanese "o" is similar to that used in Italian or Spanish ; it is different from the soft, diphthong English "oh". 2) an "ō in the Japanese word indicates that the "o" sound is lengthened. Simlarly, the "ū" indicates a lengthened "u" sound. 3) Syllable stress - in Japanese is this is not as heavy as in English and the stress is denoted by a slightly higher pitch only. Syllable weighting/stress I have indicated with capital letters. CONSONANTS: Most consonants ares similar
to those in English. Note however the following points:
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