Japanese Terminology

Commands & Phrases
JapanesePronunciationKanjiEnglish
Arigato Gozaimasuah-ree-gah-toh goh-zai-masありがとうございますThank You Very Much
Hajimehah-jee-may始めBegin
KiotsukeKee-oh-skay気を付けAttention! Stand up straight!
Mattemah-tay待ってWait
Mawattemah-wah-tay回ってTurn Around
Mokusomoh-koo-soh黙想Quiet Meditation
Onegai Shimasuoh-neh-guy-she-masお願いしますPlease (Teach Me)
Otagai ni Reioh-tah-gah-ee nee rayお互いに礼Bow to Each Other
ReiRayBow with Respect
Sensei ni Reysen-say nee ray先生に礼Bow to the Teacher
Shomen ni Reishoh-men ni ray正面に礼Bow to the Front
Yameyah-may止めStop
YoiYoy用意Ready, Attention
Kazu (Numbers)
JapanesePronunciationKanjiEnglish
Ichieechone
Nineetwo
Sansanthree
Shishefour
Gogofive
Rokurokesix
Shichi (Nana)seechseven
Hachihacheight
Kukoonine
Jujooten
Ranks & Titles
JapanesePronunciationKanjiEnglish
KyuKyewRanks below Black Belt
DanDahnRanks of Black Belt
Shodan-Hoshow-dahn hoe初段補Probationary First Degree Black Belt
Shodanshow-dahn初段First Degree Black Belt
Nidannee-dahn二段Second Degree Black Belt
Sandansan-dahn三段Third Degree Black Belt
Yondanyohn-dahn四段Fourth Degree Black Belt
Godango-dahn五段Fifth Degree Black Belt
Rokudanrohk-oo-dahn六段Sixth Degree Black Belt
Nanadannah-nah-dahn七段Seventh Degree Black Belt
Hachidanhach-ee-dahn八段Eighth Degree Black Belt
Kudankoo-dahn九段Ninth Degree Black Belt
Judanjoo-dahn十段Tenth Degree Black Belt
Joshu-Shobanjoh-shoo show-ban助手初版Junior First Degree Black Belt
Teaching Ranks
JapanesePronunciationKanjiEnglish
Sempaisehm-pie先輩Senior Student
Senseisehn-say先生Teacher
Shihanshe-han師範Teacher of Teachers
Miscellaneous Terms
JapanesePronunciationKanjiEnglish
BunkaiBoon-kai分解Application of Kata Techniques (lit. picking apart)
Dojodoe-joe道場Place to Learn the Way
GigheeKarate Uniform
HaihiはいYes
Hidarihee-dah-reeLeft
Iyaee-yayいいえNo
Kamizakah-me-zah上座Seat of Honor, Shrine
Kiaikey-eye気合Spirit Yell
Kihonkey-hon基本Basics
Kumitekoo-meh-tay組手Sparring
Obioh-beeKarate Belt
Migimee-geeRight
Wazawah-zahTechnique
Yakusoku Kumiteyah-k(oo)-soh-koo koo-meh-tay約束組手Pre-arranged Sparring