Words With Japanese Origins

Take the Quiz

267 Words

1 Adachi A Japanese surname, also a special ward of Tokyo, Japan.
2 adrenaline A hormone released in response to stress or excitement that speeds up the heart and boosts energy.
3 Akiyama A Japanese surname, literally combining characters for "autumn" and "mountain."
4 ama A traditional Japanese diver, typically a woman, who free-dives for pearls, shellfish, or seaweed.
5 Amamiya A Japanese surname.
6 Amano A Japanese surname.
7 Ando A Japanese surname, also the name of a barangay in the Philippines.
8 anime Animation that originates from Japan, or animated work drawn in the visual style associated with it.
9 ao grue ("blue or green", considered as one color)
10 arigato "Thank you" — used in English to evoke or reference Japanese, often informally or humorously.
11 atari In the board game Go, a position where a stone or group of stones is one move away from being captured.
12 bai A waterlogged, open meadow found in forested parts of sub-Saharan Africa, often visited by large wildlife.
13 bara A genre of homoerotic art and comics from Japan, made by and for gay men, typically depicting muscular, mascul...
14 bento A Japanese-style boxed meal, typically packed with rice, protein, and vegetables arranged neatly in separate c...
15 bonsai A miniature tree grown and shaped in a small pot through careful pruning and root control.
16 bushido The traditional code of honour and conduct followed by the samurai of feudal Japan, stressing loyalty and duty...
17 Chiba A prefecture in Japan, east of Tokyo, and also the name of its capital city.
18 Chiyoko A Japanese female given name.
19 cosplay The hobby of dressing up as a character from a game, anime, comic, or other fiction.
20 dojo A hall or room used for practicing martial arts, usually under an instructor.
21 ema A small wooden plaque on which a wish or prayer is written and hung at a Shinto shrine in Japan.
22 emoji A small digital icon used in texts and online messages to represent an emotion, object, or idea.
23 geisha A Japanese woman trained as a professional entertainer, skilled in traditional arts such as music, dance, and...
24 geta A traditional Japanese wooden sandal raised on two supports, traditionally worn with a kimono.
25 gi The loose-fitting uniform worn for martial arts such as judo or karate.
26 Godzilla A giant, fire-breathing movie monster from Japanese films, and by extension anything huge and destructive of i...
27 haa A sigh.
28 hai An informal greeting; a playful or stylized spelling of "hi."
29 Hanako A Japanese female given name.
30 Handa A city in Aichi Prefecture, Japan.
31 Harada A Japanese surname.
32 heya In sumo wrestling, a training stable where rikishi (wrestlers) live, train, and eat together under a stablemas...
33 Hikari A Japanese female given name.
34 Hirata A Japanese surname.
35 Hirayama A Japanese surname.
36 Hiroko A Japanese feminine given name.
37 Hiroshi A Japanese masculine given name.
38 Hiroshima A prefecture in southwestern Honshu, Japan.
39 Hisako A Japanese feminine given name.
40 Hisashi A Japanese masculine given name.
41 Hitomi A Japanese feminine given name.
42 Hojo A Japanese surname, historically borne by a powerful regent clan of medieval Japan.
43 Hokkaido Japan's northernmost and second-largest main island, known for its cold winters and capital city Sapporo.
44 honcho The person in charge; the boss.
45 Inari A style of sushi made from seasoned rice stuffed into a pouch of sweet, fried tofu (aburaage).
46 Ise A city in Mie Prefecture, Japan, known for its famous Shinto shrine.
47 Ishida A Japanese surname.
48 Ishihara A Japanese surname.
49 Ishii A Japanese surname.
50 Ishikawa A prefecture in the north-central region of Japan.
51 Ito A Japanese surname, one of the most common in Japan.
52 Izu A city in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan, and the name of an old Japanese province.
53 Izumi A Japanese given name (used for both men and women) and surname, meaning "spring" or "fountain."
54 Jedi In the Star Wars fictional universe, a member of an order of warrior-monks attuned to a mystical energy called...
55 jin In bonsai cultivation, a section of dead, stripped wood on a branch or trunk, shaped to suggest age.
56 Jiro A Japanese masculine given name, traditionally meaning "second son."
57 JK Slang, from Japanese, for a high-school-age girl.
58 joshi Japanese women's professional wrestling, or a female wrestler within that scene.
59 judo A Japanese martial art and Olympic sport focused on throws, holds, and grappling rather than striking.
60 jujitsu A Japanese martial art that focuses on grappling, holds, and throws, using an opponent's own force against the...
61 kabuki A traditional Japanese theatre style featuring male actors in elaborate costumes and makeup who perform highly...
62 kagome A woven lattice pattern made of interlaced strips, forming a repeating pattern of triangles and hexagons — oft...
63 kami A spirit or deity in the Shinto religion of Japan, believed to inhabit natural objects, places, or ancestors.
64 kamikaze A suicide attack, or the person who carries one out, especially by deliberately crashing an aircraft into a ta...
65 kan A traditional Japanese unit of weight equal to roughly 3.75 kilograms (about 8.27 lb).
66 kanji The system of writing Japanese using characters borrowed from Chinese, where each character can represent a wh...
67 karaoke A form of entertainment, popular at bars and parties, where people take turns singing along to recorded backin...
68 karate A striking-based martial art, originally from Okinawa, built around punches, kicks, and open-hand strikes, alo...
69 Kashiwagi A Japanese surname.
70 Kasumi A Japanese female given name.
71 kata A set sequence of movements and stances practised in martial arts to build technique and muscle memory.
72 Katagiri A Japanese surname.
73 katana A traditional Japanese sword with a single curved edge, historically carried by samurai.
74 Kato A Native American people originally from northern California, or their language.
75 katsu A Japanese dish of meat or another food coated in panko breadcrumbs and deep-fried.
76 katsura A deciduous tree native to Japan and China, prized for its heart-shaped leaves that turn caramel-scented in au...
77 Kawahara A Japanese surname meaning roughly "riverbed" or "river plain."
78 Kawashima A Japanese surname meaning "river island."
79 kaya A sweet, fragrant jam made from coconut milk, eggs, and sugar, popular across Southeast Asia.
80 Kazuko A Japanese female given name.
81 Kazumi A Japanese given name used for both men and women.
82 kei A class of small, lightweight Japanese cars and vans with small engines, built to fit strict size and power li...
83 kendo A Japanese martial art in which practitioners fight with bamboo swords while wearing protective armor.
84 Kiko A female given name from Japanese.
85 kimono A traditional Japanese T-shaped robe with wide sleeves, wrapped around the body and tied with a sash, now worn...
86 Kiyoko A Japanese female given name.
87 Kiyomi A sweet citrus fruit, a hybrid variety popular in Japan.
88 Kiyoshi A Japanese male given name.
89 ko In the board game Go, a repeating capture situation where a single stone could be taken back and forth forever...
90 Kobe A major port city in Japan, capital of Hyōgo Prefecture, famous for its beef and its harbour.
91 koi An ornamental variety of carp bred for its bright red, gold, or white patterned scales, popular in garden pond...
92 koji Rice, barley, or soybeans that have been inoculated with a mold and fermented, used as a starter to make sake,...
93 kokoro A Japanese word covering heart, mind, and spirit together — a person's inner emotional and mental self.
94 Kondo To declutter and organise one's belongings, keeping only items that bring joy, following the method popularise...
95 koto A Japanese stringed instrument with a long wooden body and usually thirteen strings, played by plucking with p...
96 kun In Japanese, the way of reading a kanji character according to its native Japanese meaning, rather than its bo...
97 Kyoto The former imperial capital of Japan, now a major city on Honshu famous for its temples, gardens, and traditio...
98 kyu A rank or grade below black belt in Japanese martial arts and similar disciplines, also used in the game of go...
99 Kyushu The third-largest and southwesternmost of Japan's four main islands.
100 Maeda A Japanese surname.
101 maiko A young woman training to become a geisha in Japan.
102 maru A traditional suffix or name given to Japanese ships, especially merchant vessels.
103 Masahiro A male given name of Japanese origin.
104 Masao A male given name of Japanese origin.
105 Masaru A male given name of Japanese origin.
106 matsu The Japanese black pine tree.
107 mecha A large robotic vehicle or suit, typically piloted by a person inside it, common in science fiction.
108 Meiji Relating to the Meiji era of Japan (1868–1912), a period of rapid modernization, or to Emperor Meiji himself.
109 Michiko A Japanese feminine given name.
110 Midori A bright green, melon-flavoured liqueur, originally made by the Japanese company Suntory.
111 Mie A prefecture of Japan, located on the Kii Peninsula.
112 Miho A Japanese female given name.
113 mikado A historical title for the Emperor of Japan.
114 Miko A young woman who serves as an attendant at a Shinto shrine in Japan.
115 Mima A city in Tokushima Prefecture, Japan.
116 Minami A Japanese unisex given name and surname.
117 Minato A special ward of Tokyo, Japan, and also the name of wards in Osaka and Nagoya.
118 mino A traditional Japanese rain cape woven from straw.
119 Misako A Japanese feminine given name.
120 Misato A city in Saitama Prefecture, Japan.
121 Mishima A style of decorating pottery by pressing patterns into wet clay and filling the grooves with a contrasting sl...
122 miso A thick, salty Japanese paste made from fermented soybeans, used to flavour soups and sauces.
123 Mitsubishi A vehicle made by the Japanese company Mitsubishi.
124 Miura A Japanese surname.
125 miya A Japanese Shinto shrine.
126 Miyagi A prefecture of Japan whose capital is Sendai, and a Japanese surname.
127 Miyamoto A Japanese surname.
128 Miyazaki A prefecture and its capital city in Japan, and a Japanese surname notably borne by filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki.
129 Miyuki A Japanese feminine given name.
130 moe An intense, often fetishistic fondness for fictional characters from anime, manga, or video games.
131 Momoko A Japanese feminine given name.
132 mon An informal way of saying "come on," used to encourage or urge someone.
133 mondo Informal: very large, extreme, or impressive.
134 Mori A Japanese surname.
135 Murakami A Japanese surname.
136 Murata A Japanese surname.
137 Nagano A city and prefecture in Japan, host of the 1998 Winter Olympics.
138 Nagasaki A port city and prefecture in southwestern Japan, historically significant as an early trading port and as the...
139 Nagata A Japanese surname.
140 Nagoya The capital city of Aichi Prefecture, in central Japan.
141 Nakagawa A Japanese surname, literally meaning "middle river."
142 Nakajima A Japanese surname, literally meaning "middle island."
143 Nakamura A common Japanese surname, literally meaning "middle village."
144 Nakano A Japanese surname, literally meaning "middle field."
145 nani A Japanese word for "what," widely known through anime and internet slang.
146 Naoko A female given name of Japanese origin.
147 napa A variety of Chinese cabbage with a mild flavor and pale, tightly packed leaves, common in East Asian cooking.
148 ninja Historically, a covert agent in feudal Japan trained in stealth, espionage, and combat.
149 Nintendo A major Japanese company famous for video games and game consoles, including Mario and the Switch.
150 Nippon Japan, especially as used in formal or patriotic contexts.
151 nishi In sumo wrestling, the west side of the ranking list, considered the less prestigious of the two sides.
152 Nissan A major Japanese automobile manufacturer.
153 Noh A classical, highly stylized form of Japanese musical theatre, or a single play performed in that style.
154 nori A type of edible seaweed, typically dried and pressed into thin sheets and used to wrap sushi.
155 obi A wide sash tied around the waist of a kimono.
156 Ogata A Japanese surname.
157 Ogawa A Japanese surname, literally "small river."
158 Oishi A Japanese surname, literally "big stone."
159 Okamoto A Japanese surname.
160 Oki A Japanese surname.
161 Okinawa A prefecture and island chain of Japan, and the main island within it, notable as the site of a major World Wa...
162 Okuda A Japanese surname.
163 oni A demon or ogre-like spirit from Japanese folklore, often shown with horns and a fearsome face.
164 origami The art of folding paper into decorative shapes without cutting or gluing it.
165 Osaka The capital city of Osaka Prefecture on the island of Honshu, Japan, and a Japanese surname.
166 Oshima A Japanese surname, literally "big island."
167 Ota A Japanese surname, and the name of one of Tokyo's twenty-three special wards.
168 otaku Someone with an intense, all-consuming interest in a hobby or subject, especially a devoted fan of Japanese an...
169 otsu The capital city of Shiga Prefecture in Japan, on the shore of Lake Biwa.
170 oyabun The top boss of a yakuza crime family.
171 pachinko A Japanese arcade game similar to pinball, where small balls fall through a field of pins.
172 Pikachu A yellow, mouse-like Pokémon character with red cheeks and a lightning-bolt tail, known for its electric attac...
173 pon In mahjong, a call made to claim a discarded tile in order to form a set of three matching tiles.
174 rickshaw A small two- or three-wheeled vehicle for one or two passengers, pulled or pedalled by a driver.
175 Risa A feminine given name of Japanese origin.
176 ronin A samurai in feudal Japan who had no lord or master, often forced to survive independently.
177 ryo A five-note musical scale used in Japanese Buddhist chanting, built from a specific pattern of whole steps and...
178 ryu A Japanese term for a school or style of a particular discipline, most often used for martial arts.
179 Saburo A Japanese male given name.
180 Sachiko A Japanese female given name.
181 Sadako A Japanese female given name.
182 Sagara A Japanese surname.
183 sai A traditional three-pronged handheld weapon used in some East Asian martial arts.
184 Saitama A prefecture of Japan and the name of its capital city.
185 Saito A common Japanese surname.
186 sakura The Japanese cherry tree, or its blossom.
187 samurai A member of the warrior class in feudal Japan who served and fought for a local lord (daimyo), bound by a stri...
188 Sapporo The capital city of Hokkaido, Japan, known for its snow festival and namesake beer.
189 sashimi A Japanese dish of thinly sliced raw fish or seafood, usually served without rice.
190 sayonara Goodbye — a farewell, borrowed from Japanese.
191 seki In the board game Go, a standoff position where neither player can gain by playing further in that area.
192 sen A small unit of currency in several Asian countries, worth one hundredth of the main unit — for example, one h...
193 Sendai The capital city of Miyagi Prefecture in northern Honshu, Japan.
194 senpai In Japanese culture, a more senior or experienced person in a school, workplace, or art form, who acts as a ki...
195 sensei A martial arts instructor, especially in a Japanese discipline.
196 seppuku A ritual form of suicide by disembowelment historically practiced by Japanese samurai, often to preserve honor...
197 Shari Vinegared rice used to make sushi.
198 shiatsu A Japanese massage therapy in which the practitioner applies pressure with thumbs and palms to specific points...
199 Shibuya A busy special ward of Tokyo, Japan, famous for its crossing, shopping, and nightlife.
200 Shikoku The smallest of Japan's four main islands.
201 Shima A Japanese surname.
202 shimada A traditional formal Japanese hairstyle for unmarried women, in which the hair is gathered and pinned atop the...
203 Shimizu A Japanese surname.
204 shinigami A god or spirit of death in Japanese folklore and popular fiction.
205 Shinjuku A major special ward of Tokyo, Japan, home to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Office.
206 shinobi A male ninja, especially in traditional Japanese history and fiction.
207 Shizuko A Japanese female given name.
208 sho A Japanese free-reed mouth organ, related to the Chinese sheng, used in traditional court music.
209 shogun The top military ruler of feudal Japan, who governed in the emperor's name.
210 shoji A sliding Japanese screen or door made of a wooden frame covered in translucent paper.
211 Showa The Japanese imperial era running from 1926 to 1989, spanning WWII and Japan's postwar economic recovery.
212 soba A thin Japanese noodle made from buckwheat flour, served hot in broth or cold with a dipping sauce.
213 soju A clear, distilled Korean alcoholic drink, similar to vodka but typically lower in alcohol.
214 Subaru A Japanese car manufacturer, whose name refers to a star cluster known in the West as the Pleiades.
215 sudoku A number puzzle played on a 9x9 grid, where each row, column, and smaller 3x3 box must contain the digits 1 to...
216 sugi The wood of the Japanese cedar tree, prized in construction and joinery.
217 sukiyaki A Japanese hot-pot dish of thin-sliced beef, tofu, and vegetables simmered in a sweet soy-based broth, often c...
218 sumo A Japanese style of wrestling in which two large wrestlers try to force each other out of a ring or make them...
219 sunbae In Korean culture, someone senior to you — an older classmate, colleague, or more experienced person in your f...
220 sushi A Japanese dish of vinegared rice, often paired with raw fish, seafood, or vegetables and sometimes wrapped in...
221 Suzuki A common Japanese surname.
222 Taguchi A Japanese surname.
223 tai The Japanese sea bream, a fish prized in Japanese cuisine and often served on celebratory occasions.
224 Tajima A Japanese surname.
225 Takada A Japanese surname.
226 Takagi A Japanese surname.
227 Takahashi A Japanese surname.
228 Takako A female Japanese given name.
229 Takano A Japanese surname.
230 Takao A Japanese given name, and a historical name for the city now known as Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
231 Takayama A Japanese surname, and the name of a city in Gifu Prefecture known for its preserved old town.
232 tanto A short traditional Japanese blade, often carried alongside a katana.
233 tanuki A Japanese raccoon dog, a wild canine species native to East Asia.
234 tate Of video games, a vertical mode.
235 tengu A supernatural creature from Japanese folklore, usually shown as a bird-like or long-nosed figure.
236 teriyaki A Japanese cooking method in which meat or fish is grilled or broiled after being coated in a sweet, glossy so...
237 Tojo A Japanese surname.
238 toki The Japanese crested ibis, a rare bird native to Japan (Nipponia nippon).
239 Tokugawa A Japanese surname, and the name of the shogun family that ruled Japan from the 17th to 19th centuries.
240 Tokyo The capital city and a prefecture of Japan.
241 tomoe A circular design of swirling water, commonly used in Japanese family crests and corporation logos.
242 tori In martial arts practice, the partner who performs the technique on the training partner (the uke).
243 toro A traditional Japanese stone or wooden lantern, often seen in gardens and at shrines.
244 tosa A large Japanese breed of dog originally bred for fighting.
245 Toyota A car made by the Japanese manufacturer Toyota.
246 tsuna The thick ceremonial rope belt with zigzag paper streamers worn by a yokozuna, sumo wrestling's highest-ranked...
247 tsunami A huge, destructive sea wave usually caused by an underwater earthquake or eruption.
248 tsurugi A traditional Japanese sword with two cutting edges, unlike the single-edged katana.
249 tycoon A very wealthy and powerful businessperson, especially the head of a large company or industry.
250 udo Japanese spikenard, a tall Asian plant whose blanched young shoots are eaten as a vegetable.
251 Uma Any of the horse girl characters from Umamusume.
252 ume A Japanese fruit tree closely related to the plum and apricot, or its sour fruit, often pickled or used in dri...
253 uni Informal British/Australian term for university.
254 uta A short traditional Japanese poem, especially a waka.
255 wasabi A Japanese plant grown for its sharp, spicy root, related to horseradish and mustard.
256 yakuza An organized Japanese crime syndicate, or a member of one.
257 Yamaha A major Japanese company that makes motorcycles, musical instruments, and other equipment.
258 Yamato A historical name for Japan, especially referring to the ancient Yamato court that once ruled the country.
259 yashiro A Shinto shrine.
260 yuan The basic unit of currency in China.
261 Yukawa A Japanese surname.
262 Yukie A Japanese female given name.
263 Yukiko A Japanese female given name.
264 Yukio A Japanese male given name.
265 yuko In judo, a scoring result awarded for a throw that lands an opponent partly on their side, worth less than a f...
266 yumi A traditional Japanese longbow used in archery and the martial art of kyudo.
267 Yuriko A Japanese female given name.