#japanese kanji

君を幸せにするために生まれてきたんだ。/ kimiwo shiawase ni suru tameni umarete kitanda. / I was born to make you happy.

私、どんな感情も持たないことにしてるの。/ watashi, donna kanjou mo mota nai kotoni shiteruno. / "I’m avoiding any kind of feeling.“ 

嫌な女のいない学校::::::::::::::::ありえない / iyana onna no inai gakko:::::::::::::::::arienai / "SCHOOL WITHOUT A BITCH:::::::::::::::IMPOSSIBLE." 

風＋髪＝災害 / kaze+kami=saigai / "Wind + Hair = Disaster." 

美貌はただ気を引くだけです。人格は心を掴みます。/ bibou wa tada kiwo hiku dake desu.jinkaku wa kokoro wo tsukami masu. / "Beauty only gets attention. Personality is what captures the heart." 

他人の幸せを見るのが耐えられない人がいる。/ tanin no shiawase wo miru noga taerare nai hito ga iru. / "Some people can not stand to see the happiness of others." 

今寝れるのを明日にとって置くな。/ ima nereru nowo asu ni totte okuna. / Do not leave what you can sleep now for tomorrow. 

人間のことを知れば知るほど、ベッドが好きになる。/ ningen no koto wo shireba shiru hodo, beddo ga sukini naru. / The more I know humans, the more I love my bed. 

雨降ったし空きれいやわ！ / ame futta shi sora kirei yawa / The sky is beautiful after rain !

笑わせられなかったらゴメンネ。/  warawase rarenakatta ra gomen ne. / Forgive me when I can’t make you smile.

プライバシー＝家庭には存在しない言葉 / puraibashi- = katei niwa sonzai shinai kotoba. / Privacy = A word that does not exist here at home.

 嫉妬するのは嫌だけど、自分に嫉妬するのは好き。/ shitto surunowa kirai dakedo, jibunni shitto surunowasuki. / I hate 2 feel jealous, but I love 2 feel jealous of me. 

曇ったメガネにあなたの名前を書いた。/ kumotta megane ni anatano namae wo kaita. / "Just written your name on my fogged glass.“ 

アイフォーン::::::アイパッド:::::欲しい:::::金がない / aipho-n:::::aipaddo:::::hosii:::::kanega nai. / iPhone :::: iPad ::::: i want ::::: i don’t have money.

ええ、わたし頭で物を動かそうとしていたわ。/ ee, watashi atama de mono wo ugokasou to shiteita wa. / "Yes, I’ve tried to move an object by thought." 

あたしもあなたが必要なの。誰だって誰かが必要なのよ。 / atashi mo anata ga hituyou nano. daredatte darekagahituyounanoyo. / "I need you, too. Everybody needs somebody." 

Will you take a picture of me?
Would you take my picture?
Will you take a picture for me?
Would you mind taking my picture?
Shasin wo totte morae masu ka? 

shashin: picture, photo

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Please check it out.
Shirabete kudasai.

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Can I leave a message?
Dengon wo onegai deki masu ka?

deki: can

Kanji translation:
dengon: message 

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Wait a minute, please.
Chotto matte kudasai. 

chotto: a minute

Kanji translation:
matsu: wait 

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Would you keep my luggage for me?
Watashi no nimotsu wo azukatte morae masu ka? 

watashi no: my

Kanji translation:
nimotsu: luggage 

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Please explain briefly.
Kanketsu ni setsumei shite kudasai.

Kanji translation:
kanketsu: briefly 

setsumei: explain 

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I’d like to change the reservation.
Yoyaku wo henkou shitai no desuga. 

Kanji translation:
yoyaku: reservation 

henkou: change 

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Call the police!
Keisatsu wo yonde kudasai!  

Kanji translation:
keisatsu: police 

Hurry up!
Isoide kudasai! 

Kanji translation:
isogu: hurry 

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Please write down.
Kaite kudasai.

Kanji translation:
kaku: write 

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Please interpret.
tsuuyaku shite kudasai.  

Kanji translation:
tsuuyaku: interpret 

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Please contact me.
Renraku shite kudasai. 

Kanji translation:
renraku: to write to or telephone someone 

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Please tell me how to use it.
Tsukai-kata wo oshiete kudasai.

Kanji translation:
tsukai-kata: usage 

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Would you do me a favor?
May I ask you a favor?
Can I ask you a favor?
O-negai ga aru no desuga.

Kanji translation:
negai: wish 

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Ashtray, please.
Haizara wo kudasai.

Kanji translation:
haizara: ashtray 

Do you understand? 分かりますか (wakarimasu ka?) - frm

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I understood 分かりました (wakarimashta) - frm

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I don’t understand わかりませ (wakarimasen) わからない (wakaranai) - inf

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Please speak more slowly ゆっくり話してください (yukkuri hanashite kudasai) ゆっくり言ってください (yukkuri itte kudasai)

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Please write it 書いてください (kaite kudasai)

Could you write it? 書いて、頂けますか (kaite itadakemasu ka)

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Please say it again もう一度、言ってください (mō ichido, itte kudasai)

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Do you speak Japanese? 日本語を話しますか (Nihongo o hanashimasu ka?)

日本語が話せますか (Nihongo ga hanasemasu ka?)

日本語が出来ますか (Nihongo ga dekimasu ka?)

Yes, a little はい、話します (Hai, hanashimasu)

はい、話せます (Hai, hanasemasu)

はい、出来ます (Hai, dekimasu)

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How do you say …  in Japanese? … を日本語で何と言いますか。(…o nihongo de nanto īmasu ka?)

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I don’t speak Japanese 日本語は話せません (Nihongo wa hanasemasen)

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Do you speak English? 英語ができますか (Eigo ga dekimasu ka?)

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Does anyone speak English? 誰か、英語が話せますか (dare ka, eigo ga hanasemasu ka?)

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Sorry, I didn’t understand that すみません。分かりませんでした (sumimasen. wakarimasen deshita)

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What did you say? なんて、言いましたか (nan te, iimashita ka?)

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Can you translate it for me? 訳してください(yakushite kudasai)

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What does this mean? これは、何という意味ですか (kore wa, nan to iu imi desu ka)

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How do you pronounce that? それは、どのように、発音しますか (sore wa, dono yō ni, hatsuon shimasu ka?)

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私はとても寂しいです。/ Watashi wa totemo sabishīdesu.  / I am very lonely.

恋は盲目！/ Koihamōmoku! / Love is blind!

あなたにキスしたい！/ Anata ni kisushitai! / I want kiss you!

置き去りにしていかないでくれ！/ Okizari ni shite ikanaide kure! / Don’t leave me behind!

おかえり！/ okaeri! / Welcome back!

私は本当に忙しいです。/ Watashi wa hontouni isogashiidesu. / I am really busy.

おつかれさま！/ otsukaresama! / Cheers for good work!

日本語をぺらぺらはなしたい！/ Nihongo o perapera hanashitai! / Want to speak fluent Japanese!

がんばります！/ ganbarimasu! / I’ll do my best!

良い一日を! / yoi ichinichi wo! / Have a nice day!

あなたの目はわたしの夢です。/ anata no me ha watashino yume desu. / Your eyes are my dream!

化が嫌いです。/ ka ga kirai desu. / I dislike/hate mosquito.

 週の最初の５日間は、いつも最悪。/ shuu no saisho itsuka kan wa, itsumo saiaku. / The first 5 days of the week is always the hardest. 

でまだ他人の言う事をきにしてるの？他人は永遠に他人なのよ。/ de mada tanin no iukoto wo kinishiteru no? tanin wa eienni tanin nanoyo. / And you still care about what others think? The others will always be others.

 私はね、すぐに忘れ、誰でも好きになってしまうような人間じゃないの。/ watashi wa ne, suguni wasure, daredemo suki ni natte shimau youna ningen ja naino. / I’m not the type of person who forgets quickly and loves everyone.

女性の心は神秘に包まれた深い海なのです。 josei no kokoro wa shinpi ni tsutsumareta fukai umi nanodesu. / The heart of a woman is a deep ocean of secrets

色んなことがあったけど好きだよ、それとも色んな事があったからかな。/ ironna koto ga atta kedo suki dayo, soretomo ironna koto ga atta kara kana. / I love you despite everything, or maybe because of all.

日曜日が最悪なのは、次の日が月曜日だとわかる点である。/ nichiyoubi ga saiaku nanowa, tsugino hi ga../ The worst part of Sunday is to know that the next day is Monday.

今夜の計画:::::::ツイッター / konyano keikaku:::::::tuitta- / Plans for tonight ::::::: twitter 

間抜けな笑い、ながい抱擁、心のこもった眼差し、ぜんぶ私に必要なもの。/ manukena warai nagai houyou kokorono komotta manazashi zenbu watashi ni hituyouna mono. / Silly smiles, long hugs and sincere stares are all I need.

少年はあなたのことが好きになり、男はあなたのことを愛してしまう。/ shounen wa anatano koto ga sukini nari, otoko wa anatano koto wo aishite shimau. / A boy likes you. A man loves you.

 思った以上にあなたのことが好きになってしまった。/ omotta ijouni anatano kotoga suki ni natte shimatta. / I have just liked you more than I thought.

我々は、レッテル社会に住んでいる、人はあなたのことを知る前に批判してしまう。/ wareware wa retteru shakai ni sundeiru, hitowa anatano kotowo shiru maeni hikanshite shimau. / We live in a society of labels, where people criticize you before they even know you.

その時々の大切さがわかるのは、それが思い出となったときです。sono tokidokino taisetsusa ga wakarunowa sorega omoide to natta toki desu. / We do not understand the value of the moments until they have become memories.

完璧な人ではなくて、あなたの欠点とうまくやっていける人を探しなさい。/ kanpekina hito dewa nakute, anatano ketten to umaku yatte ikeru hito wo sagashinasai. / Do not look for the perfect person, but someone who can live well with your flaws.

泣こうが笑おうが、重要なのは今日が金曜日だということ。/ nakou ga waraou ga, juuyou nanowa kyouga kinyoubi../ If I cried or smiled, what matters is that today is Friday. 

一番綺麗な微笑みは、辛かったことすべてに立ち向って来た人の微笑みです。/ ichiban kireina hohoemi wa tsurakatta koto subete ni tachimukatte kita hito no hohoemi desu. / The most beautiful smile is the one who fought all the tears.

ツイッターは大学みたいだ、毎日何か新しいことを学ぶ。/ tuitta- wa daigaku mitaida, mainichi nanika ../ Twitter is like the college, every day you learn something new. 

ええ泣いたわ、ええ失ったわよ、でも絶対に負けないから。/ ee naitawa, ee ushinatta wayo, demo zettaini makenai kara. / I cried yes, I lost yes, but I never give up.

 人は決して変わりません、ただ嘘が上手になるだけです。/ hito wa kessite kawarimasen, tada uso ga jouzuni narudakedesu. / People never change, only learn to lie better.

睡眠…..もまた飽きない日課だ。/ suimin….momata akinai nikka da. / Sleeping … is also a routine that is not boring!

思い出というのは、すべて思い出す必要はないのです。/ omoide toiunowa, subete omoidasu hituyou wa nainodesu. / Not all memories need to be remembered.

本当の女性は、笑顔をひろげます、足ではありません。/ hontouno josei wa, egao wo hiroge masu, ashi dewa arimasen. / True women open smiles, no legs.

いつも誰かが笑ってくれるその原因になりたかった。/ itsumo dareka ga waratte kureru sono genin ni narita katta. / I always wanted to be the reason for the smile of someone.

嫉妬は、誰を一番愛しているのかわからなくしてしまいます。/ shitto wa darewo ichiban aishite irunoka wakaranaku shite shimaimasu. / Jealousy is what causes you to be ignorant with whom you love most.

目を閉じると人の姿へと変わる歌があります。/ me wo tojiru to hito no sugata eto kawaru utaga arimasu. / There are songs that when u close yr eyes become people .

楽しい時は思い出となり、辛い時は物語となる。/ tanoshii toki wa omoide tonari tsurai toki wa monogatari. / Happy moments build memories. Hard times build stories.

人が泣くのは、弱いからではなく、ずっと強くなろうとしていたからです。/ hito ga naku nowa, yowai kara dewa naku, zutto tsuyoku narou to shiteita kara desu. / People cry, not because they are weak, but because they are being strong for long.

 誰かがあなたのことが嫌いだとしたらその理由はひとつ、その人があなたのようになりたいからです。/ dareka ga anatano koto ga kirai dato shitara, sono riyuu wa hitotsu, sono hito ga anatano youni naritai kara desu. / The only reason someone would hate you is because he or she wants to be like you. 

もしあるひとのことが知りたければ、その人の考えていることではなくてその人が何が好きなのか尋ねなさい。 / moshi aruhito no koto ga shirita kereba sono hito no kangaeteiru koto dewa nakute sono hito ga naniga sukinano ka tazune nasai. / If you wanna know a person, do not ask what he thinks but what he loves.

あなたを泣かせた人に復讐したいの？微笑みなさい。 / anatawo nakaseta hitoni fukushuuwo shitaino? hohoeminasai. / Wanna get revenge on those who made u cry? Smile.

北 【きた】(kita): North

東 【ひがし】(higashi): East

南 【みなみ】(minami): South

西 【にし】(nishi): West

I recently realized that I could not remember well all the kanji about compass directions. And, since they are usually among the basic kanji (asked in jplt n5), I decided to create a simple graphic post to remember them. Hope it can help you, too!

Background photo by Heidi FinonUnsplash

海外 【かいがい】(kaigai): (n.) abroad, overseas.

Background photo:Cristina GottardionUnsplash

晴れ 【はれ】(hare): clear weather, fine weather
女 【おみな】(onna): woman, female

I found this word watching Weathering with you. One of the main character of the anime is Hina, a ‘sunshine girl’ with the power of bringing sunny weather. 晴れ女 can be literally translated 'sunshine girl’, or 'sunny weather woman’.

雨 【あめ】(ame): rain, rainy weather
女 【おみな】(onna): woman, female

雨女 literally means 'rain girl’ or 'rainy weather woman’. 雨女 (Ameonna) is also a legendary female spirit, described as a goddess from China’s Mount Wushan, who is a cloud in the morning and rain in the evening.

Source: Jisho.org

Background photos: 1) 邱 严onUnsplash; 2) Photo by Tianshu LiuonUnsplash.

和 【わ】 (wa):sum; harmony, peace; Japan, Japanese style.

Example words:

和歌 【わか】 (waka) ->waka, classic Japanese poem (歌 = “song”).

英和 【エイワ】 (eiwa)-> English-Japanese, English-Japanese dictionary (英 = “English”, “Britain”).

Fun fact: I found this kanji in the fantasy series Avatar, the last airbender. You can usually see it in the opening credits, associated with the element air and the air nomads, a nation of wise monks.

Background photo by Nicki Eliza Schinow on Unsplash.
Words and translation: Jisho.org

巫女 【みこ】 (miko): a shrine maiden in shintoist temples, a sorceress, a shamaness. The second kanji 女is not read, but it means “woman”. The overall meaning is “shrine maiden, shamaness”.

I recently learned about the existence of this fascinating figure, the miko. Miko are the young women working in shintoist temples in Japan. In ages past they also had the role of shamanesses and prophetesses.

Thinking about it, I had already seen this figure in one famous anime, Your Name (kimi no na wa). In the movie, in fact, we see the main character, Mitsuha, performing ritual dances in a shrine with her sister, while wearing the traditional mikodress.

I found the miko fascinating. Think about it: in the morning you have these girls as your normal classmates, and at evening you see them at the temple, working in the shrine and performing ritual dances. Maybe for us westerners it just gives a weird and beautiful impression to see the sacred in everyday life, especially in young people.

Background Photo by Denise MetzonUnsplash