Kendo Japanese Pronunciations and Definitions

This document is intended to define and provide a basic pronunciation key for basic Japanese used during kendo practices. The many of our definitions are taken from Jim Breen’s World Wide Web Japanese Online Dictionary, which can be found at https://www.edrdg.org/cgi-bin/wwwjdic/, and also from the All U.S. Kendo Federation Website at https://www.auskf.org/info/what-is-kendo. They are great resources.

Disclaimer: We are not professional linguists, so this document may (or most likely) contain errors or information which is not entirely accurate. Please use the following document as a light and entertaining guide to help bridge the language barrier, not as a definitive source.

A few points about the Japanese language

Japanese, unlike English, contains many more words which are homonyms, or words that are pronounced the same but have multiple meanings. This is typically a source of confusion for novice Japanese speakers and native Japanese speakers alike. If you try to find definitions of kendo terms on your own, please keep that in mind.

As an example, here are three words pronounced “kendo” with different meanings:

Kendo: 権道 【けんどう】

inappropriate means to a worthy end; expediency

Kendo: 県道 【けんどう】

prefectural road

Kendo: 剣道 【けんどう】

kendo; swordsmanship; fencing

Here's an amusing non-kendo example:

Niwa niwa niwa niwatori ga imasu: 庭には二羽鶏がいます.

In the backyard there are two chickens.

A few words about pronunciation

In general all of the romanized (romaji) versions of Japanese letters are pronounced as written, with one exception. The letter を is written in roman characters as “wo”, as in “kiwotsuke” but is pronounced more often as “o” to sound more like “ki-o-tsuke” or “kyotsuke”, identical to the お “o” sound in “otagai”. It is written in roman characters as “wo” to differentiate the two letters from each other. In some cases the use of “wo” is optional and denotes a slightly more formal tone, while its omission denotes more of an imperative command. In cases where the use of “wo” is optional, it is indicated by parentheses. Many times you will see the character of は (“ha”) written, but if it is used outside of a word it is pronounced “wa” like the character わ. In addition, if the character へ is used in a word it is pronounced “hey”, while if it is used outside of a word in a sentence it is pronounced “eh” identical to え.

Many written words in common usage drop the unemphasized and sometimes silent “u” う. Two examples are “bougu” (bogu) and “kyuu” (kyu). Sometimes it is easier for nonJapanese speakers to think of these “silent” characters as a sign to hold the vowel or consonant a little longer.

For ease of pronunciation and computerized input systems, the phonetic romanization (Hepburn system) is used in this glossary. The complete roman spelling is first, followed by the common spelling in parentheses if different from the phonetic version. The kanji follow the romanized version of the word, and the hiragana phonetic characters are last.

A pronunciation guide follows the glossary if you feel like you need more information.

A brief note about dialects:

There are about one hundred dialects of Japanese, including those that were constructed deliberately. They range from slight differences in pronunciation to differences so pronounced that the dialect is unintelligible for other Japanese speakers from other parts of the country. Please keep this in mind as the terminology from school to school and individual instructors may be different from what is listed here.

A few words about politeness:

Japanese has many levels of formality. The ritualized language used within Kendo practice is more formal and polite than everyday language. The general rule is that the longer the phrase, the more polite it is.

As an example, the following phrases all mean “Thank you”, the English translation roughly approximates the level of formality implied by their usage:

Doumo (Domo): どうも

thanks (informal)

Arigato: 有難う【ありがとう】

thanks (informal)

Doumo arigato: どうも有難う 【どうもありがとう】

thank you (formal)

Arigato gozaimasu: 有難うご座います【ありがとうございます】

thank you (formal)

Doumo arigato gozaimasu: どうも有難うご座います【どうもありがとうございます】

thank you (very much) (formal+)

Notice that the phrase used during kendo practice is the “formal+” version.

Definitions – now the good stuff!

People:

Sensei: 先生 【せんせい】

teachers, instructors – in kendo usually reserved for someone at 3rd Dan and up

Senpai: 先輩 【せんぱい】

senior

Kouhai (Kohai): 後輩 【こうはい】

junior

Kenshi: 剣士 【けんし】

a practitioner of kendo, fencer

Kendoka: 剣道家【けんどうか】

a practitioner of kendo, fencer

Senshu: 選手 【せんしゅ】

player, competitor

Shinpan: 審判 【しんぱん】

referee

Shinpanin: 審判員 【しんぱんいん】

referee

Cultural note: the relationship between senior and junior is one aspect of kendo that establishes not only a hierarchy, but also a support structure. A 6th Dan and a 7th Dan will use these terms and relationships just as a beginner and ranking person might.

Equipment:

Keikogi: 稽古着【けいこぎ】

kendo uniform (top)

Hakama: 袴 【はかま】

man's formal divided skirt (kendo uniform bottom)

Bougu (Bogu): 防具 【ぼうぐ】

protector (general name for kendo equipment)

Men: 面 【めん】

face mask

Kote: 小手 【こて】

gauntlet (used in Kendo)

Dou (Do): 胴 【どう】

body protector

Tare: 垂れ 【たれ】

hanging waist protector

Zekken: 【ゼッケン】

name marker (from the German word ‘Decken’), worn over the center panel of the Tare

Nafuda: 名札 【なふだ】

name marker

Himo: 紐 【ひも】

string/lacing used to secure equipment

Shinai: 竹刀 【しない】

bamboo sword

Bokken: 木剣 【ぼっけん】

wooden sword

Bokutou (Bokuto): 木刀 【ぼくとう】

wooden sword

Tenugui: 手ぬぐい【てぬぐい】

handtowel, used to wrap the head before wearing the Men

Tsuba: つば

: handguard

Tsubadome: つば止め【つばどめ】

handguard stopper

At the start and end of practice:

Retsu: 列 【れつ】

line, or to form a line

Kiwotsuke (pronounced Kyotsuke): 気を付け 【きをつけ】

(Stand to) attention!

Seiza 正座, 正坐 【せいざ】

sitting correctly (Japanese-style); sitting with the knees underneath the body

Chakuza 着座 【ちゃくざ】

Sit in seiza position

Mokusou (Mokuso): 黙想 【もくそう】

meditation; silent contemplation

Yame: 止め 【やめ】

stop (command)

Hajime: 始め【はじめ】

start (command)

Mokusou-yame (Mokuso-yame): 黙想止め【もくそうやめ】

stop meditating

ni mukat-te: に向かって【にむかって】

face towards a certain direction (command). Can be abbreviated as just "ni".

Shoumen ni: 正面に 【しょうめんに】

the front, façade (secular)

Shinzen ni: 神前に 【しんぜんに】

before god, before an altar (Buddhist)

Kamiza ni: 上座に 【かみざに】

chief seat; seat of honor

Sensei ni: 先生に 【せんせいに】

teacher

Sensei gata ni: 先生方に 【せんせいがたに】

teachers

Otagai ni: お互いに【おたがいに】

each other, reciprocal

Rei: 礼【れい】

Bow

Yoroshiku onegai shimasu: 宜しくお願いします【よろしくおねがいします】

a phrase that does not directly translate into English. "onegai" generally means "to ask for" or "please". "Yoroshiku" is a phrase used when you receive some sort of accommodation from another party, and that you are acknowledging this imposition by requesting the other party's good will and understanding. This phrase can also be used as a greeting, expressing these same sentiments. Can be abbreviated to “onegai shimasu”.

Doumo arigato gozaimashita : どうも有難うご座いました【どうもありがとうご ざいました】

thank you very much (past tense) (formal+)

Men (wo) tsuke: 面(を)付け【めん(を)つけ】

put on your men

Men (wo) tore: 面(を)取れ【めん(を)とれ】

take off your men

Shinai (wo) mote: 竹刀(を)持て【しない(を)もて】

pick up your shinai

Numbers: These are the cardinal numbers.

Ichi: 一 【いち】

one

Ni: 二 【に】

two

San: 三 【さん】

three

Shi (Yon): 四 【し; よん】

four

Go: 五 【ご】

five

Roku : 六【ろく】

six

Shichi (Nana): 七 【しち, なな】

seven

Hachi: 八【はち】

eight

Kyu (Ku): 九 【きゅう; く】

nine

Jyu: 十 【じゅう】

ten

Ni-Jyu: 二十【にじゅう】

twenty

San-Jyu: 三十【さんじゅう】

thirty

Yon-Jyu

forty

Go-Jyu

fifty

[number] kai: 回 【かい】

number of times (postpositional counter for occurrences). Ex. San-Jyu kai: Thirty times

[number] dan: 段【だん】

rank (postpositional counter for “black belt” ranks). Exception: Shodan 初段 【しょだん】: 1st degree “black belt”

[number] kyuu (kyu): 級 【きゅう】

rank (postpositional counter for non black belt ranks)

Ippon: 一本【いっぽん】

a point, a (scoring) blow

Warm up exercises:

Taisou (Taiso): 体操 【たいそう】

exercise, warm up exercises

Suburi: 素振り 【すぶり】

a cut or stretching movement with a (wooden/bamboo) sword, usually from a starting position above one's head.

Jyouge suburi (Jyoge suburi) 上下素振り 【じょうげすぶり】

high to low, up and down cuts

Renzoku sayuu suburi: 連続左右素振り【れんぞくさゆうすぶり】

continuous left and right. Often abbreviated as “sayuu-suburi” 左右素振り【さ ゆうすぶり】

Katate suburi: 片手素振り 【かたてすぶり】

one handed

Yoko-men suburi: 横面素振り【よこめんすぶり】

to the sides of the men

Matawari suburi: 股割り素振り【またわりすぶり】

(lit. thigh splitting cut). Feet placed outside of shoulder width, with toes pointing at a 45 degree angle. This stretch starts as a big men cut and finishes at kote height, while squatting during the downward cut. An upright posture thoughout the stretch is key.

Ashi-sabaki Footwork:

Okuri-ashi: 送り足【おくりあし】

sliding step with the right foot forward

Hiraki-ashi: 開き足【ひらきあし】

“opening” side step, used in sayuu suburi

Ayumi ashi: 歩み足【あゆみあし】

walking step, such as the step used by the receiver of kirikaeshi

Fumikomi: 踏み込み 【ふみこみ】

the lunge step which accompanies a strike, lateral “stomp”

Directions:

Mae: 前【まえ, まい】

forward

Ato: 後 【あと】

backward

Hidari: 左 【ひだり】

left

Migi: 右 【みぎ】

right

Susume: 進め 【すすめ】

step forward, advance (command)

Sagare: 下がれ【さがれ】

step backward (command)

Practice terms:

Shiai: 試合 【しあい】

competition

Waza: 業 【わざ】

technique

Kihon waza: 基本業【きほんわざ】

basic techniques

Sashi-men: 差し面【さしめん】

Fast or quick-men

Tai-tou (Tai-to): 帯刀 【たいとう】

Sword position at the level of the belt/obi (command) after the bow and before initiating the approach to sonkyo

Sonkyo: 蹲踞 【そんきょ】

formal crouch at the beginning/ending of a kendo match

Sage-tou (Sage-to) : 下げ刀【さげとう】

Lowered sword position before and after Tai-tou

Kamae: 構え 【かまえ】

To make ready (“on guard”)

Jodan no Kamae : 上段の構え【じょうだんのかまえ】

High position of the sword over your head. Considered a very aggressive stance for higher level Kendo practioners.

Chudan no Kamae : 中段の構え【ちゅうだんのかまえ】

Most common mid level stance with tip of sword pointing at your opponents throat.

Gedan no Kamae : 下段の構え【げだんのかまえ】

Least common stance. Sword tip is below kneecap level.

Kirikaeshi: 切り返し 【きりかえし】

(lit. returning cuts) An exercise where a certain sequence of men-suburi is traded between two partners, usually at the beginning and end of practice.

Keiko (geiko): 稽古 【けいこ, げいこ】

Practice

Mitori Geiko: 見取り【みとり】

The practice of learning by watching others

Uchikomi (geiko): 打ち込み 【うちこみ】

Practice involving the repetition of one strike

wo ute: を打て【をうて】

Strike (target, ie men). (Instructional command)

Kakari-geiko: 掛かり稽古【かかりげいこ】

(attacking practice) practice where the receiver only opens for variety of target areas and the attacker strikes

Aikakari-geiko: 相掛かり稽古【あいかかりげいこ】

(attacking practice) simultaneously attacking practice

Ji-geiko: 地稽古【じげいこ】

open sparring practice

Hikitate ji-geiko: 引き立て地稽古【ひきたて】

(‘to favor’ or ‘to promote’) open sparring practice between two individuals of differing rank

Gokaku ji-geiko: 互角地稽古【ごかく】

(‘of equal rank’) open sparring practice between two individuals of similar rank

Shiai ji-geiko (ji-geiko) 試合地稽古【しあい】

competition sparring

Ippon shoubu: 一本勝負 【いっぽんしょうぶ】

1 point match/first point wins match

Hansoku: 反則 【はんそく】

a foul/penalty (call). Two hansoku equals a full point deduction.

Wakare: 別れ 【わかれ】

(command) separate/split up – time continues

Enchou: 延長 【えんちょう】

overtime, sudden death overtime

Maai: 間合い 【まあい】(?)

the ideal maximum distance between two opponents. This is different for each person and can take a long time to develop or extend it.

Issoku-ittou: 一束一刀 【いっそくいっとう】

“One step, one sword”

To-ma : 遠間 【とおま】

“distant interval”

Tsubazeriai : 鍔迫り合い 【つばぜりあい】

(forcefully meeting at the tsuba) Where the two opponents are pressed against each other using the hips to drive forward, the arms are braced against each of their own chest protectors creating a pocket of open space. Both opponents are waiting for the optimum moment to either go through or strike while going backward.

Taiatari: 体当たり; 体当り 【たいあたり】

ramming attack, body blow

Chikama : 近間 【ちかま】

“close interval”

Ai-uchi: 相打ち【あいうち】

simultaneously striking one another

Kata 形【かた】- forms

[number]pon-me/hon-me 本目 【ぽんめ/ほんめ】

postpositional counter for referring to kata

Ippon-me: 一本目【いっぽんめ】

First kata

Nihon-me: 二本目【にほんめ】

Second kata

Sanbon-me: 三本目 【さんぼんめ】

Third kata

Yonhon-me: 四本目 【よんほんめ】

Fourth kata

Gohon-me: 五本目【ごほんめ】

Fifth kata

Roppon-me: 六本目 【ろっぽんめ】

Sixth kata

Nanahon-me: 七本目 【ななほんめ】

Seventh kata

Hachihon-me/happon-me: 八本目 【はちほん; はっぽん】

Eighth kata

Kyuuhon-me: 九本目【きゅうほんめ】

Ninth kata

Juppon-me: 一本目【じゅぽんめ】

Tenth kata

Uchidachi: 打太刀【うちだち】

The leader or attacker in a form/kata. The uchidachi always loses. This is to imply that being the attacker is not always best approach to a situation.

Shidachi: 仕太刀 【しだち】

The responder to the provocations of the uchidachi

Motodachi: 元立ち【もとだち】

The name given to the reciever during waza /nonkata practice

Concepts

Zanshin: 残心 【ざんしん】

(‘kokoro wo nokosu’- I leave my spirit behind, ‘kokoro ga nokoru’ – my spirit remains) follow through.

Seme: 攻め 【せめ】

Attack

Sutemi: 捨て身; 捨身 【すてみ】

(lit. To throw away one’s life) At the risk of one’s life. Without reservation, total commitment.

Ki ken tai icchi 気剣体一 致【きけんたいっち】

(lit. the spirit, sword, body are one.) Can mean that there is no true distinction between the spirit, sword, body and mind in kendo.

Enzan no metsuke 遠山の目付け【えざんのめつけ】

(lit: looking as if gazing at a far away mountain) To see everything in proper perspective, not focusing on a particular detail to the point of not seeing something else.

Kiai 気合い【きあい】

Showing of one’s fighting spirit, drawing from the “hara” or center of ones being. Sometimes used to goad an opponent on.

Mitsu no sen 三つの先【みつのせん】

“The three advantageous positions”

Sen sen no sen 先々の先【せんせんのせん】

To put oneself at an advantage by preceiving one’s opponent’s intention, and striking before the opponent has a chance to realize their attack (ie. debana waza).

Sen 先【せん】

To take an opponent’s initiative after they have begun an attack (nuki waza). This strategy is exemplified in the first and second kata.

Tai no sen 待の先【たいのせん】also Go no sen 後の先 【ごのせん】

“Wait” or “after”. To endure an opponent’s attack and counterattack after the opponent’s momentum is gone.

A very short guide to pronunciation:

The following table is a “quick” pronunciation guide to Japanese characters if you are confused about how a term is pronounced. There really is no replacement for hearing someone speak the terms correctly, so please use this portion of the glossary as a very rough guide.

Japanese letters other than vowels are made up of two sounds, a hard consonant and a vowel sound. Japanese vowels tend to be “short vowel” sounds in English. Each column in the table corresponds to one particular consonant, and each row of the table corresponds to a certain vowel sound. The first column is made up of all vowel sounds. Several spaces in the table are left blank because several letters in the Japanese alphabet have been eliminated. This table uses only “hiragana” characters, because almost all of the terms in this list use this character set. A separate character set called “katakana” exists for words from other languages.

Here are some example English words that correspond to one letter from each column and row:

Several columns are characters that are further modified by the addition of quotes or a small circle – both are placed in the upper right corner of the character they modify. This changes the consonants at the beginning of the character respectively:

Certain characters may be written small in combination with others to produce additional syllables. Similar to abbreviations, these small characters denote that the sound is to be underaccented than if it were written largely. Some examples are shown below:

Please feel free to explore the web or seek additional instruction/information.