25 Unique Japanese Words That Don’t Translate to English

When you start learning Japanese, you begin with basic Japanese words and phrases that can be easily translated from Japanese to English. But as you progress in your language learning, you’ll inevitably stumble across words that have no equivalent in your native tongue.

When you adopt those words, you’re challenging yourself to truly immerse yourself and think in a new language, which is a sign of mastery! In this guide, you’ll find a variety of Japanese words that don’t translate to English, which can help bring you to the next level of your Japanese learning journey.

1. Nekojita, 猫舌

When you receive freshly cooked food, do you need to blow on it incessantly to cool it down while others can dig in right away? If so, you have a nekojita or “cat’s tongue.” While it might sound similar, this Japanese word has no relation to the English idiom “cat got your tongue.” Instead it’s a unique Japanese idiom that means you’re especially sensitive to food or drink that’s hot in temperature.

Nekojita dakara, mada taberenai. (猫舌だから、まだ食べれない。) = Because I have cat tongue, I can’t eat it yet.

2. Gorogoro, ゴロゴロ

There are many more Japanese onomatopeias (sound words) than English ones, so a number of them could be on this list! One example is gorogoro; it describes the sound of rumbling or something heavy rolling. But it’s applied in a variety of ways:

Japanese	Romanization	Meaning
雷のゴロゴロ音が聞こえる。	Kaminari no gorogoro oto ga kikoeru.	I can hear the rumbling of thunder.
お腹がゴロゴロする。	O-naka ga gorogoro suru.	My stomach is rumbling.
猫がゴロゴロとのどを鳴らす。	Neko ga gorogoro to nodo o narasu.	The cat is purring with a rumbling noise.
岩がゴロゴロ転がる	Iwa ga gorogoro korogaru.	The boulder is rolling with a rumbling noise.
一日中、家でゴロゴロしていた。	Ichi nichi juu, ie de gorogoro shite ita.	I loafed around at home all day.

3. Seishun,青春

The exuberant and hopeful time of one’s youth is encapsulated by the word seishun. Japanese teenagers and young adults are encouraged to embrace seishun, which often means falling in love and/or experiencing the thrill of other intense feelings.

The symbols in seishun (青春) literally mean “blue springtime,” but the “blue” actually refers to “green” due to a quirk in the history of Japanese color words. The image of growth and excitement in the spring season is apt for depicting this period of personal development.

Seishun da ne! (青春だね！) = That’s what it is to be young!

4. Seikatsu, 生活

While seikatsu is similar to “lifestyle,” it’s not a one-to-one translation. It refers to what living your life is like, especially when you add parameters. If you have the chance to live in Japan, people are likely to ask what you think of nihon de no seikatsu (日本での生活), or life in Japan:

Japanese	Romanization	Meaning
日本での生活はどう思う？	Nihon de no seikatsu wa dou omou?	What do you think of life in Japan?
快適な生活を送っている。	Kaiteki na seikatsu o okutteiru.	I lead a comfortable life.
この給料で生活できない。	Kono kyūryō de seikatsu dekinai.	I can’t live off this salary.

5. Junchō, 順調

Junchо̄ is a Japanese adjective that conveys that things are going well or proceeding smoothly. When you receive an update on a project, junchо̄ is what you want to hear! If things are going well in your life, you can celebrate with the phrase banji junchо̄ (万事順調), or “everything is going great!”

Gishiki wa junchо̄ ni susunda. (儀式は順調に進んだ。) = The ceremony went off without a hitch.

6. Genki, 元気

Although genki is commonly used for Japanese greetings, it’s surprisingly difficult to define and is one of the Japanese words that don’t translate to English! When Japanese people learn English, they often learn that genki equals “fine,” but that doesn’t cover the numerous ways to apply genki:

Japanese	Romanization	Meaning
元気ですか？	Genki desu ka?	How are you? (standard greeting)
元気です。	Genki desu.	I’m good./I’m fine. (standard greeting response)
元気でね！	Genki de ne!	Take care!
ポチは元気な犬。	Pochi wa genki na inu desu.	Pochi is an energetic dog.
元気出して！	Genki dashite!	Cheer up!
病気だったが、元気になった。	Byōki datta ga, genki ni natta.	I was sick, but I’m healthy now.

These phrases have a sense of being “full of life” in common, which is what genki embodies.

7. Keigo, 敬語

If you interact with service workers in Japanese, you’re sure to hear examples of keigo. Keigo is specialized formal Japanese with strict rules dictating grammar and vocabulary. You can compare keigo to “business English,” but the scope of keigo is much larger, and a strong cultural emphasis is placed on mastering it.

Speech in a keigo register can almost sound like a different language—to the point even native Japanese speakers can struggle with it! Adding to the complexity, there are different types of keigo, and you’ll use different phrases for showing respect to others vs. humbling yourself.

Baito no tame, keigo o renshū shinakereba narimasen. (バイトのため、敬語を練習しなければなりません。) = I have to practice formal Japanese for my part-time job.

8. Itterasshai, 行ってらっしゃい

You can break down this word into two Japanese verbs; itte comes from iku (行く), meaning “to go,” and rasshai comes from the keigo word irassharu (いらっしゃる), meaning “to come.” In Japanese, itterasshai is a way to wish someone well as they depart and urge them to return.

You’ll use set phrases and responses when you leave your house and come back. As you’re leaving, you’ll say ittekimasu (行ってきます), or “I’ll go but come back.” A family member or friend will echo back itterasshai. When you return, you’ll say tadaima, meaning “I am home now,” and whoever is there to greet you will say o-kaeri, or “welcome home.” This set of customs fosters interpersonal bonds, as you’re encouraged as you head out, and you know someone is waiting for you to come back safely.

9. Dōzo, どうぞ

Dо̄zo is a polite word used to show deference. It can mean “go ahead,” such as when entering a building or “here you are” when you hand something over. Sometimes the best translation for dо̄zo is simply “please.” In any case, you’re prioritizing another person’s actions.

O-cha o dо̄zo. (お茶をどうぞ。) = Please, go ahead and have some tea.

10. Yoroshiku, よろしく

Although it’s a frequently used Japanese adverb, yoroshiku is surprisingly tricky to explain. It was adapted from the adjective yoroshii (よろしい), meaning “good” or “acceptable,” so yoroshiku could be translated as “well” or “in an acceptable way.” But yoroshiku is used in specific contexts:

Your self-introduction should end with a phrase that includes yoroshiku, such as dо̄zo yoroshiku (どうぞよろしく) or yoroshiku onegaishimasu (よろしくお願いします). More literal translations interpret these phrases as “please treat me well.”
When talking with someone you know, you can use yoroshiku to pass on well wishes to their family. For example, okā-san ni yoroshiku (お母さんによろしく) means “give my regards to your mother.”
Yoroshiku can mean “I’m counting on you” when you ask someone for a favor. “I leave the rest up to you” is ato no koto wa yoroshiku (後のことはよろしく).

11. Tatemae, 建前

Tatemae and honne are a pair of Japanese words that have a deep meaning and convey how Japanese people conduct themselves in front of others.

Tatemae is the outward self you present. It implies always trying to handle things diplomatically and not voicing strong personal opinions. Because Japanese people usually express themselves through the filter of tatemae, it can be difficult to know what a Japanese person truly thinks, and you’ll have to focus on implicit cues to gain insight.

12. Honne, 本音

Honne is the opposite of tatemae and refers to the inner self. In this word, hon (本) refers to something “real” or “genuine.” Someone expressing their honne to you demonstrates a high level of trust.

13. Omotenashi, おもてなし

Japanese hospitality is referred to as omotenashi, but it’s more profound than the English equivalent. As Tokyo ambassador Christel Takigawa explained to the Olympic Committee, the Japanese way of receiving guests means that no service, however insignificant, is left unanticipated. Those who wait on customers or clients may spend years training to exceed expectations.

There are two explanations for how the word omotenashi was created. The first came from the verb motenasu (もてなす), meaning “to entertain.” The second is from a combination of omote (表), meaning “surface” and nashi (無し), meaning “without.” The idea is to serve people wholeheartedly, without pretense.

14. Dogeza, 土下座

Dogeza is a gesture steeped in tradition and Japanese etiquette and is when one kneels prostrate with the forehead touching the ground. This gesture where you bring yourself as low as possible is considered the highest expression of reverence in many Asian cultures, but it often communicates shame rather than straightforward humility. It may be employed during a heartfelt apology or to implore someone for an important favor.

English adopted the loanword “kowtow” from the Cantonese term for a similar gesture of subservience in Chinese traditions.

Dogeza shite ayamarinasai! (土下座して謝りなさい！) = Bow down to the ground and beg for forgiveness!

15. Aizuchi, 相槌

Have you talked with a Japanese person and heard them periodically react with phrases such as sou desu ne, naruhodo, or hē? These are all examples of aizuchi, or small interjections that demonstrate the listener is paying close attention.

In Japanese-style communication, aizuchi are one of the necessary Japanese parts of speech as they indicate interest, give encouragement, and show respect. It’s important to become comfortable with aizuchi in order to have natural conversations in Japanese.

16. Yappari, やっぱり

The word yappari—or the synonym yahari (やはり)—expresses the feeling that something was predictable or that one condition necessitates another. It can be compared to phrases such as “sure enough,” “as expected,” and “after all.”

Yappari is similar to sasuga (さすが), another cool Japanese word. Sasuga could be translated as “just as you’d expect from [noun].” The difference is sasuga is usually used to describe people in a complimentary way, whereas yappari is a more broad and neutral term.

Ame dakara, yappari shiai wa chūshi ni natta. (雨だから、やっぱり試合は中止になった。) = It’s raining, so sure enough the game was cancelled.
Yappari kukkī to gyūnyū wa oishii. (やっぱりクッキーと牛乳は美味しい。) = As expected, cookies with milk are delicious.

17. Aite, 相手

Your aite can be the love of your life, or your greatest nemesis! It’s a neutral Japanese noun describing the “other person” in a relationship. This word reflects the Japanese cultural principle of being others-focused. Uses of aite include:

Japanese	Romanization	Meaning
結婚相手	kekkon aite	the person you will marry
ダンスの相手	dansu no aite	dance partner
話し相手	hanashi aite	conversation partner/person you’re talking to
相手チーム	aite chīmu	the opposing team
相手に勝ちたい。	Aite ni kachitai.	I want to win against my opponent.

18. Nakama, 仲間

Your nakama are people who are in the same group as you. You can be nakama based on a variety of things, whether you’re close friends, work at the same place, have a hobby in common, or just share a random trait! The pirate crew members in the manga series One Piece refer to each other as nakama.

Japanese	Romanization	Meaning
旅仲間	tabi nakama	travel companion
メガネ仲間	megane nakama	fellow glasses-wearers
職場の仲間	shokuba no nakama	person who works at the same place
仲間に入れてください。	Nakama ni irete kudasai.	Please let me join your group.

19. Senpai, 先輩

Senpai is another word added to the English lexicon through anime and manga. If you hear senpai in a school setting, it means “upperclassman.” But this does not cover the breadth of what a senpai is.

A senpai is anyone more advanced than you in a certain area. At school, anyone in a higher grade is a senpai. At your job, anyone who has worked there longer than you is a senpai. Someone can also be your senpai when you’re trying to learn a specific skill, even if they’re much younger than you.

Senpai and its opposite kо̄hai (後輩) are Japanese honorifics. Using senpai for someone is a sign of respect.

Senpai wa setsumē shite kuremashita. (先輩は説明してくれました。) = My senpai kindly explained it to me.

20. Otaku, オタク

Otaku is such a popular Japanese slang word that it has crossed over into other cultures! But while otaku abroad refers to someone obsessed with Japanese anime or manga, someone called an otaku in Japan could be interested in any number of hobbies. There are train otaku, weapons otaku, otaku for specific musical acts, and countless other types.

Tetsudо̄ otaku dakara, atarashii shinkansen ga mitai! (鉄道オタクだから、新しい新幹線が見たい！) = Because I’m a train otaku, I want to see the new bullet train!

21. Sōshoku-kei, 草食系

If you’ve seen interviews about dating in Japan, you may have encountered the terms “herbivore men” and “carnivore men.” If someone is an “herbivore man” or sōshoku-kei, they are timid about pursuing relationships; they instead depend on others to initiate.

Often sōshoku-kei are talked about as a quirk of dating in Japan, and some prefer relationships with sōshoku-kei. But there is some concern that their prevalence contributes to Japan’s declining birth rate.

22. Nikushoku-kei, 肉食系

Nikushoku-kei are “carnivore men.” They are the opposite of sōshoku-kei and are characterized as exceptionally assertive in pursuing relationships. Someone who is a nikoshoku-kei may often go out and try to pick up women, which is called nanpa (ナンパ) in Japanese.

23. Yōkai, 妖怪

The first symbol in the word yōkai means “bewitching” (妖) and the second symbol means “mysterious” or “apparition” (怪). Yōkai refers to any of the mythological Japanese animals or supernatural beings, especially those included in Japanese folklore.

The various kinds of yōkai rarely have a Western counterpart, meaning their names are also Japanese words with no English translation. Learning about yōkai is a great way to gain insight into Japanese stories and culture!

24. Manzai, 漫才

Humor is infamously difficult to explain, and humor from another culture is even more of a challenge! Manzai is a comedy act with two people, each having a set role. The boke (ボケ) is the “idiot” and the tsukkomi (ツッコミ) is the “straight man.” They engage in a fast-paced dialogue, and the tsukkomi reacts to the antics of the boke with quips and sometimes slaps from a paper fan.

Manzai started in the city of Ōsaka, which cemented Ōsaka as the comedy capital of Japan. One common retort the tsukkomi makes comes from the Ōsakan dialect; nandeyanen (何でやねん) simply means “why” but is often translated as “what the heck?” The influence of manzai is apparent all over Japanese media.

25. Sazae-san shōkōgun, サザエさん症候群

The anime “Sazae-san” is the longest-running animated series in the world, and its ubiquity in Japan can be compared to that of “The Simpsons” in the US. Its broadcast slot is Sunday evening, so when “Sazae-san” is on, it’s a reminder that it’s almost Monday—which means returning to work or school! The resulting feeling of dread is Sazae-san shо̄kо̄gun, which literally translates as “Sazae-san syndrome.”

Find your nakama through Japanese language learning

Japanese words that don’t translate to English are windows into the Japanese perspective; they illuminate Japan’s distinct values, cultural touchstones, and the varied ways people regard each other.

To develop and deepen your connections with Japanese culture and people, commit to learning Japanese with Rosetta Stone’s Dynamic Immersion method. By immersing yourself in images, text, and audio from native speakers, you’ll quickly learn a variety of Japanese words to help you engage in meaningful conversation.

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