Glossary - Revision history

YellowHatGuy: /* Common Japanese Words */

2021-12-30T21:53:27Z

Common Japanese Words

YellowHatGuy at 21:48, 30 December 2021

2021-12-30T21:48:28Z

YellowHatGuy at 23:55, 4 February 2021

2021-02-04T23:55:01Z

YellowHatGuy: /* Common Japanese Words */

2020-02-06T04:12:25Z

Common Japanese Words

YellowHatGuy: /* Common Japanese Words */

2019-09-06T03:15:35Z

Common Japanese Words

YellowHatGuy: /* Common Japanese Words */

2019-09-06T03:12:12Z

Common Japanese Words

YellowHatGuy: /* Common Japanese Words */

2019-09-06T03:04:26Z

Common Japanese Words

YellowHatGuy: /* Common Japanese Words */

2019-08-26T03:48:02Z

Common Japanese Words

YellowHatGuy: /* Common Japanese Words */

2019-07-17T04:01:04Z

Common Japanese Words

YellowHatGuy: /* Common Japanese Words */

2019-07-17T03:58:19Z

Common Japanese Words

@@ Line 31: / Line 31: @@
 *"f" is more like "ph," since it's halfway between a "f" and a "h" sound.
 *"r" is pronounced quickly, without rolling the tongue. This causes confusion, as it almost seems like a “l”.
-*Both "tsu" and "su" are pronounced like "sue," but "tsu" has a hissing-s.
+*"tsu" and "su" are both pronounced like "sue," but "tsu" has a sibilant hissing-s.
-*The Japanese language has no plural tense, so do not add a "-s" when using Japanese words; it just make things weird.
+*The Japanese language has no plural tense, so do not add a "-s" when using Japanese words; it just makes things weird.
 *Japanese people customarily give their family name first, and then their given name. Likewise, a person's title is given as a suffix, and not a prefix. To make things simple, this website uses Western naming conventions.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 Since this is an English language guide intended for all levels, the English translations of Japanese terms will be used as much as possible, since it would be cruel obfuscate the material while we teach it. However, it is important that you learn the Japanese names; many different styles use these terms, and translations always include some degree of artistic license from the translator. This can lead to confusion, since our translations may not correspond with those of other practitioners, authors, and teachers. However, some Japanese terms have no clear or convenient English translation, so those Japanese names will be used throughout this website.
 __TOC__
-The names of individual techniques are listed on their respective pages; the names general concepts are listed below:
+The names of individual techniques are listed on their respective pages; the names of general concepts are listed below:
 == Conventions ==

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-Since this is an English language guide intended for all levels, the English translations of Japanese terms will be used as much as possible, since it would be cruel obfuscate the material while we teach it. For the sake of consistency, though, it is important that you learn the Japanese names. Many different styles use these terms, and translations always include some degree of artistic license from the translator. This can lead to confusion, since our translations may not correspond with those of other practitioners, authors, and teachers which you may encounter. However, some Japanese terms have no clear or convenient English translation, so those Japanese names will be used throughout this guide.
+Since this is an English language guide intended for all levels, the English translations of Japanese terms will be used as much as possible, since it would be cruel obfuscate the material while we teach it. However, it is important that you learn the Japanese names; many different styles use these terms, and translations always include some degree of artistic license from the translator. This can lead to confusion, since our translations may not correspond with those of other practitioners, authors, and teachers. However, some Japanese terms have no clear or convenient English translation, so those Japanese names will be used throughout this website.
 __TOC__
 The names of individual techniques are listed on their respective pages; the names general concepts are listed below:
@@ Line 6: / Line 6: @@
 Please note the following conventions when reading this site:
-*All techniques are described from the defender's perspective; so “right” and “left” will always refer to the defender’s right or left side.
+*All techniques are described from the defender's perspective; so “right” and “left” always refers to the defender’s right or left side.
 *The “centerline” refers to the body’s line-of-symmetry; an imaginary line running from the top of the head, between the eyes, down the middle of the nose, dividing the navel, etc.
 *Movements directed towards centerlines are “inside” techniques.
 *Movements directed away from centerlines are “outside” techniques.
-*When facing an opponent, the opponent is to be treated like a reflection in a mirror. While this may seem confusing at first, this conventions is the only thing which the entire martial arts community seems to agree upon -- so please, don’t take this from us!
+*When facing an opponent, they are treated like your reflection in a mirror. While confusing at first, this convention is the only thing which the entire martial arts community seems to agree upon -- so please, don’t take this from us!
 **When the opponent uses their right hand to grab the defender's left hand, this is a “same-side” grab. Same-side techniques '''do not''' cross the centerline.
 **If an opponent uses their right hand to grab the defender’s right hand, this is a “opposite-side” grab, since the opponent must reach across their centerline.
@@ Line 28: / Line 28: @@
 ***The "u" at the end of words is often silent.
 *Double consonants are always pronounced separately (e.g., bokken is pronounced "bok'ken").
-*"g" is always a hard-g, like in "goal," (as opposed to a j-like soft-g sound, as in "giraffe").
+*"g" is always a hard-g, like in "goal," (as opposed to a j-like soft-g, as in "giraffe").
 *"f" is more like "ph," since it's halfway between a "f" and a "h" sound.
 *"r" is pronounced quickly, without rolling the tongue. This causes confusion, as it almost seems like a “l”.
 *Both "tsu" and "su" are pronounced like "sue," but "tsu" has a hissing-s.
 *The Japanese language has no plural tense, so do not add a "-s" when using Japanese words; it just make things weird.
-*Japanese people customarily give their family name first, and then their given name. Likewise, a person's title is given as a suffix, and not a prefix. To make things simple, this website will use Western naming conventions.
+*Japanese people customarily give their family name first, and then their given name. Likewise, a person's title is given as a suffix, and not a prefix. To make things simple, this website uses Western naming conventions.
 {| class="wikitable"
@@ Line 66: / Line 66: @@
 |-
 |Hanshi
-|A rarely-granted title reserved for the greatest of masters and teachers-of-teachers. (Literally: "model gentleman")
+|A rarely-granted title reserved for the greatest masters and teachers-of-teachers. (Literally: "model gentleman")
 |-
 |Hidari
@@ Line 120: / Line 120: @@
 |-
 |Kyū
-|Grade / rank<br/> This suffix denotes the ranking of students who have not yet completed the basic curriculum. These ranks are typically indicated with color-coded belts. The number of kyū ranks, and their color codes tend to vary greatly between different dōjō. <br/> Also, this is a slang term for non-black belt students.
+|Grade / rank<br/> This suffix denotes a rank for students who have not yet completed the basic curriculum. These ranks are typically expressed with color-coded belts. The number of kyū ranks, and their color codes vary greatly between different dōjō. <br/> Also, this is a slang term for non-black belt students.
 |-
 |[[Kyūsho]]
@@ Line 132: / Line 132: @@
 |-
 |Makiwara
-|Punching board (Literally: “a bundle of straw”). These were common training tools in Asian striking arts before padwork and bagwork became common.
+|Punching board (Literally: “a bundle of straw”). These were common training tools before padwork and bagwork became common.
 |-
 |Migi
@@ Line 257: / Line 257: @@
 |}
 Common numbers and their Japanese translations are listed for your use. Combining these list items generates other common numbers (e.g., 49 is "yonjūku," 4*10 + 9). Please note that this is a "quick-and-dirty" guide. The Japanese language uses different words for ordinals; and separate, oddly-specific counting forms when counting people, and another form for the days of the month. Please be mindful of the following conventions:
-*“Shi” and “yon” both mean “four,” but there are oddly-specific cultural and linguistic restrictions on when and how to use “shi,” since it is a homophone for “death” in Japanese. The Japanese are thus extremely superstitious about the number four; buildings rarely have fourth floors, and items rarely come in 4-packs.
+*“Shi” and “yon” both mean “four,” but there are oddly-specific cultural and linguistic restrictions on when and how to use “shi,” which is a homophone for “death” in Japanese. The Japanese are thus extremely superstitious about the number four; buildings rarely have fourth floors, and items rarely come in 4-packs.
 *Likewise, since "ku" is a homophone for "suffering," it is often drawled out into "kyū."
 *“Shichi” and “nana” both mean “seven.” “Nana” is used when there is a risk of garbled communication (e.g., over a poor telephone or radio connection) because “shichi” (7) could be misheard as “shishi” (44).
 ----
 {{Navigation}}

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 |-
 |Bunkai
-|Practical applications of a kata's movements. (Literally: “picking apart / analysis / disassembly”)
+|Practical applications of a [[Kata|kata's]] movements. (Literally: “picking apart / analysis / disassembly”)
 |-
 |Dachi
@@ Line 81: / Line 81: @@
 |-
 |Karateka
-|“Karate-person” <br/><br/> The suffix "-ka" refers to a practitioner of a given activity. (e.g., jūdō players are jūdōka; aikidō practitioners are akidōka, etc.)
+|“Karate-person” <br/>The suffix "-ka" refers to a practitioner of a given activity. (e.g., jūdō players are jūdōka; aikidō practitioners are akidōka, etc.)
 |-
 |[[Kata]]
-|Formalized solo practice drills, with the goal of developing proper biomechanics. Because each movement has an associated bunkai, kata is much more than calisthenics. (Literally: “a set form or format / mold / model”)
+|Formalized solo practice drill sets intended to develop proper biomechanics. Because each movement has an associated bunkai, kata is much more than calisthenics. (Literally: “a set form or format / mold / model”)
 |-
 |Keage
@@ Line 162: / Line 162: @@
 |-
 |Sensei
-|A title given to teachers. "Sensei" literally translates as “one who came before you;” a sensei is not an exalted sage, but someone who was once like you, and thus knows what you need to improve. As such, within [[Goshin-Jutsu]] there is no formal criteria to earn this title; one becomes a sensei whenever students decide to start calling you that. <br/> Traditionally, “sensei” is a suffix (e.g., Jones-sensei), but it is commonly used as an honorific in English-speaking countries (e.g., Sensei Jones). Sensei '''''is not''''' a title you use when describing yourself.
+|A title given to teachers. Contrary to popular belief, a sensei is not an exalted sage. A sensei is literally “one who came before you,” and since they were once like you, they know what you need to improve. This is why [[Goshin-Jutsu]] has no formal criteria for issuing this title; one becomes a sensei whenever students start calling you that. <br/> Traditionally, “sensei” is a suffix (e.g., Jones-sensei), but it is commonly used as an honorific in English-speaking countries (e.g., Sensei Jones). <br/> Sensei '''''is not''''' a title you use when describing yourself.
 |-
 |Sensei ni, Rei!
-|"(Respectfully) Bow to the teacher!" Remember, you bow ''to'' people, never ''before'' them. ''If respect is not reciprocated, then it is not respect.''
+|"(Respectfully) Bow to the teacher!"<br/>
 |-
 |Shiai

@@ Line 20: / Line 20: @@
 *The Japanese language has terse vowels, which require a clear and sharp pronunciation; you could inadvertently say a completely different word if the vowel sounds are slightly off. This can cause great embarrassment, since the Japanese love pun-based humor.
 **A macron (a line drawn over a vowel) indicates the sound should last twice as long.
-***Since the letter "i" needs its dot be recognizable, the double-length version is usually rendered as "ii".
+***Since the letter "i" needs its dot to be recognizable, its double-length version is usually rendered as "ii".
 **"a" is the central-a, as in "father".
 **"e" is the middle-e, as in "get".
@@ Line 28: / Line 28: @@
 ***The "u" at the end of words is often silent.
 *Double consonants are always pronounced separately (e.g., bokken is pronounced "bok'ken").
-*"g" is always a hard-g, like in "goal," (as opposed to the j-like soft-g sound of "giraffe").
+*"g" is always a hard-g, like in "goal," (as opposed to a j-like soft-g sound, as in "giraffe").
 *"f" is more like "ph," since it's halfway between a "f" and a "h" sound.
 *"r" is pronounced quickly, without rolling the tongue. This causes confusion, as it almost seems like a “l”.

@@ Line 19: / Line 19: @@
 Please keep the following in mind when using Japanese terminology:
 *The Japanese language has terse vowels, which require a clear and sharp pronunciation; you could inadvertently say a completely different word if the vowel sounds are slightly off. This can cause great embarrassment, since the Japanese love pun-based humor.
-**A macron (a line drawn over a vowel) indicates the vowel sound should last twice as long.
+**A macron (a line drawn over a vowel) indicates the sound should last twice as long.
-***Since the "i" needs its dot be recognizable, the double-length version is usually rendered as "ii".
+***Since the letter "i" needs its dot be recognizable, the double-length version is usually rendered as "ii".
-**"a" is the central-a, as in the "Aaah!" noise you make when a physician inspects your throat.
+**"a" is the central-a, as in "father".
 **"e" is the middle-e, as in "get".
 **"i" is the short-i or long-e, as in "we".
 **"o" is a middle-o, as in "old".
-**"u" is a close-near back sound, as in "soon", but without pouting the lips. The "u" at the end of words is often silent.
+**"u" is a closed-near back sound, as in "soon", but without pouting the lips.
 *Double consonants are always pronounced separately (e.g., bokken is pronounced "bok'ken").
 *"g" is always a hard-g, like in "goal," (as opposed to the j-like soft-g sound of "giraffe").
 *"f" is more like "ph," since it's halfway between a "f" and a "h" sound.
-*"r" is pronounced quickly, without rolling the tongue. This causes confusion, as it sounds like a “l”.
+*"r" is pronounced quickly, without rolling the tongue. This causes confusion, as it almost seems like a “l”.
 *Both "tsu" and "su" are pronounced like "sue," but "tsu" has a hissing-s.
 *Japanese has no plural tense, so do not add a "-s" when using Japanese words; it just make things weird.