Commonly-used Japanese phrases

I got a response to a chapter that brought up my use of Japanese phrases in the story. Speaking and understanding fair Japanese myself, I often forget that not everybody is familiar with the language. So, here's a list of commonly-used phrases in the story.

Most of the Japanese phrases used in the story are used to show formality of a character's speech, or to denote a particularly phrase, meaning, or sentiment that I feel is more Japanese than it is Western. There's not really a Japanese phrase or word that's used that's particularly necessary to know; where it is necessary to know what's being said, I've tried to translate it for the reader within the text around it.


Japanese - English meaning

Persons, Titles and Honorifics

senpai - senior, as in upperclassman; used for male and female; can be used alone or as an honorific attached to a name
kouhai - junior, as in underclassman; used for male and female; can be used alone or as an honorific attached to a name
sensei - teacher; can be used alone or as an honorific attached to a name
onii-chan/nii-chan - one's older brother when addressing said brother (o is added for more formality)
one-chan/ne-chan - one's older sister when addressing said sister (o is added for more formality)
ani - one's older brother when speaking with someone outside the family
ane - one's older sister when speaking with someone outside the family
kare - man; colloquially, boyfriend
kanojo - woman; colloquially, girlfriend
musuko - son
musume - daughter
otou-san/otou-chan/tou-san/tou-chan - father
okaa-san/okaa-chan/kaa-san/kaa-chan - mother
-san - formal honorific, usually reserved for someone worthy of respect
-kun - familiar honorific, used traditionally for young boys; Rise uses this for almost all men of her age bracket, due to her youthful personality
-chan - familiar honorific, used mostly for girls; also used between family members, and intimates for women and men
-tan - a babyish form of the familiar honorific "-chan"
-sama - very formal honorific, usually reserved for someone worthy of respect (specifically, more respect than the -san honorific)


Phrases

(domo) arigatou (gozaimasu) - thank you (very much)
domo arigatou gozaimashite - thank you very much (for something, such as a gift or action); also used with same meaning, but more respectful, as to an elder
konnichiwa - a greeting; hello during any time of day
konbanwa - good evening, or hello during evening hours
ohayo (gozaimasu) - good morning (formal), or hello during morning hours
sayounara - goodbye
oyasumi (nasai) - good night (formal)
suimasen/sumimasen - pardon me, excuse me, I'm sorry
gomen (nasai) - I'm sorry (more formal or polite)
daijoubu - it's all right, it's okay, don't worry about it; also, are you okay?
ja mata ne - see you later; some shortened variations (ja, ja mata, mata ne) are more colloquial
ie he youkoso - welcome to my/our house/home
irasshaimase/irasshai - welcome (as in, to my store); also, welcome back
tadaima - I'm home
okaeri (nasai) - welcome home (more formal or polite)
douzo yoroshiku - nice to meet you, somewhat formal
ojamashimasu - sorry for intruding; usually said when entering someone else's house, to be polite, regardless whether you mean it or not


Objects

rakuen - paradise
ryokan - hotel, inn; the Amagi Inn is a traditional ryokan
ohashi - chopsticks
gyudon/gyuudon - beef bowl, a common rice-and-beef dish; Aiya's specialty and one of Chie's favorites
obento/bento - a boxed lunch, sometimes quite elaborate (like from the Amagi Inn restaurant)
kotatsu - a table equipped with a heating element underneath; very comfy for cuddling in the colder months! :)
futon - a sleeping pad used as a bed
jinja - shrine
genkan - a usually-cement porch used for changing into and out of one's shoes prior to entering a house, school building, shrine
agari kamachi - a usually-cement step used for changing into and out of one's shoes prior to entering a house or apartment; smaller than a traditional genkan
ougi - a folding fan; Yukiko's weapon of choice
kunai - fighting knives; Yousuke's weapon of choice
kakebuton - a blanket for use with futon or kotatsu
ichigo - strawberry
koto - a wooden string instrument
korokke - croquette; Souzai's specialty is beef croquettes
kimono - a formal Japanese dress; worn by both men and women
yukata - a lightweight, one-piece Japanese dress, less formal than kimono; worn by both men and women


Pet names (NOTE: Nicknames or pet names - like "honey" or "sweetie" and the like - are not common in Japan, but for plot's sake, my protagonists do have pet names for each other)

hime - princess; Yousuke calls Chie this with frequency, though only in private
koinu - puppy (kanari no koinu specifically means "pretty puppy"); Chie calls Yousuke this on occasion, usually to be cute
kimi - affectionate variant of "you"
anta/anata - affectionate variant of "you"; used by a wife to a husband; old-fashioned (Note that using "あなた／Anata" when addressing strangers/acquaintances can be considered rude, especially if addressing someone of equal or higher social status, and is generally not done...though older people will lapse into this.)


Miscellaneous
kuma - kuma in its literal translation means "bear" in Japanese; Kuma the character uses this word as a closing in most phrases, though for no real good reason
gaeru - frog ("kero" is Japanese onomatopeia for the sound a frog makes)
arashi - storm (Yousuke's name for his bicycle)

-----

If you've got a question about the story, drop me a review or an email! Hope you keep reading! There's lots more fun stuff to come!