Final Fantasy and the Vana'diel world is full of blended culture, and though players from all around the world immerse themselves in its story and history, the two most major cultures are English speaking players and Japanese speaking players. In the spirit of co-operation, here we will try to bridge a little of the language gap, offering some Japanese to English words and phrases that are used commonly in the game, yet go beyond the Auto-Translator function.
Romanji is phoetic Japanese, using English letters to spell out Japanese by sound. Since Each person may spell a sound differently, such as confusing similar sounds (won, wun, wan, etc), no person can absolutely define Japanese with Romanji, and sometimes Romanji words can't be looked up, as Romanji is so singular to the user.
Kanji, however, is much more refined. Kanji was from China, and is a figure language originally. Each kanji letter has own meaning, but likewise every word has its own Kanji, even multiple Kanji depending on how the word is used. Here, we will try to be simple and give the Romanji and / or Kanji that are most commonly used.
Please keep in mind that the explanations offered here are very basic, and though you may not see what you are looking for, it doesn't mean that what's here can't help you. This short lesson can be helpful to all players wanting to be respectful to the cultures we share.
Special thanks goes out to Bergkatze for helping to define, and in many cases correct us, and below is the translations and styles he offers.
To start, a little Kanji, to illustrate :
戦
: fight
盗 : steal
白 : white
赤 : red
黒 : black
暗 : dark
獣 : beast
詩 : poem
狩 : hunt
侍 : samurai fighters
忍 : endure
竜 : dragon
召 : summon,invite
yes, JP use those kanji as shorten
name of jobs.
And, those are combined. such as
狩場 = 狩 : hunt
+ 場 : field,area
So, once you know each mean of kanji, you can guess what does Japanese
words say, almostly.
挑発 : voke, provoke, taunt
tips : 迎え挑発 means the
first voking after pull. Sub tank does usually, then ready to SAnTA
(Sneak Attack and Trick Attack) if you have THF in your group.
迎え : welcome+ 挑発
: voking
釣り : pulling,fishing
不意だま : SAnTA
不意打ち : sneak attack
だましうち : trick attack
Don't use 【sneak】 tub translated. Its white magic spell in Japanese!
連携 : skill chain
JPs make group at Jeuno.
Mostly, they won't start hunting until they catch best members.
Leader use / sea all xxx (low Lv)<(high Lv)
Healer must not be the highest Lv member among group, tank must not
be the lowest Lv member.
盾 : tank, shield
アタッカー : attacker
none : nuker
回復 : heal, casting cure, healer
前衛 : front position members ( = melee crass)
後衛 : back position members ( = mages and
bards, summoner)
BTW, I like hunting with small group.
6ppl group is boring. ;p
Basic : The language Japanese is based on sympathy
and guess.
We often shorten or omit words...especially, subjects.
I do not speak Japanese -> watashiwa nihongoo hanashimasen.
/ 私は日本語を話しません。
・In this case, "I can" speak Japanese, but I don't want to do.
If you want to but you can't, "watashiwa nihongoo hanasemasen." / 私は日本語を話せません。is
better and common among JP ppl.
I don't speak Japanese well -> nihongo wa amari
dekinai no / 日本語はあまり出来ないの
・Friendly girls style.
I can speak Japanese a little, but I can't speak fluently.
I don't speak Japanese well -> nihongo dekinai /
日本語出来ない
・dekinai = I can't do something.
・rather rude style. sounds like troll speaks.
nihongo heta desu / 日本語下手です->I'm not
good at speaking Japanese
is recommended.
Do you speak English? -> Eigo Dekimasuka? / 英語出来ますか？
Do you speak English? -> anatawa eigoo hanashimasuka?
・Can you~ is common. ->anatawa eigo o hanasemasuka? / あなたは英語を話せますか？
Can you speak English? -> Eigo wo hanase masuka?
/ 英語を話せますか？
・Subject is omitted.
Please say it in English -> Eigo de itte kudasai
/ 英語で言ってください
・Eigo de onegai shimasu / 英語でお願いします is
more polite.
I'm playing from [Country] -> [Country] ni imasu
/ [国]にいます
・= I'm in [Country]
I am a foreigner -> gaikokujin desu / 外国人です
・unfortunatelly, JPs don't familiar with people who are not Japanese.
Yes -> hai / はい
No -> iie / いいえ
So-so -> maamaa / まぁまぁ
Cool -> sugoi / 凄い / すごい
Good -> ii / 良い / いい
No good -> dame / 駄目 / ダメ / だめ
Do you understand? -> wakarimasuka? / 判りますか?
/ わかりますか？
I understand -> Wakarimasu / 判ります / わかります
I don't understand -> Wakarimasen / 判りません /
わかりません
I don't understand -> wakaranai / 判らない / わからない
・rather rude or childish or friendly
Laugh -> warau / 笑う
・vi.
lol -> W / （笑）
I see -> Wakatta / 判った / 分かった
Please (with some request) -> Yoro / よろ〜
・friendly. onegaisimasu / お願いします is more
polite.
Please (making someone pleased) -> Yorokobaseru
/ 喜ばせる
Thanks -> Domo / ども＾＾
・friendly.
Thank You -> arigato / ありがとう
/ 有難う
Thank You (politeness) -> (doumo) arigato (gozaimasu) / (どうも
) ありがとう (ございます )
・both doumo arigato, arigato gozaimasu are ok.
You're welcome -> do itashi mashite / どういたしまして
sorry -> gomen / ごめん
I'm Sorry -> gomennasai / ごめんなさい
Excuse me -> sumimasen / すみません
・suimasen / すいません is ok also.
It's Okay -> kamawanai / 構わない
Don't Worry About -> it ki ni shinai de / 気にしないで
Nevermind -> tonikaku ii desu yo / とにかくいいですよ
/ 兎に角いいですよ
・it isn't common. ki ni sinai de is better for us.
Please Raise -> Reizu ( o ) Kudasai /
レイズ ( を ) 下さい
・o is omitted very often.
Reizu onegai simasu / レイズお願いします
Reizu onegai dekimasen ka? / レイズお願いできませんか？
are also ok.
Trade -> koukan / 交換
Gift -> gifuto / ギフト
・okurimono / 贈り物 is pure Japanese.
・present -> purezento / プレゼント is more
common
Give it back! -> kaese! / 返せ！
・rather defiantly
It's too difficult in hundling to learn extra language for "JP only" ppl, I believe.
See, there are much many japanese words for "I", for example.
私、俺、僕、ワシ、小生、某、拙者......
All these words are same "I" in English.
私 / わたし（わたくし）
/ watashi ( watakushi ) : formal or for female
俺 / おれ / ore : guys, friendly
僕 / ぼく / boku
: boys
ワシ / わし /
washi : oldmen
小生 / しょうせい / shousei : old style, used
in letter
某 / それがし /
soregashi : very old style
拙者 / せっしゃ
/ sessha : samurais in story use this
Terrible!
Looking for item [Item] -> sagashimono [Item] /
探し物
Good job -> yoku dekimash*ta / 良く出来ました
・for teachers. Nice! and Good Job! are recommended.
All Japanese must learn at school for 9 years, and we have English
class for 3 years in these 9 years.
Well done! -> Yoku-Yatta! / 良くやった！
・bit strange... text book like. Yatta ne! / やったね！ is
good for friendly relation.
Friendly congratulations -> Ome / おめ＾＾
・usually used with smile face mark.
Polite congratulations -> Omedeto Gozaimasu / おめでとうございます
Unskillful -> heta / 下手
Skillfull -> jouzu / 上手
Perfectly done -> bacchiri / ばっちり
Easy -> yasashii / 易しい
・raku / らく / 楽 is used for report of strengh
of mobs.
Weak -> yowai / 弱い
Strong -> tsuyoi / 強い
Very hard -> muzukasii / 難しい
・totetote / とてとて is shorten style for
とてもとても強そうな相手だ, Incredibly tough.
Dangerous -> yabai / やばい
・friendly, slang.
kikenda / 危険だ is formal.
It's impossible -> murida / 無理だ
・hukanouda / 不可能だ is formal.
It's futile -> mudada / 無駄だ
・=useless
Be careful -> kiotsukete / 気をつけて
Leave it to me / us -> makasette / 任せて
What ____ ? -> nan desu ka? / 何ですか？
・usage :
What is it ? -> koreha nan desu ka? / これは何ですか？
What does it mean ? ->sono imi ha nan desu ka? / その意味は何ですか？
What is your main job ? -> ( anata no ) mein ( jobu ) ha nan desu
ka? / ( あなたの ) メイン ( ジョブ ) は何ですか？
Help me!! -> tasukete!! / 助けて！！
Help -> tasuke / 助け
・noun
I'm gonna' die!! -> shinu!! / 死ぬ！！
Run!! -> nigete!! / 逃げて！！
I'm going to [Location] -> [basho] he ikimasu /
[場所] へ行きます
Let's go back to [Location] -> [basho] he modorimashou / [場所]
へ戻りましょう
We should go to [Location] -> [Location] he modoru beki da / [場所]
へ戻るべきだ
Let's go -> ikimashou / 行きましょう
・polite. ikou / 行こう is friendly.
Where are you? -> ima doko ni imasuka? / 今どこにいますか？
I'm going to get a signet -> shigu ittekimasu / シグ行ってきます
・this is shortened often. -> shigutte kimasu / シグってきます
I'm going to my mog house -> mogurimasu /
モグります
・shortened. mogu ( hausu ) itte kimasu / モグ (
ハウス ) 行ってきます is longer style.
Please go ahead -> sakini itte kudasai / 先に行って下さい
Please wait a second -> Chotto matte kudasai / ちょっと待って下さい
Wait -> matsu / 待つ
・vi
Wait -> machimasu / 待ちます
・polite style.
Ready -> junbi yoshi / 準備良し
・when I reply to puller, I say just "ok / おｋ"
or "k"
I'll move on first -> osakini / お先に〜
Follow me please -> tsuitekite kudasai / ついてきて下さい
Over here!! -> kocchi dayo!! / こっちだよ！！
・= here it is! / here I am!
I've found you -> mitsuketa / 見つけた
Where are we going? -> doko ni iku no? / どこに行くの？
・friendly. doko ni ikimasu ka? / どこに行きますか？
is polite style.
Left -> hidari / 左
Right -> migi / 右
Bastok -> basu / バス
・Bastok is ok.
Sand'Oria -> sando / サンド
・Sandoria is ok.
Windurst -> win / ウィン
Jeuno -> juno / ジュノ
Selbina -> serubina / セルビナ
Mhaura -> maura / マウラ
Gustaberg -> gusuta ( beruku ) / グスタ ( ベルク
)
Ronfaure -> Ronfo ( -ru ) / ロンフォ ( ール )
Hot springs -> onsen / 温泉
Beach -> bi-chi / ビーチ
・hama / 浜 is pure japanese.
・sandy beach -> sunahama / 砂浜
Shoreline -> kaigansen / 海岸線
・Seashore -> kaigan / 海岸
shore -> kishi / 岸
River -> kawa / 川 (small), 河
(large)
・same sound
Lake -> mizuumi / 湖
Waterfall -> taki / 滝
Sea / Ocean -> umi / 海
Desert -> sabaku / 砂漠
Mountain -> yama / 山
Mountain range -> sanmyaku / 山脈
Volcano -> kazan / 火山
Caves -> doukutsu / 洞窟
Mines (tunnel) -> koudou / 坑道
Mines (mountain) -> kouzan / 鉱山
Mines (bomb) -> kirai / 機雷
・digging in mine -> saikutu / 採掘
Grassland -> sougen / 草原
Forest -> mori / 森
・hayashi / 林 is small one.
kodachi / 木立 is smaller than 林
Jungle -> janguru / ジャングル
・mitsurin / 密林 is pure japanese.
Snowy landscape -> yukigeshiki / 雪景色
Ruins -> iseki / 遺跡
Ship -> fune / 船 (large), 舟
(small)
・very friendly.
would you like to form a group? -> Party (PT) Ikaga-Desuka?
/ PT如何ですか？
・This is recommended for first contact.
Can I join? -> sanka site iidesuka / 参加していいですか？
・si is ok for shi. avoid "ｓｈｉｔ". lol
Please invite me -> sassotte kudasai / 誘って下さい
[Name] wants to party with us -> [Name] ga kono PT ni hairitai tte
/ [名前]がこのPTに入りたいって
Nice to meet you -> hajimemasite / はじめまして
Nice to meet you -> douzo yoroshiku / どうぞよろしく
welcome -> youkoso / ようこそ
welcome -> irasshai / いらっしゃい
How are you -> ogenki desuka? / お元気ですか？
Good morning -> ohayogozaimasu / おはようございます
Good afternoon -> konnichiwa / こんにちは
Good evening -> konbanwa / こんばんは（こんばんわ）
・こんばんわ was wrong, but it has become ok
these days.
I'll be right back -> sugu modoru / すぐ戻る
away from keyboard -> Riseki Shimasu / 離席します
I'm back -> tadaima / ただいま
welcome back -> Okaeri / お帰り
Sorry, but I have to go now -> sumimasen, sugu ni ikanakuteha ikemasen
/ すいません、すぐに行かなくてはいけません
・JPｓ don't like this phrase. Let them know at least 30min before you
leave PT.
see you -> Matane / またね
Bye -> sayonara / さよなら
G'night! -> oyasumi! / おやすみ！
I'm logging off -> ochimasu / 落ちます
Are you going to play later? -> osokumade asobimasu ka? / 遅くまで遊びますか？
Mage -> madoushi / 魔道士、魔導師、魔道師、魔導士
White mage -> shiromadoushi / 白魔道士
WHM -> shiro / 白
Black mage -> Kromadoushi / 黒魔道士
BLM -> kuro / 黒
Red Mage -> akamadoushi / 赤魔道士
RDM -> Aka / 赤
Warrior -> senshi / 戦士
Monk -> monku / モンク
Thief -> shi-fu / シーフ
Dark knight -> annkoku / 暗黒
Ranger -> kariudo / 狩人
Beastmaster -> kemonotsukai / 獣使い
Bard -> ginyuushijin / 吟遊詩人
BRD -> ginyuu / 吟遊
-> sijin / 詩人
Paladin -> naito / ナイト
・=knight
Weapon -> buki / 武器
Armor -> bougu / 防具
Shield -> tate / 盾
Sword -> katateken / 片手剣
・=one hand sword
Dagger -> tanken / 短剣
Hand-to-hand -> kakutou / 格闘
Lance -> ryouteyari / 両手槍
Sickle -> ryoutekama / 両手鎌
Staff -> ryoutekon / 両手棍
・tsue / 杖 is more suitable. but they are ryoutekon in FFXI.
Great sword -> ryouteken / 両手剣
Club -> katatekon / 片手棍
Axe -> katateono / 片手斧
Great axe -> ryouteono / 両手斧
katana -> katatetou / 片手刀
Great katana -> ryoutetou / 両手刀
Bow -> yumi / 弓
Gun -> juu / 銃
Spell -> mahou / 魔法
Song -> uta / 歌
I will be the first-line healer -> kaifuku sennpatsude ikimasu /
回復先発で行きます
I will be the second-line healer and will use Debuff Magic -> kaifuku
nibannteto jakutai mahou ikimasu / 回復2番手と弱体行きます
Switch healing duties -> kaifuku onegai shimasu / 回復お願いします
・=cast cure PLZ
I'm sitting (to recover MP) -> suwarimasu / 座ります
My MP has run out -> MP kire / MP切れ
Keep your TP, i'll heal you -> kaifuku suru kara, TP tamete oite
ne / 回復するからTP貯めておいてね
Wait while I raise you -> reizu surunode mattete kudasai / レイズするので待ってて下さい
Group together for Protect -> puro simasu. atsumatte kudasai / プロします。集まって下さい
Group together for Shell -> sheru shimasu. atumatte kudasai / シェルします。集まって下さい
Gather for Protect & Shell -> puro sheru kakemasu. atumatte /
プロシェルかけます。集まって
Linkshell -> rinkusheru / リンクシェル
Crystal -> kurisutaru / クリスタル
Mission -> ninmu / 任務
・misshon / ミッション is used in FFXI
Attack -> kogeki / 攻撃
Monster -> kaibutsu / 怪物
・monsu / モンス , shorten monster is common
in FFXI.
Taunt -> chouhatsu / 挑発
If you meet any other Japanese words, or you can't find what you want
to say above, feel free to ask me.