Japanese Language Vocabulary

noun a term used in Chinese culture to refer to a respectful form of address for a woman, similar to 'Mrs.' or 'Ms.'

interjection used as a way to express surprise or emphasis

• In many Asian cultures, 'ma' is used as a respectful term for mother.
• Hey, ma, can you pass me the salt please?
• Ma, I'm so tired of this homework!
• The concept of 'ma' in Chinese philosophy represents balance and harmony.

noun a Japanese emoticon consisting of text characters, used in messaging and online communication to convey emotions or expressions

• The use of kaomoji in professional emails is not recommended.
• I love using kaomoji in my text messages to add some fun expressions.
• I found the cutest kaomoji to use in my social media posts.
• Her face lit up like a kaomoji when she saw the surprise party.

noun a Japanese term for death by overwork, typically caused by stress and excessive work hours

• The term 'karoshi' refers to death by overwork in Japan.
• My coworker is always stressed out, I hope they don't end up with karoshi.
• I can't believe my boss expects us to work such long hours, it's like he's trying to karoshi us.
• The constant pressure to perform perfectly in school can feel like a form of karoshi for students.

noun A person who has a great love or admiration for Japanese culture, language, and customs.

• The Nihongophile was fluent in Japanese and had a deep appreciation for the culture.
• My friend is such a Nihongophile - she's obsessed with everything Japanese!
• I didn't know you were a Nihongophile too! Let's watch some anime together.
• As a Nihongophile, she saw the world through a Japanese lens, finding beauty in the smallest details.