Your favorite expressions/words in Japanese?

[Susu]

Now, whether you know very well Japanese or just have a very limited vocabulary picked up from dramas (like I do) I'd like to know what are your favorite expressions or words in Japanese? (Proper names not allowed, mind you!)

Let's say you can list one to five (1-5) expressions/words.
If you can think of some reasons as why you like them, please write them down as well.
Please include the translation if you think that everyone won't understand.

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I'll start, then. (I apologise if my romanization isn't correct.)

1. Tadaima/Okaeri. (I'm back/welcome home) I just love the sound and meaning of these expressions. They seem to be very fixed , used and ordinary expressions, still conveying so much - acknowledging other person's existence.

2. Sou ka. ("I see", "Really?" etc.) I like the way it can be a response to almost anything and mean almost anything. And I prefer this shorter version without "desu" because it is cute and short and just sounds nicer to my ear.

3. Yoshi. ("All right!" "Okay!" etc.) You hear this a lot and maybe that's why I've picked it up in my active vocabulary and I use it all the time - especially when I'm talking to myself. :P It just gives me energy! "Yosh! Let's wash the dishes!"

4. Kakkoii. ("cool"). Among the first ten words I learned when I started to watch Japanese series. "Kakkoii" seems to be the highest compliment for boys and for girls it's "kawaii". Although sometimes the girls are quite "kakkoii" as well.

5. Daijoubu desu. ("It's alright", "I'm okay" etc.) Once again an expression you can use in various situations. I also like the way it sounds: it's round and soft.

Oh, this was more difficult than I thought - and there are so many other lovely words and expressions I could have chosen for this list!

[HAVA-RAVA]

mine are:

yoroshiku - i just like it
umai/oishii and itadakimasu - 'cuz i like food : DD
and there're more but i can't remember

[Ashu]

My favorite is 'aishiteru' and 'omedetto'. I like the meaning and flow of both of them. n.n

[Rika-chan]

Even I have limited Japanese vocabulary. For the words and expressions I'm aware of, the credit goes to anime and J-Dramas :P Anyway, these are my fav...

Watashi wa [I am]: I don't know why but I really like it how the Japanese pronounce these two words like in "Watashi wa Rika desu". And they sound even more pleasing to me when the person saying it is stammering or is nervous. "Wa...tashi...wa Rika de...desu." <- Like this. Lol xD

[I]Itedakimasu[I] [Bon appetite/ Let's eat]: For the Japanese this is probably something they have to say it before a meal for the sake of etiquette, but I really like it. I mean, umm, it sounds so cute (?). I sometimes say it while sitting at the dining table before I begin eating and my parents are like "Eh?" xD It sounds cuter when the person stretches the 'ma'- Itedakimaaasu.

Konnichiwa [Hello]: Ah, another very basic word Sometimes I have the urge to greet my friends and guests by saying "Konnichiwa" instead of "Hi' or "Hello".

Sankyu [Thank you]: The Japanese version of the English word 'Thank you'. The first time I heard it was in some anime (I don't remember which one though ^^'). At that time I had no idea that that's how the Japanese pronounce 'Thank you'. Later on, a friend online told me and I was like "Oh~ so that is it". Like Konnichiwa, I have the urge to use Sankyu in my daily conversation in real life.

Kawaii [Cute]: This is the first Japanese word I learnt And I tend to say it to myself when I see something cute :P Once my neighbor brought her little sis at my home and I almost blurted out "Kawaii~" like those anime girls do ^^'

[akai-kitsune]

You already wrote some of the words I like.
Itadakimasu!
Tadaima/Okaeri for example.

Here is one I always liked

Hayaku- hurry up, be faster

I just like the sound of the word.

[Dojemi10]

Kowai~! = scary
Sugoi~! = awesome/great
Kakkoii~! = cool/awesome
Kawaii~! = cute
Hai, Hai~! = yes
and I also love their expression "...eh?" or "EH?!"

[ladyfaile]

Yoshi! i actually say this sometimes to motivate myself to do chores lol. like if i'm sitting here at the computer or watching tv but really need to go clean i'll say it as i drag myself out of my seat lol.

anything that ends in -wa sounds so neat to me. you wouldn't think that -wa could be pronounced any other way than how it is in english but somehow in Japanese it sounds different and i like it. like konnichiwa or konbanwa especially. i catch myself subconsciously repeating it when i hear it in a drama or anime

eto - especially when it's used with a confused expression and headscratching

dai-suki / suki desu - dunno if i need to explain that one but i especially like in drama or anime when a character is super nervous and say it really fast lol



i had another one but i forgot, i'll post it when it comes back to me lol

[Susu]

I think it's interesting how you have listed many of the expressions I know and love as well. I guess they are the most frequent ones and also expressions that stand on their own so they are easier to pick up than something in the middle of a long sentence.

And I like Rita-chan's pick: "Sankyu". I absolutely adore the Japanese pronunciation of some English words and I find myself always repeating them after I hear them. Like "grobaru reveru" (global level) or "douburu deto" (double date).

It's also nice to know that other people have the urge to use the expressions they've learnt all the time. I often find that my first reaction to something might actually be some Japanese expression I've heard a hundred times like "kawaii", "kowai", "yoshi" and "eh?" for instance. Sometimes I just need to check myself when I'm talking with people who have no understanding what so ever towards this fever. :P

[ladyfaile]

ooh i remember..

"HAAAAAAHHH????!!!"
if you don't what this is watch Hotaru no Hikari

[boutux]

mine are
1. itai =ow/ ouch/ it hurts (i actually started saying itai more than ow/ouch nowadays unconsciously)
2. dai-suki-desu= i like/love
3. kawaii=cute (that word is so cliche, i use it alot too. i think i need a japanese synonym for cute now)
4. kowai=scary
5. Mendokusai= troublesome/annoying/pain in the ass.
6. sou-desuka/ =is that so? /really?. i also like sou-desu and so desu-ne. i see/yes/ that's right
7. wakatta/ wakarimasu= i understand/ i get it/ i see
8. janai= not (it just doesn't sound like a negative term. i was so surprised when i found out it meant not)
9. eh! (i just love the way they say this. in much the same way as we whhhhaaattt! exaggeratedly in english)
10.baka= stupid/fool/ idiot and any other synonym. (i also like the way is stretched when making fun of someone in japanese)