Japanese Baby Talk

by Brian Yamabe on January 8, 2008

I found a page that list some of the more common “Japanese” words that are used with babies. I write “Japanese” because I’m guessing that at least some of these words aren’t proper Japanese.

  • nenne - sleep (from nemuru, to sleep)
  • dakko - carry
  • mamma - food (I always supposed from ummai, delicious)!
  • Tatta - stand up (from tatsu, to stand).
  • Iiko – good child.
  • Chodai – give to me (from kureru, to receive and kudasai, the imperative).
  • Jiji – dirty
  • Pon-pon – tummy
  • Pai-pai – throw away
  • Nai-nai – put away
  • Bocha for bath (BTY – We said Bocha-bocha)
  • Dame – not good (or ikemasen – will not do) for no
  • Abunai – dangerous
  • Niko-niko – smile
  • Itai – ouch
  • Tai-tai – an injury (equivalent to an owey).

Then there were the body parts for all the pointing games –

  • Me – eye
  • Mayuge – eyebrow
  • Matsuge – eyelash
  • Hana – nose
  • Kuchi – mouth
  • Kami – hair
  • Atama – head
  • Kata – shoulder
  • Senaka – back
  • Te – hand
  • Ude – arm
  • Yubi – fingers
  • Ashi – leg
  • Koshi – lower back
  • Oshiri – buttocks
  • Hiza – lap

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