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One of my favorite things is space. Maybe it was my obsession with Sailor Moon as a child, or maybe I just wanted to fly in a spaceship, but either way, space is really cool. Due to the use of kanji, space words are actually pretty easy in Japanese, and can be oddly beautiful. Take for example, the 9 planets.
Disclaimer: In this lesson, Pluto is still a planet. It's one of those little things I can’t let go of. I am pretty sure that even when I am old, I will be telling my grandchildren about 9 planets instead of 8. Screw you NASA and all your reasonable proof that Pluto isn’t worthy of being a planet...
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水星
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すいせい
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Mercury
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Literally: “water + heavenly body”
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金星
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きんせい
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Venus
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Literally: “gold + heavenly body”
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地球
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ちきゅう
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Earth
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Literally: “earth + round”
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火星
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かせい
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Mars
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Literally: “fire + heavenly body”
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木星
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もくせい
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Jupiter
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Literally: “wood + heavenly body”
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土星
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どせい
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Saturn
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Literally: “soil + heavenly body”
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天王星
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てんのうせい
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Uranus
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Literally: “heavenly king + heavenly body”
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海王星
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かいおうせい
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Neptune
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Literally: “sea king + heavenly body”
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冥王星
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めいおうせい
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Pluto
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Literally: “dark king + heavenly body”
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If you ever watched Sailor Moon as a child, it will help you remember each of the characters for the nine planets, as most of the Sailor Scout’s powers correspond with the kanji used. (Also, go back and take a look at the character's last names; Sailor Mars is Hino 火野, Sailor Mercury is Mizuno 水野, etc.)
Even if you are not a fan I hope you can still appreciate how descriptive and beautiful the names of the planets are.
But space doesn’t only consist of the planets in our solar system. I compiled a list of some other cool space words and how to talk about them in Japanese.
宇宙 （うちゅう）- Space
宇宙船は宇宙に向けて飛び立った。
うちゅうせん は うちゅう に むけて とびたった。
A spaceship took off towards space.
Literally: “spaceship + は + space + に + towards + took off”
Note: The word for spaceship is literally “space boat,” so I guess all Japanese astronauts are actually space pirates...
太陽（たいよう） - The Sun
太陽は東から昇る。
たいよう は ひがし から のぼる。
The sun rises from the east.
Literally: “sun + は + east + from + rise”
星座 （せいざ）- Constellation (Literally meaning “star + position”)
北斗七星という星座
ほくとしちせい という せいざ
A constellation called the Big Dipper
Literally: “Big Dipper + called + constellation”
銀河（ぎんが） - Galaxy (Literally meaning “silver + stream”)
最も近くに位置する銀河がアンドロメダ銀河です。
もっとも ちかく に いちする ぎんが が あんどろめだ ぎんが です。
The closest galaxy in location is the Andromeda galaxy.
Literally: “most + close + に + location + galaxy + が + Andromeda + galaxy + です”
天の川 （あまのがわ）- Milky Way (Literally meaning “heaven + river”)
初めて天の川を見た夜を私は覚えている。
はじめて あまのがわ を みた よる を わたし は おぼえている。
I remember the first night I saw the Milky Way.
Literally: “first time + Milky Way + を + saw + night + を + I + は + remember”
惑星（わくせい） - Planet
惑星は太陽の周りを回ります。
わくせい は たいよう の まわり を まわります。
The planets revolve around the sun.
Literally: “planet + は + sun + の + around + を + revolve”
満月（まんげつ） - Full Moon
今夜は満月だ。
こんや は まんげつ だ。
Tonight is a full moon.
Literally: “tonight + は + full moon + だ “
彗星（すいせい） - Comet
ハレー彗星は、２０６１年に戻ってくる。
はれー すいせい は、にせんろくじゅういちねん に もってくる。
Halley’s comet will return in 2061.
Literally: “Halley + comet + は + 2061 year + に + return”
流れ星 （ながれぼし）- Shooting Star
流れ星が空を駆けた。
ながれぼし が そら を かけた。
A shooting star dashed across the sky.
Literally: “shooting star + が + sky + を + dashed”
Learning this vocabulary might not have the most practical use unless you work in some kind of observatory. However, it is a great way to learn and review kanji, an easy way to remember a lot of them, and it's a good way to talk about your hobby if you enjoy space like I do.
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This lesson was written by Cassy L., a guest contributor:
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Thank you, Cassy!
If anyone has any questions about this lesson, fellow students on the community page can help (signup link).
Good luck with your studies, everyone!
Keep swimming,
Niko
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p.s. Want past lessons with native audio, flashcards, and additional sample sentences? You can get them here.
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