Bringing the World Together
Learn the Japanese words for festivals, music, dance and traditions - the shared events that bring families, friends and communities together. Every word comes with its script, romaji, and the English meaning.
Practise it, do not just read it
Free interactive practice you can do alone, with the answers checked as you go.
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Shared celebrations
All around the world, festivals, music and dance bring people together. This module teaches the Japanese words for those shared events. Every word comes with three things: the Japanese script (kanji and kana), the romaji in brackets to help you say it, and the English meaning. (A native speaker should review the script before launch.)
Matsuri, music, dance, tradition
Start with four words for shared events:
Match each Japanese word to its English meaning
- お祭り おまつり (omatsuri)
- 音楽 おんがく (ongaku)
- 踊り おどり (odori)
- 伝統 でんとう (dentou)
- festival
- music
- dance
- traditions
The Japanese word for music
Which Japanese word means "music"?
- 音楽 おんがく (ongaku)
- お祭り おまつり (omatsuri)
- 踊り おどり (odori)
- 伝統 でんとう (dentou)
Events that connect us
Shared events bring people together across the world: - A festival (お祭り おまつり, omatsuri) gathers families and communities - Music (音楽 おんがく, ongaku) and dance (踊り おどり, odori) are enjoyed everywhere - Traditions (伝統 でんとう, dentou) are shared and passed on Wherever people are from, these events help them feel closer.
About celebrations
Select the TWO Japanese words that are about celebration and music.
- お祭り おまつり (omatsuri)
- 歌 うた (uta)
- 友達 ともだち (tomodachi)
- 家族 かぞく (kazoku)
Two ways people come together
People gather in small groups and in big public events.
The Japanese word for traditions
Which Japanese word means "traditions"?
- 伝統 でんとう (dentou)
- 音楽 おんがく (ongaku)
- お祭り おまつり (omatsuri)
- 踊り おどり (odori)
Festival words in Japanese
A _____ is a big celebration. People enjoy _____ and _____ together. Old customs are called _____. You celebrate with your _____.
A festival brings people together
Put the stages of a community festival into a sensible order.
- People are invited to the celebration
- Families and friends gather together
- There is music and dancing
- Everyone shares food and traditions
- The whole community feels closer together
Match each Japanese word to its English meaning
- 歌 うた (uta)
- 伝統 でんとう (dentou)
- 友達 ともだち (tomodachi)
- 家族 かぞく (kazoku)
- song
- traditions
- friend
- family
Which Japanese word?
Read each description and pick the Japanese word it describes.
- The big festival that families celebrate together. Which word?
- The sounds and songs that people dance to. Which word?
- The old customs passed down over many years. Which word?
Your turn: write in Japanese
Write two or three sentences IN JAPANESE about a celebration you enjoy and who you enjoy it with. Write in kana and kanji - the romaji in brackets is only there to help you read, and it earns no marks in the exam.
- Say what you enjoy with 私は〜が好きです。(わたしは〜がすきです - I like ...)- 音楽 おんがく (ongaku), 踊り おどり (odori), 歌 うた (uta) or 食べ物 たべもの (tabemono)
- Name the celebration: お祭り おまつり (omatsuri)
- Say who you are with using と (with): 家族 かぞく (kazoku) or 友達 ともだち (tomodachi)
- Link two ideas with が (but), and end every sentence with 。
Script, romaji and meaning together
Learn each word as a package - the Japanese script, its romaji, and the English meaning together - so you recognise it instantly: お祭り おまつり (omatsuri) festival, 音楽 おんがく (ongaku) music, 伝統 でんとう (dentou) traditions. When you write in English about this theme, do not just list words - explain how shared events bring people together, with an example. Recognise the script, explain the idea - top band.