「しりとり」 (“Shiritori“) is a Japanese word game.
The rules are pretty simple.
To play, the first player would say any (Japanese) noun. It can be any word as long as it doesn’t end with the 「ん」 (“n“) character.
– The next person says any Japanese word that begins with the same character that the previous word ended with.
– And the next player does likewise.
– The game ends when a player loses by either saying a word that has already been used or saying a word that ends with the 「ん」 (“n“) character (because no word in the Japanese language begins with 「ん」).
– When a word end with a character with 濁点 (「゛」) or 半濁点 (「゜」), the next player can use the character with or without it (ie: If a player’s word ends with 「ば」 or 「ぱ」, the next player’s word can start with either that character or simply 「は」).
An example of how the game would go:
「タコ」(“Tako“)→「コアラ」(“Koala)→「ライオン」(Laion (lion)) (The player who said 「ライオン」 (lion) would lose because you can’t choose a word that ends with 「ん」(「ン」).)
Actually, I had written a post a Japanese games, including this one, about a year ago (click here to see it).
In that earlier post, we played Shiritori in the comments section.
It was popular with visitors to my blog, and it was fun.
So, let’s try “round two”!
I’ll start with the first word…「たまご」(tamago (egg)).
Anyone can play. Write the next word (that must begin with 「ご」(“go”)) in the comments section of this post.
Usually this game is played only usuing Japanese words…but we’ll play using both Japanese and English.
Just remember, you can’t use a word that ends with 「ん」(“n”), and you can’t repeat a word that’s already been used.
hehehehe You’ve seen part of my dark side 😉
I just found out that shitake (Japanese mushroom) was used twice!
I have learnt two new words here 😀 rika and saba
oshiete kurete arigatou gozaimashita.
Kabuki (Japanese theatre with male actors only)
I think there is one in Ginza, but I didn’t get to go there. The problem was I couldn’t resist shopping at Ginza!!
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>I just found out that shitake (Japanese mushroom) was used twice!
Actually, I just noticed that too.
As I’m the one who repeated “Shitake“, I lost the game. 😦
>I have learnt two new words here 😀 rika and saba
oshiete kurete arigatou gozaimashita.
That’s good. That’s what this game is good for…I also learned many Japanese words by playing this game over the years.
>Kabuki (Japanese theatre with male actors only)
OK. I lost the game…but let’s start another round.
We’ll begin with your word “kabuki”.
My word will be 「幾何学」 (“Kikagaku” (Geometry)).
The next word must begin with 「く」 (“ku”)
>(I think there is one in Ginza…)
Yes, the 歌舞伎座 “Kabuki Theatre”) is in Ginza.
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I like miso soup, california temaki, chicken katsu kari, edamame, and salmon teryaki. Sometimes I crave sushi or soba, but not always.
Harakiri (ritual suicide by cutting one’s belly)
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>Harakiri
Wow, I don’t think I’ve ever played Shiritori before and heard someone say “Yakuza” or “Harakiri”! 😉
Please continue to play. You understand this game well. Have you played Shiritori before?
OK. My turn:
「理科」 (“Rika” (Science class))
The next word must begin with 「か」 (“ka”).
Anyone feel free to join the game!
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Yeah I watch J-drama and anime. I have started watching code blue 2 recently. (Yamashita kun acts in this drama :D)
Thanks for saying my Japanese is good. I have started learning Japanese 2 years ago before going to Tokyo. I use various methods to learn (e.g. watch drama, read children’s story books, listen to songs, write my diary in Japanese, chat with Japanese people online, eat Japanese food! (my favourite method 😉 )
Can we use verbs and/or adjectives in shiritori? If we can use verbs, which form can we use? dictionary form?
yakuza 😀
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>eat Japanese food!
What Japanese foods do you like best?
Can we use verbs and/or adjectives in shiritori?
It supposed to be nouns only.
>yakuza
Wow. OK.
My word will be 「サバ」 (“Saba” (Mackerel (fish))).
The next word should begin with 「ば」 (“ba”), 「は」 (“ha”) or 「ぱ」 (“pa”)
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ichigo no rakuda no miruku ichiban suki desu ^_^
Not many people in the UAE listen to Japanese songs. I like NEWS, because I like Yamashita-kun 😀
keiji (detective)
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Do you watch Japanese movies as well?
>keiji (detective)
Great.
How did you learn Japanese?
So, it’s my turn. A word beginning with 「じ」 (“ji”) (or 「し」 (“shi”) again)…
My word is: 「神社」 (“Jinjya” (Shrine))
We’ll say the next word can be a word beginning with 「じゃ」 (“ja”), 「しゃ」 (“sha”), or 「や」 (“ya”).
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Yeah there are many camels in the UAE ^_^ and you can get flavored camel milk (ichigo toka, choco toka,….) from the Konbini. Zehi, Dobai ni kite kudasai.
waaaa I like the word taiyou ^_^ coz I like NEWS no uta “taiyou no namida”
ushi (cow)
ushi doshi ni umaremashita (1985)
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>you can get flavored camel milk (ichigo toka, choco toka,….) from the Konbini.
Well, that’s very unique. Is it good? Which flavor do you recommend?
>Zehi, Dobai ni kite kudasai.
You speak Japanese well!
I’d like to visit there. It would be an interesting experience, I’m sure.
I very seldom travel outside of Japan at all. International travel is too expensive!
>I like NEWS no uta “taiyou no namida”
You like the J-pop song 「太陽の涙」 (“Tears of the Sun”) by the Japanese pop band NEWS?
Is Japanese music popular in your country?
>ushi doshi ni umaremashita (1985)
Oh, you’re young!
>ushi (cow)
OK.
So now the next word must begin with 「し」 (“shi”).
I’ll choose: 「シイタケ」 (“Shiitake Mushroom”)
Now the next word must begin with 「け」 (“ke”).
Anyone is welcome to play!
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ra desu ne…. rakuda (camel)
Arabujin desu kara rakuda ga suki desu :p
tsugi wa da
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>rakuda (camel)
OK. Very good.
>Arabujin desu kara rakuda ga suki desu :p
Really? Are there many camels where you live?
>tsugi wa da
Yes, the next word must begin with 「だ」 (or 「た」).
I’ll do it…
「太陽」 (“Taiyou” (“The Sun”))
The next word must begin with 「う」 (“u”).
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ringo (apple)
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Great.
OK. My turn.
りんご (ringo) → ゴリラ (gorilla)
The next word must begin with 「ら」 (“ra” (or “la”)).
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きもの (kimono)
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OK. Great.
So I’ll do the next word:
のり (nori (seaweed)).
So the next word must begin with 「り」 (“ri” (pronounced “ree”) (or “li” (pronounced “lee”))).
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OK. Very good.
So far now we have:
タマゴ → ゴジラ → ラク → クレ → 冷蔵庫 → こばやし → したけ → けいさつ → 「梅雨」 → ゆかた
(Tamago → Gojira (Godzilla) → Raku (Ease) → Kure → Reizouko (Refrigerator) → Kobayashi → Shitake (Japanese mushrooms) → Keisatsu (police) → Tsuyu (rainy season) → Yukata (summer kimono))
The next word must begin with 「た」 (ta).
I’ll do it:
「たいやき」 (“Taiyaki” (a Japanese snack))
The next word should begin with 「き」 (“ki”).
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Yukata
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けいさつ(police)
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OK. Good.
けいさつ (Keisatsu (police))
So next word begins with 「つ」 (“tsu”). I’ll do it.
「梅雨」 (“Tsuyu” (“Rainy season”))
The next word must begin with 「ゆ」 (“Yu”).
Anyone feel free to play.
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To review…
this game is up to:
タマゴ → ゴジラ → ラク → クレ → 冷蔵庫 → こばやし → したけ
(Tamago → Gojira (Godzilla) → Raku (Ease) → Kure → Reizouko (Refrigerator) → Kobayashi → Shitake (Japanese mushrooms))
The next word must begin with 「け」 (ke).
Anyone can play…so feel free to add a noun (English or Japanese).
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Kobayashi. I love that guy : )
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>Kobayashi.
Usually people or place names aren’t used in Shiritori. But OK I’ll accept it.
>I love that guy
Which 小林さん (Mr. Kobayashi) is that?
Anyways, I’ll do the next word…
こばやし → したけ (Kobayashi → Shitake (Japanese mushrooms))
The next word must begin with 「け」 (ke). (Anyone can join in!)
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小林尊 (Takeru Kobayashi). Watching him eat is majestic. Sloppy and a little scary, but majestic!
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Oh, the Japanese eating-contest champion.
I mentioned him in a post last year.
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Song lyrics probably aren’t the best source.
I was wondering what you meant by “kure”. I assumed it was meant as the casual form of “please”…either that or the town near Hiroshima.
If you don’t know Japanese, you can use English in my version of this game.
The next word must start with 「こ」 (“ko”).
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I saw Kishidan play this game, on a Japanese show. Whenever someone lost, they had to fight a sumo wrestler. Poor Hikaru didn’t have a chance.
My word is Kure (クレ)
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>Kure (クレ)
You mean as in “please”?
OK. So it’s now
タマゴ → ゴジラ → ラク → クレ
(Tamago → Gojira (Godzilla) → Raku (Ease) → Kure)
The next word must begin with 「れ」 (re).
I’ll choose 「冷蔵庫」 (reizouko (refrigerator))…begins with “re” in both Japanese and English. 😉
So, the next word must begin with 「こ」 (“ko”).
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No clue, I can’t speak or read Japanese. I googled song lyrics until I found a word that started with “ku.” 😉
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楽(raku)
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Excellent.
タマゴ → ゴジラ → ラク
(Tamago → Gojira (Godzilla) → Raku (Ease))
Next word must begin with 「ク」 (ku).
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>tamago
Gozilla
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Good.
タマゴ → ゴジラ
(Tamago → Gojira (Godzilla))
Next word must begin with 「ら」 (ra).
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