Since Oriental Adventures draws from several different Asian cultures, it includes a variety of unusual words. Because of the blend of languages, pronunciation is problematic. For your convenience, the harder-to-pronounce words are listed here, along with a brief definition.
For a list of D&D pronunciations, see the article D&D Pronunciation Guide.[h=4]Notes[/h]
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For a list of D&D pronunciations, see the article D&D Pronunciation Guide.[h=4]Notes[/h]
- “eh” is used instead of “ay” for the ease of English speakers
- “igh” is a long i sound, as in the English words “high” or “my”
- “ow” resembles the sound in “how” or “now”
- adya katti (add-yah- kah-tee) – sword, short
- Agasha (ah-ga-sha) school – Phoenix clan fire magic specialists
- aiguchi (igh-goo-chee) – dagger
- akuma no oni (ah-koo-mah no oh-nee) – Shadowlands creatures of fire and hate
- akutsukai (ah-koo-tsoo-kigh) – a human who has been transformed into an onilike minion of evil
- apsara (ap-sa-rah) – nymph
- Asahina (ah-sah-hee-na) school – Crane clan air magic specialists
- ashi no oni (ah-she no oh-nee) – thorny wormlike Shadowlands creature
- ashigaru (ah-shi-gah-roo) armor – light armor
- badik (bah-deek)—kama
- bajang (bah-jang) – evil fey tree nature spirit
- bakemono (bah-keh-mo-no) – Shadowlands “goblins”
- bang (bahng)—quarterstaff
- bhuj (buzh) – handaxe
- bi shou (bee shoh)—dagger
- bich’wa (bee-chwah) – dagger
- bisan (bee-san) – neutral fey tree nature spirit
- bisento (bee-sen-toe) – halberd
- biwa (bee-wah) – plucked lute
- bonang (boh-nahng) – percussion instrument
- brahmin (brah-min) – shaman
- budoka (boo-doh-kah) – monk
- bushido (boo-shee-do) – samurai code of honor, loyalty, and obedience
- buso, tigbanua (boo-so, tig-ban-oo-ah) – bony, one-eyed ghouls
- byoki no oni (bigh-oh-kee no oh-nee) – disease-ridden Shadowlands humanoids
- ch’i chi (chee-shee) – halberd
- ch’i fu (chee-foo) – battleaxe
- ch’iang (chee-ang) – battleaxe
- chahar-aina (chah-hahr igh-nah) – armor addition
- chanshi (chan-shee) – fighter
- chi (shee) – battleaxe
- chiang lung (chee-ang lung) – river dragon
- chien (shee-yen) – battleaxe
- chijiriki (chee-jee-ree-kee) – double weapon (spear and chain)
- chin (cheen) – battleaxe
- choora (choo-rah) – sword, short
- chui (choo-ee)—warhammer
- da dao (dah dow)—glaive
- da huan dao (dah hwahn dow)—scimitar
- dai tsuchi (digh tsoo-chee) – warhammer
- Daidoji (digh-doh-jee) – Crane clan military
- dai-kyu (digh kyoo) – longbow, composite
- daisho (digh-show) – katana and wakizashi
- dalwel (dah-wel) – greatsword
- dan sang gum (dahn sahng goom)—short sword
- dan tinh (dahn tin) – two-stringed plucked lute
- dang-ki (dahng-kee) – shaman
- dastana (dah-stah-nah) – armor addition
- devapala (deh-va-pa-la)—sohei
- dhaw (dhaw) – dagger
- dhenuka (deh-nuk-ah) – medium armor
- dhuka (doo-kah)—rogue
- dizi (dee-zee) – bamboo flute
- doc cu’o’c (dok koo-awk) – guardian spirit that appears like a human split down the middle
- dokufu (doh-koo-foo) – shapechanging Shadowlands mountain spider
- do-su (doh-soo) – dagger
- duan jian (doo-ahn jee-ahn)—short sword
- einsaung nat (en-song nat) – common household spirit protector
- ekitai kemuri (eh-kee-tigh keh-moo-ree) – liquid smoke
- er-hu (er-hoo) – two-stringed bowed lute covered with snakeskin
- fu (foo) – battleaxe
- fukimi-bari (foo-kee-mee bah-ree) – mouth darts
- gaki (gah-kee) – undead spirit of wicked mortals
- gambang (gahm-bahng) – percussion instrument
- gandharva (gahn-dar-vah) – celestial avoral
- garegosu no bakemono (gar-ee-go-soo) – fiendish giant octopus
- gong jian (gong jee-ahn)—composite shortbow
- go-zu oni (go-zoo oh-nee) – bull-headed spirit warriors
- guan dao (gwahn dow)—guisarme
- gum (goom)—longsword
- gun (goon) – quarterstaff
- hai nu (high noo) – locathah
- haino no oni (high-no no o-nee) – human-looking Shadowlands creature with long tongue
- hakama (hah-kah-mah) – knee-length trousers
- hannya (hah-nya) – haglike monstrous humanoid
- haori (hah-oh-ree) – sleeved jacket
- happi (ha-pee) – thigh-length cotton robe
- hebi-no-onna (heh-bee no oh-na) – vain, snake-loving spirit appearing as human woman
- heimin (heh-min) – villager or peasant
- hengeyokai (hen-geh-yo-kigh) – shapechanging humanoid
- henshin (hen-sheen) – transformation
- hinemuri (hee-neh-moo-ree) – sleeping fire
- hinin (hee-neen) – outcasts
- Hitomi (hee-to-mee) – moon deity
- hkum yeng nat (hkoom yeng nat) – human village spirit protector
- i huang (ee hwahng) – battleaxe
- iaijutsu (ee-igh-joo-tsoo) – speed draw
- inori (ee-no-ree) – 0-level shaman and shugenja spells
- Isawa (ee-sah-wah) – Phoenix clan generalists or Void magic specialists
- Itako (ee-tah-koh) – shaman
- Iuchi (ee-oo-chee) school – Unicorn clan Water magic specialists
- jian (jee-ahn)—longsword
- jiki-ketsu-gaki (jee-kee keh-tsoo gah-kee) – vampiric undead spirit
- jikiniki (jee-kee-nee-kee) – ghoul of shugenja who died while Tainted
- jiki-niku-gaki (jee-kee nee-koo gah-kee) – ghoulish undead spirit
- jingasa (jeen-gah-sah) – round, straw hat
- jitte (jit-teh) – disarming weapon
- kaen (kah-en) – bamboo reed instrument
- Kaiu (kigh-oo) Wall – wall at edge of Shadowlands
- Kakita (kah-kee-tah) school – Crane clan school
- kamayari (kah-mah-yah-ree) – guisarme
- kamu no oni (kah-moo no oh-nee) – powerfully musceled, headless humanoids
- kannushi (kahn-noo-shee) – shaman
- kapak (kah-pahk) – handaxe
- kappa (kah-pah) – turtlelike humanoid
- kataginu (kah-tah-gee-noo) – sleeveless outer jacket
- katana (kah-tah-nah) – masterwork bastard sword
- katar (kah-tar) – dagger, punching
- kawanaga (kah-wah-nah-gah) – chain with weight and sharp grappling hook
- kenbau (ken-bah-oo) – double reed
- kenong (keh-nong) – percussion instrument
- kensei (ken-seh) – weapon master
- khandar (khahn-dahr) – sword, bastard
- khanjar (khahn-jahr) – dagger
- khanjarli (khahn-jahr-lee) – dagger
- khenthai (khen-tigh) – wooden flute
- ki (kee) – internal energy
- kimono (kee-moh-noh) – robe
- kiri no oni (kee-ree no oh-nee) – bebilith demon
- ki-rin (kee-reen) – unicornlike, noble magical beast
- Kitsu (kee-tsoo) school – Lion clan water magic specialists
- ko (koh) – halberd
- kokyu (koh-kyoo) – bowed lute
- kora (koh-rah) – sword, short
- korobokuru (koh-roh-boh-koo-roo) – a xenophobic race of dwarves
- korobokuru lajatang (koh-roh-boh-koo-roo lah-zha-tahng) – double weapon
- kote (koh-teh) – gauntlet
- koto (koh-toh) – zither
- kozuka (koh-zoo-kah) – dagger
- kshatriya (kshah-tree-yah) – samurai
- kumo (koo-moh) – aranea
- Kuni (koo-nee) school – Crab clan earth magic specialists
- kusari-gama (koo-sah-ree-gah-mah) – double weapon or reach weapon
- kyoso no oni (kee-oh-soh no oh-nee) – burrowing Shadowlands oni
- lajatang (lah-zhah-tahng) – double weapon
- lathi (lah-tee) – quarterstaff
- lembing (lem-bing) – longspear
- li lung (lee lung) – earth dragon
- lian (lee-ahn) – kama
- liu (lee-you) – battleaxe
- lu nat (loo nat) – malicious spirits who lurk in graveyards
- magari yari (mah-gah-ree yah-ree) – trident
- maho-tsukai (mah-ho tsoo-kigh) – blood sorcerers
- mantrika (mahn-tree-ka)—sorcerer
- masakari (mah-sah-kah-ree) – battleaxe
- me-zu oni (mee-zoo oh-nee) – horse-headed commanders of the spirit armies
- michizure (mee-chu-zoo-ree) – wandering henshin mystics or traveling companions
- moeragaru (moh-eh-rah-gah-roo) – flash paper
- muni (moo-nee)—monk
- muton (moo-tan) – club
- myin-kawei (migh-inn-kah-weh) – werehorse lycanthrope
- naga, Shinomen (nah-gah, shee-noh-men) – ancient race of snakelike humanoids
- nage-yari (nah-geh-yah-ree) – javelin
- naginata (nah-gee-nah-tah) – reach weapon
- nekode (neh-koe-deh) – straps or gloves fitted with spikes in the palm
- nezumi (neh-zoo-mee) – bipedal ratlike humanoids
- ningyo (neen-gyo) – merfolk
- ninja-to (neen-jah toh) – short, straight sword
- no-dachi (noh-dah-chee) – greatsword
- no-sheng (noh-sheng) – sohei
- nunchaku (nun-chah-koo) – weapon with two hardwood sticks joined by a chain
- nusubito (noo-soo-bee-toh) – rogue
- ofuda (oh-foo-dah) – shugenja’s spell focus
- oni (oh-nee) – ferocious lesser spirits
- onikage (oh-nee-kah-geh) – scaly, horselike undead
- ono (oh-noh) – battleaxe
- parang (pah-rahng)—scimitar
- pennaggolan (pen-nag-oh-lawn) – vampiric undead
- peshkabz (pesh-kabz) – dagger
- phii khamot (pee kah-mot) – will-o’-wisp
- pi bian (pee bee-ahn)—whip
- pi chi (pee-chee) – halberd
- pih-kaetta (pih-kah-eh-tah) – dagger
- pipa (pee-pah) – large plucked lute
- piso tonkeng (pee-soh ton-keng) – handaxe
- qiang (shee-ang) – longspear
- ram dao (rahm dow) – sword, bastard
- rishi (ree-shee) – aasimar planetouched
- Rokugan (roh-koo-gahn) – featured campaign setting
- rokuro-kubi (row-cur-oh-coo-bee)
- rokushakubo (roh-koo-shah-koo-boh) – quarterstaff
- ronin (roh-neen) – samurai with no family and no clan
- sai (sigh) – disarming weapon
- salaw (sah-law) – a bowed lute made from a coconut shell
- samisen (sah-mee-sen) – plucked lute
- sang kauw (song-cow) – double weapon
- sanru no oni (san-roo no oh-nee) – four-armed, bat-winged Shadowlands oni
- sarod (sah-rohd) – large plucked or bowed lute
- saron (sah-rohn) – percussion instrument
- sasumata (sah-soo-mah-tah) – pole arm
- sekkou (sek-koh)—ranger
- seppuku (seh-poo-koo) – suicide
- shakuhachi (sha-koo-hah-chi) – bamboo flute
- shamshir (shahm-sheer) – scimitar
- shen lung (shen lung) – spirit dragon
- shikari (shee-kah-ree) – ranger
- shikibu no oni (she-kee-boo no oh-nee) – dwarflike Shadowlands oni
- shikki-gaki (shee-kee gah-kee) – disease-ridden undead spirit
- shikomi-zue (shee-koh-mee-zoo-eh) – stout staff with hidden spear head
- shinen-gaki (shee-nen gah-kee) – fiery undead spirit
- Shintao (sheen-tau) – Rokugan monk prestige class
- shirokinukatsukami (shee-roh-kee-noo-kah-tsoo-kah-mee) – kind spirit also known as “eater of dreams”
- shugenja (shoo-gen-jah) – elemental divine spellcaster
- siangham (sigh-ang-ham) – small, piercing monk weapon
- singh (sing) – fighter
- sitar (see-tar) – large plucked lute
- slenthem (slehn-them) – percussion instrument
- sodegarami (soh-deh-gah-rah-mee) – grapple-initiating weapon
- sohei (soh-heh) – religious soldiers
- soong (soong) – lute
- Soshi (soh-she) school – Scorpion clan air magic specialists
- suan tao fung (swan tau fung) – mace, light or heavy
- suling (soo-ling) – flute
- swami (swah-mee) – wu jen
- t’ien lung (tee-en lung) – celestial dragon
- t’rung (trung) – bamboo xylophone
- tabi (tah-bee) – footwear
- tagamaling buso (tah-gah-mah-ling boo-soh) – cursed tigbanua buso victim
- tako (tah-koh) – octopus aberration
- tambura (tahm-boo-rah) – large bowed lute used to provide a drone
- Tamori (tah-moh-ree) school – Dragon clan earth magic specialists
- tanto (tahn-toh) – dagger
- tasloi (tas-loy) – long-legged, flat-headed jungle-dwelling humanoids
- tau-kien (tau-kee-en) – longsword
- tetsubo (teh-tsoo-boh) – greatclub
- thamàn kyà (thah-man kee-ah) – weretiger lycanthrope
- tong shu (tong shoo) – rogue
- tonfa (tohn-fah) – monk weapon
- toya (toe-yah)—quarterstaff
- tsuburu no oni (tsoo-boo-roh no oh-nee)
- tsuno (tsoo-noh) – horned Shadowlands humanoid
- tulwar (tull-wahr) – scimitar
- tun mi lung (tuhn mee lung) – typhoon dragon
- tungi (toon-jee) – battleaxe
- ugulu no oni (oo-goo-loo no oh-nee) – horned and clawed Shadowlands oni
- uma-yari (oo-mah-yah-ree) – lance, heavy
- vanara (vah-nah-rah) – a race of monkeylike humanoids
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- wakizashi (wah-kih-zah-shee) – masterwork short sword
- wang-liang (wang-lee-ahng)
- wo dau (woh dow)—bastard sword
- wu jen (woo jen) – a potent arcane spellcaster
- Yakamo (yah-kah-moh) – sun deity
- yakuza (yah-koo-zah) – roguelike character
- yamabushi (yah-mah-boo-shee) – shugenja
- yang chin (yahng cheen) – hammer dulcimer
- yao ren (yow ren)—sorcerer
- yari (yah-ree) – shortspear
- yattoko no oni (yah-toh-ko no oh-nee) – insectile Shadowlands creature
- yavana (yah-va-na)—barbarian
- Yogo (yoh-goh) school - Scorpion clan earth magic specialists
- yue (yoo-eh)—halberd
- yuki-on-na (yoo-kee-oh-nah) – beautiful fey cold spirit
- yumi (yoo-mee) – shortbow, composite
- zafar takieh (zah-far tah-kee-eh) – sword, short
- zaghnal (zahg-nahl) – pick, light
- zheng (zheng) – zither