Oriental Adventures Pronunciation Guide

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]

• “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”

[h=1]A[/h]

• 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

[h=1]B[/h]

• 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

[h=1]C[/h]

• 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

[h=1]D[/h]

• 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

[h=1]E[/h]

• 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

[h=1]F[/h]

• fu (foo) – battleaxe
• fukimi-bari (foo-kee-mee bah-ree) – mouth darts

[h=1]G[/h]

• 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

[h=1]H[/h]

• 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

[h=1]I[/h]

• 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

[h=1]J[/h]

• 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

[h=1]K[/h]

• 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

[h=1]L[/h]

• 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

[h=1]M[/h]

• 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

[h=1]N[/h]

• 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

[h=1]O[/h]

• 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

[h=1]P[/h]

• 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

[h=1]Q[/h]

• qiang (shee-ang) – longspear

[h=1]R[/h]

• 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

[h=1]S[/h]

• 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

[h=1]T[/h]

• 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

[h=1]U[/h]

• ugulu no oni (oo-goo-loo no oh-nee) – horned and clawed Shadowlands oni
• uma-yari (oo-mah-yah-ree) – lance, heavy

[h=1]V[/h]

• vanara (vah-nah-rah) – a race of monkeylike humanoids

[h=1]W[/h]

• 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

[h=1]Y[/h]

• 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

[h=1]Z[/h]

• zafar takieh (zah-far tah-kee-eh) – sword, short
• zaghnal (zahg-nahl) – pick, light
• zheng (zheng) – zither