Top 100 Vocabulary for Visiting and Touring Japan | Yokohama is a practical bilingual Yokohama travel vocabulary guide for English-speaking visitors and Chinese-speaking travellers. Learn 100 useful English words and expressions with English pronunciation, Simplified Chinese meanings and pinyin, Japanese written equivalents and romanisation, and natural travel examples.
Yokohama makes a lovely language-learning day: a waterfront stroll, a lively food street, and a building whose old purpose is still visible beneath its new one. Learn a few clear words for each setting, and you have much more to enjoy than a checklist of photographs.
Use this guide for Yokohama sightseeing, Minato Mirai, Chinatown, port and warehouse history, waterfront orientation, food conversations and a separately planned Sankeien visit. This city list builds the language of local places, activities and cultural observations. For trains, hotels and everyday requests, use the wider Japan travel vocabulary guide linked below.
欢迎来到横滨！一次选择十个词，再练一句真正会用到的话。英语帮助你表达，中文帮助你理解，日语标识帮助你认路。
The pronunciation layers: English uses broad British-style IPA between slashes. Chinese uses Mandarin pinyin with tone marks. Japanese uses romanisation; a macron in ō or ū marks a long vowel. Borrowed-word pronunciations can vary. These are learning aids, not recordings or a guide to Japanese pitch accent.
Yokohama in three languages: Yokohama · 横滨 (Héngbīn, Mandarin) · 横浜 (Yokohama, Japanese). Related characters can have different readings and meanings. The Japanese entries are contextual equivalents or recognition words, not interchangeable translations for every sentence.
“Top 100” is an editorial teaching selection, not an official frequency or search-volume ranking. Check current opening times, access, prices and services with the venue or operator. The official sources below support the historical and visitor context.
Explore the eduKate Vocabulary Learning Hub · Read the wider Japan travel vocabulary guide
Choose Your Yokohama Reading Route
- Yokohama’s first thirty local expressions: words 1–30.
- Detailed observations and practical questions: words 31–60.
- More Yokohama places and cultural language: words 61–100.
- History and places to notice, followed by conversation and writing practice.
Choose the route closest to your next task, and return to the other sections later. One clear request is already useful progress.
1. Docks and working ports — words 1–10
1. dock /dɒk/
Meaning: an enclosed water area or facility for vessels. 中文: 船坞 (chuán wù). Japanese: ドック (dokku).
Yokohama example: The dock explanation showed a part of port work beyond passenger travel.
2. wharf /wɔːf/
Meaning: a waterside structure for loading and unloading vessels. 中文: 货运码头 (huò yùn mǎ tóu). Japanese: 埠頭 (futō).
Yokohama example: We viewed the wharf from the permitted public area.
3. berth /bɜːθ/
Meaning: an assigned place where a vessel can stop. 中文: 泊位 (bó wèi). Japanese: 係留場所 (keiryū basho).
Yokohama example: The port map identified the vessel’s berth.
4. anchorage /ˈæŋkərɪdʒ/
Meaning: a water area where vessels may anchor. 中文: 锚地 (máo dì). Japanese: 錨地 (byōchi).
Yokohama example: The harbour interpretation distinguished an anchorage from a terminal.
5. cargo /ˈkɑːɡəʊ/
Meaning: goods carried by a ship or other transport vehicle. 中文: 货物 (huò wù). Japanese: 貨物 (kamotsu).
Yokohama example: The exhibition explained the cargo carried in an earlier period.
6. freight /freɪt/
Meaning: the transport of goods in bulk. 中文: 货运 (huò yùn). Japanese: 貨物輸送 (kamotsu yusō).
Yokohama example: Freight movement gave the waterfront a working purpose.
7. shipping container /ˈʃɪpɪŋ kənˈteɪnə/
Meaning: a standardised box used for moving goods. 中文: 集装箱 (jí zhuāng xiāng). Japanese: コンテナ (kontena).
Yokohama example: The shipping container display explained how loads are transferred.
8. container crane /kənˈteɪnə kreɪn/
Meaning: equipment lifting large freight boxes between transport and storage. 中文: 集装箱起重机 (jí zhuāng xiāng qǐ zhòng jī). Japanese: コンテナクレーン (kontena kurēn).
Yokohama example: We identified the container crane without entering the operational area.
9. dry dock /draɪ dɒk/
Meaning: a dock drained so a vessel can be worked on. 中文: 干船坞 (gān chuán wù). Japanese: 乾ドック (kan dokku).
Yokohama example: The dry dock diagram showed why the water is removed.
10. shipyard /ˈʃɪpjɑːd/
Meaning: a place where vessels are built or repaired. 中文: 造船厂 (zào chuán chǎng). Japanese: 造船所 (zōsensho).
Yokohama example: The shipyard’s role was different from the passenger terminal’s role.
2. Parts of a ship and navigation — words 11–20
11. hull /hʌl/
Meaning: the main body of a vessel. 中文: 船体 (chuán tǐ). Japanese: 船体 (sentai).
Yokohama example: The model’s hull gave us a useful part to identify.
12. deck /dek/
Meaning: a floor-like surface on a vessel. 中文: 甲板 (jiǎ bǎn). Japanese: 甲板 (kanpan).
Yokohama example: We checked which deck visitors could access.
13. bow /baʊ/
Meaning: the front end of a vessel. 中文: 船首 (chuán shǒu). Japanese: 船首 (senshu).
Yokohama example: The bow pointed towards the direction of travel.
14. stern /stɜːn/
Meaning: the rear end of a vessel. 中文: 船尾 (chuán wěi). Japanese: 船尾 (senbi).
Yokohama example: The stern was a different part from the passenger entrance.
15. mast /mɑːst/
Meaning: a vertical structure supporting sails or equipment on a vessel. 中文: 桅杆 (wéi gān). Japanese: マスト (masuto).
Yokohama example: The mast helped us recognise the ship’s silhouette.
16. rigging /ˈrɪɡɪŋ/
Meaning: ropes and related fittings supporting or controlling a vessel’s equipment. 中文: 船具索缆 (chuán jù suǒ lǎn). Japanese: 索具 (sakugu).
Yokohama example: The rigging explanation made the model easier to read.
17. navigation /ˌnævɪˈɡeɪʃən/
Meaning: planning and controlling movement towards a destination. 中文: 航海导航 (háng hǎi dǎo háng). Japanese: 航法 (kōhō).
Yokohama example: The maritime display connected navigation with maps and instruments.
18. nautical chart /ˈnɔːtɪkəl tʃɑːt/
Meaning: a map designed for navigation on water. 中文: 海图 (hǎi tú). Japanese: 海図 (kaizu).
Yokohama example: The nautical chart contained information beyond the coastline.
19. lighthouse /ˈlaɪthaʊs/
Meaning: a structure displaying a light used in marine navigation. 中文: 灯塔 (dēng tǎ). Japanese: 灯台 (tōdai).
Yokohama example: We read the lighthouse’s historical purpose on the panel.
20. maritime signal /ˈmærɪtaɪm ˈsɪɡnəl/
Meaning: an agreed message used in vessel or port communication. 中文: 海事信号 (hǎi shì xìn hào). Japanese: 海上信号 (kaijō shingō).
Yokohama example: The maritime signal needed an explanation rather than a guess.
3. Port opening and trading records — words 21–30
21. port opening /pɔːt ˈəʊpənɪŋ/
Meaning: the establishment of access to a port under particular historical arrangements. 中文: 开港 (kāi gǎng). Japanese: 開港 (kaikō).
Yokohama example: We connected port opening with the guide’s account of Yokohama.
22. treaty port /ˈtriːti pɔːt/
Meaning: a port operating under access arrangements established by treaty. 中文: 条约港口 (tiáo yuē gǎng kǒu). Japanese: 条約港 (jōyakukō).
Yokohama example: The phrase treaty port needed its historical context.
23. trading house /ˈtreɪdɪŋ haʊs/
Meaning: a business organising the buying and selling of goods. 中文: 贸易商行 (mào yì shāng háng). Japanese: 貿易商社 (bōeki shōsha).
Yokohama example: The trading house display connected a building with commercial activity.
24. export /ˈekspɔːt/
Meaning: goods sent to another country for sale in this noun use. 中文: 出口货物 (chū kǒu huò wù). Japanese: 輸出品 (yushutsuhin).
Yokohama example: The historical label identified the export rather than only its packaging.
25. import /ˈɪmpɔːt/
Meaning: goods brought from another country in this noun use. 中文: 进口货物 (jìn kǒu huò wù). Japanese: 輸入品 (yunyūhin).
Yokohama example: The import display helped us ask where a product came from.
26. trade route /treɪd ruːt/
Meaning: a path through which goods and traders move. 中文: 贸易路线 (mào yì lù xiàn). Japanese: 交易路 (kōekiro).
Yokohama example: The trade route map linked ports rather than modern sightseeing stops.
27. consignment /kənˈsaɪnmənt/
Meaning: a batch of goods sent together under an arrangement. 中文: 托运货物 (tuō yùn huò wù). Japanese: 積送品 (sekisōhin).
Yokohama example: The record described the consignment’s contents.
28. customs declaration /ˈkʌstəmz ˌdekləˈreɪʃən/
Meaning: a statement of goods supplied to a border authority. 中文: 海关申报 (hǎi guān shēn bào). Japanese: 税関申告 (zeikan shinkoku).
Yokohama example: We distinguished a historical customs declaration from current traveller rules.
29. tariff /ˈtærɪf/
Meaning: a tax imposed on particular goods crossing a border. 中文: 关税 (guān shuì). Japanese: 関税 (kanzei).
Yokohama example: The tariff explanation belonged to the period shown.
30. commercial ledger /kəˈmɜːʃəl ˈledʒə/
Meaning: a book recording a business’s financial transactions. 中文: 商业账簿 (shāng yè zhàng bù). Japanese: 商業帳簿 (shōgyō chōbo).
Yokohama example: The commercial ledger connected trade with written records.
4. Communities and languages — words 31–40
31. diaspora /daɪˈæspərə/
Meaning: people with shared origins living across different places. 中文: 侨民群体 (qiáo mín qún tǐ). Japanese: ディアスポラ (diasupora).
Yokohama example: We read about the diaspora without treating its members as identical.
32. migrant merchant /ˈmaɪɡrənt ˈmɜːtʃənt/
Meaning: a trader who has moved to settle in another place. 中文: 移居商人 (yí jū shāng rén). Japanese: 移住した商人 (ijū shita shōnin).
Yokohama example: The migrant merchant’s account gave the port history a human connection.
33. settled community /ˈsetəld kəˈmjuːnəti/
Meaning: a group established in a place over time. 中文: 定居社区 (dìng jū shè qū). Japanese: 定住した共同体 (teijū shita kyōdōtai).
Yokohama example: The settled community built schools, businesses and places of worship.
34. family business /ˈfæməli ˈbɪznəs/
Meaning: an enterprise run or controlled by relatives. 中文: 家族企业 (jiā zú qǐ yè). Japanese: 家族経営 (kazoku keiei).
Yokohama example: We asked about the family business’s story when conversation was welcome.
35. community association /kəˈmjuːnəti əˌsəʊsiˈeɪʃən/
Meaning: an organisation serving or representing a local group. 中文: 社区协会 (shè qū xié huì). Japanese: 地域団体 (chiiki dantai).
Yokohama example: The community association helped explain the event’s organisation.
36. linguistic diversity /lɪŋˈɡwɪstɪk daɪˈvɜːsəti/
Meaning: the presence of different languages within a setting. 中文: 语言多样性 (yǔ yán duō yàng xìng). Japanese: 言語の多様性 (gengo no tayōsei).
Yokohama example: Linguistic diversity made us check which language a sign used.
37. multilingual sign /ˌmʌltiˈlɪŋɡwəl saɪn/
Meaning: a sign presenting information in several languages. 中文: 多语标识 (duō yǔ biāo zhì). Japanese: 多言語看板 (tagengo kanban).
Yokohama example: The multilingual sign helped us compare destination names.
38. heritage language /ˈherɪtɪdʒ ˈlæŋɡwɪdʒ/
Meaning: a language connected with a family’s or community’s cultural background. 中文: 传承语言 (chuán chéng yǔ yán). Japanese: 継承語 (keishōgo).
Yokohama example: A heritage language can have a different role from a visitor’s translation.
39. cultural adaptation /ˈkʌltʃərəl ˌædæpˈteɪʃən/
Meaning: changes in practices as people respond to a new setting. 中文: 文化适应 (wén huà shì yìng). Japanese: 文化適応 (bunka tekiō).
Yokohama example: The display gave a specific example of cultural adaptation.
40. hybrid tradition /ˈhaɪbrɪd trəˈdɪʃən/
Meaning: a practice combining elements from different cultural sources. 中文: 融合传统 (róng hé chuán tǒng). Japanese: 融合した伝統 (yūgō shita dentō).
Yokohama example: We asked how the hybrid tradition developed.
5. Chinatown sights and small dishes — words 41–50
41. Chinese-style gate /tʃaɪˈniːz staɪl ɡeɪt/
Meaning: an entrance structure drawing on Chinese architectural forms. 中文: 中式牌楼 (zhōng shì pái lóu). Japanese: 中華風の門 (chūkafū no mon).
Yokohama example: The Chinese-style gate made a useful meeting landmark.
42. decorative arch /ˈdekərətɪv ɑːtʃ/
Meaning: a curved entrance or span used for visual decoration. 中文: 装饰拱门 (zhuāng shì gǒng mén). Japanese: 装飾アーチ (sōshoku āchi).
Yokohama example: We described the decorative arch without assigning it an invented meaning.
43. guardian lion /ˈɡɑːdiən ˈlaɪən/
Meaning: a lion figure associated with protection in a cultural setting. 中文: 守护狮像 (shǒu hù shī xiàng). Japanese: 守護獅子像 (shugo shishizō).
Yokohama example: The guardian lion’s meaning needed a contextual explanation.
44. celebration calendar /ˌseləˈbreɪʃən ˈkælɪndə/
Meaning: the planned dates of cultural celebrations. 中文: 庆典日历 (qìng diǎn rì lì). Japanese: 祝祭日程 (shukusai nittei).
Yokohama example: We used the current celebration calendar to plan the visit.
45. lantern display /ˈlæntən dɪˈspleɪ/
Meaning: an arrangement of lanterns for viewing. 中文: 灯笼陈列 (dēng lóng chén liè). Japanese: ランタン展示 (rantan tenji).
Yokohama example: The lantern display changed the atmosphere of the street.
46. festival decoration /ˈfestɪvəl ˌdekəˈreɪʃən/
Meaning: an ornament used during a celebration. 中文: 节庆装饰 (jié qìng zhuāng shì). Japanese: 祭りの飾り (matsuri no kazari).
Yokohama example: We admired the festival decoration without touching it.
47. dim sum /ˌdɪm ˈsʌm/
Meaning: small dishes associated with Chinese dining traditions. 中文: 点心 (diǎn xin). Japanese: 点心 (tenshin).
Yokohama example: The dim sum menu offered several different preparations.
48. steamer basket /ˈstiːmə ˈbɑːskɪt/
Meaning: a perforated container used to cook food with steam. 中文: 蒸笼 (zhēng lóng). Japanese: 蒸籠 (seiro).
Yokohama example: The steamer basket was hot, so we followed the server’s instructions.
49. dumpling wrapper /ˈdʌmplɪŋ ˈræpə/
Meaning: the thin dough surrounding a dumpling’s filling. 中文: 饺子皮 (jiǎo zi pí). Japanese: 餃子の皮 (gyōza no kawa).
Yokohama example: We asked what flour the dumpling wrapper used.
50. minced filling /mɪnst ˈfɪlɪŋ/
Meaning: ingredients chopped finely and placed inside a food. 中文: 切碎馅料 (qiē suì xiàn liào). Japanese: 刻んだ具 (kizanda gu).
Yokohama example: The minced filling needed a separate ingredient check.
6. Dough, fillings and shared meals — words 51–60
51. dough /dəʊ/
Meaning: a mixture of flour and liquid prepared for cooking. 中文: 面团 (miàn tuán). Japanese: 生地 (kiji).
Yokohama example: The dough was shaped before the filling was added.
52. kneading /ˈniːdɪŋ/
Meaning: working a dough by pressing and folding it. 中文: 揉面 (róu miàn). Japanese: こねること (koneru koto).
Yokohama example: The kneading demonstration showed a repeated hand movement.
53. proofing /ˈpruːfɪŋ/
Meaning: allowing a prepared dough to rise before cooking. 中文: 发酵醒面 (fā jiào xǐng miàn). Japanese: 発酵 (hakkō).
Yokohama example: Proofing was one stage before steaming the buns.
54. sesame ball /ˈsesəmi bɔːl/
Meaning: a round sweet food coated with sesame seeds. 中文: 芝麻球 (zhī ma qiú). Japanese: ごま団子 (goma dango).
Yokohama example: We checked the sesame ball’s filling before ordering.
55. bean paste /biːn peɪst/
Meaning: a preparation made by crushing or processing beans. 中文: 豆沙 (dòu shā). Japanese: あん (an).
Yokohama example: The bean paste’s sweetness depended on the preparation.
56. sweet filling /swiːt ˈfɪlɪŋ/
Meaning: an interior ingredient mixture with a sweet taste. 中文: 甜馅 (tián xiàn). Japanese: 甘い具 (amai gu).
Yokohama example: The sweet filling was different from the savoury option.
57. savoury filling /ˈseɪvəri ˈfɪlɪŋ/
Meaning: an interior ingredient mixture with a non-sweet flavour. 中文: 咸鲜馅 (xián xiān xiàn). Japanese: 塩味の具 (shioaji no gu).
Yokohama example: We asked which meat was in the savoury filling.
58. hot steam /hɒt stiːm/
Meaning: water vapour released from heated water. 中文: 热蒸汽 (rè zhēng qì). Japanese: 熱い蒸気 (atsui jōki).
Yokohama example: Hot steam rose as the server lifted the basket’s lid.
59. shared dishes /ʃeəd ˈdɪʃɪz/
Meaning: foods served for several people to distribute between themselves. 中文: 共食菜肴 (gòng shí cài yáo). Japanese: 取り分け料理 (toriwake ryōri).
Yokohama example: Shared dishes made a discussion of ingredients useful before ordering.
60. banquet menu /ˈbæŋkwɪt ˈmenjuː/
Meaning: a planned selection of dishes for a group meal. 中文: 宴席菜单 (yàn xí cài dān). Japanese: 宴会メニュー (enkai menyū).
Yokohama example: We checked the banquet menu’s portion and booking conditions.
7. Waterfront change and old buildings — words 61–70
61. waterfront redevelopment /ˈwɔːtəfrʌnt ˌriːdɪˈveləpmənt/
Meaning: the reshaping of an area beside water for new uses. 中文: 滨水再开发 (bīn shuǐ zài kāi fā). Japanese: 臨海再開発 (rinkai saikaihatsu).
Yokohama example: Waterfront redevelopment connected older port buildings with present-day activity.
62. reclaimed land /rɪˈkleɪmd lænd/
Meaning: land created or recovered through alteration of a water area. 中文: 填海土地 (tián hǎi tǔ dì). Japanese: 埋立地 (umetatechi).
Yokohama example: The map explained reclaimed land rather than leaving us to guess.
63. urban waterfront /ˈɜːbən ˈwɔːtəfrʌnt/
Meaning: the part of a city beside a significant body of water. 中文: 城市滨水区 (chéng shì bīn shuǐ qū). Japanese: 都市の水辺 (toshi no mizube).
Yokohama example: The urban waterfront offered several routes with different walking demands.
64. public boardwalk /ˈpʌblɪk ˈbɔːdwɔːk/
Meaning: a publicly accessible walking surface made with boards in this context. 中文: 公共木栈道 (gōng gòng mù zhàn dào). Japanese: 公共の遊歩道 (kōkyō no yūhodō).
Yokohama example: We checked where the public boardwalk ended.
65. harbourfront park /ˈhɑːbəfrʌnt pɑːk/
Meaning: a public landscape beside a port. 中文: 港边公园 (gǎng biān gōng yuán). Japanese: 港沿いの公園 (minato zoi no kōen).
Yokohama example: The harbourfront park gave us room to pause without blocking a doorway.
66. open-air seating /ˌəʊpən eə ˈsiːtɪŋ/
Meaning: places to sit outside a building. 中文: 露天座位 (lù tiān zuò wèi). Japanese: 屋外席 (okugai seki).
Yokohama example: We checked whether the open-air seating was public or reserved for customers.
67. industrial conversion /ɪnˈdʌstriəl kənˈvɜːʃən/
Meaning: the adaptation of a former production or storage facility for another purpose. 中文: 工业建筑改用 (gōng yè jiàn zhù gǎi yòng). Japanese: 産業施設の転用 (sangyō shisetsu no ten’yō).
Yokohama example: Industrial conversion explained why old structures held new activities.
68. brickwork /ˈbrɪkwɜːk/
Meaning: a structure or surface formed from joined bricks. 中文: 砖砌体 (zhuān qì tǐ). Japanese: れんが造り (renga zukuri).
Yokohama example: The brickwork gave the warehouse a material detail to describe.
69. masonry /ˈmeɪsənri/
Meaning: construction using individual blocks such as stone or brick. 中文: 砌筑工程 (qì zhù gōng chéng). Japanese: 組積造 (sosekizō).
Yokohama example: Masonry described the method rather than the building’s current use.
70. load-bearing wall /ˈləʊd beərɪŋ wɔːl/
Meaning: a wall carrying structural loads. 中文: 承重墙 (chéng zhòng qiáng). Japanese: 耐力壁 (tairyokuheki).
Yokohama example: The explanation distinguished a load-bearing wall from an internal divider.
8. Public routes and heritage settings — words 71–80
71. historic facade /hɪˈstɒrɪk fəˈsɑːd/
Meaning: the exterior face of a building significant for its past. 中文: 历史建筑立面 (lì shǐ jiàn zhù lì miàn). Japanese: 歴史的な外観 (rekishiteki na gaikan).
Yokohama example: The historic facade remained a useful clue to an earlier purpose.
72. cultural venue /ˈkʌltʃərəl ˈvenjuː/
Meaning: a place hosting exhibitions, performances or other cultural activity. 中文: 文化场所 (wén huà chǎng suǒ). Japanese: 文化施設 (bunka shisetsu).
Yokohama example: The cultural venue had its own programme and ticket arrangements.
73. event hall /ɪˈvent hɔːl/
Meaning: an interior space used for organised gatherings. 中文: 活动厅 (huó dòng tīng). Japanese: イベントホール (ibento hōru).
Yokohama example: The event hall was separate from the open public area.
74. temporary exhibition /ˈtempərəri ˌeksɪˈbɪʃən/
Meaning: a display presented for a limited period. 中文: 临时展览 (lín shí zhǎn lǎn). Japanese: 企画展 (kikakuten).
Yokohama example: We checked the temporary exhibition’s dates before planning around it.
75. visitor circulation /ˈvɪzɪtə ˌsɜːkjʊˈleɪʃən/
Meaning: the routes people follow through a public setting. 中文: 游客流线 (yóu kè liú xiàn). Japanese: 来館者の動線 (raikansha no dōsen).
Yokohama example: Visitor circulation helped explain the one-way instruction.
76. pedestrian connection /pəˈdestriən kəˈnekʃən/
Meaning: a route joining places for people on foot. 中文: 步行连接 (bù xíng lián jiē). Japanese: 歩行者の連絡路 (hokōsha no renrakuro).
Yokohama example: We checked whether the pedestrian connection included steps.
77. water-edge route /ˈwɔːtə edʒ ruːt/
Meaning: a path following the boundary between land and water. 中文: 临水路线 (lín shuǐ lù xiàn). Japanese: 水辺の経路 (mizube no keiro).
Yokohama example: The water-edge route needed its own weather and access check.
78. relocated building /ˌriːləʊˈkeɪtɪd ˈbɪldɪŋ/
Meaning: a structure moved from its earlier location. 中文: 迁建建筑 (qiān jiàn jiàn zhù). Japanese: 移築建物 (ichiku tatemono).
Yokohama example: The relocated building’s sign identified both places.
79. landscape setting /ˈlændskeɪp ˈsetɪŋ/
Meaning: the surrounding environment in which a feature is viewed. 中文: 景观环境 (jǐng guān huán jìng). Japanese: 景観環境 (keikan kankyō).
Yokohama example: The landscape setting changed how we experienced the structure.
80. heritage route /ˈherɪtɪdʒ ruːt/
Meaning: a planned path connecting historically significant places. 中文: 遗产游览路线 (yí chǎn yóu lǎn lù xiàn). Japanese: 文化遺産の巡回路 (bunka isan no junkairo).
Yokohama example: Our heritage route included time to read each explanation.
9. Maritime history and community — words 81–90
81. harbour perspective /ˈhɑːbə pəˈspektɪv/
Meaning: a way of understanding a port through a particular viewpoint or subject. 中文: 港湾视角 (gǎng wān shì jiǎo). Japanese: 港の見方 (minato no mikata).
Yokohama example: A harbour perspective connected the shops, vessels and historical records.
82. maritime /ˈmærɪtaɪm/
Meaning: relating to the sea, ships or navigation. 中文: 海事的 (hǎi shì de). Japanese: 海事の (kaiji no).
Yokohama example: The maritime exhibit explained the city’s connection with shipping.
83. warehouse /ˈweəhaʊs/
Meaning: a building used for storing goods. 中文: 仓库 (cāng kù). Japanese: 倉庫 (sōko).
Yokohama example: A warehouse can acquire a new use while retaining clues to its earlier role.
84. red brick /red brɪk/
Meaning: building bricks with a reddish colour. 中文: 红砖 (hóng zhuān). Japanese: 赤レンガ (aka renga).
Yokohama example: The red brick helped us recognise the waterfront buildings.
85. customs /ˈkʌstəmz/
Meaning: the authority and procedures controlling goods moving across borders. 中文: 海关 (hǎi guān). Japanese: 税関 (zeikan).
Yokohama example: Customs vocabulary added a practical layer to the port’s history.
86. international trade /ˌɪntəˈnæʃənəl treɪd/
Meaning: the exchange of goods or services between countries. 中文: 国际贸易 (guó jì mào yì). Japanese: 国際貿易 (kokusai bōeki).
Yokohama example: International trade helped shape Yokohama’s communities.
87. migration /maɪˈɡreɪʃən/
Meaning: the movement of people to another place to live. 中文: 人口迁移 (rén kǒu qiān yí). Japanese: 移住 (ijū).
Yokohama example: Migration is about people and lives as well as routes on a map.
88. community /kəˈmjuːnəti/
Meaning: people linked by a place or shared connections. 中文: 社区 (shè qū). Japanese: 地域社会 (chiiki shakai).
Yokohama example: Chinatown is a community as well as a visitor destination.
89. Chinatown /ˈtʃaɪnətaʊn/
Meaning: an urban area associated with a Chinese community. 中文: 中华街 (zhōng huá jiē). Japanese: 中華街 (chūkagai).
Yokohama example: We used Chinatown’s written name when asking for directions.
90. bilingual /ˌbaɪˈlɪŋɡwəl/
Meaning: using or able to use two languages. 中文: 双语的 (shuāng yǔ de). Japanese: 二言語の (ni gengo no).
Yokohama example: A bilingual sign still needs careful reading in its actual context.
10. Chinatown food and waterfront orientation — words 91–100
91. steamed bun /stiːmd bʌn/
Meaning: a filled bun cooked using steam. 中文: 蒸包 (zhēng bāo). Japanese: 中華まん (chūkaman).
Yokohama example: We checked the filling of the steamed bun.
92. dumpling /ˈdʌmplɪŋ/
Meaning: a small portion of dough enclosing a filling or prepared as part of a dish. 中文: 饺子 (jiǎo zi). Japanese: 餃子 (gyōza).
Yokohama example: The dumpling menu described several fillings.
93. steamed /stiːmd/
Meaning: cooked using steam. 中文: 清蒸的 (qīng zhēng de). Japanese: 蒸した (mushita).
Yokohama example: Steamed describes a cooking method rather than every ingredient.
94. filling /ˈfɪlɪŋ/
Meaning: food enclosed within a bun, dumpling or similar item. 中文: 馅料 (xiàn liào). Japanese: 具 (gu).
Yokohama example: Could you tell me what is in the filling?
95. pier /pɪə/
Meaning: a structure extending over water for access or mooring. 中文: 码头 (mǎ tóu). Japanese: 桟橋 (sanbashi).
Yokohama example: The pier had its own entrance and boarding point.
96. moored /mʊəd/
Meaning: secured in place by ropes or anchors. 中文: 停泊的 (tíng bó de). Japanese: 係留された (keiryū sareta).
Yokohama example: We viewed the moored vessel from the permitted path.
97. vessel /ˈvesəl/
Meaning: a boat or ship. 中文: 船舶 (chuán bó). Japanese: 船舶 (senpaku).
Yokohama example: A vessel’s name helped us identify the right exhibit.
98. adaptive reuse /əˌdæptɪv riˈjuːs/
Meaning: giving an existing building a new purpose. 中文: 适应性再利用 (shì yìng xìng zài lì yòng). Japanese: 用途転用 (yōto ten’yō).
Yokohama example: Adaptive reuse explained the warehouse’s change from storage to public activity.
99. urban design /ˈɜːbən dɪˈzaɪn/
Meaning: the planning and shaping of urban spaces. 中文: 城市设计 (chéng shì shè jì). Japanese: 都市デザイン (toshi dezain).
Yokohama example: Urban design connects the walkway, open space and buildings.
100. viewing point /ˈvjuːɪŋ pɔɪnt/
Meaning: a place chosen for looking over a surrounding area. 中文: 观景点 (guān jǐng diǎn). Japanese: 展望地点 (tenbō chiten).
Yokohama example: We found a viewing point that did not obstruct the path.
Yokohama History: Understand the Place Behind the Words
Yokohama’s port opened to international trade in 1859. JNTO’s Chinatown guide connects that opening with Chinese merchants settling and developing a community. International trade, migration and community help you describe people and connections, not just an attractive street.
The Red Brick Warehouse guide describes a change from customs storage to a public cultural setting. This is an excellent context for warehouse, customs and adaptive reuse. Ask what has changed and what remains visible; the answer is more interesting than simply calling a building old.
The official Sankeien entry explains that historic buildings were brought to the garden from other places in Japan. Their age, earlier location and present setting are different questions. A careful visitor can appreciate the landscape while keeping those histories distinct.
Chinatown’s written characters may look familiar to Chinese readers, but a Japanese place name still has its own reading. Recognise 中華街 as chūkagai when speaking Japanese, and use the actual destination name when asking directions.
横滨旅行可以从三个词组开始：港口与贸易、中华街与饮食、历史建筑与新用途。看到熟悉的汉字时，也要留意日语读音。问路时说出具体车站或建筑名称，比只说“横滨”更清楚。
Important Places and Things to Notice in Yokohama
Minato Mirai and the waterfront
Use skyline, promenade, bay and district to build an orientation sentence. Choose a route with space to stop rather than pausing in the main pedestrian flow.
Yokohama Chinatown
Read menus for fillings, cooking methods and portion sizes. A community has residents and working businesses as well as visitor attractions.
The Red Brick Warehouse area
Look for evidence of the buildings’ earlier storage purpose. Check current venue arrangements rather than assuming the shops, exhibitions and events share one timetable.
A pier or passenger-terminal visit
Confirm the exact facility. A waterfront viewing point is not necessarily a boarding point for the service you booked.
Sankeien
Plan the journey separately from the central waterfront route. Read labels for individual buildings and leave time for the garden itself.
These are possible learning routes rather than promises of access or suitability. Confirm the actual location, current venue information and walking requirements. A smaller, well-chosen route often gives you more time to observe and understand.
A Manageable Yokohama Day Plan
Choose a central route rather than assuming every Yokohama attraction is beside the station. A waterfront walk, one cultural stop and a Chinatown meal can make a satisfying day. If Sankeien is your main interest, give its journey and garden visit enough room instead of treating it as a quick detour.
行程小提示：确定主要区域、一餐和一个休息点。核对车站、入口、日文目的地名称与返程交通，再按天气和同行者的体力调整。
English, Chinese and Japanese: Keep the Meaning Clear
English gives you a transferable way to name the task and ask a question. Chinese explains the meaning for a Mandarin reader. Japanese writing can help you recognise a sign or show a destination. A related character does not guarantee a shared pronunciation, so choose the reading for the language you are speaking.
Build a complete request around the useful noun. Instead of saying only station, ask “Which station should we use?” Instead of saying only ingredient, ask “Could you tell me the ingredients?” A short, polite question gives the listener enough information to help.
- Excuse me: 不好意思 (bù hǎo yì si) · すみません (sumimasen). Use it as a polite opening.
- Where is the restroom? 洗手间在哪里？ · お手洗いはどこですか。 (Otearai wa doko desu ka.)
- How much is it? 多少钱？ · いくらですか。 (Ikura desu ka.)
- Do you speak English? 您会说英语吗？ · 英語を話せますか。 (Eigo o hanasemasu ka.)
- Thank you: 谢谢 (xiè xie) · ありがとうございます (arigatō gozaimasu).
For dietary needs, carry an accurately checked explanation of the specific ingredients you must avoid. Ask about stocks, sauces and toppings as well as the visible food. For access needs, ask about the actual entrance, steps, lift and facilities rather than relying on one general adjective.
Speak Before You Go: Yokohama Practice
Read one question aloud, cover it, then ask it from the situation. A partner can answer briefly and ask a follow-up. Keep the exchange clear and comfortable; you are practising communication, not performing an accent.
Which pedestrian connection leads to the public boardwalk?
哪条步行通道通往公共滨水步道？
Does this steamed bun have a sweet filling or a savoury filling?
这个包子是甜馅还是咸馅？
Which pier should we use for this vessel?
乘坐这艘船应该去哪个码头？
Was this relocated building originally in another part of Japan?
这座迁建建筑原本位于日本的其他地区吗？
Practise the whole exchange: open politely, identify the task, show the item or place if useful, listen, confirm and thank the person. If you do not understand, ask for a written name or a slower explanation. Clarification is part of successful communication.
The eduKate Fencing Method: Expand a Sentence with Control
Start with a simple sentence whose meaning you understand. Add one useful detail at a time, preserving what the sentence says. In eduKate’s Fencing Method, vocabulary supports controlled expression rather than becoming decoration.
- First: We noticed the brickwork.
- Add place: We noticed the brickwork of a warehouse in Yokohama.
- Add sequence: During a waterfront walk in Yokohama, we noticed the brickwork of a warehouse.
- Add observation: During a waterfront walk in Yokohama, we noticed the brickwork of a warehouse and read about its adaptive reuse.
- Add meaning: During a waterfront walk in Yokohama, we noticed the brickwork of a warehouse and read about its adaptive reuse. The building helped us connect international trade with the cultural venue it had become.
Use details that belong to your experience or clearly label an imagined scene. If you did not read such a label, choose an observation you can support. A precise noun and a clear verb are more valuable than an impressive word used without understanding.
From Yokohama Vocabulary to Better Writing
Along Yokohama’s urban waterfront, we stopped to look at the brickwork of a warehouse. Its historic facade gave us a useful starting point for discussing adaptive reuse: an older building could become a cultural venue while still showing traces of its earlier purpose. Later, in Chinatown, a multilingual sign helped us find a family business. We asked about the filling of a steamed bun, and the day’s learning moved naturally from port history to an everyday conversation.
This is an imagined learning model, not a report of a particular visit. Its pattern is place, action, detail and meaning. Write a version using five words from the list and a real memory or a clearly labelled fictional scene.
写作练习：先记录三个细节，再用简单英语说清楚你在哪里、做了什么、看见什么，以及这个细节让你明白了什么。不要为了使用难词而改变事实。
Ten Words at a Time: A Learning Routine for Adults and Families
- Choose: take ten terms from one Yokohama task, such as following a heritage route or asking about shared dishes.
- Connect: attach each word to a sign, image, action or short sentence.
- Retrieve: cover the English and recall it from the Chinese meaning or the situation.
- Speak: rehearse a brief request and response without reading every line.
- Return: revisit the words on another day, bringing some older words back.
- Transfer: use linguistic diversity in a discussion of languages, adaptive reuse when studying buildings, and a commercial ledger when learning how a business keeps records.
Families can rotate three roles: ask, answer and check the meaning. Adult learners can record a short voice note and listen for clarity. Keep the practice manageable enough to repeat. The aim is to retrieve the right expression when the task arrives.
A translation tool can help compare possible wording when you supply the whole sentence and situation. Ask it to distinguish a sign label from a spoken request. For a journey, booking or important practical detail, confirm the answer with the relevant official source or person.
Frequently Asked Questions About Yokohama Travel Vocabulary
Is Yokohama another name for Tokyo?
No. It is a separate city. Check the actual destination and journey rather than treating Tokyo and Yokohama as interchangeable labels.
Does one station serve every attraction conveniently?
No. Match the attraction to the station, exit and onward route. Yokohama Station is not a complete itinerary.
Is Chinatown only a place for tourists?
No. It is connected with the lives and history of a Chinese community. Treat homes, businesses and religious spaces with consideration.
Were all Sankeien buildings originally built in the garden?
No. The official guide describes historic buildings relocated from other parts of Japan. Read each building’s own information.
Is a waterfront pier automatically my boat’s boarding point?
No. Confirm the operator, service and precise terminal or pier before travelling.
Must I memorise every entry before visiting?
No. Begin with the words for your next few tasks. Build a small set you can actually use, then add the vocabulary your itinerary needs.
Are the Chinese and Japanese entries exact in every context?
No. They are contextual glosses and useful recognition terms. Read the definitions and notes. Some expressions need a different translation when the sentence, purpose or setting changes.
Official Yokohama Source Room
Use these official sources for the historical context discussed above and for current visitor planning. An evergreen vocabulary article is not a substitute for live venue or transport instructions.
- Yokohama official visitors guide
- JNTO: Yokohama Chinatown history
- JNTO: Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse
- Official Yokohama guide: Sankeien
Continue Through the eduKate Ecosystem
Travel vocabulary can lead into several kinds of learning: clearer English, more careful translation, stronger writing and more thoughtful historical reading. Choose the route that helps with your next question.
- Vocabulary Learning Hub: vocabulary across learning stages
- Vocabulary Articles & Knowledge Hub: words, meaning and language
- Vocabulary Lists Control Tower: find a useful word family
- Japan country travel vocabulary: a broader practical foundation
- Learn Japanese: recognition, listening and conversation
- Translate Japanese to English: preserve context and meaning
- Civilisation Atlas: Japan’s wider historical sequence
For Singapore families, the wider eduKate estate includes the subject-learning resources of eduKateSingapore, eduKatePunggol, eduKateSengkang, BukitTimahTutor and eduKateOrchard. Choose a relevant learning stage, subject and location when you want structured support after the trip. The vocabulary you used on holiday can keep working in reading, writing and everyday conversation.
More Bilingual Japan City Guides
- Top 100 Vocabulary for Visiting and Touring Japan | Tokyo
- Top 100 Vocabulary for Visiting and Touring Japan | Kyoto
- Top 100 Vocabulary for Visiting and Touring Japan | Osaka
- Top 100 Vocabulary for Visiting and Touring Japan | Sapporo
- Top 100 Vocabulary for Visiting and Touring Japan | Fukuoka
- Top 100 Vocabulary for Visiting and Touring Japan | Hiroshima
- Top 100 Vocabulary for Visiting and Touring Japan | Nagoya
- Top 100 Vocabulary for Visiting and Touring Japan | Nara
Yokohama does not need to become a memorisation test. Start with ten useful words, make one clear request and notice one detail you might otherwise have missed. That is a lovely way to turn a visit into lasting learning.
Continue with the companion guides in this batch:
- Top 100 Vocabulary for Visiting and Touring Japan | Kobe
- Top 100 Vocabulary for Visiting and Touring Japan | Kanazawa
- Top 100 Vocabulary for Visiting and Touring Japan | Nagasaki
Properly taught kids shine a bright light into the future.
Continue your Japan word adventure: return to the Japan Travel Vocabulary Hub to choose another city or a paired-city activity. Use the English Learning Hub for speaking and writing, or Retrieval, Memory and Transfer to practise recall. Pick five useful entries, then use them in one fresh scene.
Where shall we explore next? Visit the World City Vocabulary Directory to choose another country or city. Keep a few favourite words from Yokohama and try them in a new sentence as you go.