Japanese Bath Vocabulary: Easy Listening Practice

Japanese bath culture gives you useful everyday words as well as travel vocabulary. Use this lesson with Sayuri's podcast to understand the difference between a home bath, a sento, and an onsen.

How to use this listening lesson

1. Listen once without reading the transcript.
2. Listen again and pause when you recognize a word.
3. Read the transcript, review the vocabulary, then listen one more time.

Vocabulary to notice

• お風呂 (おふろ) — bath or bathroom
• 湯船 (ゆぶね) — bath tub
• シャワー (しゃわー) — shower
• 銭湯 (せんとう) — public bath
• 温泉 (おんせん) — hot spring
• 入浴 (にゅうよく) — bathing
• 体を洗う (からだをあらう) — to wash the body
• リラックス (りらっくす) — to relax

Grammar focus

Use 〜ながら for two actions at the same time: 音楽を聞きながら、お風呂に入ります。 (I take a bath while listening to music.)

Practice after listening

1. Listen once and identify home-bath or public-bath words.
2. Find 湯船 and 入浴 in the transcript.
3. Describe your bath routine with 〜ながら.

When you are ready, use the source episode below for the full Japanese listening practice.

Listen to the source episode

日本のお風呂文化

Original Nihongo Sayuri podcast episode for this JLPT N4 lesson.

Nihongo Sayurisayuri

Continue your practice

Japanese Listening Practice with Podcast Scripts

Find more easy Japanese listening lessons with scripts, vocabulary, and clear next steps.

Nihongo Sayurisayuri

Level: JLPT N4.