Best Japanese Words – The Japanese language is quite unlike any other in the world. Whilst many people would stop and admire the sound of the language itself, it’s the beauty of the meaning behind some of their words and expressions that truly sets it apart.
The awareness of fleeting beauty; a walk through a silent forest; rays of sunlight that filters through the trees; happy feelings associated with nostalgia.
When you read any of the above, they conjure up an emotion within you. These seemingly universal emotions are often difficult to describe in one word in English, or any other language for the matter. However, these expressions are deeply rooted in the Japanese culture and thus are actual words used in the Japanese language.
We’ve chosen ten of the most beautiful and meaningful Japanese expressions for you to learn below.
- Shinrinyoku (森林浴)
- Ikigai (生きがい)
- Natsukashi (懐かしい)
- Kanbina (甘美な)
- Wabi-Sabi (侘寂)
- Kogarashi (木枯らし)
- Komorebi (木漏れ日)
- Unkai (雲海)
- Kintsugi (金継ぎ)
- Shouganai (しょうがない)
Not only do they express some poignant meanings, but they all roll off the tongue in pleasing manners!
1. Shinrinyoku (森林浴)
The literal translation of this word is ‘forest bath’. In Japan, it is an act of self-care to actually take a walk through a forest (there are many in Japan!) when you’re feeling slightly off-centre, need a break to clear your head, or just want a relaxing experience.
It is believed to have many restorative and therapeutic benefits that are almost like food for the soul. Want lower blood pressure? Release some stress hormones? Get a little cardio out of your day? Experiencing a shinrinyoku might be exactly what you need!
By the way, if you want to hike in Japan, make sure you read this guide: Hiking in Japan.
2. Ikigai (生きがい)
Simply put, your ikigai is your reason for being.
Ever thought about why you get up every morning? Or the reason behind why you do the things you do?
In the Japanese culture, they describe these reasons for being as your ikigai. To find your ikigai is to find the balance between the spiritual with the practical. Start off with figuring out what you’re passionate about, and then find the ‘how’ in which you can express and pursue that passion.
3. Natsukashi (懐かしい)
The English counterpart for natsukashi would be nostalgia. However, this is where the similarities end. In the Western world, experiencing nostalgia brings about waves of sadness and longing for the past that was.
Natsukashi, however, is the emotion brought about when thinking about the past with positive feelings only.
Something is natsukashi if you’re reliving happy memories of your past and not feeling that burden of yearning.
If you are into this vibe, you need to check out our Japanese vintage posters!
4. Kanbina (甘美な)
Kanbina describes a word that is pleasant to hear. What a perfect word for this list!
This word or expression is often used in the context when someone speaks a word that is music to the ears or rolls off the tongue pleasantly.
It is also used between romantic couples when complimenting each other, or in more poetic or fantastical sentences when describing a feeling or emotion.
5. Wabi-Sabi (侘寂)
Wabi-sabi is a word used in Japan to describe beauty that is imperfect. It is rooted in Buddhist teachings that remind us that life is fleeting and it is not perfect.
For example, when you see a teapot that shows uneven colouring, it can still be as beautiful, if not more beautiful, than an evenly coloured one.
Wabi-sabi is a philosophy that is deeply ingrained in the Japanese view of aesthetics. Appreciating imperfections may not be as normal a thing to do based on Western standards of beauty, but in Japan, valuing imperfections within the beauty of an object as a whole is natural.
If you are into this philosophy of life, you can get our Wabi Sabi t-shirt here:
6. Kogarashi (木枯らし)
Have you ever experienced that particular first wind during the final days of autumn that you know indicates the coming of winter?
Kogarashi describes that exact wind. Its literal translation is ‘leaf shaking/wilting wind’, and many Japanese use it as a reference to prepare for the upcoming cold months.
For those who do not enjoy winter months, the beauty of this word may be lost.
However, kogarashi perfectly encapsulates that feeling you get when that cold, brisk wind washes over you in that one instant and you just know.
Many cold countries around the world experience this cold snap but no other word describes it as perfectly as kogarashi.
7. Komorebi (木漏れ日)
The feeling of sunlight filtering through the trees onto your face when you’re hiking deep in the mountains is something that English words can’t really describe…but the Japanese have a word for it, and that is komorebi.
It may be because more than 60% of the Japan is forests and mountains, but such a word can only exist in a country that deeply values their connection with nature.
8. Unkai (雲海)
On that note, the Japanese also have a word to describe the picturesque sea of clouds that meets the eyes after a long hike to the peak of a mountain: unkai.
One of the reasons why many Japanese people love hiking is because of the rewarding view at the end. When the mountain is high enough (and let’s be honest, most in Japan are!) and the hike takes you above the clouds, the view of the clouds spreading far into the horizon is quite a sight to behold.
The Japanese alps are the perfect place to experience this!
9. Kintsugi (also known as kintsukuroi) (金継ぎ)
In Japan, Kintsugi is the practice of mending broken pottery with gold or silver to fill in the cracks and make the object whole again. This is a prime example of wabi-sabi; finding the beauty in the imperfections.
Japanese people believe that rather than disposing or rejecting a broken item, finding a way to piece it back together makes it more beautiful than it originally was. When participating in kintsugi, the broken pottery that has been pieced together now also has a unique history.
10. Shouganai (しょうがない)
When we say ‘it can’t be helped’, we are often painfully resigning ourselves to situations that are out of our control, and it is usually a mentally draining experience. However, when using the expression shouganai, the Japanese are more so objectively accepting a bad situation for what it is.
People using this word realise that there is no point in complaining because that won’t help or change the situation. They realise that life is much bigger than what is happening right then and there, and so they accept the fact of the matter for what it is and move on.
This expression is a suggestion as to why and how Japanese people remain so resilient amongst all the natural disasters that they face year on year.
Bonus Japanese Expression: Kuidaore (食い倒れ)
Kuidaore is something that many, many people around the world have experienced before. It is a wholesome word to describe the situation where *drumroll* … one eats themselves bankrupt!
Don’t take this too literally though! It just means that one person can have such an extravagant love of food that they will happily spend all their money on it. Foodies are victims of this phenomenon that can’t be escaped if you’re the type to dream about your next meal before finishing what’s in front of you.
Fun fact: Kuidaore has become unofficially associated with the Dotonbori district of Osaka. This famous foodie hotspot boasts food stall after food stall, restaurant after restaurant, market after market. It is the ultimate heaven for a Japanese food lover!
We hope you feel refreshed after learning all these beautiful expressions of the Japanese language. The meanings can be described in English but no words can ever really replace these unique words, which makes them quite fascinating!
Add these words to your vocabulary.
Use them in everyday sentences.
When you’re experiencing a poignant or tranquil moment, think back to these words and see if any can perfectly encapsulate the moment.
I hope you enjoyed our 10 best Japanese words. If you have any suggestions on other beautiful and meaningful Japanese expressions, we’d love to hear it in the comments!
And if you want to learn more Japanese, feel free to check out this blog post too: 20 Japanese Phrases You Should Know Before To Travel To Japan.
“A nation’s culture resides in the hearts and in the soul of its people.” ~ Gandhi.
Over the years, learning new Japanese words has evolved into a passion of mine. If I could sum up my findings so far, it’s that Japanese culture makes you aware of small details that were always there but didn’t necessarily notice before.
Despite researching my first trip to Japan to death as I do for all destinations I visit, I returned with the realisation that there is always so much more to learn (hence my multiple trips thereafter). Their language and absolutely beautiful Japanese words are no exception!
I now have an insatiable appetite to quash my curiosity and fascination with Japanese culture, religion and aspects of day-to-day-life. Learning through language is a great way to achieve this, and I love sharing all these findings with you throughout my Japan blog.
Not only have I categorised this list into beautiful Japanese words, I’ve also included motivational, meaningful, inspirational and untranslatable expressions. This comprehensive guide is a collection of my favourite Japanese words and phrases that have helped bring more meaning into my life – and I hope they will for you, too!
TIP: If you’d like to learn the correct way to pronounce the words and expressions in this article, my guide to Japanese for tourists explains exactly what you need to know for language learning (and includes a free cheat sheet, too!)
This post contains affiliate links, at no extra cost to you. I may earn a small commission if you click through and make a purchase.
Japanese words video
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Beautiful words in Japanese
Ikigai
生きがい
When browsing an airport bookstore, I first learnt this beautiful Japanese word when I saw this paperback ranking highly on the bestseller shelves. Intrigued by the blurb and promise, I excitedly bought the book and dove right into it.
What I didn’t realise was ikigai is the word used to describe the very passion that gets you out of bed in the morning; your reason for being. It’s a combination of what you’re good at, something you love and something the world needs. Just ask any centenarian in Okinawa why they still enjoy working everyday!
Japanese people believe everyone has an ikigai, they just need to find it. On completing the book, I recognised that this very blog you’re reading, right now, has been my ikigai since I launched it in 2017. My passion for sharing responsible travel tips, advice and my love of Japan with you is what I look forward to each and every day.
Ichi go ichi e
一期一会
This is one of the most insightful Japanese words I’ve had the pleasure of learning from an actual geisha. During my traditional tea ceremony in Kyoto, it was explained that ichi go ichi e has very strong ties to enjoying tea in Japan.
Translating to “once in this lifetime”, ichi go ichi e serves as a gentle reminder for us to treasure each individual moment as can never truly be replicated again.
Even if you invited the same people to enjoy tea at a later date, at the same time, wore the same clothes etc, aspects of the encounter would always differ to the original, such as conversation or weather.
This concept can be applied to each and every situation throughout life. Isn’t it fascinating?
Nakama
仲間
A nakama can be described as a very good friend that one considers family, even if they’re not related by blood. You never know, you might end up making a nakama when undertaking cultural experiences in Japan.
Perhaps it’s a friend you frequently see, or the kind of friend you only have the chance to catch up with once every few years in person as they live far away. But when you do, the bond of friendship is so strong it’s like all that time in between has never passed!
Do you have a nakama?
Wabi sabi
侘寂
It’s difficult to sum up the meaning of wabi sabi into a few short words. Deriving from Zen buddhism, in the simplest form it could be described as the acceptance of finding beauty in imperfections and the impermanence of things.
Finding beauty in flaws is a huge part of Japanese aesthetics. In a world where striving to achieve perfection is prioritised, it’s nice to see a contrasting perspective is also widely accepted throughout Japan. Perhaps more of us should view imperfections in this way? More about wabi sabi here.
TIP: A great example of wabi sabi is kintsugi, which I describe in more detail further down the page.
Natsukashii
懐かしい
Do you ever come across old items or photographs that warm your heart? Even the scent of perfume or candles can evoke particular memories. Natsukashii is that feel-good emotion of sentimentality when remembering back to a time you hold close to your heart.
I certainly feel this when I think back to my time swooning over cherry blossom petals bathing in the setting sun’s orange glow in Kawagoe!
Natsukashii differs from nostalgia in a way because it’s not the feeling of longing to return to that particular time. It’s simply feeling grateful to have had a particular experience in the past without the desire to return to that moment.
Kintsugi
金継ぎ
This beautiful practice is believed to date back to 15th century Japan. Kintsugi translates to “the art of broken pieces” whereby broken pottery was repaired with gold, rather than being discarded.
Filling the cracks with gold is an indication that flaws can be seen as a unique part of the object’s history, which adds to its overall beauty and character.
I recently learnt the brand Siletti has a range of kintsugi-style crockery that allow you to bring the look of this centuries-old tradition into your home in a modern way.
Motivational Japanese words
Ame futte ji katamaru
雨降って地固まる
If any nation were to claim ame futte ji katamaru as their unofficial motto, it would have to be Japan. As a country that has natural disasters such as earthquakes and volcanic eruptions to thank for its creation, the saying “after the rain, earth hardens” is quite fitting.
What this means is overcoming adversity builds character and resilience. It’s believed that after a storm, things tend to stand on more solid ground than they did before.
Just take the last 100 years for example. The people of Japan have endured the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923, the nuclear bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945, the Great Kobe Earthquake of 1995 and the Great Tohoku Earthquake of 2011 resulting in a devastating tsunami and nuclear meltdown.
Aside from the ongoing cleanup from the 2011 Fukushima area disaster mentioned above, today you’d be forgiven for thinking each of these locations never endured such hardship – they’ve rebuilt stronger than before.
Ganbaru
頑張る
The Japanese word ganbaru can be used as an expression of encouragement. However, it can have several meanings, ranging from “to do more than one’s best”, “to stand firm”, “to endure”. It encapsulates having focus and determination to step outside your comfort zone and achieve goals.
To fully comprehend how to use ganbaru, this article goes into great detail!
Nanakorobi yaoki
七転び八起き
Translating to “Fall down seven times, stand up eight”, this has got to be one of my most favourite motivational Japanese words. It’s always a great reminder to never give up on your goals, no matter how many obstacles you encounter along the way.
Did you know Daruma dolls are said to be linked to the saying nanakorobi yaoki? Their rounded shape is symbolic of having a fighting spirit to overcome adversity. Representing good fortune and perseverance, Daruma dolls make the perfect Japanese souvenirs!
Hikari wa subete no yami no naki ni arimasu
光はすべての闇の中にあります
Translating to “There is light in all darkness”, this term is self-explanatory.
The English word equivalent would be “every dark cloud has a silver lining”, meaning out of a bad situation there is hope that good things can happen.
Meaningful Japanese words
Shinrin yoku
森林浴
In our fast-paced, digitally-connected world of bustling cities, the art of shinrin yoku plays a very important role in Japanese culture. Translating to “forest bathing”, these meaningful Japanese words help us remember to immerse ourselves in nature as often as possible to reconnect with our natural environment.
Believed to have healing properties and serve as a kind of preventative medicine, practicing shinrin yoku allows us to temporarily forget about our modern troubles, eye-straining screens and day-to-day nuances.
To awaken a sense of connection to nature, the aim is to to really slow down and use all our senses to take in the surrounding scenery… The sounds of birdsong; the motion of leaves swaying in the breeze; the smell of recent rains or nearby flowers. Without realising at the time, I was able to achieve this in the tranquil moss forests of Kyoto.
TIP: Interested in learning more about shinrin yoku and how it can help you, even if you don’t have any forests nearby? I can highly recommend this book by two of my favourite authors on Japanese culture.
Omotenashi
おもてなし
If you’ve visited Japan, has a Japanese local ever gone out of their way to assist you with something? Ladies, did you ever notice the basket beneath your chair in a restaurant to put your handbag whilst eating to prevent it getting dirty on the floor? Did you notice the taxi driver’s white gloves and the vehicle’s door opening automatically?
These are all examples of omotenashi – superb Japanese hospitality and attention to detail. This trait is one of the many things Japan is famous for.
Hospitality and respect are deeply ingrained into all aspects of everyday life in Japanese culture. It is not done for financial reward (such as tipping, because one of the don’ts in Japan is leaving a tip for service). It’s just expected.
While I can recall countless experiences of omotenashi during my visits to Japan over the years, it wasn’t until more recently I discovered there was a word in Japanese to encompass this. Say it with me now: o-mo-ten-a-shi!
Komorebi
木漏れ日
Meaning “sunlight filtering through the trees”, komorebi can be used to describe the way leaves and the sun’s glow interact with one another. Even a slight breeze causes leaves to manipulate the sun’s rays into dancing, angular patterns.
Komorebi always makes me think back to my half-hour walk through dense forest in Nagano to Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park. The best time to witness the monkeys playing is when the park opens, which is the perfect moment to witness komorebi.
The early morning mist slowly lifted as I journeyed along the track, revealing soft rays of sunlight flickering through the trees. Isn’t it such a beautiful word?
Inspirational Japanese words
Ukiyo
浮世
Can you remember back to a time where you lived in the moment, so much so you felt completely detached from life’s bothers? Felt so carefree, inspired, like the world was floating? Ukiyo is the word to describe this feeling, translating to “the floating world”.
Every time I visit Kyoto I’m reminded of ukiyo. I forget about my phone with its constant notifications and just be. With its beautifully preserved Edo-era streets, ancient wooden pagodas and incredibly landscaped gardens, it’s effortless for one’s mind to escape to a floating world in Kyoto.
TIP: My talented friend Lisa in Japan evokes the feeling of ukiyo so beautifully with her photography. If you love Japanese cherry blossoms, don’t resist taking a peek at our collaboration in my article about spending spring in Japan!
Datsuzoku
脱俗
Meaning “a break from habit or daily routine”, datsuzoku can be used to refer to freedom from the ordinary. It can also mean going against the grain to live a life unbound by convention.
The beauty of being able to travel internationally in previous years is a great example of this. Venturing to a new destination to temporarily experience how others live reminds me of datsuzoku. To be in a contrasting part of the world and witness others do something different to what I’d expect was always a welcome break from my usual daily routine.
I think this is how most of us felt before the events of 2020! I loved the freedom to book a ticket and fly to Japan when the opportunity arose, especially when I dedicated the time to undertake most of these day trips from Tokyo.
Yugen
幽玄
To put things bluntly, sometimes it’s ridiculously easy to get caught up in the daily grind we forget we’re all on a massive spherical rock hurtling through space at an unthinkable speed. Haha, think about it!
Do you ever take a few moments to stare at the moon and stars? Have you ever thought no matter where we are in the world, we all see the same moon? Yugen translates to “a profound, mysterious sense of the beauty of the universe”.
When I gaze into the night skies, I can’t help but think about what an incredible expanse space must be, our galaxy, and our place in the universe. Even if we don’t fully comprehend it, we’re all part of something much bigger than ourselves.
If you’re like me you’ve been reminded of yugen during your travels, especially to destinations steeped in history. Strolling through the centuries-old temples of Kamakura or adoring the gassho-zukuri farmhouses of Hida Folk Village in Takayama reminded me the same sun has risen and set on these structures, each and every day, for centuries. Isn’t that so humbling to realise?
Untranslatable and cool Japanese words
Tsundoku
積ん読
Tsundoku refers to “the act of buying books without reading them”; creating a collection of unread novels and the like. Do you know someone this aesthetic Japanese word could relate to? I’ve been guilty of this in the past!
Although if you do plan on buying a bunch of books to actually read, take a look at my detailed review of the best travel books for Japan to help get your future trip planning off to a brilliant start.
Kuidaore
食い倒れ
Ever wanted to buy ALL. THE. FOOD. in Japan? Of course, there is a cool Japanese word for this. Kuidaore quite literally means to “eat yourself into ruin” by spending all your money on food until you’re bankrupt.
Sounds a little dramatic but when you’re walking down Dotonbori in Osaka and the incredible aromas of sizzling street food meander their way to your nostrils, it’s easy to understand how someone could eat themselves into bankruptcy!
TIP: If you’re hoping to visit Dotonbori someday, my 3 day Osaka itinerary and Nara day trip guide has all the bases covered. Just make sure you leave some small change to buy senbei (crackers) for Nara’s sacred deer!
Kuchisabishii
口寂しい
Have you ever had that feeling around 3pm where you need to eat something without actually being hungry? To chew on something just for the sake of it? This is why I love the Japanese language, there is a word for this feeling – kuchisabishii!
Kuchisabishii translates “to eat because your mouth is lonely”. Should I be proud or ashamed to admit this? Haha, in all seriousness though, if you have been craving Japanese sweets and snacks to cure your lonely mouth I have some good news.
Take a look at my guides and reviews for how to have Japanese treats delivered to your door RIGHT NOW – direct from Tokyo!
- Traditional and artisanal Japanese sweets with Sakuraco →
- Trendy and fun Japanese snacks with TokyoTreat →
- Popular and traditional snacks from Japan →
Which are your favourite Japanese words with meaning?
This concludes my all-time favourite Japanese words and meanings! Through learning Japanese in a simple way, we realise we can incorporate different aspects into our own lives. Paying attention to seemingly ordinary things with a refreshed perspective can help bring more meaning into daily life.
I personally find that so satisfying and humbling considering these kinds of expressions don’t exist in the English language. Do you agree?
Which of these Japanese words is your favourite? Did I miss any? Leave me a note in the comments below! I hope you learnt something new and use some of these expressions more often. Now you know what a nakama is, if you’re lucky enough to have one be sure to let them know 😊
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Australian-based Alyse has travelled «The Invisible Tourist Way» for 15 years and hopes to encourage fellow travellers to do so, too. Based on her travels to 260+ cities across 32 countries, through her blog and #1 Amazon New Release book she shares passionate advice about responsible travel, history and preserving local cultures for more enriching experiences. Her dreams? Always about the next destination and how to make the most of it by «blending in.»
Hi!
Beautiful in Japanese is 美しい (utsukushii) and beauty is 美しさ (utsukushisa).
But, if you want know some beautiful Japanese words, you’re in luck.
The language is full of words and phrases that are not immediately translatable into English. Aesthetic Japanese words that don’t have an English counterpart and require explanation.
In this guide, you’ll learn 55+ beautiful words and phrases. So, let’s jump in.
1. 木枯らし Cold, Wintry Wind
- Pronunciation:
- Kogarashi
“Kogarashi” is a chilly, cold, wintry wind. It lets you know of the arrival of winter. You know, the kind that sends the shivers down your spine and gives you goosebumps.
2. 木漏れ日 Sunlight filtering through the trees
- Pronunciation:
- Komorebi
When sunlight filters through the tree leaves and produces rays. You know that 木 stands for tree, 漏れ/もれ means leakage and the 日 kanji stands for the sun. So, tree leakage (of the) sun.
3. 物の哀れ Bitter-sweetness of fading beauty
- Pronunciation:
- Mono no aware
物/Mono means “thing.” And, “aware” looks like the English word, but it doesn’t have the same meaning or pronunciation. It means pity, sorrow or grief. So this refers to the “bittersweetness of fading beauty” – the acknowledged but appreciated, sad transience of things. Kind of like the last day of summer or the cherry blossoms – which don’t last long.
4. 幽玄 An awareness of the universe
- Pronunciation:
- Yuugen
Literally it means “subtle grace” or “mysterious profundity.” This word has different meanings depending on context. But most of the time, it refers to a profound awareness of the nature of the universe – the oneness of all things – to the point where it affects you emotionally.
Sound vague and odd? Well, don’t worry. To settle your mind, this word is not translatable and has no English equivalent… so if you’re confused, it’s okay.
5. 和 Harmony
- Pronunciation:
- Wa
This word means peace or harmony. It implies the importance to of avoiding conflict – so as to maintain the (Wa) harmony. And it refers to Japan and the Japanese way itself.
6. 改善 Continuous improvement
- Pronunciation:
- Kaizen
Literally, it means change for better. Whether one time or continuously – this is not implied or intended. It’s not until later that it become continuous improvement by the Japanese business world. Toyota kicked it off.
So, now, it’s just a word (used by businesses) to describe the process of “always improving” and getting better.
7. 紫 Purple
- Pronunciation:
- Murasaki
Yes, the color purple. Why did it make the list of beautiful Japanese words?
Simply because of how it sounds to the ear. Say it with me – murasaki! Okay, there’s more. Back in the old, old days– say around the year 1400 – this color was the color of the upper class and only high level officials and Imperial family could wear it. So, this color is a pretty big deal and a pretty beautiful Japanese word, in my opinion.
8. 森林浴 Forest Bathing
- Pronunciation:
- shinrin-yoku
So, 森林/shinrin means forest and 浴/yoku stands for bathing. And this refers to being immersed in a forest or talking a walk through the woods. It’s something to do to relax, reduce your stress and improve your health.
And studies confirm that this indeed lowers blood pressure and cortisol.
9. 奇妙 Strange, odd, or mysterious
- Pronunciation:
- Kimyou
This is a word that can describe things that are strange or odd. For example, if you suddenly received an anonymous letter, you could use “kimyou.” It can also be used to describe creepy locations like forests, cemeteries, or houses.
10. 浮世 Floating World
- Pronunciation:
- ukiyo
Now, this isn’t a recent term and you won’t hear it much. It’s rooted in Japan’s history. It literally does mean “浮 – float” and “世 – world/society.” Although it can also be interpreted as “transient world” or “fleeting life.” Basically, this word was used to describe Japanese life-style in Edo-period Japan, where normal people escaped the pressures of the samurai state to entertainment/pleasure districts (whether theater, tea-houses, etc.).
You won’t hear it much in everyday life.
11. 花霞 Flower Mist
- Pronunciation
- Hanagasumi
“Hana” means flower and “gasumi.” What this word refers to is the image of Cherry Blossom trees where the white petals make it look like you’re seeing a mist or haze of white.
12. 花吹雪 Cherry Blossom Blizzard
- Pronunciation:
- Hanafubuki
花 (Hana) means flower, petal (or cherry blossom) and 吹雪 (fubuki) means blizzard or snowstorm. However, this typically refers to Cherry Blossoms (Sakura) and how their petals come floating down, slowly, en-mass, as if a snow storm or blizzard.
Here’s a sexy example – if it moves you, you can say you felt “yugen” or that it’s “mono no aware.”
13. 風花 Flurry of Snow in a Clear Sky
- Pronunciation:
- Kazahana
If you go by the kanji, the first one stands for wind and the other one is for flowers. Except, this word is used to describe snow flurries in the wind. Why the flower comparison though? Well, because it’s kind of like petals in the wind.
14. 生き甲斐 Reason for Being
- Pronunciation:
- ikigai
As the Japanese say, everyone has an ikigai. It’s what gets you up in the morning. It’s what moves you. What makes your life worthwhile. Work. Hobbies. Goals. Taking care of kids. Learning Japanese. It’s probably why I’m writing this at 3:17AM on a Saturday morning! Knowing your ikigai might require a lot of introspection and search. Now, let’s break it down:
- 生き – Iki – Meaning: living or being alive
- 甲斐 – kai (though it’s changed to gai) – meaning: worth or use
What’s your “ikigai?” Leave a comment.
15. 一期一会 Treasure every encounter, for it will never recur
- Pronunciation:
- ichi-go ichi-e
This is actually a Japanese proverb; a Zen Buddhist one.
Literally, it means – one time, one meeting. Usually, it’s translated as “one chance in a lifetime.” But the BEST translation is: Treasure every encounter, for it will never recur. So, that meeting you had with a friend or someone… that EXACT moment and everything that happened will never, ever happen again in this life. It was one of a kind and hence it’s worth treasuring.
Next on the list of beautiful Japanese words…
16. 恋の予感 Premonition of Love
- Pronunciation:
- Koi no Yokan
This is sort of like love at first sight but not really. There’s more. It’s not a sappy, head-over-heels, heart-pounding, butterflies-in-stomach “love.” It’s a sense you get when first meeting a person – that it’s INEVITABLE that you are going to be in love in the future. Even if you feel no love right now.
- 恋 – koi – love
- 予感 – yokan – premonition
17. 侘寂 Beauty in imperfection; the accepting of life and death
- wabisabi
Wabisabi describes a way of looking at the world. It’s about accepting the transcience and imperfection of things. And thus, for the time we have left, seeing beauty in the things around us. For example, take a rough, cracked, asymmetrical, simple piece of pottery – seeing beauty in that is wabisabi.
This would be a hard concept to accept for people that like new, shiny and perfect things.
18. 川明かり Glow of a river in darkness
- Pronunciation:
- kawaakari
It can be the reflection of the moonlight on the river. Or, it can be the gleam of light on the river during dusk. Here, 川/kawa means river and 明かり/akari means light.
19. 行逢りば 兄弟 Once we meet, we become brother/sister
- Pronunciation:
- Ichariba chode
This is the spirit of hospitality and friendliness to strangers.
And more importantly, you go from strangers to brothers or sisters. That kind of hospitality!
20. 金継ぎ Repair with Gold
- Pronunciation:
- Kintsugi
Also known as kintsukuroi. This is the art of repairing pottery with gold or silver and making something broken beautiful – usually pottery. This is an example of wabisabi where something imperfect is still beautiful!
So with kintsugi, the big point is… you can take something imperfect or broken, and make it EVEN more beautiful than ever.
21. 鏡花水月 Flower in the mirror; moon on water
- Pronunciation:
- Kyouka suigetsu
Both, a flower in the mirror and a moon’s reflection on water can’t be touched. So this Japanese phrase refers to something that’s visible but can’t be touched. Something you can feel (for example, beauty or an emotion) but can’t describe in words.
22. 高嶺の花 Flower on a high peak
- Pronunciation:
- Takane no hana
Literally, this means 高嶺/high peak and 花/flower. What it TRULY means is a “goal that’s unattainable.” Something beyond your reach, like a flower!
23. 風物詩 Things which remind of a season
- Pronunciation:
- Fuubutsushi
So, anything – feelings, scents, images – that bring memories, thoughts or anticipation of a particular season. Kind of like when you smell that crisp/burning-like scent in the air, long before snow starts falling, and you know winter is coming. The Japanese love their seasons so there are different foods, different fruit (that are grown) products and decorations for different seasons.
24. 積ん読 Buying/Piling Up Books without Reading
- Pronunciation:
- Tsundoku
You know how you add too many shows and movies to your Netflix queue without watching? Or buy too many vegetables that you never eat? The Japanese have a word for this, except with books. Any book lover knows this. They have books they want to read. They want some other books. And with the overwhelm, they don’t get around to any and let them pile up.
Tsundoku is a combination of the verb 積む (tsumu – to pile up), and 読 (doku – reading.)
This is one of the beautiful Japanese words that I can relate with.
25. 居留守 Pretending You’re Not Home
- Pronunciation:
- irusu
This word is used to describe you when you flake out on the person at your doorstep. They ring the doorbell. *Ding-dong.* And you, suddenly grow very, very quiet, turn off the lights and hope they go away.
This word is a noun and literally means “pretending to be out.”
26. 懐かしい Nostalgia/Nostalgic
- Pronunciation:
- Natsukashii
Literally, this word means “nostalgic” and is an adjective. But, this carries a lot more meaning and emotion to the Japanese. People don’t normally blurt out “oh, how nostalgic” in English, because no-one likes nostalgia. It’s seen as negative. For the Japanese, it’s something that brings back memories and warms the heart.
27. 食い倒れ Eating Yourself Into Bankruptcy
- Pronunciation:
- Kuidaore
Let’s break the phrase apart. Kui (食い) means to eat and 倒れ (daore) is a bad debt or collapse. It also comes from the verb 倒れる (daoreru) which means to go bankrupt. How is the word used? It applies to foodies and people that love going out to eat.
28. しょうがない It can’t be helped
- Pronunciation:
- Shoganai
This is a very common and a very Japanese expression. When is it used? People use it as “I can’t do anything about it. I give up.” So, it’s used when things are out of your control (and sometimes when you just don’t want to try hard.)
As much as is this an interesting Japanese phrase, it’s also disliked by others due to the overall “I won’t even try” spirit it carries.
29. 無礼講 Putting everything aside to be yourself
- Pronunciation:
- Bureikou
Interestingly, this word sounds like “break.” And indeed, it is a break. This word represents a situation where you can speak freely, act freely and most importantly, enjoy yourself without worrying about your social status, relation to others, pressure or authority.
This happens at Japanese company drink-outings where the workers and their bosses get drunk and honest with each other.
30. ありがた迷惑 An unwelcome favor
- Pronunciation:
- Arigata meiwaku
Politeness and maintaining harmony is important in Japan. So, when someone does something nice. for someone else… Japanese people are compelled to return the favor. Even if they didn’t ask for the nice thing. This phrase captures that mix of needing to repay the favor as well as the annoyance of having to do it.
31. 渋い Old School Cool
- Pronunciation:
- Shibui
This is a cool Japanese word to know. And by old school cool, we mean old school cool like Frank Sinatra, Al Capone, old-time cars/cameras and so on. However, this can also have a negative connotation; “stuff only old people like.”
32. 微妙 “Delicate, subtle, fine or …Eh”
- Pronunciation:
- bimyou
Bimyou is quite a versatile word. And despite it being one of the chosen beautiful Japanese words, you also should learn it. It’s used in daily life. There are many uses. It can be used to talk about “subtlety” like a subtle change or “eh” if you want to comment on something’s quality. In other words, it’s “eh” or not so good.
Given this word’s vagueness, it’s also used as a way to say no or be vague about things. “Hey girl, Can I see you tomorrow?” “Well, it’s a bimyou…”
33. 引き籠り Modern Day Hermit
- Pronunciation:
- Hikikomori
This is a word used to describe someone that’s a recluse and stays in. Beautiful Japanese words aside, it’s quite an issue in Japan. This word refers to adults or adolescents who have willingly pulled out of social life, interaction and live in extreme isolation. No friends. No contacts. The Japanese Ministry of Health designates this word for anyone that hasn’t left their home in over 6 months.
34. わすれもの Forgotten thing
- Pronunciation:
- Wasuremono
Let’s break this word in half. “Wasure” means “forget” and “mono” means thing. So, it literally represents items that are forgotten and list
35. 真面目 Hardworking
- Pronunciation:
- Majime
Anywhere else, if you call someone diligent, hardworking and dedicated to a goal, there’s a negative flipside to it. They’re seen as party poopers that won’t have any fun. In Japan, “Majime” carries positive meaning.
36. よいしょ! Let’s do this!
- Pronunciation:
- Yoisho!
I wouldn’t call this a beautiful word…
This word is more of a “kakegoe” or saying of encouragement to yourself or others. In fact, it’s like an interjection than anything. Kind of like.. “Alright…” “Well…” “Let’s do this” and such… depending on the context.
Kind of sounds like “yoshhh.”
Why’s it on the list? Well, it’s kind of not immediately translatable and needs explanation.
You’ll often hear Japanese people say it to themselves before they start work. You will also hear it when people plop down into a chair or couch after coming home from work. Mostly, it’s said before or just as something is about to be done — before you lift something heavy or as you sit down after a long day. It varies.
37. バックシャン A woman who is beautiful from behind
- Bakkushan
This is one of the most interesting “beautiful Japanese words” here. It’s a combination of 2 words. First, the English word “back.” Second, the German word, “schön,” which means beautiful. So, beautiful from the back.
38. おもてなし Japanese Hospitality
- Pronunciation:
- Omotenashi
This word goes above just hospitality. It carries a sense of selflessness obligation to the customer without expecting anything in return. You can see examples of this when store staff bow to you upon entry. Or, when restaurant staff cheerfully yell “welcome.” It’s even as subtle as a toothpick automatically provided inside your pair of chopsticks. Careful thoughtfulness, eh?
39. 蛇足 Useless as snake legs
- Pronunciation:
- dasoku
So, the word means useless. Where do the snake and legs come from? The first character, 蛇, represents snake and the second one, 足, is legs. When you want to say something is useless or redundant, use this.
40. 口寂しい Longing to have something in your mouth
- Pronunciation:
- kuchisabishii
Literally, this means “mouth lonely.” And this is in regards to food. So, this is when you eat when you’re not hungry but because you have nothing better to do.
41. 辻斬り Killing a passerby to test a new sword
- Pronunciation:
- Tsujikiri
If you’re thinking that this has to be a samurai sword word, you’re right. When one buys a new car, they take it for a drive. Bed? They take it for a nap. And a sword? Well, you do what swords are designed to do. If you were a samurai back in the day, where else would you find another person? While passing them by on the street!
So, tsuji means street or crossroad and the second part, kiri, is to slice or kill.
Definitely one of the more “fun” beautiful Japanese words here.
42. 紅葉 Leaves changing color
- Pronunciation:
- kouyou
The first character means “crimson” or “red” and the second one means “leaves.” But, in general, this term is known as the changing of colors of leaves in Autumn. In Japan, this is a pretty big deal as well, akin to admiring the cherry blossoms in the Spring.
43. いただきます I humbly receive (food)
- Pronunciation:
- Itadakimasu
I mean, who doesn’t want to receive food? The Japanese say “itadakimasu” before they eat. This is what’s known as a Japanese set phrase — a phrase used with certain occasions… like eating! But, as with all beautiful Japanese words, this one has more nuance to it. It also includes thanks and gratefulness to everyone who was responsible in making the food. Farmers growing the veggies. Those that have delivered it to the city. And your cook as well.
This word also goes back to the Buddhist concept of being respectful to all things.
You’ll normally see this translated as “bon appetit” but translations won’t get the meaning and feeling right.
Here’s another one of my favorite beautiful Japanese words.
44. おじゃまします I will disturb you in your home
- Pronunciation:
- Ojamashimasu
Jama means disturbance. Shimasu means to do. It just means “I will bother you.” However, you use this when you enter someone’s home. It’s a sign of respect for the person you are visiting and their home.
45. お疲れ様です “it’s been tough and you must be tired”
- Pronunciation:
- Otsukaresama desu
This is another Japanese set phrase.
Like the 2 words above, this one also is a native Japanese saying and cannot be translated with one or two words alone. Otsukare is often used at the end of the day to others, like coworkers, team players or students where both of you literally worked hard.
It’s a parting greeting but is also used to acknowledge that “you have worked hard.”
46. もったいない “What a waste…”
- Pronunciation:
- Mottainai
While this first and foremost is used to express regret over waste – like food, there are other uses too. You can use it to say that there’s too much of something, and thus it’s a waste. Or, you can use it to say you are “mottainai” in the event that someone is too good for you.
Actually, this is a common way to say “it’s not you, ‘it’s me” as a way to reject someone in Japanese.
47. 猫舌 Having a cat’s tongue & a dislike for hot food & drink
- Pronunciation:
- nekojita
The real meaning of this word is just a “dislike for super hot foods and drinks.” But, for some reason, it’s made of 2 characters. The first one means cat. The second is tongue. While we have no proof that cats hate hot/warm food, that’s the way the phrase goes. So, if you can’t handle that, you’re said to have a cat’s tongue.
48. 落葉 Fallen Leaves
- Pronunciation:
- Rakuyou
This is another fall-themed word. Why is it on my list of beautiful Japanese words? Well, in English, it takes 2 words to express it. In Japanese, it’s just one. And because it’s one, it carries a stronger image of autumn, fallen leaves and the atmosphere.
49. 月見 Cherry Blossom Viewing
- Pronunciation:
- Hanami
Hanami is literally translated as “flower viewing.” But, it is mostly used for going to see the Cherry Blossoms (also known as Sakura). This is a Japanese tradition where many Japanese head out to see the Sakura in their full bloom.
50. 月見 Viewing the moon
- Pronunciation:
- Tsukimi
Just like there’s a “cherry blossom viewing,” there’s also a moon viewing. When does this happen? Usually in September or October when there’s a full moon.
51. 雪見 Snow viewing
- Pronunciation:
- Yukimi
You heard of cherry blossom viewing. You heard of moon viewing.
Well, then there is “Yukimi” which means snow viewing… and watching the snow come down. For the Japanese, this is preferably done while in a warm onsen bath/hot spring resort with a view.
52. 紅葉 Japanese crimson maple leaves
- Pronunciation:
- Momiji
Pick apart the characters and this just means “crimson” and “leaves.” However, say this word out loud. Momiji. It’s nice sounding word and hence made it on the list!
53. 猫かぶり Wolf in sheep’s clothing
- Pronunciation:
- Nekokaburi
This means “feigned innocence or naïveté.” In other words, the person is pretending to be dumb and innocent, like a wolf in sheep’s clothing. However, the Japanese word here is totally different. If you pick apart the words, it means “to put on a cat.” Why cat? Well, know how cats decide to whack items off tables and look at you like they’ve done nothing wrong?
That’s where it comes from.
54. ボケット Gazing vacantly into the distance, without thinking.
- Pronunciation:
- boketto
This word comes from ぼけとする/boketosuru – to daydream. Boke, interestingly enough, also means fool. But, don’t let that tarnish this word. It’s nice not to think sometimes. Some things are not worth thinking too much about!
55. じがばち Red-banded sand wasp
- Pronunciation:
- jigabachi
You’re wondering – how in the WORLD did a wasp land on the list of beautiful Japanese words?
Well, this article is sweet like honey and it just buzzed over here.
I know, I know. No deep profound meaning. No sexy message that will send shivers down your spine. Okay, fine. But, say it with me… out loud… jiga-bachi. I think it’s a pretty nice sounding word. It feels powerful! JIGA. BACHI. Okay, it’s a personal favorite, so I stuck it last.
Done!
Now you now the top 55 beautiful Japanese words.
Yes, you’re right – there are TONS more. But this is a quick, easy lesson for Beginners that want to start slowly.
So… here’s my question to you:
Do you have any favorite beautiful Japanese words? Any phrases that I missed or that you want me to add to the list?
Let me know in the comments and I’ll add them.
Want to learn even more words and learn Japanese? Check out my other posts:
- Japanese MP3 Lessons & Audio
- Japanese PDF Lessons
- How To Introduce Yourself in Japanese
- Or, stop reading articles and check my recommended Japanese learning program below.
– written by the Main Junkie
Definition from Wiktionary, the free dictionary
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Nouns
People
- にんげん、人間 – human (ningen)
- じんるい、人類 – humanity (jinrui)
- ひと、人 – person (hito)
- おとこ、男 – male (otoko)
- おとこのひと、男の人 – man (otokonohito)
- おとこのこ、男の子 – boy (otokonoko)
- おんな、女 – female (onna)
- おんなのひと、女の人 – woman (onnanohito)
- おんなのこ、女の子 – girl (onnanoko)
- あかちゃん、赤ちゃん – baby (akachan)
- わかもの、若者 – youth, young person (wakamono)
- わたし、私 – I, myself (watashi)
- わたくし、私 – I, myself (watakushi [most formal])
- ぼく、僕 – I, myself (boku, mainly used by males)
- おれ、俺 – I, myself (ore, mainly used by males [informal])
- あたし、私 – I, myself (atashi, mainly used by females [softer sounding])
- しょうじょ、少女 – girl (shoujo)
- しょうねん、少年 – boy (shounen)
Occupations
- いしゃ、医者 – doctor (isha)
- かんごし、看護師 – nurse (kangoshi)
- かんごふ、看護婦 – female nurse (kangofu)
- しかい、歯科医、はいしゃ、歯医者 – dentist (shikai, ha-isha)
- せいじか、政治家 – politician (seijika)
- べんごし、弁護士 – lawyer (bengoshi)
- しょうぼうし、消防士 – firefighter (shouboushi)
- けいさつかん、警察官 – police officer (keisatsukan)
- へいし、兵士 – soldier (heishi)
- けんちくか、建築家 – architect (kenchikuka)
- せんせい、先生 – teacher (sensei)
- きょうし、教師 – (academic) teacher (kyoushi)
- かしゅ、歌手 – singer (kashu)
- エンジニア – engineer(enjinia)
Body
- あし、足、脚 – foot, leg (ashi)
- かかと、踵 – heel (kakato)
- すね、脛 – shin (sune)
- ひざ、膝 – knee (hiza)
- もも、腿 – thigh (momo)
- あたま、頭 – head (atama)
- かお、顔 – face (kao)
- くち、口 – mouth (kuchi)
- くちびる、唇 – lips (kuchibiru)
- は、歯 – tooth (ha)
- はな、鼻 – nose (hana)
- め、目 – eye (me)
- ひげ、髭、鬚、髯 – moustache, beard (hige)
- かみ、髪 – hair (kami)
- みみ、耳 – ear (mimi)
- おなか、御腹 – stomach (onaka)
- うで、腕 – arm (ude)
- ひじ、肘 – elbow (hiji)
- かた、肩 – shoulder (kata)
- つめ、爪 – nail (tsume)
- て、手 – hand (te)
- てくび、手首 – wrist (tekubi)
- てのひら、掌、手の平 – palm of hand (te-no-hira)
- ゆび、指 – finger, toe (yubi)
- しり、尻 – buttocks (shiri)
- おなか、お腹 （はら、腹） – abdomen (o-naka)
- かんぞう、肝臓 – liver (kanzō)
- きも、肝 – liver (kimo)
- きんにく、筋肉 – muscle (kin’niku)
- くび、首 – neck (kubi)
- こころ、心 – heart [as in feelings] (kokoro)
- こし、腰 – waist, hip (koshi)
- しんぞう、心臓 – heart (shinzō)
- せなか、背中 – back (senaka)
- ち、血 – blood (chi)
- にく、肉 – meat (niku)
- はだ、肌、膚 – skin (hada)
- ひふ、皮膚 – skin (hifu)
- ほね、骨 – bone (hone)
- むね、胸 – chest (mune)
- かぜ、風邪 – cold [illness] (kaze)
- げり、下痢 – diarrhea (geri)
- びょうき、病気 – illness (byōki)
Family
- かぞく、家族 – family (kazoku)
- りょうしん、両親 – parents (ryoushin)
- こども、子供 – children, child (kodomo)
- ちち、父 – father (chichi)(«otou-san»)
- はは、母 – mother (haha)(«okaa-san»)
- つま、妻 – wife (tsuma)
- おっと、夫 – husband (otto)
- あに、兄 – older brother (ani) (onī-san)
- あね、姉 – older sister (ane) (onē-san)
- おとうと、弟 – younger brother (otōto)
- いもうと、妹 – younger sister (imōto)
- きょうだい、兄弟 – brothers, siblings (kyōdai)
- しまい、姉妹 – sisters (shimai)
- そふ、祖父 – grandfather (sofu) (ojii-san)
- そぼ、祖母 – grandmother (sobo) (obaa-san)
- まご、孫 – grandchild (mago)
- おじ、伯父、叔父 – uncle (oji) (oji-san)
- おば、伯母、叔母 – aunt (oba) (oba-san)
- いとこ、従兄弟、従姉妹、従兄、従弟、従姉、従妹 – cousin (itoko)
- めい、姪 – niece (mei)
- おい、甥 – nephew (oi)
Life
- いきもの、生き物 – living creatures (ikimono)
- ばけもの、化け物 – monster (bakemono)
Animals
- どうぶつ、動物 – animal (dōbutsu)
- チーター – cheetah (chītā)
- いぬ、犬 – dog (inu)
- ねこ、猫 – cat (neko)
- うし、牛 – cow (ushi)
- ぶた、豚 – pig (buta)
- うま、馬 – horse (uma)
- ひつじ、羊 – sheep (hitsuji)
- さる、猿 – monkey (saru)
- ねずみ、鼠 – mouse, rat (nezumi)
- とら、虎 – tiger (tora)
- オオカミ、狼 – wolf (ōkami)
- うさぎ、兎 – rabbit (usagi)
- りゅう、たつ、竜 – dragon (ryū, tatsu)
- しか、鹿 – deer (shika)
- かえる、蛙 – frog (kaeru)
- がま、蟇 – toad (gama)
- しし、獅子 – lion (shishi)
- キリン、麒麟 – giraffe (kirin)
- ぞう、象 – elephant (zō)
- とり、鳥 – bird (tori)
- にわとり、鶏 – chicken (niwatori)
- すずめ、雀 – sparrow (suzume)
- からす、烏 – crow, raven (karasu)
- わし、鷲 – eagle (washi)
- たか、鷹 – hawk, falcon (taka)
- さかな、魚 – fish (sakana)
- たい、鯛 – red snapper (tai)
- えび、海老 – shrimp, lobster (ebi)
- いわし、鰯 – sardine (iwashi)
- まぐろ、鮪 – tuna (maguro)
- かつお、鰹 – bonito (katsuo)
- さんま、秋刀魚 – pike (sanma)
- あじ、鰺 – horse mackerel (aji)
- さば、鯖 – mackerel (saba)
- イカ、烏賊 – squid (ika)
- タコ、蛸、章魚 – octopus (tako)
- むし、虫 – insect (mushi)
- ちょう、蝶 – butterfly (chō)
- ガ、蛾 – moth (ga)
- せみ、蝉 – cicada (semi)
- トンボ、蜻蛉 – dragonfly (tonbo)
- バッタ、飛蝗 – grasshopper (batta)
- クモ、蜘蛛 – spider (kumo)
- ホタル、蛍 – firefly (hotaru)
- ハエ、蝿、蠅 – housefly (hae)
- カ、蚊 – mosquito, gnat (ka)
- ゴキブリ、蜚蠊 – cockroach (gokiburi)
- カタツムリ、蝸牛 – snail (katatsumuri)
- ナメクジ、蛞蝓 – slug (namekuji)
- ミミズ、蚯蚓 – earthworm (mimizu)
- かい、貝 – shellfish (kai)
- かいがら、貝殻 – shell (kaigara)
- トカゲ、蜥蜴 – lizard (tokage)
- へび、蛇 – snake (hebi)
- くま、熊 – bear(kuma)
Plants
- しょくぶつ、植物 — plants (shokubutsu)
- くさ、草 — grass (kusa)
- はな、花 — flower (hana)
- み、実 — fruit (mi)
- き、木 — tree (ki)
- は、葉 (はっぱ、葉っぱ) — leaf (ha, happa)
- ね、根 (ねっこ、根っ子) — root (ne, nekko)
- くき、茎 — stem (kuki)
- きのこ、茸 — mushroom (kinoko)
- きく、菊 — chrysanthemum (kiku)
- さくら、桜 — cherry blossom (sakura)
- まつ、松 — pine tree (matsu)
- うめ、梅 — japanese plum or apricot (ume)
Crops
- こめ、米 – uncooked rice (kome)
- いね、稲 – rice growing in a field (ine)
- むぎ、麦 – wheat, barley, oats (mugi)
- やさい、野菜 – vegetable (yasai)
- くだもの、果物 – fruit for eating (kudamono)
- いも、芋 – yam, potato, taro (imo)
- まめ、豆 – beans, peas (mame)
- だいこん、大根 – Japanese white radish (daikon)
- にんじん、人参 – carrot (ninjin)
- リンゴ、林檎 – apple (ringo)
- ミカン、蜜柑 – mandarin orange (mikan)
- バナナ、かんしょう、甘蕉 – banana (banana, kanshō)
- ナシ、梨 – pear (nashi)
- クリ、栗 – chestnut tree (kuri)
- モモ、桃 – peach (momo)
- トマト、ばんか、蕃茄 – tomato (tomato, banka)
- スイカ、西瓜 – watermelon (suika)
Food
- たべもの、食べ物 — food (tabemono)
- ちょうしょく、朝食 — breakfast (chōshoku, asagohan)
- ひるごはん、昼御飯 — lunch (hirugohan)
- ばんごはん、晩御飯 — dinner (bangohan)
- ごはん、御飯 — cooked rice or meal (gohan)
- みそ、味噌 — miso (miso)
- りょうり、料理 — cooking (ryōri)
- サラダ — salad (sarada)
- デザート — dessert (dezāto)
- パン — bread (pan)
- サンドイッチ — sandwich (sandoitchi)
- おやつ、間食 — snack (oyatsu, kanshoku)
- アイスクリーム — ice cream (aisukurīmu)
- たこやき、たこ焼き — octopus dumpling (takoyaki)
Drink
- のみもの、飲み物 — drink/beverage (nomimono)
- ちゃ、茶 — tea (cha)
- おちゃ、お茶 — green tea (ocha)
- コーヒー、珈琲 — coffee (kōhī)
- ぎゅうにゅう、牛乳 — milk (gyūnyū)
- みず、水 — water (mizu)
- ビール — beer (bīru)
- ワイン — wine (wain)
Seasoning
- さとう、砂糖 — sugar (satō)
- しお、塩 — salt (shio)
- しょうゆ、醤油 — soy sauce (shōyu)
Time
- じかん、時間 – time (jikan)
- とき、じ、時 – ~hours (toki, ji)
- こよみ、カレンダー、暦 – calendar (koyomi, karendā)
- ふん、分 – minute (fun)
- びょう、秒 – second (byō)
- ひ、にち、日 – day (hi, nichi)
- つき、がつ、月 – month (tsuki, gatsu)
- (# -gatsu / (January,1st Month): Ichi-,Ni-,San-,Shi-,Go-,Roku-,Shichi-,Hachi-,Ku-,Jyu-,JyuIchi-,JyuNi- (December,12th Month)
- とし、ねん、年 – year (toshi, nen)
- (Last year: kyonen, this year: kotoshi, next year: rainen)
- きのう、さくじつ、昨日 – yesterday (kinō, sakujitsu)
- きょう、今日 – today (kyō)
- あした、あす、みょうにち、明日 – tomorrow (ashita, asu, myōnichi)
- あさ、朝 – morning (asa)
- (Yesterday morning: kinou no asa, this morning: kesa, tomorrow morning: ashita no asa)
- ひる、昼 – afternoon (hiru)
- ゆうがた、夕方 – evening (yūgata)
- ばん、晩 – evening (ban)
- よる、夜 – evening, night (yoru)
- ようび、曜日 – ~day (yōbi)
- しゅう、週 – week (shū)
- (Last week: senshū, this week: konshū, next week: raishū)
- いっしゅうかん、一週間 – one week (isshūkan)
Week Days
- にちようび、日曜日 – Sunday (nichi-yōbi)
- げつようび、月曜日 – Monday (getsu-yōbi)
- かようび、火曜日 – Tuesday (ka-yōbi)
- すいようび、水曜日 – Wednesday (sui-yōbi)
- もくようび、木曜日 – Thursday (moku-yōbi)
- きんようび、金曜日 – Friday (kin-yōbi)
- どようび、土曜日 – Saturday (do-yōbi)
Weather
- たいよう、太陽 – sun (taiyō)
- つき、月 – moon (tsuki)
- ほし、星 – star (hoshi)
- てんき、天気 – weather (tenki)
- はれ、晴れ – clear weather (hare)
- あめ、雨 – rain (ame)
- くもり、曇り – cloudy (kumori)
- ゆき、雪 – snow (yuki)
- かぜ、風 – wind (kaze)
- かみなり、雷 – thunder, lightning (kaminari)
- たいふう、台風 – typhoon (taifū)
- あらし、嵐 – storm (arashi)
- そら、空 – sky (sora)
Directions and positions
- きた、北 – north (kita)
- ひがし、東 – east (higashi)
- みなみ、南 – south (minami)
- にし、西 – west (nishi)
- ここ – here (koko)
- そこ – there (soko)
- あそこ – over there (asoko)
- みぎ、右 – right (migi)
- ひだり、左 – left (hidari)
- うえ、上 – above, up (ue)
- した、下 – below, down (shita)
- まえ、前 – front (mae)
- うしろ、後 – behind (ushiro)
- むこう、向こう – the other side, opposite side (mukō)
- ななめ、斜め – diagonal (naname)
- てまえ、手前 – nearer, more in front (temae)
- とおい、遠い – far (tooi)
- ちかい、近い – near, close (chikai)
Materials
- みず、水 – water (mizu)
- ゆ、湯 – hot water (yu)
- こおり、氷 – ice (kōri)
- ゆげ、湯気 – steam (yuge)
- ひ、火 – fire (hi)
- ガス – gas (gasu)
- くうき、空気 – air, atmosphere (kūki)
- つち、土 – earth, ground (tsuchi)
- きんぞく、金属 – metal, metallic (kinzoku)
- どろ、泥 – mud, mire, clay, plaster (doro)
- けむり、煙 – smoke, tobacco, opium (kemuri)
- てつ、鉄 – iron [Fe] (tetsu)
- どう、銅 – copper [Cu] (dō)
- きん、金 – gold [Au]; money (kin)
- ぎん、銀 – silver [Ag]; wealth (gin)
- なまり、鉛 – lead [Pb] (namari)
- しお、塩 – salt [NaCl] (shio)
Weights and measures
- メートル – meter (mētoru)
- リットル – litre (rittoru)
- グラム – gram (guramu)
- キロ – kilo- (kiro)
- ミリ – milli- (miri)
- センチメートル、センチ – centimeter (senchi)
- インチ – inch (inchi)
Society
- しゃかい、社会 – society (shakai)
- けいざい、経済 – economy, economics (keizai)
- かいしゃ、会社 – company (kaisha)
- かいぎ、会議 – meeting (kaigi)
- がっこう、学校 – school (gakkō)
- やくしょ、役所 – local government office (yakusho)
- みせ、店 – store (mise)
- ホテル – hotel (hoteru)
- こうじょう、工場 – factory (kōjō)
- かね、金 – money (kane, most commonly o-kane)
- さつ、札 – bill [of money, e.g., a thousand-yen bill] (satsu)
- こぜに、小銭 – small change (kozeni)
- つりせん、釣り銭、おつり、お釣り – change (tsurisen), change (o-tsuri)
- じどうはんばいき、自動販売機 – vending machine, slot machine (jidōhanbaiki)
- きっぷ、切符 – ticket (public transport, fine) (kippu)
- きって、切手 – stamp (kitte)
Human made objects
Home
- つくえ、机 – desk (tsukue)
- いす、椅子 – chair, position (isu)
- たたみ、畳 – a tatami mat (tatami)
- と、戸 – door, family (to)
- とびら、扉 – door panel (tobira)
- ドア – door (doa)
- まど、窓 – window (mado)
- ふとん、布団 – futon (futon)
- げんかん、玄関 – entrance (genkan)
- いえ、家 – house, home (ie)
- エレベーター – elevator (erebētā)
- エスカレーター – escalator (esukarētā)
- でんき、電気 – electricity (denki)
Tools
- くぎ、釘 – nail, spike (kugi)
- ひも、紐 – string, cord (himo)
- なわ、縄 – rope, string (nawa)
- ふくろ、袋 – pocket, bag (fukuro)
- かばん、鞄 – leather bag (kaban)
- かさ、傘 – umbrella, parasol (kasa)
- かぎ、鍵 – door bolt, key (kagi)
- ちょうこく、彫刻 – sculpture, engraving (chōkoku)
Stationery
- ぶんぼうぐ、文房具 – stationery (bunbōgu)
- インク – ink (inku)
- ペン – pen (pen)
- ボールペン – ball-point pen (bōrupen)
- まんねんひつ、万年筆 – fountain pen (mannenhitsu)
- えんぴつ、鉛筆 – pencil (enpitsu)
- ふで、筆 – brush for writing or painting (fude)
- チョーク – chalk (chōku)
- けしゴム、消しゴム – eraser (keshigomu)
- えんぴつけずり、鉛筆削り – pencil sharpener (enpitsu-kezuri)
- じょうぎ、定規 – ruler (jōgi)
- ノート – notebook (nōto)
- にっき、日記 – diary (nikki)
- カバー – book cover (kabā)
- ふうとう、封筒 – envelope (fūtō)
- はさみ、鋏 – scissors (hasami)
- ホッチキス – stapler (hotchikisu)
Clothes
- ふく、服 – clothes (fuku)
- ようふく、洋服 – western clothing (yōfuku)
- きもの、着物 – kimono (kimono)
- わふく、和服 – Japanese clothing (wafuku)
- そで、袖 – sleeve (sode)
- えり、襟 – lapel, collar (eri)
- ボタン – button (botan)
- チャック、ファスナー、ジッパー – zipper, zipper fastener (chakku, fasunā, jippā)
- ベルト – belt (beruto)
- くつ、靴 – shoe (kutsu)
- くつした、靴下 – sock (kutsushita)
- めがね、眼鏡 – glasses (megane)
Transport
- てつどう、鉄道 – railway (tetsudō)
- えき、駅 – station (eki)
- ひこうき、飛行機 – airplane (hikōki)
- くうこう、空港 （ひこうじょう、飛行場） – airport (kūkō, hikōjō)
- みち、道 – street, way, road (michi)
- どうろ、道路 – road (dōro)
- バスてい、バス停 – bus-stop (basutei)
- とおり、通り – avenue (tōri)
- でんしゃ、電車 – train (densha)
- くるま、車 (じどうしゃ、自動車) – car (kuruma, jidōsha)
- じてんしゃ、自転車 – bicycle (Jitensha)
Language
- もじ、文字 – letter, character, script (moji)
- じ、字 – a letter, character (ji)
- かんじ、漢字 – Chinese character (kanji)
- ひらがな、平仮名 – hiragana syllabary characters (hiragana)
- カタカナ、片仮名 – katakana syllabary characters (katakana)
- すうじ、数字 – numbers (sūji)
- アルファベット – alphabet (arufabetto)
- ローマ字 – Roman characters, Latin script (rōmaji)
- がいこくご、外国語 – foreign language (gaikokugo)
- にほんご、日本語 （こくご、国語） – Japanese [language] (nihongo)
- えいご、英語 – English [language] (eigo)
- ちゅうごくご、中国語 – Chinese [language] (chūgokugo)
- どいつご、ドイツ語 – German [language] (doitsugo)
- すぺいんご、スペイン語 – Spanish [language] (supeingo)
- ふらんすご、フランス語 – French [language] (furansugo)
- ちょうせんご、朝鮮語、かんこくご、韓国語 – Korean [language], South Korean [language] (chōsengo, kankokugo)
Media
- ほん、本 – book (hon)
- かみ、紙 – paper (kami)
- てがみ、手紙 – letter (tegami)
- しんぶん、新聞 – newspaper (shinbun)
- じしょ、辞書 – dictionary (jisho)
- パソコン – personal computer (pasokon)
Colors
- いろ、色 – color (iro, shikisai)
- あか、赤 – red (aka)
- きいろ、黄色 – yellow (kiiro)
- みどり、緑 – green (midori)
- あお、青 – blue (ao)
- むらさき、紫 – purple (murasaki, murasakiiro)
- しろ、白 – white (shiro)
- くろ、黒 – black (kuro)
- ピンク – pink (pinku)
- ちゃいろ、茶色 – brown (chairo)
- はいいろ、灰色、ねずみいろ、鼠色 – grey (haiiro, nezumiiro)
- オレンジ – orange (orenji)
Others
- え、絵 – picture (e)
- おんがく、音楽 – music (ongaku)
- りか、理科 – science (rika)
- さんすう、算数 – arithmetic (sansū)
- れきし、歴史 – history (rekishi)
- ちり、地理 – geography (chiri)
- たいいく、体育 – physical education (taiiku)
- スポーツ – sport (supōtsu)
- システム – system (shisutemu)
- じょうほう、情報 – information, news (jōhō)
- ひつよう、必要 – necessity (hitsuyō)
- べんきょう、勉強 – study (benkyō)
- いらい、依頼 – request (irai)
Numbers
- れい、ゼロ、零 – zero (rei, zero)
- いち、一 – one (ichi)
- に、二 – two (ni)
- さん、三 – three (san)
- よん、し、四 – four (yon, shi)
- ご、五 – five (go)
- ろく、六 – six (roku)
- なな、しち、七 – seven (nana, shichi)
- はち、八 – eight (hachi)
- きゅう、く、九 – nine (kyū, ku)
- じゅう、十 – ten (jū)
- ひゃく、百 – hundred (hyaku)
- せん、千 – thousand (sen)
- まん、万 – ten thousand (man)
- おく、億 – one hundred million (oku)
- ひとつ、一つ – one, one thing (hitotsu)
- ふたつ、二つ – two, two things (futatsu)
- みっつ、三つ – three, three things (mittsu)
- よっつ、四つ – four, four things (yottsu)
- いつつ、五つ – five, five things (itsutsu)
- むっつ、六つ – six, six things (muttsu)
- ななつ、七つ – seven, seven things (nanatsu)
- やっつ、八つ – eight, eight things (yattsu)
- ここのつ、九つ – nine, nine things (kokonotsu)
- とお、十 – ten, ten things (tō)
Abstract nouns
- これ – this, it (kore)
- それ – that (sore)
- あれ – that over there (are)
- どれ – which (dore)
- こちら、こっち – this direction, thing, person, or place (kochira, kocchi)
- そちら、そっち – that direction, thing, person, or place (sochira, socchi)
- あちら、あっち – that direction, thing, person, or place over there (achira, acchi)
- どちら、どっち – which direction, thing, person, or place (dochira, docchi)
- ひみつ、秘密 – secret (himitsu)
- じどう、自動 – automatic (jidō)
- ないよう、内容 – content (naiyō)
- はば、幅 – width, breadth, free room, difference (between two substances) (haba)
- せいしき、正式 – formality (seishiki)
- けっこん、結婚 – marriage (kekkon)
- げんざい、現在 – now (genzai)
- いま、今 – now (ima)
- かこ、過去 – past (kako)
- みらい、未来 – future (mirai)
Adjectives
Forms
- いい、よい、良い – good (ii, yoi)
- すごい、凄い – amazing (sugoi)
- すばらしい、素晴らしい – wonderful (subarashii)
- わるい、悪い – bad, inferior (warui)
- たかい、高い – expensive, high (takai)
- ひくい、低い – low (hikui)
- やすい、安い – cheap (yasui)
- おおきい、大きい – big (ōkii)
- ちいさい、小さい – small (chiisai)
- ほそい、細い – thin (hosoi)
- ふとい、太い – thick (futoi)
- ふるい、古い – old (furui)
- あたらしい、新しい – new (atarashii)
- わかい、若い – young (wakai)
- かるい、軽い – light, easy (karui)
- おもい、重い – heavy (omoi)
- やさしい、易しい – easy, simple (yasashii)
- むずかしい、難しい – difficult (muzukashii)
- やわらかい、柔らかい – soft (yawarakai)
- かたい、硬い、堅い – hard (katai)
- あつい、熱い、暑い – hot (atsui)
- つめたい、冷たい – cold (tsumetai)
- さむい、寒い – cold (samui) as in cold weather
- おいしい、美味しい – delicious (oishii)
- うまい、美味い、旨い – delicious, appetizing (umai)
- まずい、不味い – tastes awful (mazui)
- あまい、甘い – sweet (amai)
- からい、辛い – hot [spicy] (karai)
- しょっぱい、塩っぱい – salty (shoppai)
- にがい、苦い – bitter (nigai)
- うつくしい、美しい – beautiful (utsukushii)
Feelings
- うれしい、嬉しい – happy (ureshii)
- たのしい、楽しい – fun (tanoshii)
- かなしい、悲しい – sad (kanashii)
- さびしい、寂しい、淋しい – lonely (sabishii)
- さみしい、寂しい、淋しい — sad, lonely (samishii)
- こわい、怖い、恐い – scary (kowai)
- いたい、痛い – painful (itai)
- かゆい、痒い – itchy (kayui)
- くさい、臭い – stinky (kusai)
- つらい、辛い – painful, heart-breaking (tsurai)
Verbs
- する – to do (suru)
- やる – to do (yaru)
Existence
- いる – to exist [for animate objects] (iru)
- ある – to exist [for inanimate objects] (aru)
- なる – to become (naru)
- おこる、起こる、興る – to occur (okoru)
- あらわれる、現れる – to appear (arawareru)
- いきる、生きる – to live (ikiru)
- うむ、生む、産む – to give birth (umu)
- しぬ、死ぬ – to die (shinu)
- こわれる、壊れる – to breakin (kowareru)
- in intransitive sense
Movement
- いく、行く – to go (iku)
- くる、来る – to come (kuru)
- かえる、帰る、返る – to return (kaeru)
- あるく、歩く – to walk (aruku)
- とぶ、飛ぶ – to jump, to fly (tobu)
- およぐ、泳ぐ – to swim (oyogu)
Actions
- うごく、動く – to movein (ugoku)
- おどる、踊る – to dance (odoru)
- ねる、寝る – to sleep (neru)
- うたう、歌う – to sing (utau)
- かむ、噛む – to bite (kamu)
- たべる、食べる – to eat (taberu)
- のむ、飲む – to drink (nomu)
- さわる、触る – to touch (sawaru)
- なげる、投げる – to throw (nageru)
- もつ、持つ – to hold (motsu)
- うつ、打つ – to hit, to strike (utsu)
- なぐる、殴る – to hit, to strike (naguru)
- さす、指す – to point (sasu)
- さす、刺す – to stab (sasu)
- さす、差す – to raise or extend one’s hands (sasu)
- ける、蹴る – to kick (keru)
- すわる、座る – to sit (suwaru)
- たつ、立つ – to stand (tatsu)
- はしる、走る – to run (hashiru)
Changes of state
- あく、空く – to become unoccupied (aku)
- こむ、込む – to be crowded (komu)
- いる、要る – to need (iru)
- かわく、乾く – to become dry (kawaku)
- みだす、乱す — to disturb, to disarrange (midasu)
- みだれる、乱れる — to be disturbed, to become confused (midareru)
- つかえる、仕える — to serve, to work for (tsukaeru)
- そなわる、備わる — to be furnished with (sonawaru)
- すぐれる、優れる — to excel, to surpass (sugureru)
- ひえる、冷える — to grow cold, to get chilly, to cool down (hieru)
- さめる、覚める — to wake, to become sober, to be disillusioned (sameru)
- さめる、冷める — to cool down (sameru)
- むく、向く — to face, to turn toward (muku)
- たおれる、倒れる — to fall, to collapse (taoreru)
- かたまる、固まる — to harden, to solidify, to become firm (katamaru)
- うまる、埋まる — to be filled, to be surrounded, to overflow (umaru)
- うもれる、埋もれる — to be buried, to be covered (umoreru)
- ます、増す — to increase, to grow (masu)
- ふえる、増える — to increase, to multiply (fueru)
- へる、減る — to decrease (heru)
- はずれる、外れる — to deviate (hazureru)
- ふとる、太る — to grow fat (futoru)
- はじまる、始まる — to begin (hajimaru)
- おわる、終わる — to finish, to close (owaru)
- きめる、決める — to decide (kimeru)
Senses
- みる、見る – to see (miru)
- きく、聞く、聴く – to hear, to listen (kiku)
- さわる、触る – to touch, to feel (sawaru)
- かぐ、嗅ぐ – to smell (kagu)
Speech
- いう、言う – to say (iu)
- はなす、話す – to speak (hanasu)
- かたる、語る – to tell (kataru)
- かく、書く – to write (kaku)
- よむ、読む – to read (yomu)
Work
- つかう、使う – to use (tsukau)
- つくる、作る、造る、創る – to make (tsukuru)
- なおす、直す、治す – to fix, repair (naosu)
- すてる、捨てる – to discard, throw away (suteru)
- とる、取る、撮る、採る – to take (toru)
- おく、置く – to put (oku)
Emotions
- かなしむ、悲しむ、哀しむ – to be sad (kanashimu)
- なく、泣く – to cry (naku)
- わらう、笑う – to laugh (warau)
- おこる、怒る – to be angry (okoru)
- ほめる、褒める – to encourage (homeru)
- しかる、叱る – to scold (shikaru)
- よろこぶ、喜ぶ – to celebrate, to be jubilant, to have joy, to have delight, to have rapture (yorokobu)
- よろこび、喜び – joy, delight, rapture (yorokobi)
- なぐさめる、慰める – to console, to consolate, to provide empathy (nagusameru)
- あきる、飽きる – to be disinterested, to be bored, to be tired of, to be weary (akiru)
- おどろく、驚く – to be astonished, to be surprised, to be scared (odoroku)
Activities
- あう、会う – to meet, to interview (au)
- あける、開ける – to opentr, to unwraptr (akeru)
- あそぶ、遊ぶ – to play (asobu)
- あつまる、集まる – to gatherin (atsumaru)
- うる、売る – to sell (uru)
- える、得る – to obtain [some benefit or knowledge] (eru)
- おる、折る – to breaktr, to foldtr (oru)
- かう、買う – to buy (kau)
- きる、切る – to cut (kiru)†
- きる、着る – to wear [on the upper body] (kiru)
- はく、履く – to wear [on the lower body] (haku)
- かえる、変える – to changetr (kaeru)
- かえる、代える – to exchange, to substitute, to replace (kaeru)
- しめる、閉める – to closetr (shimeru)
- しめる、締める – to tie, to fasten (shimeru)
- しめる、占める – to comprise, to account for (shimeru)
- しる、知る – to know (shiru)†
- つかれる、疲れる – to get tired (tsukareru)
- でかける、出掛ける – to go out, to depart (dekakeru)
- はたらく、働く – to work [e.g., at a job] (hataraku)
- はなす、放す、離す – to let go of (hanasu)
- やすむ、休む – to rest, to take a break, to go to bed (yasumu)
- わかれる、分かれる – to split intoin, to be divided (wakareru)
- わかれる、別れる – to partin, to separatein, to break upin (wakareru)
- tr transitive sense
- in intransitive sense
- † conjugates as a u-verb
Adverbs
- もう – already (mō)
- まだ – still, yet (mada)
- ずっと – always (zutto)
- とても – very (totemo)
- こう – like this (kō)
- そう – like that (sō)
- ああ – in that other way (ā)
- どう – how (dō)
- しばしば – often (shibashiba)
Pre-noun adjectival
- この – this (kono)
- その – that (sono)
- あの – that (ano)
- どの – which (dono)
Interjections
- はい – yes (hai)
- いいえ – no (iie)
Conjunctions
- でも — but (demo)
- しかし – but, however (shikashi)
- そして – and then, Then… (soshite)
- それに – besides (soreni)
- なぜなら – that is because, being because (nazenara)
Terminations of verbs
- う、よう – volitional ending [う for u-verbs, よう for ru-verbs]: «Let’s…» or «I will» (u, yō)
- せる、させる – causative ending [せる for u-verbs, させる for ru-verbs]: to make [someone do something], to allow (seru, saseru)
- れる、られる – passive verb ending [れる for u-verbs, られる for ru-verbs]: to be <verbed> [e.g., 食べられる, «to be eaten»] (reru, rareru)
- そうだ – indicates that it seems the verb occurs [e.g., «It seems he ate»] (sōda)
- た – informal past-tense (ta)
- たい – indicates desire to perform verb (tai)
- だろう – indicates that it seems the verb occurs; also used to ask whether the verb occurs (darō)
- ない、ん – informal negative (nai, n) [ん is a slurred version and sounds a little masculine]
- ぬ – archaic informal negative [«he hath», «thou didst», etc.] (nu)
- ます – formal non-past ending (masu)
Particles
Case
- が – subject marker, but (ga)
- で – at, by (de)
- と – and, with (to)
- に – indirect object marker (ni)
- の – possession marker, of (no)
- へ – to (e) [Note: へ is normally read he, but when used as this particle its reading changes to e]
- まで – to (made)
- から – from (kara)
- より – than (yori)
- を – direct object marker (o)
Conjunctive
- および、及び – and; as well as (oyobi)
- か – whether (ka)
- かも – might be, possible that (kamo)
- そして – and then (sosh
ite) - それとも – or (soretomo)
- だの – things like <list of things>, including, such things as (dano)
- つつ – ongoing occurrence (tsutsu) [similar to ながら but has different tone, and both actions have equal weight]
- て – te form of verb or adjective [see explanation]
- と – when, if, that (to)
- ながら – while, though, both (nagara)
- ならびに – as well as (narabini)
- なり – whether or not (nari)
- に – to <somewhere>, by <someone> (ni)
- の – possession (no)
- ので – so (node)
- また、又 – also, again (mata)
- または、又は – or alternatively (matawa)
- も – also, too (mo)
- や – and (ya)
Final
- ね – emphasis and question marker, equivalent to «right?» (ne)
- か – question marker (ka)
- な – the copula particle used after quasi-adjectives (na)
- かしら – I wonder (kashira)
- さ – -ness (sa)
- っけ – particle indicating that the speaker is trying to recall some information [«What class is next -kke?»] (-kke)
Adverbial
- こそ – emphasis (koso)
- さえ – even (sae)
- しか – only (shika)
- すら – even (sura)
- くらい、ぐらい – approximately, about (kurai)
- だけ – only, as much as (dake)
- だって – however (datte)
- ったら – casual topic marker (ttara) [colloquial form of to ittara (if you refer to ~; as for ~)
- って – said that (tte)
- でも – also, or (demo)
- どころ – (particle used to indicate that what precedes it is an extreme example and strongly negates it) (dokoro)
- など – for example (nado)
- なら – if [for verbs]; subject marker [for nouns] (nara)
- なんか – casual undervalue, dislike, lack (nanka)
- なんて – casual undervalue, dislike, lack (nante)
- は – topic marker (wa) [although ha is the hiragana used, wa is the pronunciation)
- ばかり、ばっかり – just, full of, only (bakari)
- まで – until (made)
- も – too, also (mo)
There are plenty of ways to say “beautiful” in Japanese. The most common way is to say 美しい (utsukushii) which quite literally translates to “beautiful”.
美しい (utsukushii) is what’s called an i-adjective. Its meaning is considerably more intense than the English word “beautiful”.
In short, when you describe something as 美しい (utsukushii), you’re conveying a little more than simply “beautiful”.
In Japanese, saying 美しい (utsukushii) conveys an image of “true beauty”. Therefore it should be reserved for when you feel something is truly breathtaking.
There are many other ways to say “beautiful” in Japanese, such as 綺麗 (kirei).
綺麗 (kirei) is a less intensive version of 美しい (utsukushii) that also means “beautiful”.
However, unlike 美しい (utsukushii), you can use 綺麗 (kirei) to describe the cleanliness of something too. If something is 綺麗 (kirei), it means it’s tidy and/or clean.
To call someone beautiful in Japanese, you can use either the more intense 美しい (utsukushii), or the pleasant 綺麗 (kirei).
You will become increasingly aware of the myriad intricacies associated with many Japanese words and phrases as your studies progress.
There are also many ways to conjugate 美しい (utsukushii) and 綺麗 (kirei) to express things such as “beauty”, “was beautiful” and so on.
To master these conjugations and intricacies, I recommend taking a look at LingoDeer, a unique language app that is not only fun and educational but entertaining too.
LingoDeer features a host of themes extending from personal to professional life, all of which are taught in a variety of lesson styles and feature excellent audio quality voiced by native Japanese speakers.
All entries in this ultimate guide have been coupled with an audio clip for your correct pronunciation reference!
- Beautiful.
美しい。
utsukushii.
美しい (utsukushii) is one of the two main ways to say “beautiful” in Japanese. It is an i-adjective that can be used to describe something or someone that is truly beautiful.
The kanji is 美 which directly translates to “beauty” or “beautiful”.
美しい (utsukushii) is a very powerful word that means “beautiful” in Japanese. It is much stronger than the English word.
This means that calling someone or something 美しい (utsukushii) should be done sparingly, and only when you honestly feel the sheer beauty radiating from the person or thing.
You’re Beautiful in Japanese – 美しい (utsukushii)
To compliment someone and say “you’re beautiful” in casual Japanese you can simply say the person’s name +は美しい (ha utsukushii).
- [name]は美しい。
[name] ha utsukushii.
You’re beautiful.
In Japanese, instead of referring to others as “you” like we do in English, you should instead use the person’s actual name. You can use あなた (anata) which does mean “you”, however calling someone who is not your significant other あなた (anata) can sound unnatural. Therefore using the person’s name is the best way to address them!
美しい (utsukushii) is a considerably intense word. Hence, you’re best off using it to describe someone only when you feel that they are truly beautiful. There is a lot of emphasis on “truly”! Overuse of this word to compliment someone can radiate abnormal vibes.
Beautiful on The Inside
Unique to 美しい (utsukushii), you can use this word to describe someone or something as being beautiful both on the outside and inside. This means that 美しい (utsukushii) can describe the fundamental core of something as being beautiful.
For example, you could describe a particular place as 美しい (utsukushii).
- この村はとても美しい。
kono mura ha totemo utsukushii.
This village is really beautiful.
By calling the village 美しい (utsukushii), you refer not only to its outside appearance but also to the spirit and history of the village as a whole. For that reason, 美しい (utsukushii) is a very pure and sophisticated adjective. It has different nuances compared to the other ways to say “beautiful” in Japanese.
Something is Beautiful in Japanese
There are two ways to say “something is beautiful” in Japanese using 美しい (utsukushii). Firstly, you can use the sentence structure [noun]は美しい, replacing [noun] with the subject. For example:
- 景色は美しい。
keshiki ha utsukushii.
The scenery is beautiful.
The second way is to use 美しい (utsukushii) as a noun modifier. As 美しい (utsukushii) is an adjective, it can be placed before a noun to modify it.
- 美しい物語だった。
utsukushii monogatari data.
That was a beautiful story.
You do not need to do any conjugations with 美しい (utsukushii) when you use it to modify nouns. Simply say it before a noun to describe it as beautiful.
The Word For Beauty in Japanese
- Beauty.
美しさ。
utsukushisa.
The word for “beauty” in Japanese is 美しさ (utsukushisa). You can use 美しさ (utsukushisa) to refer to the beauty of someone or something.
- 日本は自然の美しさで有名だ。
nihon ha shizen no utsukushisa de yuumei da.
Japan is famous for its natural beauty.
In Japanese, when you replace the final い (i) of an i-adjective with さ (sa) you nominalise it. What this means is that you’re essentially transforming the adjective into a noun. 美しい (utsukushishii), an adjective which means “beautiful”, becomes 美しさ (utsukushisa) a noun that means “beauty”.
You can do this with any i-adjective in Japanese. For na-adjectives, simply replace the な (na) with さ (sa).
Beautiful Person in Japanese
- Beautiful Person/Woman.
美人。
bijin.
A great way to compliment someone is to call them a beautiful person. In Japanese, you can do this by calling them 美人 (bijin). The word 美人 (bijin) is a noun that you can use to describe someone as being naturally beautiful.
You’ll often hear 美人 (bijin) used to compliment someone’s appearance rather than their personality. I have composed an ultimate guide titled “How to say Soul in Japanese” that covers this in more detail.
Furthermore, 美人 (bijin) is a compliment that is mostly used for women in Japanese.
- 相変わらず美人だね。
aikawarazu bijin da ne.
You’re as beautiful as ever.
As mentioned earlier, it’s very common to omit pronouns in Japanese when the context is clear. For that reason, in the above example, the pronoun “you” has been omitted from the Japanese text.
The word 美人 (bijin) is composed of two kanji. Firstly, 美 which means “beautiful” appears in 美しい (utsukushii) (explained above). The second kanji is 人 (hito), which when used as part of a compound, reads as じん (jin). 人 (hito) means “person” in Japanese.
Combined they make 美人 (bijin), which quite literally means “beautiful person”. Despite this 美人 (bijin) is still mostly used to describe a beautiful woman. That is not to say that complimenting anyone else with 美人 (bijin) is wrong though. It’s entirely down to the individual.
The Japanese Word For Beautiful Girl
- Beautiful Girl.
美女。
bijo.
To specify that the person you’re complimenting is a female, you can use 美女 (bijo). When you call someone 美女 (bijo), you’re calling them a “beautiful girl”, or “beautiful woman” in Japanese.
- 彼女は世界で一番美女だ。
kanojo ha sekai de ichiban bijo da.
She is the most beautiful girl in the world.
The only difference between 美女 (bijo) and 美人 (bijin) is the final kanji. In 美女 (bijo), the final kanji is 女, which means “woman” or “female” in Japanese. So quite literally, the word 美女 (bijo) means “beautiful female”.
Pretty in Japanese
- Pretty.
綺麗。
kirei.
The second out of the two main ways to call something or someone pretty in Japanese is 綺麗 (kirei). When you want to describe an object or person having a pleasant appearance, you can use 綺麗 (kirei).
Unlike 美しい (utsukushii), 綺麗 (kirei) strictly refers to the appearance of something or someone. 綺麗 (kirei) is the best way to describe something or someone as beautiful in a general sense.
For example, you could compliment someone on being pretty or beautiful:
- 髪は超綺麗だね。
kami ha chou kirei da ne.
Your hair is so pretty.
Note how in the above example, the pronoun “you” has been omitted. This is because the omission of pronouns is common in Japanese when the context is clear.
You can also describe an object as being pretty:
- たくさん綺麗な写真を持ってるね。
takusan kirei na shashin wo motteru ne.
You have so many beautiful photos, don’t you?
Where 美しい (utsukushii) is an i-adjective, 綺麗 (kirei) is a na-adjective, despite ending with “i”. This means that when you modify a noun with 綺麗 (kirei) you have to include the な (na) between the adjective and noun.
For example, “beautiful scenery” in Japanese, would be 綺麗な景色。
- 綺麗な景色を見るのが好き。
kirei na keshiki wo miru no ga suki.
I like looking at the beautiful scenery.
By itself, 綺麗な (kireina) simply means “beautiful” or “pretty”. When な (na) is included, it becomes 綺麗な (kireina) which works as a noun modifier. It is important to remember to include the な (na) when 綺麗 (kirei) comes before a noun. This is a question that often appears in the JLPT exams!
Describing Something as Clean/Tidy
The na-adjective 綺麗 (kirei), can also be used to describe something as being clean or tidy. For instance, if you notice that your friend’s room was surprisingly free of clutter today, you could say:
- 今日部屋が綺麗だね。
kyou heya ga kirei da ne.
Your room is clean today, isn’t it?
You’re also not limited to using 綺麗 (kirei) to describe clean objects or places either. You can also use 綺麗 (kirei) to refer to a “clean” person. For example, you could say after a shower:
- シャワー気持ちよかった！綺麗になった。
shawa- kimochiyokatta! kirei ni natta.
The shower was refreshing! I feel clean now.
You can only describe clean or tidy things with 綺麗 (kirei). Using 美しい (utsukushii) would sound unnatural.
The Kanji For “Beautiful” 綺麗 (kirei)
The kanji for 綺麗 (kirei) is, as you may have noticed, quite complex. For this reason, it’s actually common to simply write it in hiragana instead.
In hiragana, 綺麗 (kirei) is きれい.
The first kanji is 綺, which means “beautiful”. However, this kanji is rarely seen outside of 綺麗 (kirei). The second kanji is 麗 which means “lovely”, “beautiful” or “graceful”.
You may see 綺麗 (kirei) written in kanji in newspapers and articles, but not so much elsewhere.
Different to 美しい (utsukushii), you can use 綺麗 (kirei) often in general conversation to describe the beauty of something or someone.
For instance, say you’re out hiking and you reach the top of the mountain. You turn around and are greeted with a beautiful view. In English, we may say something along the lines of “wow, amazing!”
In Japanese, it’s common to say 綺麗 (kirei)! Essentially “it’s beautiful!”.
Cute in Japanese
- Cute.
可愛い。
kawaii.
To describe something as “cute” in Japanese, you can use the i-adjective 可愛い (kawaii). Sometimes, 可愛い (kawaii) is written in hiragana, かわいい.
The Japanese word for cute, 可愛い (kawaii) has a much broader meaning and usage compared to the English word. This is predominantly because of the development of Japan’s cute culture.
The cute culture has become increasingly dominant in Japanese popular culture, aesthetics, entertainment and even mannerisms.
The word 可愛い has a much wider range of definitions when put into the dictionary. However, you can use it to describe anything (including objects & people) that you recognise as being anything along the lines of cute, adorable, charming or pretty.
To describe an object:
- この服は超可愛い！
kono fuku ha chou kawaii!
These clothes are so cute!
Because 可愛い (kawaii) can mean more than “cute”, using it to compliment somebody can definitely make them happy.
- あなたは本当に可愛いよ。
anata ha hontouni kawaii yo.
You are really cute.
When you know the person’s name, it’s almost always better to substitute あなた (anata) or any other Japanese variant of “you” for it. This is because あなた (anata) is typically used between couples.
可愛い (kawaii) Kanji
Honestly, I’ve heard native Japanese speakers call all kinds of things 可愛い (kawaii). Even things I wouldn’t even consider to associate with the word “cute” in English, such as a laptop.
This is mainly because of the many meanings 可愛い (kawaii) has. It can stretch out to mean “pretty” or “lovely”.
What’s more is that when we look at the kanji of 可愛い (kawaii), the literal meaning becomes clearer. The first kanji, 可 means “can” or “passable”. This is followed by 愛, the kanji for “love” and “affection”. This means we can understand the meaning of 可愛い (kawaii) to be “can love”.
Therefore, when there’s an object that you conclude it’s possible to love, you can technically refer to it as 可愛い (kawaii).
The Word For Handsome
- Handsome.
イケメン。
ikemen.
The word イケメン (ikemen) is a noun that can be used to refer to a good-looking male. It is a very casual word that’s most commonly used by young people.
It is said that イケメン (ikemen) is derived from two different elements. The former half of イケメン (ikemen) is derived from the verb イケてる (iketeru) which means “cool” or “stylish”. The latter half comes from メンズ (menzu), which is “men” rendered in Japanese phonetics, and 面 (men) meaning “surface”.
イケメン (ikemen) refers to strictly the appearance of a male. When one perceives another to be handsome, イケメン (ikemen) can be used to express it.
- さっきの店員は超イケメンだったね。
sakki no tenin ha chou ikemen datta ne.
The store clerk a minute ago was super handsome.
As イケメン (ikemen) is a noun, it can’t be conjugated like 綺麗 (kirei) or 美しい (utsukushii) can. Referring to yourself as an イケメン (ikemen) is also uncommon.
Instead, you could use a more general word like かっこいい (kakkoii).
More ways to Compliment
- Cool/Stylish.
かっこいい。
kakkoii.
The easiest way to understand かっこいい (kakkoii) is to interpret it as “cool” in Japanese.
かっこいい (kakkoii) is an i-adjective that is rarely written in its kanji form 格好いい (かっこいい). You can use かっこいい (kakkoii) to describe a person as being “cool” in Japanese. However, it can also mean “handsome”, “attractive” “smooth” or even “dreamy” depending on the context.
For instance, you could describe someone as being handsome:
- 髪型はいいね！ かっこいいよ！
kami gata ha ii ne! kakkoii yo!
Your hair is great! It’s cool/handsome!
You can also use かっこいい (kakkoii) to compliment someone on a skill they have:
- アイススケート上手だね！超かっこいい。
aisu suke-to jouzu da ne! chou kakkoii.
You’re so good at ice skating! You’re so cool/smooth.
What’s more, is that you can also describe an object as being かっこいい (kakkoii):
- その靴はかっこいいね。
sono kutsu ha kakkoii ne.
Those shoes are so cool.
You can also use かっこいい (kakkoii) to describe someone as “dreamy” which I explain in this ultimate guide.
Conjugating かっこいい (kakkoii)
Conjugating かっこいい (kakkoii) can be tricky at first glance. This is because it’s very easy to assume that because it’s an i-adjective you can modify the ending い (i).
For example, when you want to conjugate かっこいい (kakkoii) into the te-form, you might think it’d be かっこいって (kakkoitte) or かっこいくて (kakkoikute). However, both of these are wrong.
To understand how to properly conjugate かっこいい (kakkoii), it’s important to know its components.
As mentioned, the kanji for かっこいい (kakkoii) is 格好いい (かっこいい). By removing the いい (ii) we are left with 格好 (kakkou), which is an actual word meaning “shape”, “form” of “figure”.
This means that the いい (ii) part of かっこいい (kakkoii) is actually the Japanese for “good”. If you’ve studied Japanese before, you may recall that to conjugate, いい (ii) we have to turn it into 良い (yoi).
Therefore, to conjugate かっこいい (kakkoii), we first have to change it into かっこよい (kakkoyoi). From here we can conjugate it like normal:
- かっこいい – cool.
- かっこよくない – not cool.
- かっこよかった – was cool.
- かっこよくなかった – was not cool.
- かっこよくて – (te-form) cool.
Lovely in Japanese
- Lovely.
素敵。
suteki.
When you realise something as being beautiful, wonderful or lovely, you can use 素敵 (suteki) to express it.
素敵 (suteki) can be used to describe pretty much anything as being “lovely”. For example, it can be used to describe the appearance of an object or person. It can also be used to describe a thought, idea, action or experience.
To describe the appearance of someone:
- 彼は素敵な笑顔を見せてくれた。
kare ha suteki na egao wo misete kureta.
He showed me a lovely smile.
To describe an object:
- ネクタイは素敵だね！
neku tai ha suteki da ne!
That is a lovely necktie!
Or even describe an experience:
- 素敵な旅だったね。
suteki na tabi datta ne.
That was a lovely trip.
Similar to 綺麗 (kirei), 素敵 (suteki) is a na-adjective that requires a な (na) to follow it when modifying a noun. For instance, 素敵な笑顔 (suteki na egao) would mean “lovely smile”. They test you on this in the JLPT exams, so it’s handy to remember!
Elegant in Japanese
- Elegant.
上品。
jouhin.
When something (or someone) is extraordinarily beautiful, you may wish to refer to it (or them) as elegant. The word for elegant in Japanese is 上品 (jouhin).
You can use the word 上品 (jouhin) to describe anything that you perceive as refined or graceful. 上品 (jouhin) can be used to compliment someone or to describe something.
For instance, you could simply say to someone:
- 上品だね。
jouhin da ne.
You’re elegant.
Or, you may wish to describe something:
- その指輪は上品です。
sono yubiwa ha jouhin desu.
That ring is elegant (formal speech).
Both the English word elegant, and the Japanese word 上品 (jouhin) refer to something that is of high class or sophisticated. Therefore you can also use 上品 (jouhin) the same way we use the “ly” suffix in English. For example, you may want to say “elegantly”. To say “elegantly” in Japanese, simply attach に (ni) to the end of 上品 (jouhin).
This makes it 上品に (jouhin ni). This enables us to say things such as:
- とても上品に食べるね。
totemo jouhin ni taberu ne.
You eat very elegantly, don’t you?
It’s also important to know that 上品 (jouhin) is a na-adjective. This means that上品 (jouhin) has to be followed by な (na) in order to modify the following verb. For instance:
- 上品なお皿を買いたい。
jouhinn na osara wo kaitai.
I want to buy an elegant plate.
Gorgeous in Japanese
- Gorgeous.
豪華。
gouka.
The best word for gorgeous in Japanese is 豪華 (gouka). The word 豪華 (gouka) can be used as an adjective to describe a noun, or it can be used as a noun itself.
As an adjective, you can use 豪華 (gouka) to describe something as extravagant. For instance:
- そのホテルは豪華だね。
sono hoteru ha gouka da ne.
That hotel is gorgeous.
The word “gorgeous” typically has an element of high quality or expensiveness to it. The word 豪華 (gouka) is the same and can imply something as being high class.
- そんな豪華な食事のためにお金足りない。
sonna gouka na shokuji no tame ni okane tarinai.
I don’t have enough money for such a luxurious meal.
The kanji for 豪華 (gouka) explains the meaning very well. The first kanji is 豪 which means “great” or “overpowering”. The second kanji, 華 means “splendour”. This means that 豪華 (gouka) literally means “great splendour”. What better way to express gorgeous in Japanese!
Japanese Names That Mean Beautiful
Japanese names consist of a surname, or the family name, followed by the first name. They are written with kanji, however, can also be romanised. Each kanji of a Japanese name will have its own individual meaning that contributes to the overall meaning of the name.
Some names may also sound similar, however, the kanji may be different. This is why you may see Japanese people ask each other “how is your name written” in order to clarify the kanji.
As we’ve covered in this guide, 美しい (utsukushii) is a common, yet strong way to say “beautiful” in Japanese. The kanji for 美しい (utsukushii), 美, can also be used in Japanese names. However, its reading changes to み (mi). The kanji 美 can then be put together with other kanji for a deeper meaning and complete name.
For example, the Japanese name 愛美 (aimi) consists of two kanji characters. Firstly, 愛, which means “affection” or “love”, followed by 美 (mi) which means beautiful.
List of Japanese Names Meaning “Beautiful”
Here is a list of 10 Japanese names that mean “beautiful” in Japanese:
- 愛美 (aimi) – 愛 (ai) “love, affection” and 美 (mi) “beautiful”.
- 明美 (akemi) – 明 (ake) “bright” and 美 (mi) “beautiful”.
- 絵美 (emi) – 絵 (e) “picture, painting” and 美 (mi) “beautiful”.
- 貴美子 (kimiko) – 貴 (ki) “valuable” with 美 (mi) “beautiful”, and 子 (ko) “child”.
- 真美 (mami) – 真 (ma) “real, true” and 美 (mi) “beautiful”.
- 美智子 (michiko) – 美 (mi) “beautiful”, with 智 (chi) “wisdom, intellect” and 子 (ko) “child”.
- 美保 (miho) – 美 (mi) “beautiful” and 保 (ho) “protect”.
- 美咲 (misaki) – 美 (mi) “beautiful” and 咲 (saki) “blossom”.
- 美優 (miyu) – 美 (mi) “beautiful” with 優 (yu) “excellence, gentleness”.
- 夏美 (natsumi) – 夏 (natsu) “summer” and 美 (mi) “beautiful”.
Beautifying Words in Keigo
There is a concept in Japanese that refers to the beautification of words. This is typically only applied to honorific speech, known as Japanese Keigo.
Japanese Keigo is used during situations when one must show the utmost respect to the other. For instance, a waiter talking with a customer.
When speaking in this honorific speech, it’s common to attach the prefixes ご (go) or お (o) to words to beautify them. By doing this you can increase the amount of politeness felt in your speech.
- お (o) is attached to words with the Japanese kunyomi reading.
- ご (go) is attached to words with the Chinese onyomi reading.
For more information on distinguishing the different readings, I have composed a complete ultimate guide here.
For example, the word for alcohol in Japanese is 酒 (sake). However, you can beautify the word by attaching お (o), making it お酒 (osake). As another example, you can also do the same with the word 花 (hana), meaning flower. Therefore, it becomes お花 (ohana).
By doing this, you add more politeness to your speech.
You can’t do this with every single word though. Here are a few things to keep in mind:
Meaning Change During Beautification
There are a few words that have the prefix ご (go) or お (o) already attached to them. The word お腹 (onaka) for example, means stomach. The お (o) prefix here is baked into the word. You cannot beautify it any further.
On the other hand, if you were to take away the お (o) in an attempt to sound more casual, the meaning would change. This means that お腹 (onaka), meaning “stomach” would become 中 (naka), meaning “inside”. Therefore you shouldn’t remove prefixes that are already a part of the word.
In fact, there are some words that have the honorific ご (go) or お (o) prefixes attached to them, even though they’re not polite or respectful.
For example, the word お尻 (oshiri), meaning “butt” in Japanese already has the お (o) prefix attached. This is similar to the word お腹 (onaka), however, there will be some words you’d probably not expect to be already beautified like the word for butt.
Commonly Heard Phrases
There are a few phrases that you may hear in Japan that utilise the beautifying concept.
For instance, you could be at a drive-through for McDonald’s, and you will be asked:
- ご注文お願いいたします。
go chuumon onegai itashimasu.
I’d like to request your order, please.
The keyword here is ご注文 (go chuumon), meaning “order” in Japanese.
Another phrase you may hear, or perhaps may even want to use yourself when speaking with a stranger.
- お手伝いしましょうか？
otetsudaishimashouka?
Shall I help you?
This phrase stems from the verb 手伝う (tetsudau), meaning “to help” in Japanese. It is the politest way possible to ask someone in Japanese if they need some help.
That Was Beautifully Done!
Sometimes you may wish to encourage someone by expressing how well you think they’ve done at something. Luckily, there are plenty of ways to compliment someone on a job well done in Japanese.
Not done yet? Take a look at the collection of How-To Japanese Ultimate Guides.
Recommended How-To Guides:
Okay in Japanese [Ultumate Guide]
Hope in Japanese [Ultimate Guide]
Good Luck in Japanese [Ultimate Guide]
Soul in Japanese [Ultimate Guide]
Please note that this post features several affiliate links, meaning we’ll earn a small commission at no extra cost to you if you purchase through these links. For more information please visit the Disclaimer page.
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I have composed an honest fully in-depth review on Preply here, where I discuss my transparent thoughts, experiences and everything the platform has to offer.
Moving to Japan and realizing you need to learn Japanese words to survive? I’ve got you covered with the top Japanese words you need to know.
If you’re looking for more information, check another article from our extensive series on Learning Japanese.
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A brief overview of Japanese words
For those of you who are starting from zero with Japanese, let’s go over some basics. Japanese words fall into a couple major categories: native Japanese words, including onomatopoeia, Sino-Japanese words, and loan words.
The written form of Japanese words
Japanese can be written left to right horizontally like English, but it’s traditionally written vertically and read from right to left. Japanese words are written using a combination of 3 writing systems: kanji (Chinese characters), hiragana, and katana. Kanji characters carry meanings and can be read multiple ways. Hiragana and katana are phonetic and both represent the same sound-set but have different usages depending on context. Hiragana works as both a way to conjugate verbs and write particle markers. Some words are written entirely using hiragana. Katakana is most widely used to write loan words. Katakana may also be used in place of hiragana for emphasis.
Pronunciation of Japanese words
Japanese has five main vowels (あ, い, う, え, お) pronounced as ah, ee, oo, eh, and oh. Each syllable has either a singular vowel, or a combination consonant and vowel. There is only one consonant sound in the language ever pronounced on its own (ん), usually pronounced like the English “n.» Another big differences between Japanese and English is the ら・り・る・れ・ろ sounds. This consonant sound sits somewhere between the English “r” and “l.” The sound is made by lightly tapping the tip of your tongue just behind your teeth.
Japanese words also have pitch accents. This means the pitch of a word will follow a pattern of highs and lows. The different patterns can change the meaning of words. Pitch accent is an important part of Japanese pronunciation that is often overlooked. For a more in-depth explanation of pitch accents and how they operate, check this thorough guide.
Categories of Japanese words
Japanese words all work together to build the language up, but the different types of words may have different origins as well as usages. Some are probably going to be very familiar as they follow the same pattern as English. Others, however, are unique to Japanese.
Japanese verbs
A great thing about Japanese is that there are only two irregular verbs. That makes conjugating very easy, because you can apply rules. For more information on the two main groups of Japanese verbs and how to use them, check our Guide to Japanese Verbs and Guide to Japanese Conjugation.
Japanese adjectives
Japanese adjectives also fall broadly into two categories: i-adjectives and na-adjectives.They each follow their own rules, so check out our Guide to Japanese Adjectives for a full explanation.
Native Japanese words
Wago (和語), are completely native Japanese words. That means they developed independently—that is—not from Chinese. All u-verbs, ru-verbs, and i-adjectives are native Japanese words. Native Japanese words are sometimes described as having “softer” sounds than their Sino-Japanese counterparts.
Onomatopoeia (giongo) and gitaigo
Onomatopoeia, or giongo (擬音語), are a type of native Japanese word. Onomatopoeia are words that mimic the sound of whatever they describe. Giongo are extremely common.
Gitaigo are a little different. They are words that describe a state or condition that may not even make a sound. Gitaigo is one of the features of Japanese that makes it so unique. These words are probably best understood through manga. In a Japanese manga, there are words written on the sides of panels that act as sound effects. Have you ever noticed that sometimes those words aren’t sound effects in English? A common example would be when a character is staring intently at something. You might see this on the panel: じー (jii) or じっ(jih). This comes from the Japanese word じっと見る (jitto miru) meaning “to stare.” Another example is the word ふわふわ (fuwafuwa) meaning “fluffy.”
Sino-Japanese words
Sino-Japanese words, or kango (漢語), are words that developed from Chinese. Most —suru verbs are kango. These words tend to have a more formal feel to them and are often used in writing. This is especially true when there is an interchangeable native Japanese word.
Loan words
Another big category of Japanese words is loan words. Loan words, or gairaigo (外来語), are words that originated from a foreign language that have been adopted into Japanese. Many of these words come from English, but some also come from French, Spanish, and a variety of other languages. For instance, the Japanese word for bread is パン (pan), coming from the Spanish word. Another example is the Japanese word アンケート(ankeeto), based off the french word enquête, meaning survey.
Here a handful of commonly used loan words in Japanese:
|
Japanese |
Romanization |
English |
|
テレビ |
Terebi |
TV |
|
カメラ |
Kamera |
Camera |
|
ホテル |
Hoteru |
Hotel |
|
ビル |
Biru |
Building |
|
タクシー |
Takushii |
Taxi |
|
バイク |
Baiku |
Motorbike |
|
アルバイト (バイト） |
Arubaito (shortened to baito) |
Part-time job |
|
アイドル |
Aidoru |
Idol (pop singer) |
|
マイク |
Maiku |
Microphone |
|
エアコン |
Eakon |
Air conditioning |
|
カレンダー |
Karendaa |
Calendar |
|
エレベーター |
Erebeetaa |
Elevator |
|
イラスト |
Irasuto |
Illustration |
テレビをつけてください。
Terebi wo tsukete kudasai.
Please turn on the TV.
新しいバイトを始めました。
Atarashii baito wo hajimemashita.
I started a new part-time job.
How should I study Japanese words?
Now that you’re familiar with how Japanese words work, how should you go about studying them? That depends on your learning style and needs. If you have the time and resources, then maybe a teacher may help you learn, such as one from Japan Switch. You could also try individual tutoring through a service like italki. If you’re self-studying, though, I personally recommend using some sort of digital flashcard system to work on remembering vocabulary. Spaced repetition ones like Anki are extremely popular for this. Another common trick to memorizing vocabulary is to learn it in the context of a sentence. Check out our Top 15 Japanese Vocabulary Tips for more information.
How many words do I need to know to be fluent?
This may not be what you want to hear, but unfortunately there’s no magic number of words to know that make you fluent. Being fluent means a lot of different things depending on who you ask. To have a good basic grasp of the language and be able to maneuver a majority of day-to-day situations, though, it’s probably best to have at least a few thousand words under your belt.
How many words a day should I study?
The key to remembering the words you study is to not overload your brain. Trying to jam 20-30+ new words up there a day just isn’t realistic. Instead I’d recommend trying to tackle somewhere between 10-20, but closer to 10 is probably most people’s sweet spot. Experiment to find works best for you. It could be fewer or more. Don’t be too hard on yourself if you forget some though. Repetition is key, so as long as you’re consistent, you’ve won the hardest battle.
What Japanese words are most important?
Some people like to study based on how much they need the information. So if you want to study Japanese words based on their importance to you, think about what your goals are. What are you looking to do in Japan? Are you moving there and want to learn how to navigate common daily activities? Are you just learning Japanese for the fun of it or to engage in Japanese media? Maybe you’re studying for the JLPT. In any case, the most relevant Japanese words for those situations are all going to be different.
This article is organized into sections based around an activity or topic. Feel free to jump around to what is most relevant to your needs.
What do I need to know to make a good first impression?
When you’re just starting out using Japanese, you may be worried about coming across wrong. Being polite is integral to speaking in Japanese. In order to make a good impression, it’s important to think about who you are talking to as well as the context. Depending on if the other person is your boss, a shop employee, a coworker, or a student, your speaking style will adjust accordingly.
Politeness and Keigo
Politeness is a keystone in Japanese. There are distinct levels of speaking formality you are expected to adopt depending on who you are speaking to. These polite forms of speaking are sometimes collectively referred to as keigo, meaning respectful language. This can be in the form of word endings, new words, or additives. For example, many nouns will take an “o” or “go” prefix to make them more polite.
Even many native Japanese speakers don’t fully understand all the nuances of keigo and when to say what. However, getting a basic grasp of it shouldn’t be too hard.
Teneigo
Teneigo is the polite language. This is probably what you are already familiar with: desu/masu forms. You might have learned to say sou desu (that’s right) and wakarimashita (I understand). These polite forms of words and phrases are suitable for most interactions.
Tameguchi
Tameguchi is informal speech. Instead of the full desu/masu form, you use the dictionary form of words and short form conjugations of verbs.
Sonkeigo and Kenjougo
Sonkeigo and kenjougo are respectful and humble languages respectively. Sonkeigo are words and phrases you use to raise the status of the person you are speaking or referring to. Kenjougo, on the other hand, humbles you and lowers your status. These two are generally used in conjunction to be especially respectful to the person you talk to. The hard part about these is that you often use an entirely new word.
Here are some examples of the different forms:
|
English |
Tameguchi / dictionary form |
Teneigo |
Kenjougo |
Sonkeigo |
|
To be (animate) |
いる |
います |
おります |
いらっしゃいます |
|
To go |
行く |
行きます |
参ります |
いらっしゃいます |
|
To come |
来る |
来ます |
参ります |
いらっしゃいます |
|
To do |
する / やる |
します |
いたします |
なさいます |
|
To eat |
食べる |
食べます |
いただきます |
召し上がります |
|
To say |
言う |
言います |
申します |
おっしゃいます |
|
To watch |
見る |
見ます |
拝見します |
ご覧になります |
先生は今日の授業にいらっしゃいませんので、私が教えさせていただいています。
Sensei wa kyou no jugyou ni irasshaimasen node, watashi ga oshiesasete itadaite imasu.
The teacher won’t be coming to class today, so I am taking the liberty of teaching.
ご覧になってありがとうございます。
Goran ni natte arigatou gozaimasu.
Thank you for your attention (lit. thank you for watching).
You will probably only need the humble and formal respectful language forms during a business meeting or while talking to or about someone of high status. That may be a professor or other academic, or a politician. Unless you’re in one of those fields, it’s not likely you’ll be in that situation, so you can relax. Even if you are, you will definitely be given leeway for not knowing the correct word or making an error. Just do your best, and it’ll be fine.
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Body language
Body language is an important factor of the impression you give. For example, bowing when you greet someone. There are various levels of bowing, from a slight dip of the head to bowing a full 90 degrees at the waist. The deeper the bow, the more respectful it is. In many business encounters, you may bow as well as shake hands. Outside of business, though, shaking hands is an uncommon greeting.
Gestures
There are some hand gestures in Japan that are different from the ones we use in the U.S.. For example, instead of pointing to your chest to refer to yourself, Japanese people point at their nose. When calling someone over to you, wave with your fingers pointing at the ground instead of up at the air. This one is especially important, because waving pointing up, as we do in the U.S., is how you would call an animal to you in Japan. When you do it to a person, it is seen as very rude. You can see a more complete list of gestures with video examples here.
Japanese greetings
Now you understand the basics of the Japanese language and how it works. But how do you start talking to Japanese people? Of course, we start with greetings. Let’s go over some of the most common ones:
|
Japanese |
Romanization |
English |
Notes / Explanation |
|
はじめまして |
Hajimemasite |
How do you do? |
Used at a first meeting |
|
おはようございます |
Ohayou gozaimasu |
Good morning |
|
|
こんにちは |
Kon’nichiwa |
Good day/afternoon |
|
|
こんばんは |
Konbanwa |
Good evening |
|
|
お元気でうすか。 はい、元気です。 |
Ogenki desu ka? Hai, genki desu. |
How are you doing? I’m well. |
I included both the question and answer here, as they are almost always paired. |
|
おやすみなさい |
Oyasumi nasai |
Good night |
|
|
久しぶりです |
Hisashiburi desu |
Long time no see |
|
|
いってきます |
Ittekimasu |
See you later (lit. I’ll go and come back) |
This is used when you leave home for work or school in the morning or a similar scenario |
|
いってらしゃい |
Itterashai |
See you later (lit. please go and come back) |
The response to the call of ittekimasu |
|
ただいま |
Tadaima |
I’m home |
You call out as you enter your home |
|
おかえりなさい |
Okaeri nasai |
Welcome back |
Response to the call of tadaima |
How do I introduce myself in Japanese?
Introductions in Japanese are often very methodical, so they’re pretty easy to get the hang of. Start off by saying はじめまして (hajimemashite), meaning “how do you do.” Next, tell everyone your name. The most polite way it to say “___と申します” (___to moushimasu), meaning “my name is _____”. Make sure to end it all with よろしくおねがいします (yoroshiku onegaishimasu). That is one of the most important phrases you will ever learn in Japanese. It means “please take care of me” or “I look forward to working with you.” You’ll use it whenever you meet someone new, as well as when someone is going to do you a favor.
Altogether your introduction may look something like this:
はじめまして。スミス・アダムです。よろしくおねがいします。
Hajimemashite. Sumisu Adamu desu. Yoroshiku onegaishimasu.
Nice to meet you. My name is Adam Smith. I look forward to working with you.
Japanese words to talk about hobbies
Now that you’ve gotten over the hurdle of starting, it’s time to get into the real conversation. How do you talk about yourself? It’s always a good bet to start by talking about interests or hobbies you have, as that can be an easy way to find common ground. Let’s look at some common words for hobbies in Japanese:
|
Japanese |
Romanization |
English |
|
趣味 |
Shumi |
hobby |
|
テレビゲーム |
Terebi geemu |
Video games |
|
読書 |
Dokusho |
Reading |
|
映画鑑賞 |
Eiga kanshou |
Appreciation of movies |
|
外国語を習う |
Gaikokugo wo narau |
Learning foreign languages |
|
写真を撮る |
Shashin wo toru |
Photography |
|
音楽鑑賞 |
Ongaku kanshou |
Appreciation of music |
|
スポーツ観戦 |
Supootsu Kansen |
Watching sports games |
|
パズル |
Pazuru |
Puzzles |
|
裁縫 |
Saihou |
Sewing / needlework |
|
料理 |
Ryouri |
Cooking |
|
散歩 |
Sanpo |
Walking |
|
ジョギング |
Jogingu |
Jogging |
|
サイクリング |
Saikuringu |
Cycling |
|
ダンス |
Dansu |
Dancing |
|
ヨガ |
Yoga |
Yoga |
|
キャンプ |
Kyampu |
Camping |
|
釣り |
Tsuri |
Fishing |
|
サーフィン |
Saafin |
Surfing |
|
スキー |
Sukii |
Skiing |
|
ガーデニング |
Gaadeningu |
Gardening |
|
メイク |
Meiku |
Makeup |
趣味は何ですか？
Shumi wa nan desu ka?
What are your hobbies?
前はジョギングが好きでしたが、最近サイクリングを始めました。
Mae wa jogingu ga suki deshita ga, saikin saikuringu wo hajimemashita.
I used to like jogging, but I recently started cycling.
Japanese words about family
If you’re talking about yourself, you may also want to talk about your family. One thing to remember here is that the names you call your family members and the way you refer to them to people outside your family are going to be different. For example, if you have an older sister, you may call her お姉さん (oneesan), but when you talk to your friends about her, you’d refer to her as 姉 (ane). This extends to the rest of your immediate family.
Soto and uchi
This language pattern harkens back to the idea of soto and uchi. Within Japanese culture, soto and uchi dictate how you talk and act. Someone within the uchi, or in-group, may be privy to information or ideas that you would be more reserved about with someone who is soto, or a part of the out-group. That’s why you’d use the casual oneesan within the in-group, and the more formal ane when talking to someone from the out-group.
When talking to soto (out-group):
|
Japanese |
Romanization |
English |
|
祖父 |
Sofu |
Grandfather |
|
祖母 |
Sobo |
Grandmother |
|
おじ |
Oji |
Uncle |
|
おば |
Oba |
Aunt |
|
いとこ |
Itoko |
Cousin |
|
両親 |
Ryoushin |
Parents |
|
父 |
Chichi |
Father |
|
母 |
Haha |
Mother |
|
兄弟 |
Kyoudai |
Siblings |
|
兄 |
Ani |
Older brother |
|
姉 |
Ane |
Older sister |
|
双子 |
Futago |
Twin |
|
弟 |
Otouto |
Younger brother |
|
妹 |
Imouto |
Younger sister |
|
子供 |
Kodomo |
Children |
|
息子 |
Musuko |
Son |
|
娘 |
Musume |
Daughter |
|
孫 |
Mago |
Grandchild |
妹は大学で美術を勉強しています。
Imouto wa daigaku de bijutsu wo benkyou shite imasu.
My younger sister is studying fine arts in college.
When talking to uchi (in-group) or addressing family:
|
Japanese |
Romanization |
English |
|
おじいさん |
Ojiisan |
Grandfather |
|
おばあさん |
Obaasan |
Grandmother |
|
おじさん |
Ojiasn |
Uncle (also a general address for a middle aged man) |
|
おばさん |
Obasan |
Aunt (also a general address for a middle aged woman) |
|
お父さん |
Otoosan |
Father |
|
パパ |
Papa |
Dad (childish connotation) |
|
お母さん |
Okaasan |
Moother |
|
ママ |
Mama |
Mom (childish connotation) |
|
お兄さん |
Oniisan |
Older brother (also a general address for young men) |
|
お姉さん |
Oneesan |
Older sister (also a general address for young women) |
*These are generally reserved for family members that are older than you. When talking to a family member of the same age or younger, you’d just call them by their name.
Also note that the —san endings can be replaced with —chan.
The example sentence uses tameguchi since you would mostly use these words in informal conversations.
お姉さん、このワンピース、借りていい？
Oneesan, kono wanpiisu, karite ii?
Older sister, can I borrow this dress?
Japanese words about pets and animals
An extension of your family may be the pets you raise. Here are some of the most common animal words as well as some of the onomatopoeia words for animal noises:
|
Japanese |
Romanization |
English |
|
ペット |
Petto |
Pet |
|
飼う |
Kau |
To raise (a pet) |
|
犬 |
Inu |
Dog |
|
ワンワン |
Wan wan |
Woof, bark |
|
猫 |
Neko |
Cat |
|
ニャーニャー |
Nyaa nyaa |
Meow |
|
牛 |
Ushi |
Cow |
|
モーモー |
Mou mou |
Moo moo |
|
豚 |
Buta |
Pig |
|
ブーブー |
Buu buu |
Oink oink |
|
鶏 |
Niwatori |
Chicken |
|
おんどり |
Ondori |
Rooster |
|
こけこっこー |
Kokekokkoo |
Cock-a-doodle-doo |
|
ネズミ |
Nezumi |
Rat / mouse |
|
チュー |
Chuu |
Squeak |
|
馬 |
Uma |
Horse |
|
ヒヒーン |
Hihiin |
Neigh |
|
キリン |
Kirin |
Giraffe |
|
シマウマ |
Shimauma |
Zebra |
|
像 |
Zou |
Elephant |
|
パオーン |
Paoon |
(elephant noise) |
|
熊 |
Kuma |
Bear |
|
ライオン |
Raion |
Lion |
|
ガオー |
Gaoo |
Roar |
|
虎 |
Tora |
Tiger |
|
猿 |
Saru |
Monkey |
|
ゴリラ |
Gorira |
Gorilla |
|
ホッキョクグマ |
Hokkyokuguma |
Polar bear |
猫アレルギーがあるので飼えませんが、犬は一匹飼っています！
Neko arerugii ga aru node kaemasen ga, inu wa ippiki katte imasu!
I have a cat allergy so I can’t raise them, but I do have a dog!
Japanese words about your home country
You’re going to get asked where you’re from with some regularity. Let’s look at the Japanese names for a variety of countries, as well as some descriptors:
|
Japanese |
Romanization |
English |
|
アジア |
Ajia |
Asia |
|
日本 |
Nihon |
Japan |
|
中国 |
Chuugoku |
China |
|
韓国 |
Kankoku |
(South) Korea |
|
インド |
Indo |
India |
|
シンガポール |
Shingapooru |
Singapore |
|
インドネシア |
Indoneshia |
Indonesia |
|
マレーシア |
Mareeshia |
Malaysia |
|
欧州 |
Oushuu |
Europe (formal) |
|
ヨーロッパ |
Yooroppa |
Europe (informal) |
|
英国 |
Eikoku |
United Kingdom (formal) |
|
イギリス |
Igirisu |
United Kingdom (informal) |
|
ドイツ |
Doitsu |
Germany |
|
ロシア |
Roshia |
Russia |
|
イタリア |
Itaria |
Italy |
|
フランス |
Furansu |
France |
|
ポルトガル |
Porutogaru |
Portugal |
|
オランダ |
Oranda |
Netherlands |
|
北米 |
Hokubei |
North America |
|
米国 |
Beikoku |
United States (formal) |
|
アメリカ |
Amerika |
United States (informal) |
|
カナダ |
Kanada |
Canada |
|
中南米 |
Chuunanbei |
Central and South America |
|
メキシコ |
Mekishiko |
Mexico |
|
アルゼンチン |
Aruzenchin |
Argentina |
|
ブラジル |
Burajiru |
Brazil |
|
コロンビア |
Koronbia |
Columbia |
|
ペルー |
Peruu |
Peru |
|
アフリカ |
Afurika |
Africa |
|
セネガル |
Senegaru |
Senegal |
|
モーリタニア |
Mooritania |
Mauritania |
|
スーダン |
Suudan |
Sudan |
|
南スーダン |
Minami suudan |
South Sudan |
|
ナイジェリア |
Naijeria |
Nigeria |
|
ガーナ |
Gaana |
Ghana |
|
ケニア |
Kenia |
Kenya |
|
南アフリカ |
Minami Afurika |
South Africa |
|
北 |
Kita |
North |
|
東 |
Higashi |
East |
|
南 |
Minami |
South |
|
西 |
Nishi |
West |
|
遠い |
Tooi |
Far |
|
近い |
Chikai |
Close / Near |
|
大きい |
Ookii |
Large |
|
小さい |
Chiisai |
Small |
When describing someone as a citizen of or from a certain country, you can just add the suffix 人 (jin) to the name of the country. For example: 日本人(Nihonjin), アメリカ人(Amerikajin), フラス人(Furansujin), ケニア人(Keniajin), シンガポール人 (Shingapoorujin).
スーダンは遠いですか？
Suudan wa tooi desu ka?
Is Sudan far?
シンガポールはマレーシアの南にあります。
Shingapooru wa mareeshia no minami ni arimasu.
Singapore is south of Malaysia.
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Japanese words for when you want to talk casually
In a more casual setting, you can easily adjust to speak informally. Like we discussed earlier, tameguchi just uses the dictionary and short forms of verbs. Instead of です, desu, you would use だ, da, or drop it altogether.
Making friends in Japanese
One of the facets of casual speech in Japanese is that it allows you to close the gap between you and the other person. Some people use teineigo no matter how well they know each other, but using tameguchi immediately brings you into the realm of someone close. Make sure you only use it if the other person is comfortable with it as that closeness can make you seem overbearing or rude.
For some tips on how to better get to know Japanese people and make friends, check our Top 15 Tips to Make Japanese Friends.
Terms of endearment
You can get even closer with the way you call people by using terms of endearment when addressing them.
|
Japanese |
Romanization |
English |
|
あなた |
Anata |
Dear (lit. you; used to address one’s husband) |
|
-ちゃん |
-chan |
Adding -chan to someone’s name is cutesy and more commonly used for women and children |
|
-くん |
—kun |
Adding —kun to someone’s name is most commonly used for men around your age you are friendly with. It is also sometimes used by authority figures such as teachers and bosses to all subordinates. |
Japanese slang
In a casual setting people may throw around slang words, so we’ve got you covered.
|
Japanese |
Romanization |
English |
|
おしゃれ |
Oshare |
Stylish / cool |
|
イケメン |
Ikemen |
Attractive / cool guy |
|
やばい |
Yabai |
Sick (good and bad) |
|
ウザい |
Uzai |
Annoying |
|
ダサい |
Dasai |
Uncool / Unfashionable |
|
だるい |
Darui |
Sluggish / slow |
|
たぴる |
Tapiru |
To drink bubble tea (boba) |
|
ググる |
Guguru |
To google something |
|
KY / ケーワイ |
Keewai |
Unable to read the room (comes from kuuki wo yomenai, lit. “can’t read the air” |
|
ウケる |
Ukeru |
Funny / hilarious |
|
めっちゃ |
Meccha |
Very |
|
ちょう |
Chou |
Really / so (emphatic) |
|
マジ |
Maji |
Seriously |
あのおねえさん、おしゃれですね！
Ano oneesan, oshare desu ne!
That lady over there is so stylish, isn’t she!
That’s just a few of the many slang Japanese words, so check out our Guide to Japanese Slang for a more in-depth look.
What to say when you don’t know what to say
When you aren’t sure what to say next, your brain puts in filler words to buy you time to think. In English that’d usually be an “um,” “uh,” or “like,” but not in Japanese. Using the right filler word in Japanese will make you sound much more native. The most common examples are あの (ano), and ええと (eeto). If you replace your um’s and uh’s with those, you’ll sound like you know what you’re doing, even when you don’t.
Numbers in Japanese
Numbers are where things can get a little tricky. There are of course the basic numbers:
|
Japanese |
Romanization |
English |
|
一 |
Ichi |
1 |
|
二 |
Ni |
2 |
|
三 |
San |
3 |
|
四 |
Shi / yon |
4 |
|
五 |
Go |
5 |
|
六 |
Roku |
6 |
|
七 |
Shichi / nana |
7 |
|
八 |
Hachi |
8 |
|
九 |
Kyuu |
9 |
|
十 |
Juu |
10 |
|
百 |
Hyaku |
100 |
|
千 |
Sen |
1,000 |
|
万 |
Man |
10,000 |
|
億 |
Oku |
100,000 |
|
番号 |
Bangou |
Number |
|
数 |
Kazu |
Number |
|
数える |
Kazoeru |
To count |
|
百 |
Hyaku |
100 |
|
二百 |
Nihyaku |
200 |
|
三百 |
Sanbyaku* |
300 |
|
六百 |
Roppyaku* |
600 |
|
八百 |
Happyaku* |
800 |
日本語で千まで数えられます。
NIhongo de sen made kazoeraremasu.
I can count to 1000 in Japanese.
These are pretty easy, especially because higher numbers are simple combinations of lower ones. For example, the number 60 is read as rokujuu, a combination of the words six and ten. That changes once you get into the hundreds and above, where certain combinations change the voicing of some sounds, as noted in the chat. Also note that the kanji here are equivalent to the roman numerals and are interchangeable.
Counting systems
When you want to describe how many there are of something you need to use a suffix with the number to describe what type of item or idea you are talking about. Sometimes you can simply add the suffix to the normal number such as 十人(juunin) meaning “ten people,” but often the number word itself will also change. One of the most common forms of this ends with —tsu, and can be used as a general object counter.
|
Japanese |
Romanization |
English |
|
一つ |
Hitotsu |
1 item |
|
二つ |
Futatsu |
2 items |
|
三つ |
Mittsu |
3 itmes |
|
四つ |
Yottsu |
4 |
|
五つ |
Itsutsu |
5 |
|
六つ |
Muttsu |
6 |
|
七つ |
Nanatsu |
7 |
|
八つ |
Yattsu |
8 |
|
九つ |
Kokonotsu |
9 |
|
十 |
Too |
10 items |
|
一個 |
Ikko |
One small item |
|
二個 |
Niko |
Two small items |
|
三個 |
Sanko |
Three small items |
|
一人 |
HItori |
1 person |
|
二人 |
Futari |
2 people |
|
三人 |
Sannin |
3 people |
Here again we can see the sound changes when numbers combine. There are hundreds of different counters, so if you want to know more you can check this guide for a pretty comprehensive list.
*Some counters combine with the numbers to create new sounds.
今朝はミカン三個を食べました。
Kesa wa mikan sanko wo tabemashita.
I ate three tangerines this morning.
Japanese words about time
Being able to describe time words is pretty important, so let’s go over some basics:
|
Japanese |
Romanization |
English |
|
時間 |
Jikan |
Time |
|
時計 |
Tokei |
Clock |
|
時 |
Ji |
Hour |
|
何時 |
Nanji |
What time |
|
分 |
Fun |
Minute |
|
秒 |
Byou |
Second |
|
半 |
Han |
Half past |
|
午前 |
Gozen |
A.M. |
|
午後 |
Gogo |
P.M. |
|
日の出 |
Hi no de |
Sunrise |
|
朝 |
Asa |
Morning |
|
正午 |
Shougo |
Noon |
|
昼 |
Hiru |
Midday |
|
夕方 |
Yuugata |
Evening |
|
日の入り |
HI no iri |
Sunset |
|
夜 |
Yoru |
Night |
|
一日 |
Ichinichi |
1 day |
|
二日間 |
Futsukakan |
2 days |
|
三日間 |
Mikkakan |
3 days |
|
一泊 |
Ippaku |
One night |
|
二泊 |
Nihaku |
Two nights |
|
三泊 |
Sanpaku |
Three nights |
The ji, fun, and byou, words for hour, minute, and second respectively can also be used as counters.
田中さんはいつ出張から帰ってきますか。
Tanaka-san wa itsu shucchou kara kaettekimasu ka?
When will Mr. Tanaka return from his business trip?
一泊二日ですから、２日後のはずです。
Ippaku futsuka desu kara, futsukago no hazu desu.
It’s two days and one night, so he should be back in two days.
Japanese words for the days of the month
|
Japanese |
Romanization |
English |
|
１日 |
Tuitachi |
1st day of the month |
|
２日 |
Futsuka |
2nd of the month |
|
３日 |
Mikka |
3rd |
|
４日 |
Yokka |
4th |
|
５日 |
Itsuka |
5th |
|
６日 |
Muika |
6th |
|
７日 |
Nanoka |
7th |
|
８日 |
Youka |
8th |
|
９日 |
Kokonoka |
9th |
|
１０日 |
Touka |
10th |
|
１４日 |
Jyuuyokka |
14th |
|
１８日 |
Jyuuyouka |
18th |
|
２０日 |
Hatsuka |
20th |
After the 20th, they simply use the number + the counter nichi, i.e. 21日 (nijuuichi nichi).
彼の誕生日は４月１０日です。
Kare no tanjoubi wa shigatsu touka desu.
His birthday is April 10th.
Japanese words about the home
|
Japanese |
Romanization |
English |
|
家 |
Ie |
House |
|
マンション |
Manshon |
Condo |
|
アパート |
Apaato |
Apartment |
|
団地 |
Danchi |
Apartment Complex |
|
大家 |
Ooya |
Landlord |
|
敷金 |
Shikikin |
Security Deposit |
|
家賃 |
Yachin |
Rent |
|
庭 |
Niwa |
Garden |
|
ドア |
Doa |
Door |
|
玄関 |
Genkan |
Entrance |
|
傘立て |
Kasatate |
Umbrella Stand |
|
部屋 |
Heya |
Room |
|
廊下 |
Rouka |
Hallway |
|
床 |
Yuka |
Floor |
|
壁 |
Kabe |
Wall |
|
天井 |
Tenjou |
Ceiling |
|
窓 |
Mado |
Window |
|
家具 |
Kagu |
Furniture |
|
階段 |
Kaidan |
Stairs |
|
居間 |
Ima |
Living Room |
|
テレビ |
Terebi |
Television |
|
テーブル |
Teeburu |
Table |
|
椅子 |
Isu |
Chair |
|
ソファー |
Sofaa |
Sofa |
|
絨毯 |
Juutan |
Carpet |
|
台所 |
Daitokoro |
Kitchen |
|
戸棚 |
Todana |
Cupboard |
|
流し |
Nagashi |
Sink |
|
冷蔵庫 |
Reizouko |
Refrigerator |
|
冷凍庫 |
Reitouko |
Freezer |
|
ストーブ |
Sutoobu |
Stove |
|
オーブン |
Oobun |
Oven |
|
電子レンジ |
Denshirenji |
Microwave |
|
食器洗い機 |
Shokkiaraiki |
Dish Washer |
|
皿 |
Sara |
Dishes / Plate |
|
お箸 |
Ohashi |
Chopsticks |
|
フォク |
Foku |
Fork |
|
ナイフ |
Naifu |
Knife |
|
スプーン |
Supuun |
Spoon |
|
コップ |
Koppu |
Cup |
|
カップ |
Kappu |
Cup |
|
水筒 |
Suitou |
Water Bottle / Thermos |
|
寝室 |
Neshitsu |
Bedroom |
|
本棚 |
Hondana |
Bookshelf |
|
机 |
Tsukue |
Desk |
|
洋室 |
Youshitsu |
Western-Style Room |
|
ベッド |
Beddo |
Bed |
|
シート |
Shiito |
Sheets |
|
毛布 |
Moufu |
Blanket |
|
枕 |
Makura |
Pillow |
|
たんす |
Tansu |
Dresser |
|
和室 |
Washitsu |
Japanese-Style Room |
|
押入れ |
Oshiire |
Closet |
|
布団 |
Futon |
Futon |
|
畳 |
Tatami |
Tatami Mat |
|
障子 |
Shouji |
Paper Doors |
|
風呂場 |
Furoba |
Bathroom |
|
洗面所 |
Senmenjo |
Washroom |
|
お手洗い |
Otearai |
Restroom |
|
トイレ |
Toire |
Toilet |
|
お風呂 |
Ofuro |
Bath |
|
お風呂に入る |
Ofuro ni hairu |
To take a bath |
|
鏡 |
Kagami |
Mirror |
|
歯ブラシ |
Haburashi |
Toothbrush |
|
歯磨き粉 |
Hamigakiko |
Toothpaste |
|
歯を磨く |
Ha wo migaku |
To brush one’s teeth |
|
フロス |
Furosu |
Floss |
|
かみそり |
Kamisori |
Razor |
|
ティッシュ |
Tisshu |
Tissue |
|
ベランダ |
Beranda |
Veranda / Balcony |
|
車庫 |
Shako |
Garage |
入る前ちゃんと靴を抜いて玄関においてください。
Hairu mae chanto kutsu wo nuite, genkan ni oite kudasai.
Before you enter, please make sure to take your shoes off and leave them in the entrance.
Japanese words about cleaning
|
Japanese |
Romanization |
English |
|
掃除する |
Souji suru |
To clean |
|
片付ける |
Katadzukeru |
To tidy |
|
ほうき |
Houki |
Broom |
|
ほうきで掃く |
Houki de haku |
To sweep |
|
ちりとり |
Chiritori |
Dustpan |
|
ほこりを取る |
Hokori wo toru |
To dust |
|
バケツ |
Baketsu |
Bucket |
|
ぞうきん |
Zoukin |
Cleaning cloth |
|
掃除機 |
Soujiki |
Vacuum cleaner |
|
掃除機をかける |
Soujiki wo kakeru |
To vacuum |
|
ゴム手袋 |
Gomu tebukuro |
Rubber gloves |
|
洗濯する |
Sentakusuru |
To do laundry |
|
洗濯機 |
Sentakki |
Laundry machine |
|
乾かす |
Kawakasu |
To dry (clothes) |
|
乾燥機 |
Kansouki |
Dryer |
|
物干し竿 |
Monohashizao |
Clothes Line |
|
物干し |
Monohashi |
Drying Rack |
掃除するとゴム手袋を必ずします。
Souji suru to gomu tebukuro wo kanarazu shimasu.
I always wear rubber gloves when I clean.
Your Japanese leaving people in the dark?
Let our newsletter for beginner to low intermediate learners guide your way.
Japanese words you need at school
|
Japanese |
Romanization |
English |
|
学校 |
Gakkou |
School |
|
幼稚園 |
Youchien |
Kindergarten |
|
小学校 |
Shougakkou |
Elementary School |
|
中学校 |
Chuugakkou |
Middle School |
|
高校 |
Koukou |
High School |
|
大学 |
Daigaku |
College |
|
大学院 |
Daigakuin |
Graduate School |
|
学生 |
Gakusei |
Student |
|
先生 |
Sensei |
Teacher |
|
先輩 |
Senpai |
Upperclassman |
|
同級生 |
Doukyuusei |
Classmate |
|
後輩 |
Kouhai |
Underclassman |
|
授業 |
Jugyou |
Lesson |
|
科目 |
Kamoku |
Subject |
|
数学 |
Suugaku |
Math |
|
科学 |
Kagaku |
Science |
|
生物学 |
Seibutsugaku |
Biology |
|
化学 |
Kagaku |
Chemistry |
|
物理学 |
Butsurigaku |
Physics |
|
歴史 |
Rekishi |
History |
|
外国語 |
Gaikokugo |
Foreign Language |
|
美術 |
Hijutsu |
Art |
|
音楽 |
Ongaku |
Music |
|
体育 |
Taiiku |
Physical Education |
|
勉強 |
Benkyou |
Study |
|
塾 |
Juku |
Cram School |
|
試験 |
Shiken |
Exam |
|
期末試験 |
Kimatsushiken |
Final Exam |
|
入学試験 |
Nyuugakushiken |
Entrance Exam |
|
宿題 |
Shukudai |
Homework |
|
レポート |
Repooto |
Report |
|
提出 |
Teishutsu |
Submission |
|
ノート |
Nooto |
Note |
|
ペン |
Pen |
Pen |
|
鉛筆 |
Enpitsu |
Pencil |
|
消しゴム |
Keshigomu |
Eraser |
|
文房具 |
Bunbougu |
Stationery |
|
計算機 |
Keisanki |
Calculator |
|
黒板 |
Kokuban |
Blackboard |
|
チョーク |
Chooku |
Chalk |
|
図書館 |
Toshokan |
Library |
|
体育館 |
Taiikukan |
Gymnasium |
|
部活 |
Bukatsu |
Club Activities |
|
運動部 |
Undoubu |
Exercise / Sports Club |
|
ダンス部 |
Dansubu |
Dance Club |
|
チア部 |
Chiabu |
Cheer Club |
|
英会話部 |
Eikaiwabu |
English Conversation Club |
|
美術部 |
Bijutsubu |
Art Club |
|
音楽部 |
Ongakubu |
Music Club |
|
料理部 |
Ryouribu |
Cooking Club |
|
茶道部 |
Sadoubu |
Tea Ceremony Club |
|
演劇部 |
Engekibu |
Theater Club |
大学入学試験の準備が大変でダンス部の練習にも行けなくなってしまいました。
Daigaku nyuugaku shiken no junbi ga taihen de dansubu no renshuu ni mo ikenaku natte shimaimashita.
Preparing for college entrance exams is so difficult I can’t even go to my dance club practice.
How do I talk to teachers in Japanese?
Since teachers are highly respected in Japanese society, it is best to at least use teineigo when speaking with one, but it depends on your relationship.
Talking to teachers as a student
As a student, you should do your best to speak formally with your teachers. This is more true as you get older, especially in college. Young children may be prone to using tameguchi regardless of who they’re talking to.
Talking to teachers as a teacher
Fellow teachers will probably expect you to use teineigo and sonkeigo for the more senior teachers.
How do I talk to students in Japanese?
If you’re not in a school setting but see a student in a uniform, you may speak to them informally since they’re younger, but there’s no reason you couldn’t use teineigo.
Talking to students as a student
For students of the same year as you or below, it’s common to skip straight to tameguchi. For older students, however, make sure to use teineigo to respect them.
Talking to students as a teacher
As a teacher, you can speak informally to your students because they are younger and you are an authority figure.
If you’re interested in becoming an English teacher in Japan, check our Guide to Teaching Jobs in Japan for more information.
Japanese Course Levels
We offer both private and group lessons for the following course levels.
Please note that group lessons have a maximum of 7 students.
Beginner 1 : Introduction To Japanese 1
Level: JLPT N5 — 2062 yen
Ideal Learner:
This Introduction to Japanese 1 course is for learners who understand the basics of Hiragana and Katakana and want to learn the basics of conversational Japanese. The book contains many opportunities for role-play that will solidify what you learn and build confidence in your ability to speak Japanese.
Course Details:
By the end of this course you would have learned roughly 150 Kanji symbols, 300 new vocabulary words, and 70 key sentences.
Beginner 2 : Introduction To Japanese 2
Level: JLPT N4 — 2160 yen
Ideal Learner
This Introduction to Japanese 2 course is for learners who want to start expanding their conversational Japanese skills and to express themselves with more complex phrases by building on and expanding on what was learned in Introduction to Japanese 1.
Course Details:
By the end of this course you would have learned roughly 150 Kanji symbols, 300 new vocabulary words, and 70 key sentences
Low Intermediate — Japanese for Communication + Weekly J
Level: Pre-Intermediate N4 — N3 — 3240 yen
Ideal Learner:
Someone who has completed the Introduction to Japanese 2 course or has a firm understanding of Japanese grammar and can handle basic conversations.
This course is for learners who would like to broaden their vocabulary for daily life situations and will review previously-learned expressions to help you have more natural daily conversations.
Course Details:
By the end of this course you would have learned roughly 150 Kanji symbols, 500 new vocabulary words, and 70 key sentences.
Japanese words you need at the office
|
Japanese |
Romanization |
English |
|
会社 |
Kaisha |
Company |
|
株式会社 |
Kabushikigaisha |
Public Company |
|
有限会社 |
Yuukengaisha |
Private Company |
|
企業 |
Kigyou |
Enterprise |
|
大手企業 |
Ootekigyou |
Big Corporation |
|
中小企業 |
Chuushoukigyou |
Medium To Small Enterprise |
|
営業部 |
Eigyoubu |
Sales Department |
|
開発部 |
Kaihatsubu |
Development Department |
|
研究開発 |
Kenkyuukaihatsu |
Research And Development |
|
人事部 |
Jinjibu |
Human Resuorces |
|
総務部 |
Soumubu |
General Affairs |
|
会社員 |
Kaishyain |
Company Employee |
|
従業員 |
Juugyouin |
Employee |
|
社長 |
Shachou |
Company President |
|
副社長 |
Fukushachou |
Executive Vice President |
|
部長 |
Buchou |
Department Head |
|
課長 |
Kachou |
Section Manager |
|
上司 |
Joushi |
Boss |
|
同僚 |
Douryou |
Coworker |
|
部下 |
Buka |
Subordintae |
|
派遣社員 |
Hakenshyain |
Temporary Worker |
|
取引先 |
Hikitorisaki |
Client |
|
お疲れさまです |
Otsukaresama desu |
Thank you for your hard work |
|
事務所 |
Jimusho |
Office Building |
|
オフィス |
Ofisu |
Office |
|
受付 |
Uketsuke |
Reception Desk |
|
会議室 |
Kaigishitsu |
Meeting Room |
|
会議 |
Kaigi |
Meeting |
|
書類 |
Shorui |
Document |
|
企画書 |
Kigakusho |
Proposal |
|
名刺 |
Meishi |
Business Card |
|
面接 |
Mensetsu |
Interview |
|
履歴書 |
Rirekisho |
Resume |
|
給料 |
Kyuuryou |
Salary |
|
ボーナス |
Boonasu |
Bonus |
|
残業 |
Zangyou |
Overtime |
|
残業代 |
Zangyoudai |
Overtime Pay |
|
出勤 |
Shukkin |
Attendance At Work |
|
欠勤 |
Kekkin |
Absence From Work |
|
出張 |
Shucchou |
Business Trip |
|
サラリーマン |
Sarariiman |
Office worker (man) |
|
OL |
Ooeru |
Office worker (woman) |
会議では名刺交換しないといけません。
Kaigi de wa meishi koukan shinai to ikemasen.
You have to exchange business cards at a meeting.
How do I talk to my boss in Japanese?
The office is the place you are most often expected to use sonkeigo and kenjougo. When speaking to your boss make sure to use humble and respectful language.
Japanese words for the gym
|
Japanese |
Romanization |
English |
|
ジム |
Jimu |
Gym |
|
運動 |
Undou |
Exercise |
|
スポーツ |
Supootsu |
Sports |
|
試合 |
Shiai |
Game / Match |
|
チーム |
Chiimu |
Team |
|
選手 |
Senshu |
Player |
|
バスケットボール |
Basukettobooru |
Basketball |
|
バレーボール |
Bareebooru |
Volleyball |
|
フットボール |
Futtobooru |
American Football |
|
アメフト |
Amerfuto |
American Football (abbreviation) |
|
サッカー |
Sakkaa |
Soccer |
|
野球 |
Yakyuu |
Baseball |
|
テニス |
Tenisu |
Tennis |
|
水泳 |
Suiei |
Swimming |
|
サーフィン |
Saafin |
Surfing |
|
体操 |
Taisou |
Gymnastics |
|
ゴルフ |
Gorufu |
Golf |
|
ラグビー |
Ragubii |
Rugby |
|
バドミントン |
Badominton |
Badminton |
|
ホッケー |
Hokkee |
Hockey |
|
ボクシング |
Bokushingu |
Boxing |
|
サイクリング |
Saikuringu |
Cycling |
|
ジョギング |
Jyogingu |
Jogging |
|
ヨガ |
Yoga |
Yoga |
|
ピラティス |
Piratesu |
Pilates |
|
トレッドミル |
Toreddomiru |
Treadmill |
|
ダンベル |
Danberu |
Dumbbell |
|
筋トレ |
Kintore |
Weight Training |
|
筋肉 |
Kinniku |
Muscle |
|
肩 |
Kata |
Shoulders |
|
首 |
Kubi |
Neck |
|
腕 |
Ude |
Arms |
|
手首 |
Tekubi |
Wrists |
|
手 |
Te |
Hands |
|
胸 |
Mune |
Chest |
|
腹筋 |
Fukkin |
Abs |
|
腰 |
Koshi |
Lower Back / Waist |
|
お尻 |
Oshiri |
Buttocks |
|
太もも |
Futomomo |
Thighs |
|
膝 |
HIza |
Knees |
|
ふくらはぎ |
Fukurahagi |
Calves |
|
足首 |
Ashikubi |
Ankles |
|
足 |
Ashi |
Feet |
|
ストレッチ |
Sutorecchi |
Stretching |
スポーツが好きですが、筋トレはあまりしません。
Supootsu ga suki desu ga, kintore wa amari shimasen.
I like sports, but I don’t do a lot of weight training.
Take Online Lessons at Japan Switch
Japanese words you need at the bank
|
Japanese |
Romanization |
English |
|
銀行 |
Ginkou |
Bank |
|
銀行員 |
Ginkouin |
Bank Worker |
|
会計 |
Kaikei |
Finances |
|
預金 |
Yokin |
Deposit ; Bank Account |
|
口座 |
Kougi |
Account |
|
普通預金 |
Futsuuyokin |
Normal Bank Account |
|
貯金 |
Chokin |
Savings / Deposit |
|
貯蓄預金 |
Chochikuyokin |
Savings Account |
|
お振り込み |
Ofurikomi |
Deposit Transfer |
|
振替 |
Furikae |
Transfer between accounts |
|
お引き出し |
Ohitadashi |
Withdrawal |
|
残高 |
Zandaka |
Account Balance |
|
残高照会 |
Zandakashoukai |
Account Balance Inquiry |
|
金利 |
Kinri |
Interest Rate |
|
金庫 |
Kinko |
Safe |
|
両替 |
Ryougae |
Money Exchange |
|
手数料 |
Tesuuryou |
Charge / Handling fee |
|
現金 |
Genkin |
Cash |
|
貸金 |
Kashikin |
Loan |
|
ローン |
Rōn |
Loan |
|
借金 |
Shakkin |
Debt |
|
返済 |
Hensai |
Repayment of Loan |
|
円 |
En |
Yen |
|
ドル |
Doru |
Dollar |
|
ユーロ |
Yuuro |
Euro |
日本に行く前に両替して円を手に入れました。
Nihon ni iku mae ni ryougae shite en wo te ni iremashita.
Before going to Japan, I exchanged money and got some yen.
Japanese words you need when shopping
|
Japanese |
Romanization |
English |
|
店 |
Mise |
Shop |
|
デパート |
Depaato |
Department Store |
|
美容院 |
Biyouin |
Salon |
|
スーパー |
Suupaa |
Supermarket |
|
本屋 |
Honya |
Bookstore |
|
花屋 |
Hanaya |
Flower shop |
|
パン屋 |
Panya |
Bakery |
|
薬局 |
Yakkyoku |
Pharmacy |
|
コンビニ |
Konbini |
Convenience Store |
|
喫茶店 |
Kissaten |
Cafe |
|
映画館 |
Eigakan |
Movie Theater |
|
買い物 |
Kaimono |
Shopping |
|
営業時間 |
Eigyoujikan |
Hours of Operation |
|
閉店 |
Heiten |
Closing a shop |
|
レジ |
Reji |
Register |
|
セルフレジ |
Serufureji |
Self-serve Register |
|
店員 |
Tenin |
Shop Employee |
|
いくら |
Ikura |
How much |
|
値段 |
Nedan |
Price |
|
レシート |
Reshiito |
Receipt |
|
お支払い |
Oshiharai |
Payment |
|
支払う |
Shiharau |
To pay |
|
払う |
Harau |
To pay |
母が美容院に行っている間に、本屋に立ち寄りました。
Haha ga biyouin ni itteiru aida ni, honya ni tachiyorimashita.
While my mom was at the salon, I stopped by the bookstore.
Japanese words about clothes
Knowing the terms for clothes will be useful for wherever you go shopping, or want to describe someone’s clothes.
|
Japanese |
Romanization |
English |
|
服 |
Fuku |
Clothes |
|
和服 |
Wafuku |
Traditional Japanese clothing |
|
着物 |
Kimono |
Kimono |
|
浴衣 |
Yukata |
Yukata (lighter kimono worn in summer) |
|
帯 |
Obi |
Obi (kimono sash) |
|
簪 |
Kanzashi |
Ornate hairpin |
|
羽織 |
Haori |
Haori (formal coat) |
|
袴 |
Hakama |
Hakama (men’s formal skirt) |
|
足袋 |
Tabi |
Tabi (split-toe socks) |
|
草履 |
Zouri |
Thonged sandals |
|
下駄 |
Geta |
Wooden clogs |
|
洋服 |
Youfuku |
Western clothes |
|
ブラウス |
Burausu |
Blouse |
|
Yシャツ |
Waishatsu |
Dress shirt / Button up |
|
ズボン |
Zubon |
Trousers |
|
スーツ |
Suutsu |
Suit |
|
スカート |
Sukaato |
Skirt |
|
ロングスカート |
Rongusukaato |
Long skirt |
|
ミニスカート |
Minisukaato |
Miniskirt |
|
ジーンズ |
Jiinzu |
Jeans |
|
スキニーパンツ |
Sukiniipantsu |
Skinny jeans |
|
レギンス |
Reginsu |
Leggings |
|
ショーツ |
Shootsu |
Shorts |
|
Tシャツ |
Tshyatsu |
Tshirt |
|
パーカー |
Paakaa |
Sweatshirt hoodie |
|
トレーナー |
Toreenaa |
Crewneck sweatshirt |
|
ジャケット |
Jaketto |
Jacket |
|
コート |
Kooto |
Coat |
|
ロングコート |
Rongukooto |
Long coat |
|
カーディガン |
Kaadegan |
Cardigan |
|
ニット・セーター |
Nitto seeta |
Knit sweater |
|
ワンピース |
Wanpiisu |
Dress |
|
ドレス |
Doresu |
Dress |
|
アクセサリー |
Akusesorii |
Accessories |
|
帽子 |
Boushi |
Hat |
|
ニットキャップ |
Nittokyappu |
Beanie |
|
クリップ |
Kurippu |
Hair clip |
|
リボン |
Ribon |
Hair Ribbon |
|
ネックレス |
Nekkuresu |
Necklace |
|
ピアス |
Piasu |
Earrings |
|
ブレスレット |
Buresuretto |
Bracelet |
|
指輪 |
Yubiwa |
Ring |
|
手袋 |
Tebukuro |
Gloves |
|
マフラー |
Mafuraa |
Scarf |
|
タイツ |
Taitsu |
Tights / pantyhose |
|
靴下 |
Kutsushita |
Socks |
|
靴 |
Kutsu |
Shoes |
|
スニーカー |
Suniikaa |
Sneakers |
|
スリッポン |
Surippon |
Slip on (shoes) |
|
ブーツ |
Buutsu |
Boots |
|
ニーハイブーツ |
Niihaibuutsu |
Knee-high boots |
|
サンダル |
Sandaru |
Sandals |
|
ローファー |
Roofaa |
Loafer |
|
フラット・シューズ |
Furatto shuuzu |
Flats |
|
パンプス |
Pampusu |
Pumps |
|
ウエッジ・ソール |
Wedji sooru |
Wedges |
|
水着 |
Mizugi |
Bathing suit |
|
ビキニ |
Bikini |
Bikini |
|
下着 |
Shitagi |
Underwear |
|
ブラ |
Bura |
Bra |
|
キャミソール |
Kyamisooru |
Camisole |
|
かぶる |
Kaburu |
To wear (a hat) |
|
かける |
Kakeru |
To wear (glasses) |
|
着る |
Kiru |
To wear (tops and dresses) |
|
履く |
Haku |
To wear (pants and shoes) |
|
サイズ |
Saizu |
Size |
夏祭りには浴衣が必須です！
Natsumatsuri ni wa yukata ga hissu desu!
A yukata is a must for a summer festival!
昨日着ていたパーカーが可愛いです！
Kinou kiteita paakaa ga kawaii desu!
The hoodie you wore yesterday is adorable!
Japanese words you need at the grocery store
|
Japanese |
Romanization |
English |
|
食料品店 |
Shokuryouhinten |
Grocery store |
|
スーパー |
Suupaa |
Supermarket |
|
通路 |
Tsuuro |
Aisle |
|
買い物カート |
Kaimono kaato |
Shopping cart |
|
買い物カゴ |
Kaimono kago |
Shopping basket |
|
日用品 |
Nichiyouhin |
Daily necessities |
|
消費期限 |
Shouhikigen |
Expiration Date |
|
賞味期限 |
Shoumikigen |
Sell-by Date |
|
冷凍食品 |
Reitoushokuhin |
Frozen Food |
|
乳製品 |
Nyuuseihin |
Dairy products |
|
材料 |
Zairyou |
Ingredients |
|
食材 |
Shokuzai |
Ingredients |
|
香辛料 |
Koushinryou |
Spice |
|
スパイス |
Supaisu |
Spice |
|
ボトル |
Botoru |
Bottle |
|
缶 |
Kan |
Can |
|
缶詰 |
Kandzume |
Canned food |
|
瓶 |
Bin |
Jar |
|
箱 |
Hako |
Box |
|
袋 |
Fukuro |
Bag |
|
ビニール袋 |
Biniiru bukuro |
Plastic bag |
|
調味料 |
Choumiryou |
Condiment |
|
セール |
Seeru |
Sale |
|
クーポン券 |
Kuuponken |
Coupon |
エコバッグがありますから、なるべくビニール袋を使わないようにします。
Ekobaggu ga arimasu kara, narubeku biniiru bukuro wo tsukawanai you ni shimasu.
I have reusable bags, so I try to avoid using plastic bags.
Types of foods
|
Japanese |
Romanization |
English |
|
料理 |
Ryouri |
Cooking |
|
和食 |
Washoku |
Japanese food |
|
中華料理 |
Chuukaryouri |
Chinese food |
|
洋食 |
Youshoku |
Western food |
|
食事 |
Shokuji |
Meal |
|
おかず |
Okazu |
Side dishes |
|
朝ごはん |
Asagohan |
Breakfast |
|
昼ごはん |
Hirugohan |
Lunch |
|
晩ごはん |
Bangohan |
Dinner |
|
夜食 |
Yashoku |
Late-night snack |
|
おやつ |
Oyatsu |
Snacks |
|
お菓子 |
Okashi |
Sweets |
|
食べ物 |
Tabemono |
Food |
|
飲み物 |
Nomimono |
Beverage |
最近は少し太ったので、夜食を食べないようにしています。
Saikin wa sukoshi futotta no de, yashoku wo tabenai you ni shiteimasu.
I’ve gained a bit of weight recently, so I’m trying to avoid eating late at night.
Japanese Dishes
|
Japanese |
Romanization |
English |
|
うどん |
Udon |
Thick wheat noodles |
|
ラーメン |
Raamen |
Ramen |
|
刺身 |
Sashimi |
Sashimi (sliced raw fish) |
|
寿司 |
Sushi |
Sushi |
|
巻きずし |
Makizushi |
Sushi roll |
|
おにぎり |
Onigiri |
Rice Ball |
|
お弁当 |
Obentou |
Bento (boxed lunch) |
|
天ぷら |
Tenpura |
Tempura (deep fried foods) |
|
牛丼 |
Gyuudon |
Rice bowl with beef |
|
親子丼 |
Oyakodon |
Rice bowl with chicken and egg |
|
天丼 |
Tendon |
Rice bowl with tempura |
|
トンカツ |
Tonkatsu |
Fried pork cutlet |
|
カレーライス |
Kareeraisu |
Japanese curry rice |
|
すき焼き |
Sukiyaki |
Japanese hot pot |
|
お好み焼き |
Okonomiyaki |
Savory cabbage pancake |
|
焼きうどん |
Yakiudon |
Pan fried udon noodles |
|
焼きそば |
Yakisoba |
Pan fried soba noodles |
|
そば |
Soba |
Buckwheat noodles |
|
そうめん |
Soumen |
Thin wheat flour noodles |
|
焼き鳥 |
Yakitori |
Skewered chicken |
|
唐揚げ |
Karaage |
Fried chicken |
|
卵かけご飯 |
Tamagokakegohan |
Rice topped with raw egg |
|
卵焼き |
Tamagoyaki |
Rolled omelet |
|
オムライス |
Omuraisu |
Fried rice topped with an omelet |
|
餅 |
Mochi |
Sticky rice cake |
コンビニのおにぎりはほぼ毎日食べてしまいます。
Konbini no onigiri ha hobo mainichi tabete shimaimasu.
I end up eating rice balls from the convenience store almost every day.
Fruits
|
Japanese |
Romanization |
English |
|
果物 |
Kudamono |
Fruit |
|
りんご |
Ringo |
Apple |
|
もも |
Momo |
Peach |
|
すいか |
Suika |
Watermelon |
|
メロン |
Meron |
Honeydew (green melon) |
|
梨 |
Nashi |
Japanese pear |
|
洋梨 |
Younashi |
European pear |
|
杏 |
Anzu |
Apricot |
|
梅 |
Ume |
Japanese Plum |
|
すもも |
Sumomo |
Chinese Plum |
|
ぶどう |
Budou |
Grape |
|
柿 |
Kaki |
Japanese persimmon |
|
レモン |
Remon |
Lemon |
|
ライム |
Raimu |
Lime |
|
バナナ |
Banana |
Banana |
|
いちご |
Ichigo |
Strawberry |
|
ラズベリー |
Razuberii |
Raspberry |
|
さくらんぼ |
Sakuranbo |
Cherry |
|
ブルーベリー |
Buruuberii |
Blueberry |
|
オレンジ |
Orenji |
Orange |
|
ミカン |
Mikan |
Mandarin |
|
キウイ |
Kiui |
Kiwi |
|
グレープフルーツ |
Gureepufrutsu |
Grapefruit |
|
ザクロ |
Zakuro |
Pomegranite |
|
スターフルーツ |
Sutaafuruutsu |
Starfruit |
|
ドラゴンフルーツ |
Doragonfuruutsu |
Dragonfruit |
|
ドリアン |
Dorian |
Durian |
|
ネクタリン |
Nekutarin |
Nectarine |
|
マンゴー |
Mangoo |
Mango |
|
ライチ |
Raichi |
Lychee |
いちご大福が好きですが、生のいちごはあまりすきでわありません。
Ichigo daifuku ga suki desuga, nama no ichigo ha amari suki dewa arimasen.
I like strawberry daifuku, but I don’t like fresh strawberries very much.
Vegetables
|
Japanese |
Romanization |
English |
|
野菜 |
Yasai |
Vegetables |
|
にんじん |
Ninjin |
Carrot |
|
アーティチョーク |
Aateichooku |
Artichoke |
|
えのきたけ |
Enokitake |
Enoki Mushrooms |
|
しいたけ |
Shiitake |
Shitake Mushrooms |
|
オクラ |
Okura |
Okra |
|
かぶ |
Kabu |
Turnip |
|
かぼちゃ |
Kabocha |
Pumpkin |
|
カリフラワー |
Karifurawaa |
Cauliflower |
|
レタス |
Retasu |
Lettuce |
|
キャベツ |
Kyabetsu |
Cabbage |
|
白菜 |
Hakusai |
Napa Cabbage |
|
きゅうり |
Kyuuri |
Cucumber |
|
セロリ |
Serori |
Celery |
|
じゃがいも |
Jyagaimo |
Potato |
|
さつまいも |
Satumaimo |
Sweet Potato |
|
たけのこ |
Takenoko |
Bamboo Shoot |
|
玉ねぎ |
Tananegi |
Round onion |
|
ネギ |
Negi |
Green onion |
|
とうもろこし |
Toumorokoshi |
Corn |
|
トマト |
Tomato |
Tomato |
|
ほうれん草 |
Hourensou |
Spinach |
|
小松菜 |
Komatsuna |
Japanese mustard spinach |
|
空芯菜 |
Kuushinsai |
Chinese water spinach |
|
チンゲン菜 |
Chingensai |
Bok Choy |
|
れんこん |
Renkon |
Lotus root |
|
にんにく |
Ninniku |
Garlic |
|
クレソン |
Kureson |
Watercress |
|
ルッコラ |
Rukkora |
Arugula |
蓮根はおせち料理の煮しめ以外は食べられません。
Renkon wa osechi ryouri no shime igai wa taberaremasen.
I can’t eat lotus root outside of New Year’s dishes.
Know anyone who has passed N1?
Want to escape the teaching trap?
OUR HOSTS
Tyson Batino
Tyson is the director and a co-founder of Japan Switch and One Coin English. He has spent 15 years in Japan and achieved N1 in just 3.5 years. Listen in as he shares his tips to becoming successful.
Colten Nahrebesk
Colten is the owner of Risu Press. He spent 6 years working in various industries in Japan and achieved N2. Tune in to hear more about his experiences and advice for living in Japan.
Meats and Seafood
|
Japanese |
Romanization |
English |
|
肉 |
Niku |
Meat |
|
豚肉 |
Butaniku |
Pork |
|
ベーコン |
Beekon |
Bacon |
|
牛肉 |
Gyuuniku |
Beef |
|
鶏肉 |
Toriniku |
Chicken (meat) |
|
魚 |
Sakana |
Fish |
|
鮭 |
Sake or shake |
Salmon |
|
マグロ |
Magruo |
Tuna |
|
ツナ |
Tsuna |
Tuna (esp. canned) |
|
タイ |
Tai |
Seabream |
|
さば |
Saba |
Mackerel |
|
アジ |
Aji |
Horse Mackerel |
|
サンマ |
Sanma |
Pacific Saury / Mackerel Pike |
|
ブリ |
Buri |
Japanese Amberjack / Japanese Yellowtail |
|
イワシ |
Iwashi |
Sardine |
|
アサリ |
Asari |
Manila clam |
|
エビ |
Ebi |
Shrimp |
|
うなぎ |
Unagi |
Eel |
|
タコ |
Tako |
Octopus |
|
イカ |
Ika |
Squid |
|
カニ |
Kani |
Crab |
|
ウニ |
Uni |
Sea urchin |
|
卵 |
Tamago |
Eggs |
イカの寿司が一番好きです。
Ika no sushi ga ichiban suki desu.
Squid sushi is my favorite.
Dairy
|
Japanese |
Romanization |
English |
|
牛乳 |
Gyuunyuu |
Milk |
|
バーター |
Baataa |
Butter |
|
チーズ |
Chiizu |
Cheese |
|
ヨーグルト |
Yooguruto |
Yogurt |
|
クリーム |
Kuriimu |
Cream |
|
サワークリーム |
Sawaakuriimu |
Sour Cream |
|
コンデンスミルク |
Kondensumiruku |
Condensed Milk |
朝ごはんによくヨーグルトを食べます。
Asagohan ni yoku yooguruto wo tabemasu.
I often eat yogurt for breakfast.
Breads
|
Japanese |
Romanization |
English |
|
パン |
Pan |
Bread |
|
アンパン |
Anpan |
Bread filled with red bean paste |
|
食パン |
Shokupan |
Bread loaf (usually Japanese milk bread) |
|
トースト |
Toosuto |
Toast |
|
ベーグル |
Beeguru |
Bagel |
毎朝ベーグルとクリームチーズを食べます。
Maiasa beeguru to kuriimuchiizu wo tabemasu.
Every morning I eat a bagel with cream cheese.
Desserts
|
Japanese |
Romanization |
English |
|
デザート |
Dezaato |
Dessert |
|
アイスクリーム |
Aisukuriimu |
Ice cream |
|
アイス |
Aisu |
Ice cream (abbreviated) |
|
かき氷 |
Kakigoori |
Shaved ice / snow cone |
|
ケーキ |
Keeki |
Cake |
|
パイ |
Pai |
Pie |
|
クッキー |
Kukkii |
Cookies |
|
チョコレート |
Chokoreeto |
Chocolate |
|
チョコ |
Choko |
Chocolate (abbreviated) |
|
プリン |
Purin |
Pudding / custard |
|
パフェ |
Pafe |
Parfait |
|
和菓子 |
Wagashi |
Traditional Japanese Sweets |
|
コーヒーゼリー |
Koohii zerii |
Coffee Jelly |
|
クレープ |
Kureepu |
Crepe |
|
たい焼き |
Taiyaki |
Fish shaped bun filled with red bean |
海に行ってかき氷を食べたいです。
Umi ni itte kakikoori wo tabetai desu.
I want to go to the beach and eat shaved ice.
Spices, herbs, and condiments
|
Japanese |
Romanization |
English |
|
ソース |
Soosu |
Sauce |
|
醤油 |
Shouyuu |
Soy Sauce |
|
塩 |
Shio |
Salt |
|
砂糖 |
Satou |
Sugar |
|
胡椒 |
Koshou |
Pepper |
|
オレガノ |
Oregano |
Oregano |
|
ガーリック |
Gaarikku |
Garlic |
|
カモミール |
Kamomiiru |
Chamomile |
|
カルダモン |
Karudamon |
Cardamom |
|
カレーリーフ |
Kareeriifu |
Curry leaf |
|
キャラウェイ |
Kyarauei |
Caraway |
|
クミン |
Kumin |
Cumin |
|
クローブ |
Kuroobu |
Clove |
|
けしの実 |
Keshinomi |
Poppy seed |
|
ごま |
Goma |
Sesame seed |
|
コリアンダー |
Koriandaa |
Coriander |
|
サフラン |
Safuran |
Saffron |
|
山椒 |
Sanshou |
Japanese pepper |
|
しそ |
Shiso |
Perilla |
|
シナモン |
Shinamon |
Cinnamon |
|
ジンジャー |
Jinjaa |
Ginger |
|
スペアミント |
Supeaminto |
Spearmint |
|
セージ |
Seeji |
Sage |
|
セロリーシード |
Seroriishiido |
Celery seed |
|
ソレル |
Soreru |
Sorrel |
|
ターメリック |
Taamerikku |
Turmeric |
|
タイム |
Taimu |
Thyme |
|
チャイブ |
Chaibu |
Chive |
|
チリーペッパー |
Chiriipeppaa |
Chili pepper |
|
ディル |
Diru |
Dill |
|
ナツメッグ |
Natsumeggu |
Nutmeg |
|
バジル |
Bajiru |
Basil |
|
パセリ |
Paseri |
Parsley |
|
バニラ |
Banira |
Vanilla |
|
パプリカ |
Papurika |
Paprika |
|
フェネグリーク |
Feneguriin |
Fenugreek |
|
フェンネル |
Fenneru |
Fennel |
|
ペパーミント |
Pepaaminto |
Peppermind |
|
ホースラディッシュ |
Hoosuradesshu |
Horseradish |
|
花椒（ホアジャオ) |
Kashou / Hoajou |
Chinese pepper |
|
辛子 |
Karashi |
Japanese mustard |
|
マスタード |
Masutaado |
Mustard |
|
ゆず |
Yuzu |
Yuzu |
|
レモングラス |
Remongurasu |
Lemon Grass |
|
ローズマリー |
Roozummarii |
Rosemary |
|
わさび |
Wasabi |
Wasabi |
|
マヨネーズ |
Mayoneezu |
Mayonnaise |
|
ケチャップ |
Kechappu |
Ketchup |
この料理の匂いはコリアンダーとクミンが入っているからです。
Kono ryouri no nioi wa koriandaa to kumin ga haitteiru kara desu.
This dish smells like that because it has cumin and coriander in it.
Alcohol
|
Japanese |
Romanization |
English |
|
アルコール |
Arukooru |
Alcohol |
|
酒 |
Sake |
Sake |
|
ビール |
Biiru |
Beer |
|
生ビール |
Namabiiru |
Draft Beer |
|
ワイン |
Wain |
Wine |
|
蒸留酒 |
Jouryuushuu |
Distilled liquor |
|
焼酎 |
Shouchuu |
Shochu (Japanese distilled beverage) |
|
ウイスキー |
Uisukii |
Whiskey |
|
ブランデー |
Burandee |
Brandy |
|
ジン |
Jin |
Gin |
|
ウォッカ |
Wokka |
Vodka |
|
ラム |
Ramu |
Rum |
|
テキーラ |
Tekiira |
Tequila |
|
カクテル |
Kakuteru |
Cocktail |
父の一番好きなアルコールはウイスキーです。
Chichi no ichiban suki na arukooru ha uisukii desu.
My father’s favorite type of alcohol is whiskey.
Japanese words for cooking
|
Japanese |
Romanization |
English |
|
焼く |
Yaku |
To grill; to bake |
|
水洗い |
Mizuarai |
Rinsing with cold water |
|
茹でる |
Yuderu |
To boil |
|
混ぜる |
Mazeru |
To mix |
|
みじん切り |
Mijingiri |
Finely chopping |
|
揚げる |
Ageru |
To fry |
|
泡立てる |
Awadateru |
To whisk |
|
蒸らす |
Murasu |
To steam |
|
炒める |
Itameru |
To stir fry / saute |
|
漬ける |
Tsukeru |
To soak / seep ; To pickle / preserve |
|
盛る |
Moru |
To serve |
|
皮を剥く |
Kawa wo muku |
To peel |
|
種 |
Tane |
Seed |
|
殻 |
Kara |
Shell / husk / pod |
|
皮 |
Kawa |
Rind / peel |
|
根元 |
Nemoto |
Base of a plant / part near the root |
|
鍋 |
Nabe |
Pot |
|
フライパン |
Furaipan |
Frypan |
|
炊飯器 |
Suihanki |
Rice cooker |
姉は料理が下手ですけど、ケーキやクッキーを焼くのが上手です！
Ane wa ryouri ga heta desukedo, keeki ya kukkii wo yaku no ga jouzu desu!
My older sister isn’t a great cook, but she can bake cakes and cookies well!
Japanese words you need when eating out
|
Japanese |
Romanization |
English |
|
飲食店 |
Inshokuten |
Restaurant |
|
レストラン |
Resutoran |
Restaurant |
|
ファミレス |
Famiresu |
Family-style Restaurant (abbreviation) |
|
予約 |
Yoyaku |
Reservation |
|
おしぼり |
Oshibori |
Hot towel |
|
お会計 |
Okaikei |
Check |
|
美味しい |
Oishii |
Delicious |
|
うまい |
Umai |
Delicious (more informal) |
|
まずい |
Mazui |
Disgusting |
|
甘い |
Amai |
Sweet |
|
苦い |
Nigai |
Bitter |
|
辛い |
Karai |
Spicy |
|
塩辛い |
Shiokarai |
Salty |
|
酸っぱい |
Suppai |
Sour |
|
味が薄い |
Aji ga usui |
Tasteless / bland |
あの寿司店の巻きずしはすごく美味しいですよ！
Ano sushiten no makizushi wa sugoku oishii desu yo!
That sushi restaurant’s sushi rolls are so delicious!
How do I talk on the phone in Japanese?
When you pick up the phone, instead of kon’nichiha, you will say moshi moshi as a greeting. Japanese people often bow their heads out of habit even when speaking on the phone.
Japanese words for technology and websites
|
Japanese |
Romanization |
English |
|
コンピュータ |
Konpyuuta |
Computer |
|
パソコン |
Pasokon |
PC |
|
ノートパソコン |
Nootopasokon |
Laptop |
|
画面 |
Gamen |
Screen |
|
マウス |
Mausu |
Mouse |
|
キーボード |
Kiiboodo |
Keyboard |
|
ヘッドホン |
Heddohon |
Headphones |
|
イアホン |
Iahon |
Earphones |
|
ソフト |
Sofuto |
Software |
|
ビデオゲーム |
Bideogeemu |
Video game |
|
設定 |
Settei |
Settings / Option configurations |
|
ファイル |
Fairu |
File |
|
保存 |
Hozon |
Saving (to disk) |
|
削除 |
Sakujo |
Deletion |
|
移動 |
Idou |
Movement (of a file) |
|
インターネット |
Intaanetto |
Internet |
|
ネット |
Netto |
The net |
|
サイト |
Saito |
Website |
|
ダウンロード |
Daunroodo |
Download |
|
電話 |
Denwa |
Telephone |
|
携帯 |
Keitai |
Cell phone |
|
アプリ |
Apuri |
App |
|
機能 |
Kinou |
Function |
|
技術 |
Gijutsu |
Technology |
|
再起動 |
Saikidou |
Restart |
|
形式 |
Keishiki |
Format (e.g. of a file) |
|
編集 |
Henshuu |
Editing |
|
印刷 |
Insatsu |
Printing |
コンピュータの画面が壊れてしまって、再起動してみましたが、だめでした。
Konpyuuta no gamen ga kowarete shimatte, saikidou shite mimashita ga, dame deshita.
The computer screen was broken so I tried to restart it, but it was no use.
Japanese words about transportation and travel
|
Japanese |
Romanization |
English |
|
乗り物 |
Norimono |
Vehicle |
|
交通の便 |
Koutsuu no ben |
Ease of transportation |
|
車 |
Kuruma |
Car |
|
タクシー |
Taksuhii |
Taxi |
|
バイク |
Baiku |
Motorcycle |
|
自転車 |
Jitensha |
Bicycle |
|
バス |
Basu |
Bus |
|
バス停 |
Basutei |
Bus stop |
|
電車 |
Densha |
Train |
|
地下鉄 |
Chikatetsu |
Subway |
|
きっぷ |
Kippu |
Ticket |
|
駅 |
Eki |
Train station |
|
船 |
Fune |
Ship |
|
港 |
Minato |
Port / harbor |
|
飛行機 |
Hikouki |
Airplane |
|
空港 |
Kuukou |
Airport |
|
航空券 |
Koukuuken |
Plane ticket |
|
行き先 |
Ikisaki |
Destination |
|
到着 |
Touchaku |
Arrival |
|
出発 |
Shuppatsu |
Departure |
|
スーツケース |
Suutsukeesu |
Suitcase |
|
旅行 |
Ryokou |
Travel / trip |
|
一泊二日 |
Ippakufutsuka |
One night two day trip |
|
二泊三日 |
Nihakumikka |
Two night three day trip |
|
三泊四日 |
Sanpakuyouka |
Three night four day trip |
|
ツアー |
Tsuaa |
Tour |
|
海外 |
Kaigai |
Abroad / overseas |
|
国内 |
Kokunai |
Domestic (travel) |
|
観光 |
Kankou |
Sight-seing |
|
旅館 |
Ryokan |
Japanese style inn |
|
ホステル |
Hosuteru |
Hostel |
|
お土産 |
Omiyage |
Omiyage (obligatory gifts from a trip/souvenirs) |
お土産を買うのをよく忘れるタイプですから、結局空港で買ってしまいます。
Omiyage wo kau no wo yoku wasureru taipu desu kara, kekkyoku kuukou de katte shimaimasu.
I’m the kind of person who often forgets to buy souvenirs so I end up buying them at the airport.
Driving
If you’re looking to drive in Japan, look at our Guide to Japan’s Driving Test.
|
Japanese |
Romanization |
English |
|
運転免許 |
Untenmenkyo |
Driver’s license |
|
運転する |
Untensuru |
To drive |
|
警音器 |
Keionki |
Car horn |
|
運転手 |
Untenshu |
Driver |
|
乗客 |
Joukyaku |
Passenger |
|
車線 |
Shasen |
Traffic lane |
|
信号 |
Shingou |
Traffic light |
|
標識 |
Hyoushiki |
Sign |
|
歩行者 |
Hokousha |
Pedestrians |
|
歩道 |
Hodou |
Sidewalk |
|
横断歩道 |
Oudanhodou |
Crosswalk |
|
交差点 |
Kousaten |
Intersection |
|
駐車 |
Chuusha |
Parking |
|
速度 |
Sokudo |
Speed |
|
交通 |
Koutsuu |
Traffic |
|
道路 |
Dorou |
Road |
|
通行 |
Tuukou |
Passage |
|
角 |
Kado |
Corner |
|
ガソリンスタンド |
Gasorinsutando |
Gas station |
|
一方 |
Ippou |
One way |
|
止まれ |
Tomare |
«Stop» |
|
進入禁止 |
Shinnyuu kinshi |
Do not enter |
|
まっすぐ |
Massugu |
Straight |
|
左 |
Hidari |
Left |
|
右 |
Migi |
Right |
|
回る |
Mawaru |
To turn |
駐車場はレストランの後ろにありますから、交差点で左に回ってください。
Chuushajou wa resutoran no ushiro ni arimasukara, kousaten de hidari n i mawatte kudasai.
The parking lot is behind the restaurant, so please turn left at the intersection.
Japanese words about garbage and recycling
The garbage and recycling system in Japan is much more complicated than in many other countries. Be sure you’re separating and disposing of everything correctly!
For in-depth info on how to do that, check out our Guide to Recycling and Garbage Disposal in Japan.
|
Japanese |
Romanization |
English |
|
ゴミ箱 |
Gomibako |
Trash bin |
|
燃やすゴミ |
Moyasugomi |
Burnable trash |
|
可燃ごみ |
Kanen gomi |
Combustible waste |
|
生ゴミ |
Namagomi |
Kitchen waste / food scraps |
|
資源ごみ |
Shigengomi |
Recyclable waste |
|
ペットボトル |
Pettobotoru |
Plastic bottle |
|
ボトル |
Botoru |
Bottle |
|
フタ |
Futa |
Bottle cap |
|
食品包装 |
Shokuhinhousou |
Food packaging |
|
プラスチック |
Purasuchikku |
Plastic |
|
燃やさないゴミ |
Moyasanaigomi |
Trash that is not burnable |
|
不燃ごみ |
Funengomi |
Non-combustible trash |
|
瀬戸物 |
Setomono |
Ceramics / porcelain |
|
ガラス |
Garasu |
Glass |
|
メタル |
Metaru |
Metal |
|
電球 |
Denkyuu |
Light bulb |
|
粗大ごみ |
Sodaigomi |
Oversized garbage |
|
粗大ごみ処理券 |
Sodaigomi Shoriken |
Removal fee payment sticker for oversized garbage |
|
ゴミを出す |
Gomi wo dasu |
To take out the garbage |
|
ゴミを分別する |
Gomi wo bunbetsu suru |
To separate garbage |
|
ゴミを収集する |
Gomi wo shuushuu suru |
To collect garbage |
|
収集日 |
Shuushuubi |
(Garbage) collection day |
|
古紙 |
Koshi |
Paper for recycling |
|
容器包装 |
Youkihousou |
Containers / packaging |
|
紙製容器包装 |
Kamisei youkihousou |
Paper packaging |
|
ダンボール |
Danbooru |
Cardboard |
今日は燃やさないゴミ収集日ですから、置いておいてくれませか？
Kyou wa moyasanai gomi shuushuubi desu kara, oite oite kuremasenka?
Today is non-burnable garbage day, so would you mind putting it out?
Bonus: Japanese words that have no English equivalent
These words are more for fun than function. Every language has its own unique words that don’t have a perfect one-to-one translation. Here are some of those Japanese words and what they mean in English:
|
Japanese |
Romanization |
English |
|
仕方がない/しょうがない |
Shikata ga nai / Shouganai |
There’s nothing that can be done/ It is what it is |
|
木漏れ日 |
Kimorebi |
Sunlight filtering through the leaves on a tree |
|
紅葉 |
Kouyou or momiji |
The leaves changing color in fall |
|
幻想的 |
Gensouteki |
Fairytale-like |
|
生きがい |
Ikigai |
Reason for living |
|
木枯らし |
Kogarashi |
Cold wind as a sign of winter |
|
侘び寂び |
Wabi sabi |
Japanese aesthetic of transience and imperfection |
|
積ん読 |
Tsundoku |
Buying books and not reading them / stockpiling books |
|
微妙 |
Bimyou |
Questionable, subtle |
|
居留守 |
Irusuban |
Pretending to be out to avoid a guest |
|
引きこもり |
HIkikomori |
A shut-in, someone who has withdrawn from society |
|
もののあわれ |
Mononoaware |
Appreciation of the fleeting nature of beauty |
|
恋の予感 |
Koi no yokan |
A premonition of love / knowing you will fall in love with someone (not love at first sight) |
|
風物詩 |
Fuubutsushi |
A thing that reminds one of a particular season |
|
懐かしい |
Natsukashii |
Fondly-remembered / nostalgic |
そのおやつは子供の頃から食べたことありません！懐かしい！
Sono oyatsu wa kodomo no kora kara tabeta koto arimasen! Natsukasii!
Wow, I haven’t eaten that snack since I was a kid! How nostalgic!
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Conclusion
Now that you’ve gone through this guide, I hope you’re feeling more confident about diving into a Japanese conversation. It’s really a rewarding experience, and once you start practicing it’s hard to stop. Whether you’re honing your listening skills, picking up some relevant vocab, or finding a long-term language partner, I hope you enjoy your journey!
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By
Last updated:
March 16, 2023
With these 250 essential Japanese words and phrases, you’ll be prepared for any situation.
The Japanese language might take years to master, but what if you need to get through a conversation right now? Start by learning these everyday conversational words and crucial survival phrases. The rest will follow.
And you can just click on a word or phrase to hear its pronunciation.
Contents
- Greetings and Starters
- Basic Conversation
- Saying Yes and No
- Saying “I Don’t Understand”
- Please, Thank You and Apologies
- Saying Goodbye
- Travel Vocabulary
- Basic Question Words
- Japanese Pronouns
- Phrases for Dining
- Phrases for Social Gatherings
- Phrases for Home
- Shopping in Japanese
- Phrases for Casual Conversations
- Japanese Slang
Download:
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Greetings and Starters
ohayou gozaimasu: おはようございます — Good morning
The casual version is ohayou (おはよう ). In a workplace, someone greeting a colleague for the first time that day might use this phrase even if the clock reads 7 p.m.
konnichiwa: こんにちは — Hello / good afternoon
Konnichiwa can be used any time of day as a general greeting, but it’s most commonly used between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m.
hisashiburi: 久しぶり — It’s been a while
Basic Conversation
o namae wa nan desu ka?: お名前は何ですか？ — What’s your name?
This is a polite way to ask someone for their name. The more informal version is O namae wa? (おなまえは? ) — Your name is…?
… desu: …です — I am … / It is …
It’s easiest to think of desu like the English word “to be.” Unlike “to be,” desu stays the same regardless of the subject.
For example:
- Tomu desu (トムです ) — I’m Tom
- Atsui desu (暑い です ) — It’s hot/I’m hot
- Osoi desu (おそいです ) — You’re late!
watashi wa … desu: 私は…です — I am …
This is a longer version of the previous phrase. You also use this to say your name:
Watashi wa Pouru desu.
私はポールです。
I am Paul.
But this sentence pattern can also be used for any adjectives. For example:
- samui (寒い ) — Cold
- ureshii (嬉しい ) — Happy
- nemui (眠い ) — Sleepy
watashi wa … karakimashita: 私は… から来ました — I’m from …
Simply use this to describe what country you’re from. Here’s a list of some countries in Japanese:
- Igirisu (イギリス ) — United Kingdom
- Amerika (アメリカ ) — United States of America
- Ousutoraria (オーストラリア ) — Australia
- Doitsu (ドイツ ) — Germany
- Chuugoku (中国 ) — China
- Kangoku (韓国 ) — Korea
Many others are almost identical in Japanese, such as:
- Kanada (カナダ ) — Canada
- Furansu (フランス ) — France
- Supein (スペイン ) — Spain
If you don’t know how to say your country’s name, say it in English—chances are, people will understand where you mean.
suki desu: 好きです — I like it
You can say what you like by adding … ga suki desu (が好きです ). For example:
Okashi ga suki desu.
お菓子が好きです。
I like sweets.
ii desu yo: いいですよ — It’s good
You’ll often also hear ii yo (いいよ ), especially from women/girls.
suki dewa arimasen: 好きではありません — I don’t like it
dame desu: ダメです — It’s no good
In more casual conversation, you can also say just dame (だめ ) or dame da (だめだ).
takusan: たくさん — A lot
Takusan is similar to ooi (多い ). The main difference is that takusan can function as a noun, adjective or adverb, while ooi is only an adjective. For example:
Kooen ni hana ga takusan arimasu.
公園に花がたくさんあります。
There are lots of flowers in the park.
sukoshi: 少し — A little
Here’s an example of it in use:
Koohii ni sato wo sukoshi onegaishimasu.
コーヒーにさとをすこしお願いします。
A little sugar in my coffee, please.
ima nanji desu ka?: 今何時ですか？ — What time is it?
In casual situations, saying Ima nanji? (今何時 ) will work just fine.
… ji desu: …時です — It’s … o’clock
This plus a number is all you need to tell the time! For example:
Ichiji desu.
一時です。
It’s 1 o’clock.
nihongo de hanashimashou: 日本語で話しましょう — Let’s talk in Japanese
Saying Yes and No
hai: はい — Yes
Another way to say “yes” is with non-verbal cues like nodding your head up and down or giving a thumbs up.
soudesuka: そうですか — That is right
Saying this while nodding is a polite way to show that you’re paying attention when someone tells you something new. You can also use soka そっか, soudane そうだね or soune そうね for variety. These are less formal, but generally acceptable and certainly not rude.
sou desu: そうです — That’s right
You can also say hai, sou desu (はい ,そうです ) — Yes, that’s right. However, the hai is implied and you can leave it off.
sou: そう — That’s right (informal)
un: うん / aa: ああ / ee: ええ
The Japanese use aizuchi (相槌 ), which are simple words or gestures that all mean “yes,” to indicate you’re listening. They don’t have a strict “definition,” but are similar to saying “uh-huh” or “mm-hm” in English.
mochiron: もちろん — Of course
ii desu yo: いいですよ — Okay
This literally means “That’s good!” and as such can be used to show your approval of something.
iie: いいえ — no
This is the no-nonsense way to say “no.” However, Japanese culture prefers less direct approaches.
There are also several non-verbal ways to express “no.” Rubbing the back of the neck, making an “X” with both arms or even taking in a deep breath all mean “no.”
uun: ううん
This is a sound that indicated you don’t quite agree, similar to saying “Umm…” in English.
iya: いやー
Whether this interjection is being used to mean “no” depends on the context. If you suggest dinner and someone responds with iya…, then their response is a non-committal “Well, you see…”
dame: だめ — It’s no good / You can’t do that
This is a fairly assertive way to say no. It’s saying that something is pointless or shouldn’t be done. This is one to use when someone is doing something you don’t want them to do, or if you’re trying to accomplish something that seems like it won’t work.
chotto…: ちょっと… — A little…
If you use chotto, remember to trail off at the end, as you’re basically saying, “It’s a little…” For instance, if someone asks what you’re doing tomorrow afternoon with the aim to meet up, you can respond “Chotto…” to mean that tomorrow afternoon’s not an ideal time for you.
In business settings, two simple phrases to convey “no” without saying “no” are:
muzukashii desu: 難しいです — It’s difficult
kangaete okimasu: 考えておきます — I’ll think about it
While not outright saying “no,” they express a refusal to the listener without sounding impolite.
Saying “I Don’t Understand”
wakarimasen: 分かりません — I don’t understand
If you’re around friends, you can use the casual variant, wakaranai (わからない ).
mou ichido itte kudasai: もう一度言ってください — Please say that again
yukkuri onegai shimasu: ゆっくりお願いします — Slowly, please
kikoemasen deshita: 聞こえませんでした — I didn’t hear that
mou ichido itte kudasai: もう一度言ってください — Please say it again
Please, Thank You and Apologies
arigatou gozaimasu: ありがとうございます — Thank you
The friendlier, more casual way to say thanks is arigatou (ありがとう ). You’ll also see its abbreviation, ari (あり ), pretty often on Japanese message boards. A friend might just thank you with doumo (どうも ).
iroiro arigatou gozaimashita: 色々ありがとうございました — Thank you for everything
douitashimashite: どういたしまして — You’re welcome
Although this is technically the correct response to “Thank you,” it’s rarely used these days in casual Japanese conversation. The following phrase is much more common.
mondai nai desu: 問題ないです — No problem
kudasai: ください — Please (requesting)
The word kudasai is used when making requests, as in these examples:
Isoide kudasai.
急いでください。
Please hurry.
Koohii o kudasai?
コーヒーをください?
Can I please have a coffee?
douzo: どうぞ — Please (offering)
Using douzo is like saying, “Please go ahead.” You can use it when ushering someone through the door before you, or offering a coworker some delicious snacks, for example.
otsukaresama desu: お疲れ様です — Thank you for your efforts
This expression is often said as a parting sentiment when you, or someone else, finishes their work. You can think of it as saying, “That’s a wrap for the day.”
shitsurei shimasu: 失礼します — Excuse me (for my rudeness)
Another expression commonly heard in the office, shitsurei shimasu is used when you’re leaving a room. It’s similar to saying, “Sorry to have bothered you.” You can also end a formal or polite phone call with this phrase.
sumimasen: すみません — Excuse me, I’m sorry
Sumimasen is often used to say “Excuse me” (like if you need help getting directions ) and “Sorry” (like when you accidentally nudge someone). It can also be said as a “thank you” when you’ve troubled someone (Think: “Thanks for letting me put you out”).
gomen nasai: ごめんなさい — I’m sorry
In casual situations and among family members and friends, gomen nasai replaces sumimasen when saying sorry.
gomen: ごめん — I’m sorry
You can use this less formal expression among those who are close to you.
Saying Goodbye
jaa, mata!: じゃあ、また！ / mata ne: またね — See you!
You can use dewa mata (ではまた ) for a slightly more formal expression. There’s also jaa ne (じゃあね ), and then jaa mata ashita ne (じゃまた明日ね ) — see you tomorrow.
o genki de: お元気で — Take care
If “see you” is a little too casual for you, then you can say o genki de instead. This literally means “be healthy” and can be used to say, “Good luck!”
meado o oshiete moraemasu ka?: メアドを教えてもらえますか？ — Could I have your e-mail address?
If that’s a little too long to memorize, you can ask:
Meruado o oshiete?
メルアドを教えて?
Can I get your e-mail address? (Literally, “Teach me your email?”)
tegami kaku yo: 手紙書くよ — I’ll write you letters
tsuitara, denwa shimasu/meeru shimasu: 着いたら、電話します / メールします — I’ll call/email you when I arrive
mata sugu ni kimasu yo: またすぐに来ますよ — I’ll be back soon
asobi ni kite kudasai ne: 遊びに来てくださいね — Come visit me
watashi no ie dewa, itsumo anata o kangei shimasu yo!: わたしの家でわ, いつもあなたを感じますよ! — You’re always welcome in my home!
Travel Vocabulary
These handy phrases will give you what you need to get around Japan and, in case of an emergency, ask for help.
sumimasen, chikatetsu / eki wa doko desu ka: すみません、地下鉄 / 駅はどこですか？ — Excuse me, where’s the subway/station?
kono densha wa … eki ni tomarimasu ka?: この電車は… 駅に止まりますか？ — Does this train stop at … station?
kono basu wa … ni ikimasu ka?: このバスは…にいきますか？ — Does this bus go to … ?
takushi nori ba wa dokodesu ka?: タクシーのりばはどこですか？ — Where is the taxi platform?
… made tsureteitte kudasai: …まで連れて行ってください — Please take me to …
Use this phrase to tell the taxi driver where you want to go.
yoyaku wo shitainodesuga: 予約をしたいのですが — I’d like to make a reservation.
yoyaku shiteimasu: 予約しています — I have a reservation.
chekkuauto wa nanji desu ka?: チェックアウトは何時ですか？ — What time is checkout?
michi ni mayotte shimaimashita: 道に迷ってしまいました — I’m lost.
tasukete!: たすけて！ — Help! (for emergencies)
tetsudatte kuremasen ka?: てつだってくれませんか? — Can you help me? (for everyday situations)
keisatsu / kyuukyuusha wo yondekudasai: 警察 / 救急車を呼んでください — Please call the police / an ambulance.
Here’s a useful note: the emergency numbers in Japan are 119 for an ambulance and 110 for the police.
Basic Question Words
Knowing some of the essential Japanese question words will go a long way toward getting your questions across to Japanese speakers.
nani: 何 — What
Nani can be used alone or in a sentence. When placed before desu, the word nani drops its -i and becomes nan. For example:
Kore wa nan desu ka?
これは何ですか？
What is this?
doko: どこ — Where
Doko is used when asking for a location, like this:
Toire wa doko desu ka?
トイレはどこですか ?
Where is the toilet?
If you don’t know the word for the place you’re looking for, another helpful option is pointing to it on a map and asking:
Doko desu ka?
どこですか ?
Where is it?
dare: 誰 — Who
If you’re referring to a specific person, add it before dare:
Kanojo wa dare desu ka?
彼女は誰ですか？
Who is she?
itsu: いつ — When
doushite: どうして — Why
If you need to ask politely, say it as Doushite desu ka? (どうしてですか？). If you’re with friends or family, you can use the casual form nande (何で ) instead.
naze: なぜ — Why
This is pretty similar to doushite, but a bit more formal. Naze is also used to ask the reason behind something, while doushite has a nuance of “how” to it.
ikura: いくら — How much
ikutsu: いくつ — How many
This is a general word to ask “how much” or “how many” of a numerical amount. For example:
Okashi wa ikutsu hoshii desu ka?
おかしはいくつ星いですか？
How many snacks do you want?
It can also be used to ask someone’s age:
Oikutsu desu ka?
おいくつですか？
How old are you?
nan …: 何… — How many
Nan is a more specific way of asking how much of something there is. It works by combining nan with a counter, such as:
- nanbon (何本 ) — How many long cylindrical objects?
- nannin (何人 ) — How many people?
- nanmai (何枚 ) — How many sheets?
To learn more about how to talk about quantities, check out our post about Japanese counting and numbers.
dochira: どちら — Which one (out of two)?
dore: どれ — Which one (out of many)?
Japanese Pronouns
Japanese has a wide variety of pronouns you can use, helping you make your sentences more direct when you’re referring to yourself, your friend or your friend’s boyfriend.
watashi: 私 — I (all genders)
Watashi is the go-to in polite situations. It’s sometimes pronounced watakushi (私) for extra formality, and some female speakers may shorten it to atashi (私) in casual settings.
boku: 僕 — I (usually male)
Boku is mostly used by men and boys when they’re among friends. Nowadays, some girls use boku, as well, which gives off an air of tomboyish-ness.
ore: 俺 — I (male)
While boku is sometimes used by girls, ore is an exclusively male pronoun. It gives off a bit of a rough image, so it’s only used among close friends in casual situations.
jibun: 自分 — Myself / yourself / themselves
Jibun is used to refer to a sense of self. It can also take a variety of forms, like jibun no (自分の ) — one’s own (something), and jibun de (自分で ) — by yourself. It’s also a more polite way of referring to someone else.
anata: あなた — You
Anata translates to “you,” but it’s not used in the way it’s used in English. Most of the time, Japanese omits “you” altogether, favoring a person’s name instead. This form can be used as a term of endearment between couples.
kimi: 君 — You
Kimi is largely used to talk to someone of lower status than yourself, such as a boss talking to their employees. It’s also used to add some pizzazz to writing, such as in the hit movie “Kimi no na wa” (君のなわ ) — Your Name.
kare: 彼 — He / him
While the Japanese language does favor using a person’s name over second or third person pronouns, using kare is perfectly okay. Plus, kare can be used to refer to someone’s boyfriend.
kanojo: 彼女 — She / her
Same as kare, but for women. In the same way as kare, kanojo can also be used to refer to a girlfriend!
tachi: …たち — “… and company” (pluralizes pronouns)
To turn a pronoun into a plural, just add -tachi. For example:
- watashi tachi (私たち ) — We
- kimi tachi (君たち ) — You (plural)
- kanojo tachi (彼女たち ) — A group of women
- Sasuke tachi (サスケたち ) — Sasuke and his friends
kore: これ — This
Used to refer to something close to the speaker.
sore: それ — That
Used to refer to something close to the listener.
are: あれ — That (over there)
Used to refer to something far from both the speaker and the listener.
Phrases for Dining
Okay, now that we’ve gotten the formalities out of the way, it’s time to talk about what’s really important: food!
onaka ga suite imasu: お腹が空いてます — I’m hungry
This literally means your stomach has become empty. Some variations are:
- onaka ga suita (お腹が空いた ), informal
- onaka ga hetta (お腹が減った ), informal, often interchanged with onaka ga suita
- hara hetta (はらへった ), masculine
- onaka ga pekopeko (お腹がぺこぺこ ), onomatopoeia that means your stomach is growling
mada tabete imasen: まだ食べていません — I haven’t eaten yet
For a more casual version, go ahead and say mada tabeteinai (まだ食べていない ).
menyuu, onegai shimasu: メニュー、お願いします — Please bring me a menu
You can also opt for the more formal version:
Menyuu, onegai dekimasu ka?
メニュー、お願いできますか？
May I have the menu?
sore wa nan desu ka?: それは何ですか？ — What’s that?
kore o tabete mitai desu: これを食べてみたいです — I’d like to try this
… o kudasai: …をください — I’d like …
State whatever you’d like to order, and follow it with … o kudasai. For example:
Koohii o kudasai.
コーヒーをください?
I’d like a coffee, please.
… ga arimasu ka?: …がありますか？ — Do you have … ?
As a reply, you’ll simply hear arimasu ( あります).
… tsuki desu ka: …付きですか？ — Does it come with … ?
If you want to know if certain foods are included with your order, use this to ask. For example:
Furaido poteto tsuki desu ka?
フライドポテト付きですか？
Does it come with fries?
… ga taberaremasen: …が食べられません — I can’t eat …
This is a good phrase to learn for vegetarians, vegans and other people with dietary restrictions. For example, niku (肉 ) is “meat” and sakana (魚 ) is “fish.” So if you’re on a strict veg diet, you can say:
Niku to sakana ga taberaremasen.
肉と魚が食べられません。
I can’t eat meat and fish.
… arerugii ga arimasu: …アレルギーがあります — I’m allergic to …
State whatever you’re allergic to and add this phrase to the end. Just to be safe rather than sorry, you can ask: … ga haitte imasu ka? (が入っています か？) which means, “Are / Is there any … in it?” For example:
Tamago ga haitte imasu ka?
卵が入っていますか？
Are there any eggs in it?
oishii desu!: おいしいです！ — It’s delicious!
If you’re eyeballing a slice of cake, then oishisou (美味しそう ), meaning “It looks delicious,” could be useful. A casual and “manly” way to say something is delicious is umai (上手い ).
mazui desu: まずいです — It’s terrible
onaka ga ippai desu: お腹が一杯です — I’m full
okawari: おかわり — Another serving, please
hai, onegaishimasu: はい、お願いします — Yes, please (when offered food)
iie, kekkoudesu: いいえ、結構です — I’m fine, thank you (when offered food)
itadakimasu: いただきます — Let’s dig in
This is used before digging into your meal, similar to “Bon appétit.”
okanjou / okaikei, onegai shimasu: お勘定 / お会計、お願いします — Check, please
warikan ni shite kudasai: 割り勘にしてください — Split the check, please
betsubetsu de onegaishimasu: 別別でお願いします — We’ll pay separately, please
gochisousama deshita: ごちそうさまでした — Thanks for the meal
Like itadakimasu, this phrase is a fixture at every meal. You say this when the meal is finished.
Phrases for Social Gatherings
Show your friends and colleagues you know how to have fun with these phrases during social gatherings.
tabemashou: 食べましょう — Let’s eat
When planning a fun day out with friends, there are a few casual phrases to use when discussing plans. If you decide to have lunch, state tabemashou!
nomimashou: 飲みましょう — Let’s drink
You can also suggest grabbing a drink by using this phrase.
ikimashou: 行きましょう — Let’s go
Once your plans are decided, it’s time to head out by saying this phrase.
yatta!: やったー！ — Yay!
kanpai!: 乾杯！ — Cheers!
Once the party has begun, it’s essential to clink your glasses together and say kanpai! You say this phrase before drinking, not after.
ureshii desu: 嬉しいです — I’m happy
okawari o kudasai: お代わりをください — Refill, please
daijoubu desu: 大丈夫です — I’m fine – This is a polite way to respectfully say “no,” such as when you’re done drinking for the night.
Phrases for Home
tadaima: ただいま — I’m back
Everyone says this when they arrive home. If you go out, say this when you get back to let everyone know you’ve arrived home safely. If you want to, you can also say it when coming back from the bathroom; it tends to go down well.
okaeri nasai: おかえりなさい — Welcome back
This is said in response to tadaima. You can use this when someone else gets home, like when a parent returns from work or when a sibling gets back from cram school.
ofuro ni haitte mo ii desu ka?: お風呂に入ってもいいですか？ — May I take a bath?
In Japan, most families take a bath every night, and if you’re staying somewhere like with a host family, you’ll be welcome to have one too if you ask.
If you’d prefer to take a shower (I did), you can just replace the word ofuru (お風呂 ) — bath with shawaa (シャワー ) — shower. Just make sure you don’t throw the bath water out when you’re done, as the family shares the hot water.
oyasumi nasai: おやすみなさい — Good night
You can also leave off the -nasai to make it less formal.
Shopping in Japanese
With the streets brimming with food stalls and vendors, the high-end boutiques lining Ginza and the ultra-cool and unique souvenir shops, there’s no way to avoid shopping while traveling through Japan.
irasshaimase: いらっしゃいませ — Welcome
You will hear a chorus of irasshaimase! when you enter a shop.
kore wa nan desu ka?: これは何ですか？ — What is this?
kore wa nan to iu mono desu ka?: これは何というものですか？ — What’s this called?
kore wa ikura desu ka?: これはいくらですか？ — How much is this?
chotto takai desu: ちょっと高いです — It’s a bit expensive
If you haven’t started your adventure of learning Japanese adjectives, then here’s some essential shopping vocabulary:
- yasui (安い ) — Cheap, easy
- takai (高い ) — Expensive, high
- takakunai (高くない ) — Inexpensive
hoka no iro ga arimasu ka?: 他の色がありますか？ — Do you have another color?
sore o itadakimasu: それを頂きます — I’ll take it
kurejitto kaado wa tsukaemasu ka?: クレジットカードは使えますか？ — Can I use my credit card?
If you’d like to use a traveler’s check, then replace kurejitto kaado with: toraberaazu chekku (トラベラーズチェック ) — traveler’s check.
Your Suica and Pasmo cards, which are rechargeable cards you can use on Japanese trains, can also be used to pay for taxis or your groceries at select stores. You can ask:
Suika wa tsukaemasu ka?
スイカわつかえますか？
Can I use my Suica?
tsutsunde itadakemasu ka?: 包んでいただけますか？ — Can I have it gift-wrapped?
Phrases for Casual Conversations
Want to sound like a native when you know minimal Japanese? There are a few common phrases you can use with friends in casual conversations.
yoroshiku onegaishimasu: よろしくお願いします — Nice to meet you (formal)
yoroshiku ne: よろしくね — Nice to meet you (casual)
doushita no?: どうしたの？ — What’s wrong?
yabai: やばい — Awful or cool
While talking, your friend may mention they have an important test or date. Use yabai and depending on the context, it can mean “Awful” or “Cool.”
yokatta: 良かった (よかった) — Good, excellent, nice
This is an expression of relief, a bit like, “Oh, thank goodness!”
ganbatte: 頑張って — Do your best
This simple word means either “Good luck” or “Do your best.” In more formal situations, you’d say Ganbatte kudasai (頑張ってください ).
omedetou!: おめでとう！ — Congrats!
The formal variant is Omedetou gozaimasu (おめでとうございます ) — Congratulations.
zenzen: 全然 (ぜんぜん) — Not at all (with neg. verb)
In a nutshell, zenzen is the Japanese phrase of denial. It can be used either sincerely or not, such as when answering your mother when she asks, “Am I bothering you?”
maji de?: マジで？ — Really?
You can express your surprise with this casual phrase.
hontou?: 本当？ (ほんとう？) — Really? / Seriously?
This word translates literally to “truth, reality, actuality, fact.” In question form, it comes across more like a surprised, “Are you serious?”
uso!: うそー！ — No way!
This is another way to express surprise, which literally means “Lie!”
yappari: やっぱり — As expected
If you’re not surprised, you can use this word to say, “I knew it!”
Japanese Slang
When you’re making friends, you’ll hear tons of these terms going back and forth. Many slang terms are written in katakana, which marks them as being casual words.
ukeru: ウケる — Funny, hilarious
Say your friend made a great joke—by saying ukeru, you’ll let him know he struck your funny bone.
chou: 超 — Super
This word is used to add emphasis, like the words “really” or “very.” You could say, for example, that something is chou ukeru (超ウケる ), or very funny.
dasai: ださい — Uncool
kimoi: キモい — Gross
Kimoi is a contraction of the words kimochi (気持ち ) — feeling, and warui (悪い ) — bad.
gachi: ガチ — Totally, really, seriously
Gachi implies that something actually took place, or was really as intense as the speaker claims.
hanpa nai: 半端ない — Crazy, insane
Hanpa nai means that something is awesome or insane, but in a good way, like an epic roller coaster ride.
As you can see, context matters a lot in Japanese. To get comfortable with conversational phrases faster, try watching Japanese movies, TV shows or vlogs and look out for the expressions above—they’re very common!
FluentU is a Japanese learning app that uses real Japanese media clips, helping you learn useful phrases in context. These videos also have interactive subtitles and vocabulary lists to show you how native speakers naturally use the phrases above in conversation.
And there you have it! With these phrases and some core vocabulary, you’ll be able to make small talk with new friends, or show others that you’re sincerely interested in learning Japanese.
Just by incorporating a few of these phrases into daily life or conversation, you’ll soon be sure to hear nihongo ga jouzu desu ne! (日本語が上手ですね ) — You’re good at speaking Japanese!
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