In this lesson, we learn how to say “I know” in Japanese. Like the English words “know” and “understand,” there are more than one words in Japanese to describe the situation that we are aware of something or what we comprehend.
Let’s find out the detailed meanings and correct usage of “I know” in Japanese!
Contents
- 1 Japanese Words for “I Know”/ “I Understand”
- 1.1 Casual ways of saying “I Know” in Japanese
- 1.1.1 しる (Shiru | 知る)
- 1.1.2 わかる (Wakaru | 分かる、判る、解る)
- 1.2 Formal ways of saying “I Know” in Japanese
- 1.1 Casual ways of saying “I Know” in Japanese
- 2 Japanese words for “I Know”/ “I Understand” in phrases
- 2.1 Positive Phrases
- 2.2 Negative Phrases
- 2.3 Question Phrases
- 3 Listening Tips
- 4 Wrap Up
Japanese Words for “I Know”/ “I Understand”
There are different ways to express that you know something in the Japanese language. We’ve listed them down below.
Casual ways of saying “I Know” in Japanese
There are two verbs for the English expression “know” and “understand” in the Japanese language. Here are the detailed definitions and phrase examples.
- しる (Shiru | 知る | to know)
- わかる (Wakaru | 分かる、解る、判る | to know, to understand)
しる (Shiru | 知る)
Japanese people use the word しる (Shiru | 知る) when they know something. This expression is similar to “know” in English, though additional meanings can apply.
English Translation for しる (Shiru)
- to acknowledge, to have knowledge
- to notice, to sense
- to grasp, to become conscious of
- to be familiar with things, to remember something
- to experience, to acquire
- to learn, to get used to something
- to get to know
- to be responsible for something
Sentence Examples:
あのひとをしっています (Ano hito wo shitteimasu | あの人を知っています)
I know that person.
はじをしれ！ (Haji wo sire! | 恥を知れ！)
Shame on you!
それはわたしのしったことではない (Sore wa watashi no shitta koto de wa nai | それは私の知ったことではない)
That’s not my concern.
わかる (Wakaru | 分かる、判る、解る)
Japanese people use the word わかる (Wakaru | 分かる、判る、解る) in three different ways. It’s often written in ひらがな (Hiragana | 平仮名) and not in かんじ (Kanji | 漢字) because the meanings slightly differ in each form.
The Kanji 分かる is the most general form to use for “know” and “understand” in the Japanese language, and it can cover multiple circumstances. However, the other Kanji 解る and 判る are a little more specific.
When you comprehend something as a consequence of thinking logically, 解る is the correct expression. On the other hand, 判る is used for the situation after facts, meanings, and distinctions are clarified.
English Translation for わかる (Wakaru)
- to distinguish, to understand
- to become clear, to answer
- to be sensible, have a keen insight
- to get separated
Sentence Examples:
わたしはにほんごがわかりません (Watashi wa nihongo ga wakarimasen | 私は日本語が分かりません)
I don’t understand Japanese.
このじゅくごのいみはわかる？ (Kono jukugo no imi wa wakaru? | この熟語の意味は解る？)
Do you understand the meaning of this idiom?
ひがいしゃのみもとがわかったようです (Higaisha no mimoto ga wakattayou desu | 被害者の身元が判ったようです)
It seems that the victim has been identified.
Synonym and Related Verb
Below are different Japanese verbs that are synonymous with the verbs “to know” or “to understand” in Japanese.
If you’d like to learn more verbs in Japanese, you can refer to this article.
Formal ways of saying “I Know” in Japanese
The word しる (Shiru | 知る) and わかる (Wakaru | 分かる、判る、解る) could be inappropriate in certain formal situations. In those cases, the following words are preferred.
This change depends on the context and whom you’re talking to, so it would be complicated to study in a short time. Thus, we introduce you to the most common phrases here. Just remember, if a phrase finishes with ですます (Desu-Masu | ですます), it’s already good enough for casual conversations.
Japanese words for “I Know”/ “I Understand” in phrases
Now that you know the words used to express “I know” and “I understand” in Japanese, we’ll move on to the next level. Below are phrases that you can use for practice, categorized as positive, negative, and question phrases.
Positive Phrases
Here are the positive phrases that you can use related to saying “I know” in Japanese.
Negative Phrases
Below you can find the negative phrases. These phrases relate to not understanding or knowing about the topic at hand.
Question Phrases
Lastly, here are also some phrases that you can use to ask questions related to “know” in Japanese.
To help you ask questions better, learning about the question words in Japanese can be very helpful.
Listening Tips
In Japanese, there are some words called いぬきことば (I-Nuki Kotoba | い抜き言葉 | words omitting “I” sound), and the change of sounds named おんびん (Onbin | 音便 | euphonic change). You might hear the following phrases regularly because it’s common in casual conversations.
*I-Nuki Kotoba
**I-Nuki Kotoba and colloquial expression
***Onbin
Wrap Up
That’s it for how to say “I know” and “I understand” in Japanese. Have some time for practice, and you’ll soon find yourself easily answering questions if you know about something!
Now on to the next word to learn! How about learning how to say “Don’t worry” in Japanese, next? Practice speaking Japanese every day and see the difference.
がんばっ てください (Ganbatte kudasai!)! ^^
Do you have some Japanese words you can come up with right away? Some people might find the food-related words like Sushi or Teriyaki very Japanese, and others find culture-related words like Wabi-Sabi or Hanami very Japanese.
In this lesson, we’ll talk about basic Japanese words and their usage. These words will help you understand and speak Japanese faster and easier. Let’s begin!
Contents
- 1 Japanese Words
- 2 Basic Japanese Words
- 2.1 Japanese Family words
- 2.2 Japanese Relationships Words
- 2.3 Japanese School Words
- 2.4 Japanese Work and Business Words
- 2.5 Japanese Time and Date Words
- 2.6 Japanese Nature Words
- 2.7 Japanese Weather Words
- 2.8 Japanese Vehicles and Transportation Words
- 2.9 Japanese Animal Words
- 2.10 Japanese Festivals and Events Words
- 3 Greeting Words in Japanese
- 3.1 Basic Japanese Greeting Words of a Day
- 3.2 Basic Japanese Greeting Words and Phrases
- 3.3 Common Japanese Reply Words
- 4 Japanese Question Words
- 5 Japanese Words for Parts of Speech
- 6 Useful Japanese Words to Go Around
- 7 Other Japanese Vocabulary
- 8 Japanese Word Tips
- 8.1 Casual Form and Polite Form
- 8.2 Standard Words and Regional Variations
- 9 How Many Do You Know? Interesting Facts About Japanese Words
- 9.1 Internet Slang Words: For Everyone Use
- 9.2 English Words Born in Japan
- 10 A Special Greeting Word: Only in a Shop and Restaurant
- 11 Which One Do You Choose for “I”? More Than 10 Japanese Pronouns
- 12 Learn Japanese Words and Japanese Phrases!
Japanese words are one of the few things that will help you get started when you learn Japanese aside from the alphabet. If your goal is to speak the language fast, learning Japanese words will get you to speak and expand your vocabulary.
You may start with learning the basic Japanese words that are often used in conversations. This will help you be able to engage in simple conversations.
You don’t need to learn complex words yet. Just learn them step-by-step.
Basic Japanese Words
Basic Japanese words are words that you’re going to hear and use in most conversations. Here are a few of the basic Japanese words you can start to learn.
- はい (Hai) — Yes
- いいえ (Iie) — No
- ありがとう (Arigatou) — Thank you.
- どういたしまして (Douitashimashite) — You’re welcome.
- ごめんなさい (Gomen nasai) — I’m sorry.
- すみません (Sumimasen) — excuse me, sorry
- どうぞ (Douzo) — Please, Go ahead
- たすけてください！(Tasukete kudasai!) – Help me!
Japanese Family words
Japanese family words are useful words when addressing or talking about your own family members to others. However, it’s important to note that there are other words you’ll use when you talk about other people’s families. You can learn more about it in our article on Japanese family terms.
Among family relationships, the Japanese honorifics さん (San) and ちゃん (Chan) are often exchangeable. In addition, most of the family words have more than one way to call a person.
The word choices depend on the speaker’s preference and the situation of the conversation. There is also a clear distinction between an informal version and a formal version.
Let’s take the word “father” as an example:
- おとうさん (Otousan | お父さん)
- おやじ (Oyaji | 親父),
- とうちゃん (Touchan | 父ちゃん),
- ちち (Chichi | 父), and
- ぱぱ (Papa | パパ).
Here are the Japanese family words you can use to address your family or talk about them:
- かぞく (Kazoku | 家族) — Family
- いえ (Ie | 家) — House, Home
- りょうしん (Ryoushin | 両親) — Parents
- おや (Oya| 親) — Parent
- おとうさん (Otousan | お父さん) — Father
- おかあさん (Okaasan | お母さん) — Mother
- おじいちゃん (Ojiichan | お祖父ちゃん) — Grandfather
- おばあちゃん (Obaachan | お祖母ちゃん) — Grandmother
- そふぼ (Sofubo | 祖父母) — Grandparents
- おにいちゃん (Oniichan | お兄ちゃん) — Older brother
- おねえちゃん (Oneechan | お姉ちゃん) — Older sister
- おとうと (Otouto | 弟) — Younger brother
- いもうと (Imouto | 妹) — Younger sister
- きょうだい (Kyoudai | 兄弟) — Brothers
- しまい (Shimai | 姉妹) — Sisters
- あかちゃん (Akachan | あかちゃん) — Baby
Japanese Relationships Words
Relationships are important among the Japanese. And in every relationship, respect is very evident. This is also reflected in the words they use for each other.
Japanese relationship words can be used when talking about how you’re related to a person.
Below is a list of Japanese relationship words you get started with.
- ともだち (Tomodachi | 友達) — Friend
- しんゆう (Sinyuu | 親友) — Close friend
- こいびと (Koibito | 恋人) — Lover
- かれし (Kareshi | 彼氏) — Boyfriend
- かのじょ (Kanojo | 彼女) — Girlfriend
- ぱーとなー (Paatonaa | パートナー) — Partner
- せんぱい (Senpai | 先輩) — Senior, Upperclassmen
- こうはい (Kouhai | 後輩) — Junior
Japanese School Words
Japanese school words are words you’ll often hear or encounter when you’re a student, a teacher, or someone working in the education industry. Even if you don’t belong to any of these, these are helpful words to learn when you learn Japanese.
Here are some useful Japanese school words:
- がっこう (Gakkou | 学校) — school
- べんきょう (Benkyou | 勉強) — Study
- せんせい (Sensei | 先生) — Teacher
- せいと (Seito | 生徒) — Student
- ようちえん (Youchien | 幼稚園) — Preschool
- ほいくえん (Hoikuen | 保育園) — Daycare
- しょうがっこう (Shougakkou | 小学校) — Elementary school
- ちゅうがっこう (Chuugakkou | 中学校) — Junior high school
- こうこう (Koukou | 高校) — High school
- だいがく (Daigaku | 大学) — University, College
- せんもんがっこう (Senmon Gakkou | 専門学校) — Vocational school, Business college
- しゅくだい (Shukudai | 宿題) — Homework
- しけん (Shiken | 試験) — Exam
- にゅうがく (Nyuugaku | 入学) — School entrance
- そつぎょう (Sotsugyou | 卒業) — Graduation
Japanese Work and Business Words
Japanese work and business words are essential for you to learn if you’re going to work or do business in Japan. Another instance that these words can be important is when you’re doing business with Japanese or working with and for a Japanese company in your country.
Learning the basic Japanese work and business words can be the way to go. Below is a list of basic Japanese work and business words:
- しごと (Shigoto | 仕事) — work, business
- かいしゃ (Kaisha | 会社) — Company
- やといぬし (Yatoinushi | 雇い主) — Employer
- じゅうぎょういん (Juugyouin | 従業員) — Employee
- じょうし (Joushi | 上司) — Boss, Manager
- どうりょう (Douryou | 同僚) — Colleague
- かいぎ (Kaigi | 会議) — Meeting
- めんせつ (Mensetsu | 面接) — Interview
- きゅうけい (Kyukei | 休憩) — Break
- きゅうりょう (Kyuryou | 給料) — Salary
Japanese Time and Date Words
Japanese are very punctual people. Time is very important for them. This is one reason that most Japanese wear watches. In relation to that, learning Japanese time and date words are important to keep up with time and dates as you interact with Japanese people.
These are words that will help you talk about your experiences, plans, and so many others.
Here are a few useful Japanese time and date words:
- じかん (Jikan | 時間) — Time, Hour
- いま (Ima | 今) — Now
- さっき (Sakki) — Just now
- あとで (Atode | 後で) — Later
- こんど (Kondo | 今度) — Next time
- いつか (Itsuka | 何時か) — sometimes, one day
- きょう (Kyou | 今日) — Today
- あした (Ashita | 明日) — Tomorrow
- きのう (Kinou | 昨日) — Yesterday
- あさって (Asatte | 明後日) — Day after tomorrow
- おととい (Ototoi | 一昨日) — Day before yesterday
- ことし (Kotoshi | 今年) — This year
- らいねん (Rainen | 来年) — Next year
Japanese Nature Words
Japan is a very beautiful country where you can see nature and modernism meets. When talking about nature, you’ll need to use Japanese nature words. You also need words to help you describe them but we’ll talk about that in another article.
In the meantime, here are a few of the many Japanese nature and geography words you can learn:
- しぜん (Shizen | 自然) — Nature
- きせつ (Kisetsu | 季節) — Season
- しき (Shiki | 四季) — Four seasons
- しょくぶつ (Shokubutsu | 植物) — Plants
- き (Ki | 木) — Tree
- はな (Hana | 花) — Flowers
- やま (Yama | 山) — Mountains
- うみ (Umi | 海) — Ocean
- かわ (Kawa | 川) — River
- みず (Mizu | 水) — Water
- ひ (Hi | 火) — Fire
Japanese Weather Words
As Japan has four seasons, there are a number of Japanese weather words you need to add to your vocabulary. Learning these Japanese weather words will be useful in conversations.
Below is a list of some Japanese weather words:
- てんき (Tenki | 天気) — Weather
- はれ (Hare | 晴れ) — Sunny
- くもり (Kumori | 曇り) — Cloudy
- あめ (Ame | 雨) — Rainy
- ゆき (Yuki | 雪) — Snowy
- たいふう (Taifuu | 台風) — Typhoon
- かぜ (Kaze | 風) — Wind
- あらし (Arashi | 嵐) — Storm
- じしん (Jishin | 地震) — Earthquake
- つなみ (Tsunami | 津波) — Tsunami
- ふんか (Funka | 噴火) — Eruption
- ちきゅう (Chikyuu | 地球) — Earth
- たいよう (Taiyou | 太陽) — Sun
- つき (Tsuki | 月) — Moon
- うちゅう (Uchuu | 宇宙) — Universe
Japanese Vehicles and Transportation Words
Japan is a highly developed country and is known for manufacturing vehicles. There are many types or forms of vehicles and transportation, you’ll see in Japan.
Each of the vehicles and transportation has its own Japanese words for them. Learning the Japanese vehicles and transportation words will improve your vocabulary.
Here are some of the common Japanese vehicles and transportation words:
- でんしゃ (Densha | 電車) — Train
- くるま (Kuruma | 車) — Car
- オートバイ (Ootobai) — Motorbike
- ばす (Basu | バス) — Bus
- ふね (Fune | 船) — Ship, Boat
- ひこうき (Hikouki | 飛行機) — Airplane
- じてんしゃ (Jitensha | 自転車) — Bycycle
- えき (Eki | 駅) — Station
- ばすてい (Basutei | バス停) — Bus stop
- くうこう (Kuukou | 空港) — Airport
Japanese Animal Words
The Japanese language has a unique word for each of the animals that we know of. Learning the different Japanese animal words will allow you to get involved in basic Japanese conversations. For example, you may want to know someone’s favorite animal or pet at home. You can also share animals you’ve seen in one of your travel or escapade.
Here are some Japanese animal words you can start learning:
- どうぶつ (Doubutsu | 動物) — Animal
- いぬ (Inu | 犬) — Dog
- ねこ (Neko | 猫) — Cat
- とり (Tori | 鳥) — Bird
- にわとり (Niwatori | 鶏) — Chicken
- ぶた (Buta | 豚) — Pig
- うし (Ushi | 牛) — Cow
- さかな (Sakana| 魚) — Fish
- こうかくるい (Koukakurui | 甲殻類) — Shellfish
- むし (Mushi | 虫) — Insects
Japanese Festivals and Events Words
Japan’s culture and tradition is characterized by festivals and unique events or ceremonies. If you’re visiting Japan, it’ll make your life more fun if you’re able to experience their colorful festivals and events. It’ll make your visit even more convenient and meaningful if you know the different Japanese festivals and events words.
Here are some of the Japanese festivals and events words.
- まつり (Matsuri | 祭り) — Festivals
- はなび (Hanabi | 花火) — Fireworks
- けっこんしき (Kekkonshiki | 結婚式) — Wedding
- おそうしき (Oshoushiki | お葬式) — Funeral
- さどう (Sadou | 茶道) — Tea ceremony
Greeting Words in Japanese
Before we start learning Japanese greeting words, let’s grasp the great importance of general greetings in Japan.
Japanese greetings are called あいさつ (Aisatsu | 挨拶) and many Japanese people believe that greetings can show your attentiveness, a caring attitude towards others, and acknowledgment of your companions. This tendency deeply permeates the social consciousness.
Here are the lists of Japanese greeting words. These words don’t necessarily use かんじ (Kanji | 漢字) when it’s written. ひらがな (Hiragana | 平仮名) words are commonly seen nowadays.
Basic Japanese Greeting Words of a Day
Some greeting words have both casual and polite forms in Japanese. When talking to an older person, add です (desu) | ます (masu) | さい (sai) at the end of a phrase or a sentence.
This desu and masu ending expression are called ですますちょう (desu-masu-chou | ですます調) in Japanese and are used widely in everyday conversation.
- こんにちは (Konnichiwa | 今日は) — Hello, Good afternoon
- おはよう (Ohayou | お早う) — Good morning
- おはようございます (Ohayou Gozaimasu | お早う御座います) — Good morning
- こんばんは (Konbanwa | 今晩は) — Good evening
- おやすみ (Oyasumi | お休み) — Good night
- おやすみなさい (Oyasuminasai | お休みなさい) — Good night
Basic Japanese Greeting Words and Phrases
When learning a new language just like Japanese, the first few things you’ll be taught would be basic greeting words and phrases.
These basic Japanese greeting words are often used in daily conversations. So, these will help you engage in Japanese conversations. These are also good conversation starters.
Here are a few of the Japanese greeting words and phrases:
- げんき (Genki? | 元気) — How are you?
- おげんきですか (Ogenki desuka? | お元気ですか) — How are you?
- はじめまして (Hajimemashite | 初めまして) — Nice to meet you.
- よろしく (Yoroshiku | 宜しく) — Nice to meet you.
- よろしくおねがいします (Yoroshiku Onegai shimasu | 宜しくお願いします) — Please take care of me. / I’m in your care.
- またあとで (Mata Ato de | また後で) — See you later.
- またこんど (Mata Kondo | また今度) — See you again.
- さようなら (Sayounara | 左様なら) — Good bye.
- おじゃましました (Ojama shimashita | お邪魔しました) — Thank you for inviting me.
Common Japanese Reply Words
In most conversations, you’ll have to either ask or reply to questions. In cases you’ll have to give a response, you’ll need to know the appropriate reply words.
In Japanese, there are many ways you can reply to questions or react to what you hear. Here’s a list of common Japanese reply words:
-
- はい (Hai) — Yes
- いいえ (Iie) — No
- いいです (Ii desu | 良いです) — It’s okay
- わかった (Wakatta | 分かった) — I see
- わかりました (Wakarimashita | 分かりました) — I understood
- だいじょうぶ (Daijoubu | 大丈夫) — It’s alright
- だいじょうぶです (Daijoubu desu | 大丈夫です) — It’s alright
- もんだいありません (Mondai arimasen | 問題ありません) — No problem
- どうぞ (Douzo) — Please, Go ahead
- おねがい (Onegai | お願い) — Yes, please
- おねがいします (Onegai shimasu | お願いします) — Yes, please
- ちがいます (Chigai masu | 違います) — no, it’s not
- だめです (Dame desu | 駄目です) — it’s not okay
- まちがっています (Machigatte imasu | 間違っています) — it’s wrong
- わかりません (Wakarimasen | 分かりません) — I don’t understand
- しりません (Sirimasen | 知りません) — I don’t know
- ありがとう (Arigatou | 有難う) — thanks
- ありがとうございます (Arigatou gozaimasu | 有難う御座います) — thank you
- どういたしまして (Dou itashimashite | 如何致しまして) — your welcome
- すみません (Sumimasen | 済みません) — excuse me, sorry
- しつれいします (Shitsurei shimasu | 失礼します) — excuse me
- ごめん (Gomen | 御免) — sorry
- ごめんなさい (Gomen nasai | 御免なさい) — I’m sorry
- もうしわけありません (Moushiwake arimasen | 申し訳ありません) — I’m very sorry
Japanese Question Words
Japanese question words are the same as the WH questions in English although both languages don’t share the same grammar. This means that the English WH questions have their Japanese counterparts.
However, it’s important to note that some WH questions can have more than one Japanese word.
Knowing the Japanese question words would come in handy when you’re visiting or living in Japan or simply having conversations with a friend or colleague.
Here are the Japanese question words:
- どのように (Dono youni) – How
- どのくらい (Dono kurai) – How much or How long
- いくら (Ikura) – How much (price)
- なに (Nani | 何) – What
- どこ (Doko | 何処) – Where
- いつ (Itsu | 何時) – When
- なんじ (Nanji | 何時) – What time
- なぜ (Naze | 何故) | どうして (Doushite) – Why
- どの (Dono) | どれ (Dore) | どちら (Dochira) – Which
- だれ (Dare | 誰) – Who
- だれの (Dare no | 誰の) – Whose
Japanese Words for Parts of Speech
The Japanese language has five structural categories and ten parts of speech. A part of speech that forms a word is し (Shi | 詞), and distinguishing one another would be helpful to extend your Japanese vocabulary.
- めいし (Mei Shi | 名詞) — noun
- どうし (Dou Shi | 動詞)— verb
- けいようし (Keiyou Shi | 形容詞) — adjective
- けいようどうし (Keiyoudou Shi | 形容動詞) — quasi-adjective
- じょし (Jo Shi | 助詞) — Japanese particles
- じょどうし (Jodou Shi | 助動詞) — auxiliary verb
- ふくし (Fuku Shi | 副詞) — adverb
- れんたいし (Rentai Shi | 連体詞) — adnominal adjective
- せつぞくし (Setsuzoku Shi | 接続詞) — conjunction
- かんどうし (Kandou Shi | 感動詞) — interjection
Useful Japanese Words to Go Around
Other than the Japanese words you’ve learned in the other sections, there are words and phrases that will come in handy. These words and phrases will allow you to get help and clarification.
Here are some useful words for going around Japan or learning Japanese.
- たすける (Tasukeru | 助ける) – to help
- たすけ (Tasuke | 助け) – help
- いう (Iu | 言う) – to say
- はなす (Hanasu | 話す) – to speak
- しゃべる (Shaberu | 喋る) – to speak
Here are some examples of Japanese phrases using the words above:
- たすけてください！(Tasukete kudasai!) – Help me!
- なにかこまっていますか？(Nanika komatte imasu ka?) – Do you need any help?
- たすけがひつようですか？(Tasuke ga hitsuyou desu ka?) – Do you need any help?
- もういちどおねがいします。 (mou ichido onegai shimasu.) – Can you say it again?
- もういっかいいってください。(mou ikkai itte kudasai.) – Can you say it again?
- えいごをはなせますか？(eigo wo hanasemasu ka?) – Do you speak English?
- ゆっくりおねがいします。(Yukkuri onegai shimasu.) – Please speak more slowly.
- ゆっくりしゃべってください。(Yukkuri shabette kudasai.) – Please speak more slowly.
Other Japanese Vocabulary
Expanding your Japanese vocabulary is key to picking up the meanings in a conversation or helping you to express your situations, ideas, and feelings. Today, we’ll introduce you to some of the most common Japanese words.
- ことば (Kotoba | 言葉) — word
- たんご (Tango | 単語) — word
- げんご (Gengo | 言語) — language
- ごい (Goi | 語彙) — vocabulary
- ことばづかい (Kotobazukai | 言葉遣い) — a way of speaking
- いいまわし (Ii Mawashi | 言い回し) — wording
Japanese Word Tips
In this section, you’ll learn about the words used to talk about the different forms used in the Japanese language.
Casual Form and Polite Form
In the Japanese language, the appropriate word and the way of talking vary depending on the situation. For example, when you’re a student and talking to a teacher, you’re expected to use more mannerly words and polite forms.
Colloquially, the casual form is called ためご(Tamego | タメ語) or ともだちくちょう (Tomodachi Kuchou | 友達口調 | a friendly tone).
- けいご (Keigo | 敬語) — honorifics, polite form
- ふつうご (Futsuu Go | 普通語) — standard form
- へいじょうご (Heijou Go | 平常語) — standard form
- ためぐち (Tame Guchi | ため口) — casual form
- ためご (Tame Go | タメ語) — casual form
Also, adding お (o | 御) or ご (go | 御) before the first letter of nouns is a common way to make the word more courteous. People often use this for someone’s belongings and seasonal events.
For instance, the word for a wallet is さいふ (Saifu | 財布), and it becomes おさいふ (O-saifu | お財布) in certain situations.
The word for a festival is まつり (Matsuri | 祭り) and it turns into おまつり (O-matsuri | お祭り or 御祭り) as well. Also, there are only slight gender differences in written Japanese, but spoken Japanese varies.
Standard Words and Regional Variations
The Tokyo dialect is the standard Japanese in modern Japan. However, some areas have local variations for certain words. The specialists say there are at least 16 types of dialects in Japan.
- ひょうじゅんご (Hyoujun Go | 標準語) — standard Japanese
- ほうげん (Hougen | 方言) — dialect
- おおさかべん (Oosaka Ben | 大阪弁) — Osaka dialect
- きょうことば (Kyou Kotoba | 京言葉) — Kyoto dialect
- おきなわほうげん (Okinawa Hougen | 沖縄方言) — Okinawa dialect
*Sometimes Okinawa dialect is called りゅうきゅうご (Ryukyu Go | 琉球語 | Ryukyuan).
For instance,
Thanks
Standard Japanese words / Osaka dialect / Okinawa dialect
ありがとう (Arigatou) / おおきに (Ookini) / にふぇーでーびる (Nifeedeebiru)
A lot
Standard Japanese words / Osaka dialect / Okinawa dialect
たくさん (Takusan) / ぎょうさん (Gyousan) / ばんない (Bannai)
How Many Do You Know? Interesting Facts About Japanese Words
Here, we’ll show you some fun facts and tips about Japanese words. Some words are not suitable for formal situations, but you can find a useful phrase or a good phrase to learn Japanese.
Internet Slang Words: For Everyone Use
The most common Japanese slang is probably まじで (Maji de? | 本気で | Really?) and it’s everywhere in their daily conversations.
Somehow, the Japanese language doesn’t have much variety of swear words compared to foreign languages, though there are some slang words people regularly use. Especially in recent years, some internet slang used among gamers and anime fans has widely started spreading.
- くさ (w | 草) — Similar to the English word “lol”
- おつ (Otsu | 乙) — Thanks for the good work
- どきゅん (DQN | ドキュン) — Not cultured people
- りあじゅう (Ria Juu | リア充) — People who have a fulfilling real life
English Words Born in Japan
Some of the Japanese words traveled and entered many languages. Many words are related to Japanese tradition, culture, and food.
- からおけ (Karaoke | カラオケ) — Karaoke
- あにめ (Anime | アニメ) — Animation
- まんが (Manga | 漫画) — Comic
- おたく (Otaku | オタク、ヲタク) — Nerd, Geek
- おりがみ (Origami | 折り紙 ) — Japanese paper folding
- えもじ (Emoji | 絵文字) — Ideograms or pictograms used on the internet
- さらりーまん (Salariiman | サラリーマン) — Salary worker
- つなみ (Tsunami | 津波) — Tsunami
- たいふう (Taifuu | 台風) — Typhoon
- すうどく (Suudoku | 数独) — Sudoku
- らーめん | ラーメン (Raamen | 拉麺) — Ramen
- すし (Sushi | 寿司) — Sushi
These are the list of some words with negative meanings. Some words’ meanings might have been altered in your country but words like Karoushi and Hikikomori are one of the big social issues in Japan, and Kamikaze could be a sensitive topic.
- ざんぎょう (Zangyou | 残業) — Overtime work
- かろうし (Karoushi | 過労死) — Death caused by overworking
- かみかぜ (Kamikaze (| 神風) — Kamikaze attacks
- へんたい (Hentai | 変態) — Pervert, Abnormality
- ひきこもり (Hikikomori | 引き籠もり) — Social withdrawal
A Special Greeting Word: Only in a Shop and Restaurant
When you enter a restaurant or a shop in Japan, you might notice a unique greeting. The male Sushi chef welcomes you with a low-pitched voice, and the female store clerk gives you a big smile and a high-toned welcome. Did you know that McDonald’s Japan has free smiles on its menu?
- いらっしゃい (Irasshai) — Welcome
- いらっしゃいませ (Irasshai mase) — Welcome
Which One Do You Choose for “I”? More Than 10 Japanese Pronouns
Unlike English or another foreign language, the Japanese language has a variety of first-person pronouns and second-person pronouns. Many native Japanese speakers pick one word suitable for their social image or the situation.
There are male-suited versions and female-suited versions, but no strict rules. When you start speaking Japanese, pick one word you feel comfortable using.
The Japanese words for “I”
- わたくし (Watakushi | 私) — The most formal version for any gender
- わたし (Watashi | 私) — Good for any gender and situation
- あたし (Atashi) — Casual, common among females
- ぼく (Boku | 僕) — Common among men, suitable for casual occasion
- おれ (Ore | 俺) — Only for men and casual use
- わい (Wai | ワイ) — Mostly for men, commonly used in Kansai and Tohoku area
- じぶん (Jibun | 自分) — More common in literature and written forms
- うち (Uchi | ウチ) — Commonly heard among young girls
Learn Japanese Words and Japanese Phrases!
Knowing a word means extending your Japanese knowledge and improving your Japanese skill. Once you start recognizing new words, your will be able to understand more dialogues from the learning sources quickly and smoothly. Emoji can cheer you up while you study Japanese words and basic Japanese phrases!
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Home>Words that start with K>know>English to Japanese translation
How to Say Know in JapaneseAdvertisement
Categories:
General
If you want to know how to say know in Japanese, you will find the translation here. We hope this will help you to understand Japanese better.
Here is the translation and the Japanese word for know:
知っている
Edit
Know in all languages
Dictionary Entries near know
- knockout
- knoll
- knot
- know
- know-how
- knowledge
- knowledgeable
Cite this Entry
«Know in Japanese.» In Different Languages, https://www.indifferentlanguages.com/words/know/japanese. Accessed 14 Apr 2023.
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Check out other translations to the Japanese language:
- ambition
- archaeological site
- conscious effort
- frequent
- inane
- infertile
- pitchfork
- rare
- under
- universal
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Someone who I know well and who knows me well in return.
私のことをよく知ってくれている人。
My is here and yours is… I know«is here».
And you know what he’s gonna do.
That I have know of that been through that.
それが分かったのは、こんな事からでした。
More than you will ever know.
MORETHANYOUwillEVERKNOW/貴方が想うよりもっと。
Is there something I should know— Duran Duran.
ISTHERESOMETHINGISHOULDKNOW-DuranDuran：デュラン・デュラン。
They know this, and they want to hold someone to blame.
それは分かっちゃいるけど、人のせいにしたくなるもの。
ここにいるのはわかってるんだぞ！
There are people who really know about me?
私のことを本当にわかったくれる人がいるのかな」。
I know you’re not which is why I’m puttin’ this to you direct.
それは分かってるあなたに念を押す理由がある。
Know how you are: how you work.
KNOWHOWYOUWORK.（どう働いているかを知る）。
It is possible, but I wouldn’t know.” 96.
わかるようなでもわかりたくないようなgt;gt;96。
Main/ Comics/ L wanna know what love is.
IDO’WANNAKNOW/愛は気ままに。
You know nothing about the Jem’Hadar.
You know what’s happening.
Is there something going on that I should know about? I’m listening.
俺も聞いた方が良いかな？分かった。
Jane, I know what I’m doing.
Previous story Arctic Monkeys- Do I Wanna Know?
新品レコード】ARCTICMONKEYS/DOIWANNAKNOW?
Know that no one else can identify our paths for us.
誰も新しい道を私のために用意してくれないことは分かっ。
Now I know why we were defeated.
我は今になって敗北した理由が分かったよ。
I immediately know what you do.
何をしてるのかはすぐわかった。
Arctic Monkeys- Do I Wanna Know?
新品レコード】ARCTICMONKEYS/DOIWANNAKNOW?
So now we know why we are here.
なぜ、私たちがここにいるのか、今わかった。
No Comments on Arctic Monkeys- Do I Wanna Know?
新品レコード】ARCTICMONKEYS/DOIWANNAKNOW?
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English
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Japanese
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English
How to say Knowledge in other languages in the world?
How to say knowledge in different languages in the world | words for knowledge in other languages | knowledge translated in other languages | knowledge in all languages | different ways to say knowledge? | knowledge said in different languages | knowledge in other words | How to Say knowledge in Many Languages
Know several ways to say Knowledge in other languages
दुनिया में विभिन्न भाषाओं में ज्ञान कैसे कहें | अन्य भाषाओं में ज्ञान के लिए शब्द | अन्य भाषाओं में अनुवादित ज्ञान | सभी भाषाओं में ज्ञान | ज्ञान कहने के विभिन्न तरीके? | ज्ञान विभिन्न भाषाओं में कहा | दूसरे शब्दों में ज्ञान | कई भाषाओं में ज्ञान कैसे कहें
How to say knowledge in foreign languages | Ways to say knowledge in foreign languages?
How to say knowledge in Latin language | Latin word for knowledge | what is the word knowledge in Latin?
S.No |
say knowledge In Latin language |
1 |
cognitionis |
How to say knowledge in Haitian Creole language?
S.No |
Say knowledge In Haitian Creole language |
2 |
konesans |
How to say knowledge in Esperanto language?
S.No |
say knowledge In Esperanto language |
3 |
scio |
How to say knowledge in Asian languages | Ways to say knowledge in Asian languages
How to say knowledge in Nepali language?
S.No |
say knowledge In Nepali language |
1 |
ज्ञान |
How to say knowledge in Vietnamese language?
S.No |
say knowledge In Vietnamese language |
2 |
hiểu biết |
How to say knowledge in Tajik language?
S.No |
say knowledge In Tajik language |
3 |
дониш |
How to say knowledge in Mongolian language?
S.No |
say knowledge In Mongolian language |
4 |
мэдлэг |
How to say knowledge in Uzbek language?
S.No |
say knowledge In Uzbek language |
5 |
bilim |
How to say knowledge in Tamil language?
S.No |
say knowledge in Tamil language |
6 |
அறிவு |
How to say knowledge in Telugu language?
S.No |
say knowledge in Telugu language |
7 |
జ్ఞానం |
How to say knowledge in Malayalam language?
S.No |
say knowledge in Malayalam language |
8 |
അറിവ് |
How to say knowledge in Urdu language?
S.No |
say knowledge In Urdu language |
9 |
علم |
How to say knowledge in Turkish language?
S.No |
say knowledge in Turkish language |
10 |
bilgi |
How to say knowledge in Sinhala language?
S.No |
say knowledge In Sinhala language |
11 |
දැනුම |
How to say knowledge in Thai language?
S.No |
say knowledge in Thai language |
13 |
ความรู้ |
How to say knowledge in Kazakh language?
S.No |
say knowledge in Kazakh language |
14 |
білім |
How to say knowledge in Korean language | Korean word for knowledge
S.No |
say knowledge In Korean language |
15 |
지식 [jisig] |
How to say knowledge in Marathi language?
S.No |
say knowledge in Marathi language |
16 |
ज्ञान |
How to say knowledge in Lao language?
S.No |
say knowledge In Lao language |
17 |
ຄວາມຮູ້ |
How to say knowledge in Japanese language | how do you say knowledge in Japanese | Japanese word for knowledge | what is the Japanese word for knowledge | the word knowledge in Japanese
S.No |
say knowledge In Japanese language |
18 |
知識 |
How to say knowledge in Hindi language | Hindi word for knowledge| knowledge के लिए हिंदी शब्द
S.No |
say knowledge in Hindi language |
19 |
ज्ञान |
How to say knowledge in Khmer language?
S.No |
say knowledge in Khmer language |
21 |
ចំនេះដឹង |
How to say knowledge in Kannada language?
S.No |
say knowledge In Kannada language |
22 |
ಜ್ಞಾನವನ್ನು |
How to say knowledge in Georgian language?
S.No |
say knowledge in Georgian language |
23 |
ცოდნა |
How to say knowledge in Hmong language?
S.No |
say knowledgein Hmong language |
24 |
paub |
How to say knowledge in Bengali language?
S.No |
say knowledge in Bengali language |
25 |
জ্ঞান |
How to say knowledge in Gujarati language?
S.No |
say knowledge In Gujarati language |
26 |
જ્ઞાન |
How to say knowledge in Chinese Traditional xìnyòngkǎ fùkuǎn) language
S.No |
say knowledge In Chinese Traditional xìnyòngkǎ fùkuǎn) language |
27 |
知識 [zhīshì] |
How to say knowledge in Chinese Simplified xìnyòngkǎ fùkuǎn) language
S.No |
say knowledge in Chinese Simplified xìnyòngkǎ fùkuǎn) language |
28 |
知识 [zhīshì] |
How to say knowledge in Azerbaijani language?
S.No |
say knowledge in Azerbaijani language |
29 |
bilik |
How to Say knowledge in Armenian language?
S.No |
say knowledge in Armenian language |
30 |
գիտելիք |
How to Say Knowledge in Middle Eastern languages | Ways to say in Knowledge Middle Eastern languages
How to say knowledge in Persian language?
S.No |
say knowledge In Persian language |
1 |
دانش |
How to say knowledge in Hebrew language?
S.No |
say knowledge in Hebrew language |
2 |
יֶדַע |
How to say knowledge in Arabic language | Arabic word for knowledge
S.No |
say knowledge In Arabic language |
3 |
المعرفه [almaerifuh] |
How to Say Knowledge in European languages | Ways to say Knowledge in European languages
How to say knowledge in Basque language?
S.No |
say knowledge in Basque language |
1 |
ezagutza |
How to say knowledge in Albanian language?
S.No |
say knowledge in Albanian language |
2 |
njohuri |
How to say knowledge in Bosnian language?
S.No |
say knowledge in Bosnian language |
3 |
znanje |
How to say knowledge in Belarusian language?
S.No |
say knowledge In Belarusian language |
4 |
веданне |
How to say knowledge in Bulgarian language?
S.No |
say knowledge In Bulgarian language |
5 |
знание |
How to say knowledge in Croatian language?
S.No |
say knowledge In Croatian language |
6 |
znanje |
How to say knowledge in Catalan language?
S.No |
say knowledge In Catalan language |
7 |
coneixement |
How to say knowledge in Czech language?
S.No |
say knowledge In Czech language |
8 |
znalost |
How to say knowledge in Danish language?
S.No |
say knowledge In Danish language |
9 |
viden |
How to say knowledge in Estonian language?
S.No |
say knowledge in Estonian language |
10 |
teadmised |
How to say knowledge in Dutch language?
S.No |
say knowledge In Dutch language |
11 |
kennis |
How to say knowledge in Finnish language?
S.No |
say knowledge in Finnish language |
12 |
tuntemus |
How to say knowledge in Galician language?
S.No |
say knowledge In Galician language |
13 |
coñecemento |
How to say knowledge in French language?
S.No |
Say knowledge In French language |
14 |
connaissance |
How to say knowledge in Greek language |Greek words for knowledge| knowledge के लिए ग्रीक शब्द | Greek word for knowledge| what is the Greek word for knowledge
S.No |
Say knowledge In Greek language |
15 |
η γνώση [i gnósi] |
How to say knowledge in Icelandic language | Icelandic word for knowledge
S.No |
say knowledge in Icelandic language |
16 |
Þekkingu |
How to say knowledge in German language | German word for knowledge
S.No |
say knowledge in German language |
17 |
Wissen |
How to say knowledge in Irish language?
S.No |
say knowledge In Irish language |
18 |
eolas |
How to say knowledge in Hungarian language?
S.No |
say knowledge In Hungarian language |
19 |
tudás |
How to say knowledge in Italian language?
S.No |
say knowledge In Italian language |
20 |
conoscenza |
How to say knowledge in Romanian language?
S.No |
Say knowledge In Romanian language |
21 |
cunoştinţe |
How to say knowledge in Latvian language?
S.No |
say knowledge In Latvian language |
22 |
zināšanas |
How to say knowledge in Lithuanian language?
S.No |
say knowledge in Lithuanian language |
23 |
žinios |
How to say knowledge in Macedonian language?
S.No |
say knowledge In Macedonian language |
24 |
знаење |
How to say knowledge in Norwegian language | Norwegian word for knowledge | knowledge in Norwegian
S.No |
say knowledge In Norwegian language |
25 |
kunnskap |
How to say knowledge in Portuguese language?
S.No |
Say knowledge In Portuguese language |
26 |
conhecimento |
How to say knowledge in Polish language?
S.No |
say knowledge In Polish language |
27 |
wiedza, umiejętności |
How to say knowledge in Maltese language?
S.No |
Say knowledge In Maltese language |
28 |
għarfien |
How to say knowledge in Yiddish language?
S.No |
say knowledge In Yiddish language |
29 |
וויסן |
How to say knowledge in Welsh language?
S.No |
say knowledge In Welsh language |
30 |
gwybodaeth |
How to say knowledge in Ukrainian language?
S.No |
say knowledge In Ukrainian language |
31 |
знання [znannya] |
How to say knowledge in Serbian language?
S.No |
say knowledge In Serbian language |
32 |
знање [znanje] |
How to say knowledge in Swedish language?
S.No |
say knowledge In Swedish language |
33 |
kunskap |
How to say knowledge in Slovak language?
S.No |
Say knowledge In Slovak language |
34 |
vedomosti |
How to say knowledge in Slovenian language?
S.No |
say knowledge In Slovenian language |
35 |
znanje |
How to say knowledge in Spanish language | Spanish word for knowledge
S.No |
say knowledge In Spanish language |
36 |
conocimiento |
How to say knowledge in Russian language | Russian word for knowledge | knowledge रूसी भाषा में
S.No |
say knowledge In Russian language |
37 |
знание [znaniye] |
How to say Knowledge in Austronesian languages | ways to say Knowledge in Austronesian languages
How to say knowledge in Filipino language?
S.No |
say knowledge In Filipino language |
1 |
kaalaman |
How to say knowledge in Cebuano language?
S.No |
Say knowledge In Cebuano language |
2 |
kahibalo |
How to say knowledge in Indonesian language?
S.No |
say knowledge In Indonesian language |
3 |
pengetahuan |
How to say knowledge in Malagasy language?
S.No |
say knowledge In Malagasy language |
4 |
fahalalana |
How to say knowledge in Maori language?
S.No |
say knowledge In Maori language |
5 |
mōhiotanga |
How to say knowledge in Malay language?
S.No |
say knowledge in Malay language |
6 |
pengetahuan |
How to say knowledge in Javanese language?
S.No |
say knowledge In Javanese language |
7 |
kawruh |
How to say Knowledge in African languages | Ways to say Knowledge in African languages
How to say knowledge in Somali language?
S.No |
say knowledge In Somali language |
1 |
aqoon |
How to say knowledge in Swahili language | knowledge in Swahili language
S.No |
say knowledge In Swahili language |
2 |
maarifa |
How to say knowledge in Yoruba language?
S.No |
say knowledge In Yoruba language |
3 |
imo |
How to say knowledge in Sesotho language?
S.No |
say knowledge In Sesotho language |
4 |
tsebo |
How to say knowledge in Igbo language?
S.No |
say knowledge In Igbo language |
5 |
ihe ọmụma |
How to say knowledge in Hausa language?
S.No |
say knowledge In Hausa language |
6 |
ilimi |
How to say knowledge in Chichewa language?
S.No |
say knowledge In Chichewa language |
7 |
chidziwitso |
How to say knowledge in Afrikaans language | African word for knowledge
S.No |
say knowledge In Afrikaans language |
8 |
kennis |
How to say knowledge in Zulu language?
S.No |
say knowledge In Zulu language |
9 |
ulwazi |
FAQ
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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)
Here’s the answer:
“わかります”
(wakarimasu)
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Here’s how it sounds in a textbook:
You could also say:
- 分かります
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