Are you ready to start your Japanese learning journey? Knowing essential Japanese words in English is crucial for beginners to build a solid foundation. This guide features 200+ must-know Japanese words that will enhance your communication skills and help you navigate various aspects of daily life in Japan. From basic phrases and greetings to more specific vocabulary related to food, travel, and health, this comprehensive list will equip you with the key terms needed for effective interaction in Japanese.
This video guides you on how to practice basic Japanese step by step:
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1. Some basic phrases you need to know for effective communication Common Japanese question – Japanese words English Japanese phrases Romaji English meaning ใฏใ Hai Yes ใใใ Iie No ๅๅใฏใชใใงใใ Namae wa nan desu ka What is your name? ็งใฏใใงใ Watashi wa ~ desu I am ~ ~ใใๆฅใพใใ ~kara Kimashita I came from~/ I am from~ ใใใฏไฝใงใใ Kore wa nan desu ka What is this? ใใใใงใใ Ikura desu ka How much? ใใใใใ ใใ kore wo kudasai Can I get this one? / I will take this one ใใญใใใใพใ onegaishimasu Please ๆณจๆใ้กใใใพใ Chumon onegaishimasu Can I place an order? ๆฐดใใ้กใใใพใ Mizu wo onegaishimasu Water please ใไผ่จใ้กใใใพใ Okaikei onegaishimasu Can I get the check/bill please (in a restaurant) ใใใฏใฉใใงใใ Koko wa Doko desu ka Where am I? ใใคใฌใฏใฉใใงใใ Toire wa doko desu ka Where is the bathroom? ๆไผใฃใฆใใใพใใ๏ผ tetsudatte kuremasu ka? Can you help me? ๅฅฝใใงใ suki desu I like it. ้ง
ใฏใฉใใงใใ Eki wa doko desu ka Where is the train station? ใใกใงใ dame desu Itโs no good. ใใใงใใ ii desu yo Itโs good. ๆฅๆฌ่ชใง่ฉฑใใพใใใ nihongo de hanashimashou Letโs talk in Japanese. ไปไฝๆใงใใ Ima nan ji desu ka What time is it now? ใใใใพใใ Wakarimasen I donโt understand ๆฅๆฌ่ชใ่ฉฑใใพใใ Nihongo ga hanasemasen I canโt speak Japanese
2. Greeting Japanese phrases Romaji English meaning ใใฏใใใใใใพใ Ohayou gozaimasu Good morning ใใใซใกใฏ Konnichiwa Good Afternoon ใใใฐใใฏ Konbanwa Good evening ใใใใจใใใใใพใ Arigatou Gozaimasu Thank you ใใฟใพใใ Sumimasen Excuse me/ I am sorry
These are the most basic and common Japanese phrases for greetings. Mastering these phrases will help you confidently greet others, make a good first impression, and start conversations smoothly. You can learn more common greeting phrases in MochiKanjiโs conversation course.
3. People/ Pronouns Japanese phrases Romaji English meaning ็ง (ใใใ) watashi I ใใชใ anata you ๅฝผ (ใใ) kare he ๅฝผๅฅณ (ใใฎใใ) kanojo she ็งใใก (ใใใใใก) watashitachi we ๅฝผใ(ใใใ) karera they ๅ้ (ใจใใ ใก) tomodachi friend ๅญไพ (ใใฉใ) kodomo child
To build your Kanji and basic Japanese words about people and pronouns, try MochiKanji! The app covers 8000+ Kanji and Japanese words from basic to advanced levels. Itโs the perfect to enhance your language skills.
4. Japanese Numbers Number in Japanese -Japanese words English Japanese numbers from 1 to 10: Japanese phrases Romaji English meaning ไธ (ใใก) ichi 1 ไบ (ใซ) ni 2 ไธ (ใใ) san 3 ๅ (ใ/ใใ) shi/yon 4 ไบ (ใ) go 5 ๅ
ญ (ใใ) roku 6 ไธ (ใใก/ใชใช) shichi/nana 7 ๅ
ซ (ใฏใก) hachi 8 ไน (ใใ
ใ/ใ) kyuu/ku 9 ๅ (ใใ
ใ) juu 10
Japanese numbers from 20 to 100: Japanese phrases Romaji English meaning ไบๅ (ใซใใ
ใ) nijuu 20 ไธๅ (ใใใใ
ใ) sanjuu 30 ๅๅ (ใใใใ
ใ) yonjuu 40 ไบๅ (ใใใ
ใ) gojuu 50 ๅ
ญๅ (ใใใใ
ใ) rokujuu 60 ไธๅ (ใชใชใใ
ใ) nanajuu 70 ๅ
ซๅ (ใฏใกใใ
ใ) hachijuu 80 ไนๅ (ใใ
ใใใ
ใ) kyuujuu 90 ็พ (ใฒใใ) hyaku 100
5. Time in Japanese Japanese phrases Romaji English meaning ๆ้ (ใใใ) jikan time ไป (ใใพ) ima now ไปๆฅ (ใใใ) kyou today ๆๆฅ (ใใใ) ashita tomorrow ๆจๆฅ (ใใฎใ) kinou yesterday ๆฅ้ฑ (ใใใใ
ใ) raishuu next week ๅ
ๆ (ใใใใค) sengetsu last month ไปๅนด (ใใจใ) kotoshi this year ๆ (ใใ) asa morning ๅค (ใใ) yoru night
6. Days of the week Japanese phrases Romaji English meaning ๆๆๆฅ (ใใคใใใณ) getsuyoubi Monday ็ซๆๆฅ (ใใใใณ) kayoubi Tuesday ๆฐดๆๆฅ (ใใใใใณ) suiyoubi Wednesday ๆจๆๆฅ (ใใใใใณ) mokuyoubi Thursday ้ๆๆฅ (ใใใใใณ) kin’youbi Friday ๅๆๆฅ (ใฉใใใณ) doyoubi Saturday ๆฅๆๆฅ (ใซใกใใใณ) nichiyoubi Sunday
Here are the most essential and commonly used vocabulary words related to the “Days of the Week.” Mastering these words will help you confidently discuss your weekly schedule! You can learn vocabulary on this topic with full images, pronunciation, and example sentences in MochiKanji’s vocabulary course.
7. Months of the year Japanese phrases Romaji English meaning ไธๆ(ใใกใใค) ichigatsu January ไบๆ (ใซใใค) nigatsu February ไธๆ ใใใใค sangatsu March ๅๆ ใใใค shigatsu April ไบๆ ใใใค gogatsu May ๅ
ญๆ ใใใใค rokugatsu June ไธๆ ใใกใใค shichigatsu July ๅ
ซๆ ใฏใกใใค hachigatsu August ไนๆ ใใใค kugatsu September ๅๆ ใใ
ใใใค juugatsu October ๅไธๆ ใใ
ใใใกใใค juuichigatsu November ๅไบๆ ใใ
ใใซใใค juunigatsu December
8. Japanese Nouns Japanese phrases Romaji English meaning ๅฎถ (ใใ / ใใก) ie or uchi Home ๅบ (ใฟใ) mise Shop ๆ ็ป (ใใใ) eiga Movie ๅญฆๆ ก (ใใฃใใ) gakkou School ่ป (ใใใพ) kuruma Car ็บ (ใพใก) machi Town ้ณๆฅฝ (ใใใใ) ongaku Music ๅฎถๆ (ใใใ) kazoku Family ๆ
้ท (ใตใใใจ) furusato Hometown ใใคใฌ toire Bathroom
9. Japanese Verbs Japanese phrases Romaji English meaning ใใ suru To do ใชใ naru To become ่กใ (ใใ) iku To go ่จใ(ใใ) iu To say ่ฆใ(ใฟใ) miru To see ๆฅใ (ใใ) kuru To come ้ฃในใ (ใในใ) taberu To eat
10. Food and drink Japanese phrases Romaji English meaning ใ้ฃฏ (ใใฏใ) gohan rice ใใณ pan bread ๆฐด (ใฟใ) mizu water ใ่ถ (ใใกใ) ocha tea ็ไนณ (ใใ
ใใซใ
ใ) gyuunyuu milk ใใใ (ใใใ) ringo apple ่ (ใซใ) niku meat ้ญ (ใใใช) sakana fish ้่ (ใใใ) yasai vegetable ๆ็ฉ (ใใ ใใฎ) kudamono fruit ใขใคในใฏใชใผใ aisukuriimu ice cream ๅฏฟๅธ (ใใ) sushi sushi ใฑใผใญ keeki cake ใใผใซ biiru beer
11. Occupation Occupations – Japanese words English Japanese phrases Romaji English meaning ๅป่
(ใใใ) isha doctor ๆๅธซ (ใใใใ) kyoushi teacher ๅญฆ็ (ใใใใ) gakusei student ๆญๆ (ใใใ
) kashu singer ๅญฆ็ (ใใใใ) gakusei student ใธใฃใผใใชในใ jaanarisuto journalist ใจใณใธใใข enjinia engineer ็่ญทๅธซ (ใใใใ) kangoshi nurse ๅผ่ญทๅฃซ (ในใใใ) bengoshi lawyer ไฟณๅช (ใฏใใใ) haiyuu actor ๆญฏๅป่
(ใฏใใใ) haisha dentist ไผ็คพๅก (ใใใใใใ) kaishain company employee ๅไป (ใใใคใ) uketsuke-gakari receptionist ไฝๅฎถ (ใใฃใ) sakka writer ็ปๅฎถ (ใใ) gaka artist
Unlock the essential vocabulary for occupations with MochiKanjiโs course. Whether for work, travel, or personal growth, start your trial today and confidently talk about professions in Japanese!
12. Places Japanese phrases Romaji English meaning ๅฎถ (ใใ) ie house ๅญฆๆ ก (ใใฃใใ) gakkou school ๅ
ฌๅ (ใใใใ) kouen park ็
้ข (ใณใใใใ) byouin hospital ้ง
(ใใ) eki station ๅบ (ใฟใ) mise store ไผ็คพ (ใใใใ) kaisha company ๅณๆธ้คจ (ใจใใใใ) toshokan library ๆ ็ป้คจ (ใใใใใ) eigakan cinema ็บ (ใพใก) machi town ใฌในใใฉใณ resutoran restaurant ็ฉบๆธฏ (ใใใใ) kuukou airport ๆตท (ใใฟ) umi sea ๅฑฑ (ใใพ) yama mountain ๅท (ใใ) kawa river ๆน (ใฟใใใฟ) mizuumi lake ๅ็ฉๅ (ใฉใใถใคใใ) doubutsuen zoo
13. Objects Japanese phrases Romaji English meaning ๅ (ใใ) kasa umbrella ๅธฝๅญ (ใผใใ) boushi hat ้ต (ใใ) kagi key ๆ่จ (ใจใใ) tokei watch ๆฌ (ใปใ) hon book ็ผ้ก (ใใใญ) megane glasses ้ (ใใฐใ) kaban handbag ้ด (ใใค) kutsu shoes ็ฟ (ใใ) sara plate ้ (ใใ) kugi nail
14. Family Family in Japanese – Japanese words English meaning Japanese phrases Romaji English meaning ๅฎถๆ (ใใใ) kazoku Family ็ถ (ใกใก) chichi Father ๆฏ (ใฏใฏ) haha Mother ๅ
(ใใซ) ani Older Brother ๅง (ใใญ) ane Older Sister ๅผ (ใใจใใจ) otouto Younger Brother ๅฆน (ใใใใจ) imouto Younger Sister ็ฅ็ถ (ใใต) sofu Grandfather ็ฅๆฏ (ใใผ) sobo Grandmother ๅคซ (ใใฃใจ) otto Husband ๅฆป (ใคใพ) tsuma Wife ๆฏๅญ (ใใใ) musuko Son ๅจ (ใใใ) musume Daughter ไธก่ฆช (ใใใใใ) ryoushin Parents ๅ
ๅผ (ใใใใ ใ) kyoudai Siblings
15. Weather and Seasons Japanese phrases Romaji English meaning Weather ๅคฉๆฐ (ใฆใใ) Tenki weather ๅคฉๅ (ใฆใใใ) Tenkou climate ๆฐ่ฑก็ถๆณ (ใใใใใใใใใใ) Kishou joukyou weather condition ็ฉบๆจกๆง (ใใใใใ) Sora moyou the look of the sky ๆดใ (ใฏใ) Hare sunny, clear weather ๅฟซๆด (ใใใใ) Kaisei clear weather without clouds ๆใ (ใใใ) Kumori cloudy ้ฒ (ใใ) Kumo cloud ้จ (ใใ) Ame rain ๅฐ้จ (ใใใ) Kosame light rain / drizzle ้ง้จ (ใใใใ) Kirisame misty rain / light drizzle ๅคง้จ (ใใใใ) Ooame heavy rain ้ใ้จ (ใจใใใใ) Toriame cloudburst ๆฅ้จ (ใฏใใใ) Harusame spring rain ๅคฉๆฐ้จ (ใฆใใใใ) Tenkiame temporary rainfall in the sunshine ่ฑช้จ (ใใใ) Gouu downpour ๆด้ขจ้จ (ใผใใตใใ) Boufuu rainstorm ้ท้จ (ใใใ) Raiu thunder-rainstorm ้ช (ใใ) Yuki snow ๅคง้ช (ใใใใ) Ooyuki heavy snow ๅน้ช (ใตใถใ) Fubuki snowstorm / blizzard ้ฐ (ใใใ) Arare hailstone / falling iceball ้ (ใฟใใ) Mizore sleet / snow with rain ้น (ใฒใใ) Hyou hail ้ขจ (ใใ) Kaze wind ใใ้ขจ (ใใใใ) Soyokaze breeze ๅผท้ขจ (ใใใใตใ) Kyoufuu strong wind ๆด้ขจ (ใผใใตใ) Boufuu windstorm ๅฐ้ขจ (ใใใตใ) Taifuu typhoon ๅญฃ็ฏ้ขจ (ใใใคใตใ) Kisetsufuu monsoon / seasonal wind ้ท (ใใฟใชใ) Kaminari thunder / lightning ้ง (ใใ) Kiri fog / mist ๆฟ้ง (ใฎใใ) Noumu heavy fog / dense mist Seasons ๆฅ (ใฏใ) haru Spring ๅค (ใชใค) natsu Summer ็ง (ใใ) aki Autumn ๅฌ (ใตใ) fuyu Winter
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Conclusion By mastering these 200+ essential Japanese words and phrases, you’ll gain confidence in navigating various situations and conversations. Whether you’re meeting new people, traveling, or simply engaging in daily activities, this vocabulary will serve as a valuable tool in your language-learning journey. Start incorporating these Japanese words into your practice, and you’ll find yourself well-prepared to communicate effectively and enjoy your experience with the Japanese language and culture.