Japanese for Beginners: Essential Vocabulary for Daily Conversations118

Embarking on a journey to learn Japanese can be both exciting and daunting. Mastering the language's intricate system can take time and dedication, but familiarizing yourself with basic vocabulary is an essential step towards effective communication.

This comprehensive guide provides a foundation of over 200+ essential Japanese words, categorized into various themes relevant to everyday conversations. Whether you're a beginner looking to make introductions or an intermediate learner seeking to expand your vocabulary, this resource will empower you to engage confidently in Japanese interactions.

Greetings and Introductions
おはようございます (ohayo gozaimasu) - Good morning
こんにちは (konnichiwa) - Hello (general greeting)
こんばんは (konbanwa) - Good evening
おやすみなさい (oyasuminasai) - Good night
はじめまして (hajimemashite) - Nice to meet you
名前は (namae wa) - What's your name?
私の名前は (watashi no namae wa) - My name is...
どうぞよろしく (dozo yoroshiku onegaishimasu) - Nice to meet you

Personal Information
年齢 (nenrei) - Age
職業 (shokugyou) - Occupation
出身 (shusshin) - Place of origin
趣味 (shumi) - Hobby
家族 (kazoku) - Family
友達 (tomodachi) - Friend
彼氏 (kareshi) - Boyfriend
彼女 (kanojo) - Girlfriend

Daily Activities
食べる (taberu) - To eat
飲む (nomu) - To drink
寝る (neru) - To sleep
起きる (okiru) - To wake up
働く (hataraku) - To work
勉強する (benkyou suru) - To study
買い物をする (kaimono o suru) - To shop
遊ぶ (asobu) - To play

Transportation
電車 (densha) - Train
バス (basu) - Bus
タクシー (takushii) - Taxi
車 (kuruma) - Car
自転車 (jitensha) - Bicycle
駅 (eki) - Station
停留所 (teiryujo) - Bus stop
交差点 (kousaten) - Intersection

Numbers and Time
一 (ichi) - One
二 (ni) - Two
三 (san) - Three
四 (yon/shi) - Four
五 (go) - Five
六 (roku) - Six
七 (nana) - Seven
八 (hachi) - Eight
九 (kyu) - Nine
十 (juu) - Ten
今 (ima) - Now
昨日 (kinou) - Yesterday
今日 (kyou) - Today
明日 (ashita) - Tomorrow

Shopping
お金 (okane) - Money
値段 (nedan) - Price
買う (kau) - To buy
売る (uru) - To sell
スーパー (suupaa) - Supermarket
コンビニ (konbini) - Convenience store
デパート (depaato) - Department store
銀行 (ginkou) - Bank

Places
家 (ie) - House
学校 (gakkou) - School
会社 (kaisha) - Company
病院 (byouin) - Hospital
公園 (kouen) - Park
美術館 (bijutsukan) - Art museum
図書館 (toshokan) - Library
郵便局 (yuubinkyoku) - Post office

Weather
晴れ (hare) - Sunny
曇り (kumori) - Cloudy
雨 (ame) - Rain
雪 (yuki) - Snow
風 (kaze) - Wind
暑い (atsui) - Hot
寒い (samui) - Cold
湿気 (shikke) - Humidity

Food and Drink
ご飯 (gohan) - Rice
味噌汁 (misoshiru) - Miso soup
寿司 (sushi) - Sushi
ラーメン (raamen) - Ramen
天ぷら (tempura) - Tempura
ビール (biiru) - Beer
日本酒 (nihonshu) - Sake
緑茶 (ryokucha) - Green tea

Health and Body
頭 (atama) - Head
目 (me) - Eye
鼻 (hana) - Nose
口 (kuchi) - Mouth
手 (te) - Hand
足 (ashi) - Foot
痛い (itai) - Painful
病気 (byouki) - Illness

Emergencies
助けて (tasukete) - Help!
警察 (keisatsu) - Police
病院 (byouin) - Hospital
火事 (kaji) - Fire
地震 (jishin) - Earthquake
津波 (tsunami) - Tsunami
けが (kega) - Injury
危険 (kiken) - Danger

Remember, language learning is an ongoing journey. Consistent practice and exposure are key to building fluency. Integrate these essential Japanese words into your daily conversations, and with time, you'll expand your vocabulary and become more confident in expressing yourself in this beautiful language.

2024-11-17

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