Beginner‘s Guide to Essential Japanese Vocabulary128

Learning Japanese can be an exciting and rewarding journey. One of the most important aspects of language acquisition is building a strong vocabulary foundation. This guide provides a comprehensive list of essential Japanese words and phrases for beginners, covering various categories to help you confidently communicate in everyday situations.

Greetings and Introductions
こんにちは (Konnichiwa): Hello (daytime)
こんばんは (Konbanwa): Hello (evening)
おはようございます (Ohayo gozaimasu): Good morning
さようなら (Sayonara): Goodbye
はじめまして (Hajimemashite): Nice to meet you
お名前はなんですか？ (Onamae wa nan desu ka?): What is your name?
私は[名前]です。 (Watashi wa [namae] desu.): My name is [name].

Basic Phrases
はい (Hai): Yes
いいえ (Iie): No
わかりません (Wakarimasen): I don't understand
すみません (Sumimasen): Excuse me
ありがとうございます (Arigatou gozaimasu): Thank you
どういたしまして (Dou itashimashite): You're welcome
申し訳ありません (Moushiwake arimasen): I'm sorry

Numbers
1 (Ichi)
2 (Ni)
3 (San)
4 (Yon)
5 (Go)
6 (Roku)
7 (Nana)
8 (Hachi)
9 (Kyuu)
10 (Juu)

Days of the Week
月曜日 (Getsuyoubi): Monday
火曜日 (Kayoubi): Tuesday
水曜日 (Suiyoubi): Wednesday
木曜日 (Mokuyobi): Thursday
金曜日 (Kin'youbi): Friday
土曜日 (Doyoubi): Saturday
日曜日 (Nichiyoubi): Sunday

Colors
赤 (Aka): Red
青 (Ao): Blue
黄色 (Kiiro): Yellow
緑 (Midori): Green
白 (Shiro): White
黒 (Kuro): Black
ピンク (Pinku): Pink

Family Members
父 (Chichi): Father
母 (Haha): Mother
兄 (Ani): Older brother
姉 (Ane): Older sister
弟 (Otouto): Younger brother
妹 (Imouto): Younger sister
祖父 (Sofu): Grandfather
祖母 (Sobaba): Grandmother

Animals
猫 (Neko): Cat
犬 (Inu): Dog
鳥 (Tori): Bird
魚 (Sakana): Fish
ウサギ (Usagi): Rabbit
馬 (Uma): Horse
牛 (Ushi): Cow

Food and Drinks
ご飯 (Gohan): Rice
パン (Pan): Bread
麺 (Men): Noodles
寿司 (Sushi): Sushi
ラーメン (Ramen): Ramen noodles
お茶 (Ocha): Tea
コーヒー (Koohii): Coffee

Places
家 (Ie): House
学校 (Gakkou): School
会社 (Kaisha): Company
病院 (Byouin): Hospital
レストラン (Resutoran): Restaurant
公園 (Kouen): Park
図書館 (Toshokan): Library

Adjectives
大きい (Ookii): Big
小さい (Chiisai): Small
高い (Takai): Expensive
安い (Yasui): Cheap
きれい (Kirei): Beautiful
汚い (Kitanai): Dirty
おいしい (Oishii): Delicious

Verbs
食べる (Taberu): To eat
飲む (Nomu): To drink
寝る (Neru): To sleep
起きる (Okiru): To wake up
走る (Hashiru): To run
歩く (Aruku): To walk
話す (Hanasu): To speak

Questions
何ですか？ (Nan desu ka?): What is this?
どこですか？ (Doko desu ka?): Where is it?
誰ですか？ (Dare desu ka?): Who is it?
どうしてですか？ (Doushite desu ka?): Why is it like this?
いくらですか？ (Ikura desu ka?): How much is it?
いつですか？ (Itsu desu ka?): When is it?
どうやってですか？ (Douyatte desu ka?): How do you do it?

Additional Tips for Vocabulary Building
Use flashcards or a language learning app.
Read Japanese texts and listen to audio content.
Practice speaking with native speakers or language partners.
Review vocabulary regularly to retain information.
Immerse yourself in Japanese culture through movies, TV shows, and music.

By consistently using these words and phrases, you will gradually expand your Japanese vocabulary and be able to communicate more effectively. Remember, language learning is a journey, and with patience and effort, you can master the basics of Japanese vocabulary.

2024-11-01

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