Essential Japanese Vocabulary for Beginners121

Mastering basic Japanese vocabulary is crucial for effective communication. This comprehensive guide provides a curated list of essential words that will lay the foundation for your Japanese language learning journey.

Greetings and Introductions

こんにちは (Konnichiwa) - Hello
おはようございます (Ohayo gozaimasu) - Good morning
こんばんは (Konbanwa) - Good evening
さようなら (Sayonara) - Goodbye
はじめまして (Hajimemashite) - Nice to meet you
お名前は? (Onamae wa?) - What is your name?

Numbers

1. いち (Ichi)
2. に (Ni)
3. さん (San)
4. よん (Yon)
5. ご (Go)
6. ろく (Roku)
7. なな (Nana)
8. はち (Hachi)
9. きゅう (Kyu)
10. じゅう (Ju)

Days of the Week

月曜日 (Getsuyoubi) - Monday
火曜日 (Kayoubi) - Tuesday
水曜日 (Suiyobi) - Wednesday
木曜日 (Mokuyobi) - Thursday
金曜日 (Kinyobi) - Friday
土曜日 (Doyoubi) - Saturday
日曜日 (Nichiyoubi) - Sunday

Personal Pronouns

私 (Watashi) - I
あなた (Anata) - You
彼 (Kare) - He
彼女 (Kanojo) - She
私たち (Watashitachi) - We
あなたたち (Anatatachi) - You all
彼ら (Karera) - They

Basic Verbs

いる (Iru) - To be
ない (Nai) - To not be
いる (Imasu) - To be (formal)
ない (Arimasen) - To not be (formal)
食べる (Taberu) - To eat
飲む (Nomu) - To drink
寝る (Neru) - To sleep

Nouns

人 (Hito) - Person
本 (Hon) - Book
車 (Kuruma) - Car
家 (Ie) - House
学校 (Gakkou) - School
仕事 (Shigoto) - Work
お金 (Okane) - Money

Adjectives

大きい (Ookii) - Big
小さい (Chiisai) - Small
新しい (Atarashii) - New
古い (Furui) - Old
おいしい (Oishii) - Delicious
安い (Yasui) - Cheap
高い (Takai) - Expensive

Adverbs

とても (Totemo) - Very
少し (Sukoshi) - A little
よく (Yoku) - Often
いつも (Itsumo) - Always
時々 (Tokidoki) - Sometimes
あまり (Amari) - Not much

Particles

Particles play a crucial role in Japanese grammar. Here are some common ones:
は (Wa) - Subject marker
の (No) - Possessive marker
が (Ga) - Subject marker (contrasts with は)
を (Wo) - Direct object marker
に (Ni) - Direction or location

Basic Phrases

私は日本語を勉強しています (Watashi wa nihongo wo benkyo shiteいます) - I am studying Japanese.
あなたは学生ですか? (Anata wa gakusei desu ka?) - Are you a student?
今日は良い天気ですね (Kyou wa ii tenki desu ne) - It's a nice day today.
お願いいたします (Onegai shimasu) - Please.
どうもありがとうございます (Domo arigatou gozaimasu) - Thank you very much.

Tips for Memorizing Vocabulary* Use flashcards or spaced repetition apps.
* Create context by using words in sentences.
* Listen to Japanese music or watch Japanese movies to hear the words in context.
* Practice speaking the words aloud.
* Set realistic daily goals for memorizing new words.
* Review frequently to retain the information.

2025-02-12

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