Essential Japanese Vocabulary for Intermediate Proficiency: A Comprehensive Guide122

Embarking on the intermediate level of Japanese language proficiency requires a substantial expansion of vocabulary to effectively communicate and navigate complex situations. This article presents a comprehensive list of essential Japanese vocabulary, organized alphabetically for ease of reference. By mastering these words, learners can significantly enhance their fluency and comprehension in daily conversations, academic settings, and various professional fields.

A
aimai (あいまい): ambiguous, unclear
akarui (あかるい): bright, cheerful
ase (あせ): sweat
atsui (あつい): hot
atsumare (あつまれ): gather, assemble

B
baka (ばか): fool, idiot
benkyō (べんきょう): study
bijutsukan (びじゅつかん): art museum
boku (ぼく): I (humble, male speaker)
boring (ぼーりんぐ): boring

C
chigau (ちがう): to be different
chūgokujin (ちゅうごくじん): Chinese person
chūshajō (ちゅうしゃじょう): parking lot
daijōbu (だいじょうぶ): okay, fine
darekare (だれかれ): everybody

E
eiga (えいが): movie
eki (えき): station
en (えん): circle
gakkō (がっこう): school
gakusei (がくせい): student

F
fusai (ふさい): stuffy, congested
futari (ふたり): two people
fuyaseru (ふやせる): to lose weight
fuyu (ふゆ): winter
gakusei (がくせい): student

G
gakkari (がっかり): disappointed
gakuseikai (がくせいかい): student council
gakushū (がくしゅう): learning
gakuyōhin (がくようひん): school supplies
gakuyū (がくゆう): school club

H
hai (はい): yes
hajime (はじめ): beginning
hajimeru (はじめる): to begin
haji (はじ): shame
hama (はま): beach

I
ie (いえ): no
ijime (いじわる): bullying
ikiru (いじる): to live
ikura (いくら): how much
imēji (イメージ): image

J
janai (じゃない): not
jikan (じかん): time
jishin (じしん): earthquake
jõdanki (じょうだんき): joke
ju (じゅう): ten

K
kabuki (かぶき): traditional Japanese theater
kaisha (かいしゃ): company
kamera (カメラ): camera
karada (からだ): body
kawaii (かわいい): cute

L
last (らすと): last
letter (れったー): letter
library (らいぶらりー): library
like (らいく): like
lunch (らんち): lunch

M
mada (まだ): not yet
madori (まどり): floor plan
mai (まい): piece, page
makka (まっから): red
mama (まま): mother

N
nagao (ながい): long
naido (ないど): inside
nani (なに): what
nara (なら): if
natsu (なつ): summer

O
ochiru (おちる): to fall
odoroku (おどろく): to be surprised
ofuro (おふろ): bath
ohayo (おはよう): good morning
oi (おい): hey (informal)

P
pajama (パジャマ): pajamas
pantasu (パンツ): pants
party (パーティー): party
pen (ペン): pen
piano (ピアノ): piano

Q
kawaii (かわいい): cute
kizu (きず): wound
kōcha (こうちゃ): tea
kōen (こうえん): park
kōshi (こうし): teacher

R
rainen (らいねん): next year
raku (らく): easy
ranbō (らんぼう): violent
renpuku (れんぷく): contact
renpukuaki (れんぷくあき): contact information

S
saki (さき): ahead
samui (さむい): cold
san (さん): Mr., Ms., Mrs. (honorific suffix)
saru (さる): monkey
satsu (さつ): book

T
tabun (たぶん): probably
tadaima (ただいま): I'm home
takai (たかい): expensive
takusan (たくさん): a lot
tame (ため): for

U
u (う): Japanese phonetic syllable
uchi (うち): house
umai (うまい): delicious
umu (うむ): yes (formal)
uni (うに): sea urchin

V
very (ベリー): very
videotaipu (ビデオたいぷ): VCR
violin (ヴァイオリン): violin

2025-02-12

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