Essential Japanese Vocabulary for Beginners291

Embarking on the path of Japanese language proficiency requires a solid foundation in vocabulary. This guide, inspired by the renowned "Everybody's Japanese" textbook, presents an extensive list of essential Japanese words for beginners, carefully curated to cover a wide range of everyday situations and topics.

Numbers (1-10)

１いち - one
２に - two
３さん - three
４よん - four
５ご - five
６ろく - six
７なな - seven
８はち - eight
９きゅう - nine
１０じゅう - ten

Greetings

こんにちは - konnichiwa - hello (during the day)
おはようございます - ohayo gozaimasu - good morning
こんばんは - konbanwa - good evening
はい - hai - yes
いいえ - iie - no
ありがとうございます - arigatō gozaimasu - thank you
どういたしまして - dō itashimashite - you're welcome

Personal Pronouns

わたし - watashi - I
あなた - anata - you (formal)
あなた - anta - you (informal)
かれ - kare - he
かのじょ - kanojo - she

Nouns

にほん - Nihon - Japan
にほんご - Nihongo - Japanese
がっこう - gakkō - school
せんせい - sensei - teacher
ともだち - tomodachi - friend
いえ - ie - house
くるま - kuruma - car
ほん - hon - book
えんぴつ - enpitsu - pencil

Adjectives

いい - ii - good
わるい - warui - bad
おおきい - ōkii - big
ちいさい - chiisai - small
あかい - akai - red
あおい - aoi - blue

Verbs

あります - arimasu - there is/are
いません - imasen - there isn't/aren't
います - imasu - there is/are (people)
はいります - hairimasu - to enter
いきます - ikimasu - to go

Phrases

げんきですか - genki desu ka - How are you?
げんきです - genki desu - I'm well.
どちらですか - dochira desu ka - Where are you from?
にほんじんです - Nihonjin desu - I'm Japanese.
どうしますか - dō shimasu ka - What will you do?
わかりません - wakarimasen - I don't understand.

Sentence Structures

Basic affirmative sentence: subject + verb
Example: わたしはげんきです。- Watashi wa genki desu - I'm well.
Basic negative sentence: subject + negative particle + verb
Example: わたしはげんきじゃありません。- Watashi wa genki ja arimasen. - I'm not well.
Basic question sentence: subject + particle + verb
Example: あなたはげんきですか。- Anata wa genki desu ka? - How are you?

Additional Tips for Learning Japanese Vocabulary

- Use flashcards to test your memory and recall.
- Write down the words and phrases in a notebook for regular review.
- Use the words in context by practicing speaking and listening to native speakers.
- Immerse yourself in Japanese media, such as movies, songs, and anime.
- Don't be afraid to make mistakes, as they are a part of the learning process.

Conclusion

Mastering the vocabulary presented in this article will provide you with a solid foundation for further Japanese language study. By consistently practicing and expanding your vocabulary, you'll open up a world of communication and understanding in Japanese.

2024-11-12

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