Best Japanese Vocabulary for Beginners: 100 Must-Know Words
Learning the right vocabulary is key if you’re starting your Japanese language journey. Japanese has thousands of words, but you don’t need them all in the beginning. Instead, focus on the essentials—words used in daily conversations, greetings, numbers, and basic verbs.
In this article, we’ll cover the 100 most important beginner Japanese words categorised for easier learning. This list will help you build a strong foundation in vocabulary and enhance your reading, speaking, and listening skills.
Why Start with Basic Japanese Words?
Starting with a beginner-friendly Japanese vocabulary list ensures:
- You can understand daily conversations
- You build confidence quickly
- You master core grammar and sentence structure
- You make faster progress in JLPT N5/N4 prep
1. Basic Greetings & Expressions
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
| こんにちは | Konnichiwa | Hello / Good afternoon |
| おはようございます | Ohayou gozaimasu | Good morning |
| こんばんは | Konbanwa | Good evening |
| さようなら | Sayounara | Goodbye |
| おやすみなさい | Oyasuminasai | Good night |
| はい | Hai | Yes |
| いいえ | Iie | No |
| ありがとう | Arigatou | Thank you |
| すみません | Sumimasen | Excuse me / Sorry |
| ごめんなさい | Gomen nasai | I'm sorry |
2. Essential Pronouns
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
| わたし | Watashi | I / Me |
| あなた | Anata | You |
| かれ | Kare | He |
| かのじょ | Kanojo | She |
| わたしたち | Watashitachi | We |
| これ | Kore | This |
| それ | Sore | That |
| あれ | Are | That (over there) |
3. Numbers (1–10)
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
| いち | Ichi | 1 |
| に | Ni | 2 |
| さん | San | 3 |
| よん / し | Yon / Shi | 4 |
| ご | Go | 5 |
| ろく | Roku | 6 |
| なな / しち | Nana / Shichi | 7 |
| はち | Hachi | 8 |
| きゅう / く | Kyuu / Ku | 9 |
| じゅう | Juu | 10 |
4. Common Verbs
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
| たべる | Taberu | To eat |
| のむ | Nomu | To drink |
| いく | Iku | To go |
| くる | Kuru | To come |
| する | Suru | To do |
| みる | Miru | To see / watch |
| はなす | Hanasu | To speak |
| よむ | Yomu | To read |
| かく | Kaku | To write |
| きく | Kiku | To listen / ask |
5. Everyday Nouns
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
| ごはん | Gohan | Rice / Meal |
| みず | Mizu | Water |
| にほん | Nihon | Japan |
| がっこう | Gakkou | School |
| せんせい | Sensei | Teacher |
| ともだち | Tomodachi | Friend |
| いえ | Ie | House |
| くるま | Kuruma | Car |
| でんしゃ | Densha | Train |
| じかん | Jikan | Time |
6. Places & Directions
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
| うえ | Ue | Up |
| した | Shita | Down |
| ひだり | Hidari | Left |
| みぎ | Migi | Right |
| なか | Naka | Inside |
| そと | Soto | Outside |
| えき | Eki | Station |
| としょかん | Toshokan | Library |
| スーパー | Suupaa | Supermarket |
| コンビニ | Konbini | Convenience store |
7. Days & Time
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
| きょう | Kyou | Today |
| あした | Ashita | Tomorrow |
| きのう | Kinou | Yesterday |
| いま | Ima | Now |
| あさ | Asa | Morning |
| ひる | Hiru | Noon |
| よる | Yoru | Night |
| じ | Ji | O’clock |
| ふん | Fun | Minute |
8. Adjectives & Descriptions
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
| おおきい | Ookii | Big |
| ちいさい | Chiisai | Small |
| ながい | Nagai | Long |
| みじかい | Mijikai | Short |
| はやい | Hayai | Fast |
| おそい | Osoi | Slow |
| たかい | Takai | Expensive / Tall |
| やすい | Yasui | Cheap |
| あたらしい | Atarashii | New |
| ふるい | Furui | Old |
How to Learn These Words Effectively
- Flashcards – Use apps like Anki or Quizlet.
- Practice in Sentences – Create short Japanese sentences with new words.
- Daily Use – Try using these words while speaking or writing.
- Watch Anime or Japanese YouTube with subtitles.
- Pair With Grammar – Learn grammar alongside vocabulary for context.
Final Thoughts
This curated Japanese vocabulary list for beginners includes the top 100 words that form the foundation of communication in Japanese. By memorising and practising these words regularly, you will improve your reading, speaking, and comprehension skills—perfect for JLPT N5 and real-life conversations.
“For a comprehensive breakdown of JLPT levels, structure, and scoring, see our full post: Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) – Complete Guide.”
FAQs
1. What are the most essential Japanese words for beginners?
Words like konnichiwa (hello), watashi (I), taberu (eat), and numbers 1–10 are crucial for early learners.
2. How many Japanese words should a beginner learn?
Start with 100–150 basic words including nouns, verbs, and adjectives. It’s enough for JLPT N5 and daily usage.
3. Are these words enough for JLPT N5?
These 100 words are part of the core JLPT N5 syllabus and daily Japanese conversations.
4. What is the best way to memorise Japanese vocabulary?
Use flashcards, write daily journal entries, and practice with language exchange or apps like Duolingo and Anki.
5. Can I learn Japanese vocabulary without learning Kanji?
Yes, you can start with Hiragana and Katakana. Kanji comes later but knowing kana helps you learn faster.
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