Stepping into the world of the Japanese language is a thrilling adventure. And, like any journey, it starts with a single step. That first step here is building your Japanese vocabulary. To help you start, we’ve compiled a list of the first 100 words that every beginner should learn. These words cover everyday topics, making them practical and useful in numerous situations.
Basic Greetings and Expressions:
Japanese is renowned for its politeness, and appropriately greeting people is an essential aspect of this culture. Here are some basic greetings and useful expressions:
- おはよう (Ohayou) – Good morning
- こんにちは (Konnichiwa) – Good afternoon
- こんばんは (Konbanwa) – Good evening
- さようなら (Sayounara) – Goodbye
- ありがとう (Arigatou) – Thank you
- すみません (Sumimasen) – Excuse me
- はい (Hai) – Yes
- いいえ (Iie) – No
- おねがいします (Onegaishimasu) – Please
- ごめんなさい (Gomennasai) – I’m sorry
Essential Nouns:
The backbone of any language is its nouns. Here are some essential nouns in Japanese:
- 名前 (Namae) – Name
- 時間 (Jikan) – Time
- 日 (Hi) – Day
- 夜 (Yoru) – Night
- 人 (Hito) – Person
- 友達 (Tomodachi) – Friend
- 家族 (Kazoku) – Family
- 仕事 (Shigoto) – Work
- 学校 (Gakkou) – School
- 本 (Hon) – Book
Common Verbs:
Verbs describe actions and states of being. Here are some of the most frequently used Japanese verbs:
- 行く (Iku) – Go
- 見る (Miru) – See
- 来る (Kuru) – Come
- 話す (Hanasu) – Speak/Talk
- 読む (Yomu) – Read
- 書く (Kaku) – Write
- 食べる (Taberu) – Eat
- 飲む (Nomu) – Drink
- 聞く (Kiku) – Hear/Listen
- 知る (Shiru) – Know
Basic Adjectives:
Adjectives add color to our language by describing qualities and characteristics. Here are some basic Japanese adjectives:
- 新しい (Atarashii) – New
- 古い (Furui) – Old
- いい (Ii) – Good
- 悪い (Warui) – Bad
- 大きい (Ookii) – Big
- 小さい (Chiisai) – Small
- 高い (Takai) – High/Tall/Expensive
- 安い (Yasui) – Cheap
- 速い (Hayai) – Fast
- 遅い (Osoi) – Slow
Numbers:
Numbers are vital in various situations like telling time, shopping, or giving your phone number.
- 一 (Ichi) – One
- 二 (Ni) – Two
- 三 (San) – Three
- 四 (Shi/Yon) – Four
- 五 (Go) – Five
- 六 (Roku) – Six
- 七 (Shichi/Nana) – Seven
- 八 (Hachi) – Eight
- 九 (Kyu/Ku) – Nine
- 十 (Juu) – Ten
Basic Question Words:
Knowing how to ask questions is essential for communicating and understanding in any language. Here are some basic question words in Japanese:
- 誰 (Dare) – Who
- 何 (Nani) – What
- どこ (Doko) – Where
- いつ (Itsu) – When
- どうして (Doushite) – Why
- どう (Dou) – How
- いくつ (Ikutsu) – How many
- どれ (Dore) – Which
Common Adverbs:
Adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs. Here are some commonly used Japanese adverbs:
- とても (Totemo) – Very
- ほとんど (Hotondo) – Almost
- すぐに (Sugu ni) – Immediately
- まだ (Mada) – Yet, still
- いつも (Itsumo) – Always
Useful Prepositions:
Prepositions link words together, showing relationships between different parts of the sentence:
- で (De) – At
- から (Kara) – From
- まで (Made) – Until
- に (Ni) – To
- の (No) – Of
Basic Colors:
Colors are descriptive words that are universally useful:
- 赤 (Aka) – Red
- 青 (Ao) – Blue
- 黄色 (Kiiro) – Yellow
- 緑 (Midori) – Green
- 黒 (Kuro) – Black
- 白 (Shiro) – White
- 紫 (Murasaki) – Purple
- ピンク (Pinku) – Pink
- 茶色 (Chairo) – Brown
- グレー (Gurei) – Grey
Useful Phrases:
Finally, here are some useful phrases that could come in handy:
- お名前は何ですか (Onamae wa nan desu ka) – What is your name?
- 初めまして (Hajimemashite) – Nice to meet you.
- よろしくお願いします (Yoroshiku onegaishimasu) – Please treat me well.
- どこから来ましたか (Doko kara kimashita ka) – Where are you from?
- 英語を話せますか (Eigo wo hanasemasu ka) – Can you speak English?
- トイレはどこですか (Toire wa doko desu ka) – Where is the toilet?
- 分かりません (Wakarimasen) – I don’t understand.
- もう一度言ってください (Mou ichido itte kudasai) – Please say it again.
- これは何ですか (Kore wa nan desu ka) – What is this?
- それはいくらですか (Sore wa ikura desu ka) – How much is that?
- 助けてください (Tasukete kudasai) – Please help me.
- 私の日本語は上手ですか (Watashi no Nihongo wa jouzu desu ka) – Is my Japanese good?
- 時間がありますか (Jikan ga arimasu ka) – Do you have time?
- 何時ですか (Nanji desu ka) – What time is it?
Days of the Week:
Knowing the days of the week is important in making plans and appointments:
- 月曜日 (Getsuyoubi) – Monday
- 火曜日 (Kayoubi) – Tuesday
- 水曜日 (Suiyoubi) – Wednesday
- 木曜日 (Mokuyoubi) – Thursday
- 金曜日 (Kinyoubi) – Friday
- 土曜日 (Doyoubi) – Saturday
- 日曜日 (Nichiyoubi) – Sunday
- 今日 (Kyou) – Today
Conclusion:
Learning these first 100 words in Japanese is a solid first step in your journey to becoming fluent in this rich and fascinating language. Remember, the key to language learning is repetition and practice, so try to use these words in your daily life as much as possible. Don’t be afraid of making mistakes, as they are simply opportunities to learn and grow. Happy learning, and best of luck on your Japanese language journey!