200+ Japanese Words and Expressions You Must Know

Welcome to your one-stop guide to all things Japanese that is sure to help you build on your Japanese vocabulary. Whether your goal is to become fluent in the language or improve on your skills, this article covers a broad range of vocabulary that is useful for everyday conversation and a variety of situations.

With several resources available, it’s difficult to find one article that encompasses a range of topics, if anything, the internet can feel like a maze. This is why we’ve collected over 200+ Japanese words, arranged them into categories, and included the most common and versatile vocabulary we believe you will need on your Japanese learning journey.

No need to look further, AmazingTalker has you covered! From topics such as verbs to counting, telling time, sports words and job occupation names, etc., this guide promises to ease your journey and broaden your knowledge. When you’re ready to learn, let’s begin!

 

Let’s start off with Japanese greetings

Source: Pexels Photo by Alex Knight

In Japanese, greetings can take various forms depending on the level of familiarity, age, and gender. For example, the suffix “-san” is used when talking to someone you’re familiar with such as close family or friends, and can be used to address both males and females. This suffix can be used after a proper noun such as a name or surname, for example, Ruth-san or in accompaniment with a person’s job title, for example, hon’ya-san.

Similarly, the suffix “-sama” is a polite and respectful form of “-san”. It is used in professional settings such as business or when greeting a person of high status. Some examples include “okyaku-sama” which depending on the context could mean “honored customer” (when addressing a customer), or “honored guest” (when addressing a guest.

Now let’s dive into the various greetings in Japanese to broaden your vocabulary.

1. Hello or good day — konnichiwa — こんにちは

2. Yoohoo — Ya-ho- — ヤッホ

3. Good morning — Ohayō gozaimasu — おはようございます (Note: In casual settings such as with close friends, you can leave out “gozaimasui”)

4. Good evening — Konbanwa — こんばんわ

5. Hi — Ya- — やあ!

6. How’s it going? — Choushi wa dou desu ka — 調子はどうですか 

7. Good morning — Ohayō gozaimasu — 「おはようございます」

8. If it is so, farewell — Sayōnara & gokigenyō s —さようなら/ごきげんよう(Note: no longer a popular saying today)

9. Pleased to make your acquaintance — Yoroshiku onegaishimasu — よろしくお願いします

10. Nice to meet you — Hajimemashite — はじめまして

11. Have a good rest/goodnight — Oyasumi nasai —おやすみなさい

12. See you again — Mata ne —またね

13. See you tomorrow — Mata ashita —また明日 

14. Long Time No See — O-hisashiburi desu ne — お久しぶりですね

15. See you next week — Mata raishū — また来週

16. I’ll go and come back — Ittekimasu — 行ってきます(Note: Specifically used when someone leaves the house or office

17. Please go and come back — Itterasshai — 行ってらしゃい (Note: Used specifically by someone who is staying behind whether at the office or house) 

18. I have come — Tadaima — ただいま (Note: used when returning home or to the office. In this case, the person is returning)

19. Welcome back — Okaeri — おかえり(Note: used when returning home or to the office. In this case, the person is welcoming the person back)

20. Yes Hai — はい (Note: use only over the phone. Best used when answering a phone followed by the person introducing themselves. Moshimoshi (もしもし) can also be used here but is less respectful.)

21. Care — Osewa — お世話 (Note: used only over the phone. This phrase is used when showing appreciation to the other person)

22. Thank you for your hard work — Otsukaresama desu — お疲れ様です

23. Welcome — Yōkoso — ようこそ

24. Welcome — Irasshaimase — いらっしゃいませ 

25.I’m Back! — Tadaima- — ただいま

いらっしゃいませ —> Irasshaimase —> Welcome is can be used as a greeting etiquette used at restaurants. For example, Welcome, can I get you a table? Irasshaimase, tēburu o moraemasu ka?

ただいま —> Tadaima —> I’m Back! For example: I’m Back! What did I miss? Tadaima! Watashi wa nani o torikoboshita ka?

As you learn, you’ll discover how to make use of these greetings in their correct contexts. The better you familiarize yourself, the easier learning these greetings in Japanese becomes.

 

Let’s learn Japanese directions

Source: Pexels Photo by Donald Tong

It’s always a good idea to familiarize yourself with direction words or terms especially when you’re planning to relocate or go on holiday. Imagine getting lost in any Japanese city with no sense of knowledge on how to ask for direction or even worse, understanding of key direction terms that a native-Japanese speaker would use to direct you. Here’s a list of 25 words that can be helpful in the context of directions.

  1. Left —Hidari — 左
  2. Right — Migi — 右
  3. Straight — Massugu — 真っ直ぐ
  4. North — Kita — 北
  5. South — Minami — 南
  6. East — Azuma — 東
  7. West — Nishi —西
  8. Next to — Tonari — 隣
  9. Turn — Magaru — 曲がる
  10. Behind — Ushiro — 後ろ
  11. In front of/previous — Mae — 前
  12. Nearby — Sono chikaku — その近く
  13. To go — Iku — 行く
  14. Far — Tōi — 遠い
  15. Across from/the other side — Mukō-gawa — 向こう側
  16. Until — Made — まで
  17. To stop — Tomaru — 止まる
  18. Intersection — Kōsaten —交差点
  19. Road — Michi — 道
  20. Excuse me. Would you repeat that for me? — Sumimasen. Mōichido onegaishimasu —すみません。もう一度お願いします
  21. Where is…? — X wa doko ni arimasu ka — Xはどこにありますか?
  22. How far is…? — X made iku to, dono kurai jikan — Xまで行くと、どのぐらい時間
  23. Right / left — Migi hidarigawa — 右・左側
  24. At the end of the road/street — Michi no tsukiatari — 道の突き当り
  25. Right / Left (Migi / Hidari) — Migi hidari (migi hidari) — 右・左 (みぎ・ひだり)

Xはどこにありますか? X wa doko ni arimasu ka —> Where is…? is used to enquire about something. For example: Where is the gas station? Gasorinsutando wa doko ni arimasu ka? ガソリンスタンドはどこにありますか?

道の突き当り—> Michi no tsukiatari —> At the end of the road/street. The shop is at the end of the road; ショップ 道の突き当り… Shoppu-dō no tsukiatari

As you learn the basic direction terms or words, you’re more likely to make out certain words in a sentence spoken by a native Japanese speaker. You’ll find that most direction sentences are composed of the short terms m=which makes it easier to make inferences.

 

Now let’s learn some Japanese numbers

Source: Pexels. Photo by SevenStorm JUHASZIMRUS

The Japanese number system has two versions, namely, the native numbers and the Sino-Japanese number system. The difference between the two is their origin — the native Japanese number system comes from Japan while the Sino-Japanese system comes from Chinese origin. If you’re keen to learn numbers in Japanese and aren’t sure where to begin, here’s a summary of all you need to know to get you started.

 

Native Japanese numbers

A rule of thumb for native Japanese numbers is that they run from 1-10 and are much easier to remember as numbers one to nine (1-9) all end in “tsu”.

  1. Zero — Rei — 零
  2. One — Hitotsu — ひとつ
  3. Two — Futatsu — ふたつ
  4. Three — Mittsu — みっつ
  5. Four — Yottsu — よっつ
  6. Five — Itsutsu — いつつ
  7. Six — Muttsu — むっつ
  8. Seven — Nanatsu — ななつ
  9. Eight — Yattsu — やっつ
  10. Nine — Kokonotsu — ここのつ
  11. Ten — Tou — とう

 

Sino-Japanese numbers

The Sino-Japanese number system is possibly the easiest to learn. The numbers essentially repeat themselves after 10. For example, as the table below reads, number 10 is Juu and number 1 is ichi therefore if you were to write the number 11, it would be 10 (Juu) + 1 (ichi) = 11 (Juuichi). Similarly, if you wanted to write the number 20, it breaks down to 2×10 —> ni x juu = nijuu.

By looking at these examples, counting in Sino-Japanese is as simple as applying common sense and the magic formula is learning your numbers from 1 through 10. Below is a detailed number of the Sino-Japanese number system from 1 to 25.

1いち ; Ichi
2に ; ni
3さん ; san
4し; shi
5ご ; go
6ろく; roku
7しち Shichi
8はち ; hachi
9く; ku
10じゅう; juu

11. Eleven — Jû-ichi — じゅういち

12. Twelve — Jû-ni — じゅうに

13. Thirteen — Jû-san — じゅうさん

14. Fourteen — Jû-yon — じゅうよん

15.Fifteen — Jû-go — じゅうご

16. Sixteen — Jû-roku — じゅうろく

17. Seventeen — Jû-shichi — じゅうしち

18. Eighteen — Jû-hachi — じゅうはち

19. Nineteen — Jû-kyû — じゅうきゅう

20. Twenty — Ni-jû — にじゅう

21. Twenty-one — Ni-jû-ichi — にじゅういち

22. Twenty-two — Ni-jû-ni — にじゅうに

23. Twenty three — Ni-jû-san — にじゅうさん

24. Twenty four — Ni-jû-yon — にじゅうよん

25. Twenty-five — Ni-jû-go — にじゅうご

Once you’ve learned to count in Japanese, it’s so much easier to find out the rest of the numbers in Japanese whether it is to tell time or make numeric cash transactions. To test your knowledge, if you were asked to write number 78 in Japanese, how would you go about it? What is your answer? … if your answer is nanajuu-hachi, well done!

I know what you’re thinking; 日本語で数えるのは簡単ですが、混乱することもあります。—> Nihongo de kazoeru no wa kantandesuga, konran suru koto mo arimasu; It’s easy to count in Japanese, but it can be confusing.

Japanese Time

Source: Pexels Photo by ROMAN ODINTSOV 

Now that we’ve learned numbers in Japanese, let’s apply this knowledge to reading time. Once you’re familiar with the numbering system, learning how to read time is much simpler. Let’s dive into time-related words and a quick look at how to read time in Japanese…ready, set, go!

1. What is the time now? — Imananjidesuka — 今何時ですか。

2. Do you know the time now? — Ima nanji ka wakarimasu ka — 今何時かわかりますか。

3. What time do you meet? — Nanji ni shūgōdesu ka — 何時に集合ですか。

4. What time is it? — Wa nanjidesu ka — は何時ですか。

Telling time

The first rule of time in telling time in Japanese is to learn the suffix attached that differentiates between minutes, seconds, hour (o’clock).

  • O’clock or on the hour in Japanese is denoted by the suffix “-ji” 時
  • Minutes in Japanese is denoted by the suffix “-fun” or “-pun”
  • to express the time, we first say the hours, then the minutes, then add desu です
  • The suffix Han 半 means half
  • In Japanese, there’s no special word for quarter hours. For example to say quarter past one (1:15) you say ichi-ji juu-go fun.
  1. Midnight — Reiji — 零時
  2. 4:30 (half past four) — yo-ji han — 時半
  3. 8:42 (eighteen minutes to nine) — hachi-ji yonjuu-ni fun
  4. am (in the morning) — gozèn — 午前
  5. pm (in the afternnoon in Japanese) — gogo — 午後
  6. 1:30 — Ichi Ji han — いち時半
  7. 2:30 — Ni Ji han — に時半
  8. 3:30 — San Ji han — さん時半
  9. 4:40 — Yo Ji han — よん時半
  10. 5:30 — Go Ji han — ご時半
  11. 1 o’clock — Ichi Ji — いち時
  12. 2 o’clock — Ni Ji — に時
  13. 3 o’clock — San Ji — さん時
  14. 4 o’clock — Yo Ji — よん時
  15. 5 o’clock — Go Ji — ご時
  16. 6 o’clock — Roku Ji — ろく時
  17. 7 o’clock — Hichi Ji or Shichi Ji —しち
  18. 8 o’clock — Hachi Ji — はち時
  19. 9 o’clock — Ku Ji — く時
  20. 10 o’clock — Ju- Ji — じゅう時
  21. 11 o’clock — Ju-ichi Ji — じゅういち時
  22. 12 o’clock — Ju-ni Ji — じゅうに時

時間通りに仕事ができるように、午後3時半前に出発する必要があります。 —> Jikandōrini shigoto ga dekiru yō ni, gogo 3-jihan mae ni shuppatsu suru hitsuyō ga arimasu. I need to leave before half past three pm so that I can make it to work on time.

1時間余分に寝たらいいのに。 —> 1-Jikan yobun ni netara īnoni; I wish I had an hour extra of sleep.

The best part about learning time in Japanese is the patterns and once memorized, the rest is straightforward. So take your time and in the end, you’re likely to become a master in Japanese numerals.

What you need to know about Japanese verbs

Source: Pexels photo by Miguel Á. Padriñán 

Learning verbs is probably one of the most important things to learn in any language including Japanese as these are doing words. It not only teaches you the basics of the language but because verbs are able to stand on their own (although it may be grammatically incorrect to do so). This is especially useful for anyone new to the language as it enables you to communicate despite the lack of fluency; for example, if you’re out with friends who are native speakers and after some time you want to go, you could say the verb “go” or “to go” with gestures to signify that you’re getting ready to leave. Overall, learning verbs set a foundation for learning phrases and developing fluency over time.

Here are 25 verbs that could be useful in various settings to get you started on your Japanese learning journey.

  1. To eat — Taberu — 食べる
  2. To watch — Miru — 見る
  3. To study — Benkyou suru — 勉強する
  4. To sleep — Neru — 寝る
  5. To walk — Aruku — Aruku
  6. To drink — Nomu — 飲む
  7. To read — Yomu — 読む
  8. To hear or listen — Kiku — 聞く
  9. To die — Shinu — 死ぬ
  10. To sit — Suwaru — 座る
  11. Aspire to — Kokorozasu — こころざす
  12. Attend on — Haberu — 侍る
  13. Avoid — Sakeru — さける
  14. To bake or grill — Yaku — 焼く
  15. To bathe or shower — Abiru — あびる
  16. Be able — Dekiru — できる
  17. To be astonished or frightened — Tamagiru — たまぎる
  18. To be cured or healed — Naoru — なおる
  19. To be different from — Kotonaru — ことなる
  20. To be different or wrong — Chigau — ちがう
  21. To be enough or sufficient — Tariru — たりる
  22. To be glad or pleased — Yorokobu — 喜ぶ
  23. To be in a hurry or panic — Aseru — あせる
  24. To be late — Okureru — おくれる
  25. To be mistaken or make a mistake — Machigau — まちがう

Let’s make a sentence with the verb “ran”. 私は店に走りました。—> Watashi wa mise ni hashirimashita —> I ran to the store.

Let’s make a sense with the verb “make”. アリスはクッキーを作った。—> Arisu wa kukkī o tsukutta —> Alice made cookies.

Although there are several more verbs that may not be included in this list, you’re guaranteed a good start nonetheless. As you become more accustomed to the language, you’ll build more vocabulary and ultimately broaden your knowledge of verbs and verb phrases.

 

Names of different job occupations in Japanese

Source: Photo by Tiger Lily 

Knowing how to express your occupation whether be in conversation or on documents is just as important as knowing how to speak Japanese. Here’s a list of 30 common job occupations that could be useful in any context.

  1. Doctor — isha — 医者
  2. Nurse — kango shi — 看護師
  3. Dentist — shikai — 歯科医
  4. Scientist — kagaku sha — 科学者
  5. Hairdresser — biyou shi — 美容師
  6. Teacher — kyoushi or sensei — 教師, 先生
  7. Singer — kashu — 歌手
  8. Driver — unten shu — 運転手
  9. Photographer — shashin ka — 写真家
  10. Author or Writer — sakka — 作家
  11. Producer/director — enshutsu ka — 演出家
  12. Architect — kenchiku ka — 建築家
  13. Policeman — kei kan, keisatsu kan — 警官, 警察官
  14. Chef — chouri shi — 調理師
  15. Head chef — ryouri chou — 料理長
  16. Judge — saiban kan — 裁判官
  17. Lawyer — bengo shi — 弁護士
  18. Accountant — kaikei shi — 会計士
  19. Fireman — shoubou shi — 消防士
  20. Shop assistant/salesperson — ten in — 店員
  21. Researcher — kenkyuu in — 研究員
  22. Temporary worker — hakensha in — 派遣社員
  23. Actor — haiyuu — 俳優
  24. Actress — joyuu — 女優
  25. Barber — rihatsu shi, sanpatsuya, tokoya — 理髪師, 散髪屋, 床屋
  26. Sports coach or movie director — kantoku — 監督
  27. Reporter — kisha — 記者
  28. Unemployed person — mushoku sha — 無職者
  29. Pilot — pairotto — パイロット
  30. Real estate agent — fudousan gyousha — 不動産業者

店員は彼女が完璧な靴を見つけるのを手伝いました —> Ten’in wa kanojo ga kanpekina kutsu o mitsukeru no o tetsudaimashita; The salesperson helped her find the perfect shoe

床屋は町で最高です —> Tokoya wa machi de saikōdesu; The barber is the best in town.

 

Sports names in Japanese

Source: Pexels Photo by Victor Freitas

Building your vocabulary in Japanese is great but is it really complete if you don’t know how to say a sports word or term in the language? Yes, you may not play any sports but learning these could come in handy at some point and there’s nothing wrong in learning them! Remember, the more vocabulary you know, the better.

  1. Do you like sports? — Supootsu ga suki desu ka — スポーツが好きですか。
  2. Do you play tennis? — Tenisu o shimasu ka — テニスをしますか。
  3. Sports — supo-tsu —スポーツ
  4. Exercise/sports — undou — 運動
  5. Physical education — taiiku — 体育
  6. Basketball — basuketto booru — バスケットボール
  7. Volleyball — baree booru — バレーボール
  8. Tennis — tenisu — テニス
  9. Badminton — badominton — バドミントン
  10. Shogi / Japanese Chess — shougi — 将棋
  11. Golf — gorufu — ゴルフ
  12. American football — amerikan futtobooru — アメリカンフットボール
  13. Rugby — ragubii — ラグビー
  14. Soccer — sakkaa — サッカー
  15. Swimming — suiei — 水泳
  16. Horseriding — jouba — 乗馬
  17. Skiing — sukii — スキー
  18. Skating — sukeeto — スケート
  19. Ice hockey — aisu hokkee — アイスホッケー
  20. Boxing — bokushingu — ボクシング
  21. Wrestling — resuringu — レスリング
  22. Judo — juudou — 柔道
  23. Sumo wrestling — sumou — 相撲
  24. Karate — karate — 空手
  25. Gymnastics — taisou — 体操
  26. Ping-pong / Table Tennis — pinpon — ピンポン
  27. Mountain Climbing — tozan — 登山

水泳は難しいスポーツです —> Suiei wa muzukashī supōtsudesu; Swimming is a difficult sport.

ラグビーはアメリカ合衆国で最も人気があります —> Ragubī wa Amerikagasshūkoku de mottomo ninki ga arimasu; Rugby is most popular in the United States of America.

 

General Japanese phrases

Source: Photo by Aleksandar Pasaric

Let’s close off the article with a list of everyday words and phrases you may encounter. Take your time to take in the information, learn, and as often as you can, apply this knowledge. Practice makes improvement!

  1. Music — ongaku — 音楽
  2. Hometown — shusshin — 出身
  3. Home — ie or uchi — 家
  4. Shop — mise — 店
  5. Car — kuruma — 車
  6. Family — kazoku — 家族
  7. Bathroom — toire — トイレ
  8. Movie — eiga — 映画
  9. How are you? — O-genki desu ka — おげんきですか。
  10. Do you speak English? — Eigo o hanasemasu ka — えいごをはなせますか。
  11. I’m fine. Thank you — Genki desu — げんきです。
  12. What is your name? — O-namae wa nan desu ka — おなまえはなんですか。
  13. I don’t understand — Wakarimasen — わかりません。
  14. What did you say? — Nante iimashita ka — なんていいましたか。
  15. Does anyone here speak English? — Koko ni eigo o hanaseru hito wa imasu ka — ここに えいごおはなせるひとはいますか。
  16. I understand you perfectly — Yoku wakarimasu — よくわかります。
  17. Can you speak more slowly? — Motto yukkuri hanashite kudasai — もっと ゆっくりはなしてください。
  18. I am very glad to meet you — Oaidekite ureshī desu — おあいできて うれしいです。
  19. I only speak a little Japanese — Watashi wa nihongo ga sukoshi shika hanasemasen — わたしは にほんごがすこししか はなせません。
  20. I’m sorry — Sumimasen — すみません。
  21. That’s all right — Dai jōbu desu — だいじょうぶです。
  22. I understand you — Wakarimasu — わかります。
  23. I do not speak English — Eigo wa hanasemasen — えいごは はなせません。
  24. Unfortunately, I speak only a little Japanese — Watashi wa nihongo ga sukoshi shika hanasemasen — わたしは にほんごがすこししかはなせません。
  25. Good weather, huh! — Ii tenki desu ne — いい天気ですね!

Now that we’ve learned quite a large selection of vocabulary, let’s end with a couple sentences that relate to learning a new language.

新しい言語を学ぶことは挑戦的ですが、それだけの価値があります —> Atarashī gengo o manabu koto wa chōsen-tekidesuga, soredake no kachi ga arimasu; Learning a new language is challenging but worth it.

もっと日本人のネイティブスピーカーと交流したいです。—> Motto nihonjin no neitibusupīkā to kōryū shitaidesu; I wish to interact with more Japanese native speakers.

 

In closing

Source: Pexels

Well done! You’ve come to the end of this article. Although it may be long and you may feel slightly winded from all the knowledge herein, don’t fret, you’re not meant to regurgitate the information.

This article serves as an easy reference for those moments you know what you want to say, have an idea of it in Japanese but can’t quite your finger on it. If ever in doubt, bookmark this page and refer back to it. Learning isn’t meant to be linear, it’s a journey with many ups and downs, take it one step at a time each day. Eventually, and surely enough, Japanese will flow through you like a waterfall. Keep going and don’t forget to check out AmazingTalker for more resources!

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