Japanese vocabulary: beginner (A1)
The 168 words and phrases taught in the beginner chapters, in the order the course teaches them. Press ▶ to hear each one.
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1. Hello and goodbye
From chapter 1: learn these words in context
- おはようございますohayō gozaimasugood morning · Until about 10 or 11 a.m. At work, also the first greeting of the day.
- ～さん-sanMr, Ms (after a name) · After someone else's name, never your own: (Suzuki-san).
- はいhaiyes
- はじめましてhajimemashitenice to meet you · Only when you meet someone for the first time, often with a small bow.
- よろしくお願いしますyoroshiku onegai shimasuI look forward to working with you; please treat me kindly · よろしくおねがいします; said at the end of an introduction.
- いいえiieno
- ～から来ました… kara kimashitaI'm from …, I came from … · ～からきました; after a place: (Manchesutā kara kimashita).
- 日本語NihongoJapanese (the language) · にほんご
- 少しsukoshia little · すこし
- では、またde wa, matasee you later · Literally “well, again”. A light goodbye to someone you'll see again soon.
- こんにちはkonnichiwahello, good afternoon · During the day. The last letter is written は but said wa.
- 私watashiI, me · わたし; usually left out when it's clear.
- 会社員kaishainoffice worker, company employee · かいしゃいん
- さようならsayōnaragoodbye · Sounds final: for a long parting, or teachers and pupils at the end of the school day.
2. Numbers and prices
From chapter 2: learn these words in context
- いらっしゃいませirasshaimasewelcome (said by shop staff) · Staff say it when you come in. You don't need to answer; a small nod is enough.
- このkonothis (+ noun) · (kono hon), this book
- 本honbook · ほん
- 千senthousand · せん; 3,000 is (sanzen), 8,000 is (hassen).
- 電話番号denwa bangōphone number · でんわばんごう; staff say (odenwa bangō) to be polite.
- ノートnōtonotebook · From English “note”, but it means a notebook.
- いくらikurahow much · (ikura desu ka?), how much is it?
- それsorethat (near you)
- 百hyakuhundred · ひゃく; 300 is (sanbyaku), 600 (roppyaku), 800 (happyaku).
- ～円-en… yen · えん; (sanbyaku gojūen), 350 yen
- 安いyasuicheap · やすい; (yasui desu ne), that's cheap: (ne) asks the other person to agree.
- これkorethis (near me) · (kore o kudasai), this one, please
- 全部でzenbu dealtogether, in total · ぜんぶで
- 高いtakaiexpensive · たかい; (kono hon wa takai desu), this book is expensive.
3. At the café
From chapter 3: learn these words in context
- ご注文は？Gochūmon wa?What would you like? (staff) · ごちゅうもんは; literally “your order?”
- ホットhottohot (drink) · (hotto kōhī), hot coffee
- コーヒーkōhīcoffee
- ひとつhitotsuone (thing)
- ～をお願いします… o onegai shimasu… please (when you ask for something) · ～をおねがいします
- 紅茶kōchatea (black tea) · こうちゃ; Japanese green tea is (ocha).
- アイスaisuiced (drink); ice cream · (aisu kōhī), iced coffee
- ケーキkēkicake
- ふたつfutatsutwo (things)
- 以上ですijō desuthat's all · いじょうです; at the end of your order
- 店内でtennai deto eat in, in the shop · てんないで
- お会計okaikeithe bill, paying · おかいけい; (okaikei o onegai shimasu), the bill, please
- 水mizuwater · みず; usually said politely: (omizu)
- 持ち帰りmochikaeritakeaway · もちかえり; (mochikaeri de), to take away
4. Getting around
From chapter 4: learn these words in context
- すみませんsumimasenexcuse me; sorry · To get someone's attention, and to apologise.
- 駅ekistation · えき; (Sapporo eki), Sapporo station
- どこdokowhere
- 信号shingōtraffic lights · しんごう
- 右migiright · みぎ
- 曲がってmagatteturn · まがって; (migi ni magatte kudasai), please turn right
- まっすぐmassugustraight on · (massugu itte kudasai), please go straight on
- 遠いtōifar · とおい
- 歩いて～分aruite … fun… minutes on foot · あるいて～ふん; (aruite gofun), five minutes on foot
- 近くchikakunearby, near · ちかく; (kono chikaku), near here
- 銀行ginkōbank · ぎんこう
- あそこasokoover there
- コンビニkonbiniconvenience store · Short for “convenience store”. Most are open 24 hours.
- 左hidarileft · ひだり
5. Family and friends
From chapter 5: learn these words in context
- 家族kazokufamily · かぞく; someone else's family: (gokazoku)
- 写真shashinphoto · しゃしん
- 何人nanninhow many people · なんにん
- 父chichi(my) father · ちち; someone else's: (otōsan)
- 母haha(my) mother · はは; someone else's: (okāsan)
- 姉ane(my) older sister · あね; someone else's: (onēsan)
- 弟otōto(my) younger brother · おとうと; someone else's: (otōtosan)
- 誰darewho · だれ; (kore wa dare desu ka?), who's this?
- 優しいyasashiikind, gentle · やさしい
- おいくつoikutsuhow old (polite) · (oikutsu desu ka?), how old are you?
- ～歳-sai… years old · さい; (nijūhassai), twenty-eight years old
- 妹imōto(my) younger sister · いもうと; someone else's: (imōtosan)
- かわいいkawaiicute, sweet, lovely
- 兄ani(my) older brother · あに; someone else's: (oniisan)
6. My home
From chapter 6: learn these words in context
- どうぞdōzoplease (come in, go ahead, have one) · When you invite someone in or offer something.
- きれいkireiclean, pretty, nice · A な-adjective, though it ends in い: (kirei na heya)
- 部屋heyaroom; flat · へや
- 新しいatarashiinew · あたらしい
- 広いhiroispacious, big (room, space) · ひろい
- 狭いsemaismall, cramped (room, space) · せまい
- 台所daidokorokitchen · だいどころ
- 明るいakaruibright, light · あかるい
- 窓madowindow · まど
- 机tsukuedesk · つくえ
- いすisuchair · Also written (isu), but usually in kana.
- 猫nekocat · ねこ
- ベッドbeddobed
- 本棚hondanabookshelf · ほんだな
7. My day
From chapter 7: learn these words in context
- 毎朝maiasaevery morning · まいあさ
- 起きますokimasuget up, wake up · おきます
- 朝ご飯asagohanbreakfast · あさごはん
- 食べますtabemasueat · たべます
- 電車denshatrain · でんしゃ; (densha de), by train
- 行きますikimasugo · いきます
- 何時nanjiwhat time · なんじ
- 働きますhatarakimasuwork · はたらきます
- ～時半-ji hanhalf past … · じはん; (goji han), half past five
- 帰りますkaerimasugo home, come back · かえります
- 早いhayaiearly · はやい
- 晩ご飯bangohandinner, evening meal · ばんごはん
- 寝ますnemasugo to bed, sleep · ねます
- 会社kaishacompany, office · かいしゃ; (kaisha ni ikimasu), I go to work
8. Food and shopping
From chapter 8: learn these words in context
- いらっしゃいirasshaiwelcome, come in (at markets and small shops) · A shorter, more casual (irasshaimase).
- りんごringoapple
- 甘いamaisweet · あまい
- ～個-ko(counter for small, round things) · こ; (ikko), one; (yonko), four
- トマトtomatotomato
- きゅうりkyūricucumber
- ほしいhoshiiwanted; I'd like (a thing) · (tomato ga hoshii desu), I'd like some tomatoes
- ～本-hon(counter for long, thin things) · ほん; (nihon), two; (sanbon), three
- 袋fukurobag · ふくろ
- いりますirimasuneed · (fukuro wa irimasu ka?), do you need a bag?
- 大丈夫ですdaijōbu desuno, thanks; I'm fine; it's OK · だいじょうぶです
- お釣りotsurichange (money) · おつり
- みかんmikanmandarin, satsuma
- 一袋hitofukuroone bag (of) · ひとふくろ
9. Time and dates
From chapter 9: learn these words in context
- 予約yoyakuappointment, reservation, booking · よやく
- 何曜日nan'yōbiwhat day of the week · なんようび
- 明日ashitatomorrow · あした
- 空いていますaite imasuis free, has space · あいています; (aite imasu ka?), are you free? is there space?
- 金曜日kin'yōbiFriday · きんようび
- 来週raishūnext week · らいしゅう
- 月曜日getsuyōbiMonday · げつようび
- 大丈夫daijōbuall right, OK, fine · だいじょうぶ
- 水曜日suiyōbiWednesday · すいようび
- ～日-nichi(day of the month) · にち; (jūninichi), the 12th. Some dates have special readings.
- 午後gogoafternoon; p.m. · ごご
- お名前onamae(your) name · おなまえ; polite. Your own name is just (namae).
- 今日kyōtoday · きょう
- 何日nannichiwhat date · なんにち
10. Likes and dislikes
From chapter 10: learn these words in context
- ラーメンrāmenramen (noodle soup)
- 好きsukiliked; I like · すき; a な-adjective: (suki na ryōri), my favourite food
- 辛いkaraispicy, hot · からい
- 苦手nigatenot keen on; not good at · にがて; softer than (kirai)
- 料理ryōrifood, dishes; cooking · りょうり
- 大好きdaisukireally like, love · だいすき
- 納豆nattōnatto (fermented soybeans) · なっとう; sticky and strong-smelling, often eaten on rice at breakfast
- あまりamari(not) very much · With a negative: (amari suki ja nai desu)
- 肉nikumeat · にく
- 全然zenzen(not) at all · ぜんぜん; with a negative: (zenzen tabemasen)
- 魚sakanafish · さかな
- 野菜yasaivegetables · やさい
- 甘いものamai monosweet things, sweets · あまいもの
- 嫌いkiraidisliked; I don't like · きらい; strong: avoid it about people or food someone offers you
11. Hobbies and free time
From chapter 11: learn these words in context
- 趣味shumihobby, hobbies · しゅみ; (shumi wa nan desu ka?), what are your hobbies? (nan) means “what”.
- 音楽ongakumusic · おんがく
- 休みの日yasumi no hiday off · やすみのひ
- よくyokuoften
- 聞きますkikimasulisten (to); ask · ききます
- テニスtenisutennis · (tenisu o shimasu), I play tennis
- 週に～回shū ni … kai… times a week · しゅうに～かい; (shū ni nikai), twice a week
- 上手jōzugood at, skilful · じょうず; a な-adjective. The opposite is (heta).
- 一緒にissho nitogether · いっしょに
- ちょっと…chotto…(it's) a bit (difficult)… · A gentle way to say no: (nichiyōbi wa chotto…)
- いいですねii desu nesounds good, that's nice
- 泳ぎますoyogimasuswim · およぎます
- 読みますyomimasuread · よみます
- 時々tokidokisometimes · ときどき
12. Your first conversation
From chapter 12: learn these words in context
- 旅行ryokōtrip, holiday, travel · りょこう; about someone else's trip: (goryokō)
- 出張shutchōbusiness trip · しゅっちょう
- 初めてhajimetefor the first time · はじめて; (Kyōto wa hajimete desu), it's my first time in Kyoto
- お仕事は？Oshigoto wa?What do you do? (polite) · おしごとは; your own job is (shigoto).
- エンジニアenjiniaengineer
- どちらdochirawhere (polite); which · A polite (doko)
- ～に住んでいます… ni sunde imasuI live in … · ～にすんでいます; (Kyōto ni sunde imasu)
- 出身shusshinwhere you're from, hometown · しゅっしん; someone else's: (goshusshin)
- 観光kankōsightseeing · かんこう; (kankō o shimasu), to go sightseeing
- どんなdonnawhat kind of · Always before a noun: (donna otera)
- お寺otera(Buddhist) temple · おてら; temple names end in 寺 (-ji or -dera): (Kiyomizudera)
- お店omiseshop · おみせ; (mise) with the polite (o)
- 楽しいtanoshiifun, enjoyable · たのしい
- 気をつけてki o tsuketetake care · きをつけて; said when someone leaves or sets off on a journey
Other levels: Elementary (A2) · Intermediate (B1) · Upper intermediate (B2)