Japanese vocabulary: intermediate (B1)
The 168 words and phrases taught in the intermediate chapters, in the order the course teaches them. Press ▶ to hear each one.
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1. Stories and memories
From chapter 1: learn these words in context
- 始めるhajimeruto start (something) · はじめる; (mise o hajimeru), to open a shop; (mise) is the plain word for (omise)
- 昔mukashilong ago, the old days · むかし; (mukashi no hanashi), an old story
- 結婚するkekkon suruto get married · けっこんする; ～と結婚する (to kekkon suru), to marry someone
- ～たばかり-ta bakarihave just done · after the た-form: (kita bakari), just arrived
- 生まれるumareruto be born · うまれる; (Kyōto de umareta), I was born in Kyoto; (chigau), that's not right
- 引っ越すhikkosuto move (house) · ひっこす; the place you move to takes (ni)
- 着物kimonokimono · きもの; (uru), to sell: (kimono o uru); (ureru), to sell, to be sold: (jukko ureta), ten were sold
- 手伝うtetsudauto help (with work) · てつだう; (shigoto o tetsudau), to help with the work
- 覚えているoboete iruto remember · おぼえている; from (oboeru), to learn by heart
- お菓子okashisweets, cakes · おかし; traditional Japanese sweets are (wagashi)
- そのころsono koroat that time, back then · (kono hen), this area, around here
- 結局kekkyokuin the end, after all · けっきょく
- 最後にsaigo nifinally, last of all · さいごに; (nokoru), to be left over: (nokotta okashi), the sweets that were left
- 懐かしいnatsukashiibringing back fond memories · なつかしい; said about something from your past that you miss
2. Opinions and reasons
From chapter 2: learn these words in context
- 決めるkimeruto decide · きめる; (kangaete kara kimeru), to think it over (, kangaeru) before deciding
- 悩むnayamuto be unable to decide, to worry over · なやむ; (nayande iru), I can't make up my mind
- 地元jimotohome town, the local area · じもと
- 給料kyūryōsalary, pay · きゅうりょう; (okane ga nokoru), to have money left over
- 確かにtashika nicertainly, that's true · たしかに
- 都会tokaibig city · とかい; the opposite is (inaka), the countryside
- 親oyaparent, parents · おや
- 意見ikenopinion · いけん
- 大学院daigakuingraduate school · だいがくいん; (jitsu wa), actually, to tell the truth
- 反対hantaiagainst; opposition · はんたい; ～に反対だ (ni hantai da), to be against …
- 理由riyūreason · りゆう
- 賛成sanseiin favour; agreement · さんせい; ～に賛成だ (ni sansei da), to be for …
- 将来shōraithe future (your own) · しょうらい; (shōrai no yume), your dream for the future
- 安定anteistability, security · あんてい; (antei shita shigoto), a secure job
3. News and current events
From chapter 3: learn these words in context
- 選ばれるerabareruto be chosen · えらばれる; the passive of (erabu), to choose; (ninki), popularity; (ichii), first place
- 調査chōsasurvey, investigation · ちょうさ; (chōsa suru), to survey, to investigate
- 観光客kankōkyakutourist · かんこうきゃく; (saikin), lately
- 市shicity (as a local authority) · し; (Hiroshima-shi), Hiroshima City
- 発表happyōannouncement · はっぴょう; (happyō suru), to announce
- ～によるとni yoru toaccording to … · (nyūsu ni yoru to), according to the news
- 増えるfueruto increase, to go up · ふえる
- ニュースnyūsunews
- 事故jikoaccident · じこ; (jiko ga atta), there was an accident; (unten suru), to drive
- 原因gen'incause · げんいん; (ame ga hidoi), the rain is terrible
- 記事kijiarticle (in a newspaper, online) · きじ
- 建てるtateruto build · たてる; passive (taterareru), to be built
- 新しくオープンするatarashiku ōpun suruto open (a new shop, hotel…) · あたらしくオープンする; (yūmei na pan'ya), a famous bakery
- 減るheruto decrease, to go down · へる; the opposite of (fueru)
4. Feelings and relationships
From chapter 4: learn these words in context
- 元気がないgenki ga naito be down, to be in low spirits · げんきがない; (genki ga nasasō), looks down
- けんかkenkafight, quarrel · also written ; ～とけんかする (to kenka suru), to have a fight with …
- 誕生日tanjōbibirthday · たんじょうび
- 忘れるwasureruto forget; to leave (something somewhere) · わすれる
- くれるkureruto give (to me or my side)
- プレゼントpurezentopresent, gift
- 悲しいkanashiisad · かなしい
- 腹が立つhara ga tatsuto get angry · はらがたつ; literally “the belly stands up”
- 謝るayamaruto apologise · あやまる
- もらうmorauto receive, to get
- 気にするki ni suruto worry about, to mind · きにする; (ki ni shinaide), don't worry about it; (renraku suru), to get in touch
- お互いotagaieach other · おたがい; (otagai ni), mutually, both of us
- あげるageruto give (away from me)
- 仲直りnakanaorimaking up (after a fight) · なかなおり; (nakanaori suru), to make up; (naka ga ii), to get on well
5. Hopes and wishes
From chapter 5: learn these words in context
- 留学ryūgakustudying abroad · りゅうがく; (ryūgaku suru), to study abroad; (okane ga kakaru), to cost (a lot of) money
- 受験jukentaking entrance exams · じゅけん; for school and university; any exam is a (shiken), and high school is (kōkō)
- 夢yumedream · ゆめ; both a hope and what you dream at night
- 心配shinpaiworry; worried · しんぱい; (shinpai da), I'm worried; (shinpai suru), to worry; (kyū da), it's sudden
- 奨学金shōgakukinscholarship · しょうがくきん; (muzukashii), difficult
- 合格gōkakupassing (an exam) · ごうかく; (gōkaku suru), to pass
- 挑戦chōsenchallenge, attempt · ちょうせん; (chōsen suru), to have a go at something hard
- 目標mokuhyōgoal, target · もくひょう; (zutto mae kara), for a long time now
- 受かるukaruto pass (an exam) · うかる; (shiken ni ukaru), less formal than
- 我慢gamanpatience; going without · がまん; (gaman suru), to put up with, to do without
- 自分jibunoneself · じぶん; (jibun de), by yourself, on your own
- 応援するōen suruto support, to cheer on · おうえんする
- ～てほしい-te hoshiiwant (someone) to do · (haha ni kite hoshii), I want my mother to come
- ～ようにyō niso that; may … · (gōkaku shimasu yō ni), may I pass; people pray for this at a (jinja), a shrine
6. Solving problems
From chapter 6: learn these words in context
- 修理shūrirepair · しゅうり; (shūri suru), to repair
- 係の人kakari no hitothe person in charge · かかりのひと; staff say (kakari no mono) about themselves
- 炊飯器suihankirice cooker · すいはんき
- 動かないugokanaidoesn't work, won't run · うごかない; from (ugoku), to move, to run
- 押すosuto press, to push · おす
- 画面gamenscreen, display · がめん
- 壊れるkowareruto break, to stop working · こわれる; (kowasu), to break something
- 故障koshōfault, breakdown · こしょう; (koshō shite iru), is out of order
- 落とすotosuto drop; to lose · おとす; (saifu o otoshita), I lost my wallet
- 保証書hoshōshowarranty card · ほしょうしょ; (hoshō), guarantee
- 見つかるmitsukaruto be found · みつかる; (mitsukaranai), I can't find it; (sagasu), to look for
- 領収書ryōshūshoreceipt · りょうしゅうしょ; the till receipt is also called (reshīto)
- 無料muryōfree of charge · むりょう; (moshi), if (it happens that), often starts a sentence with or
- 返金henkinrefund · へんきん; (henkin suru), to refund
7. Culture and traditions
From chapter 7: learn these words in context
- 七夕Tanabatathe Star Festival · たなばた; traditionally on 7 July; the legend is about two (hoshi), stars, in the (sora), sky
- 祭りmatsurifestival · まつり; often (omatsuri)
- 飾りkazaridecoration · かざり
- 商店街shōtengaishopping street, arcade · しょうてんがい
- 伝統dentōtradition · でんとう; (dentōteki na), traditional
- 行事gyōjievent (yearly or traditional) · ぎょうじ
- 昔からmukashi karasince long ago, by tradition · むかしから
- 伝説densetsulegend · でんせつ
- 由来yuraiorigin (of a name or custom) · ゆらい; ～が由来だ (ga yurai da), it comes from …
- 地域chiikiarea, region · ちいき
- 飾るkazaruto decorate, to put up (on display) · かざる; passive (kazarareru)
- 短冊tanzakupaper strip for writing a wish · たんざく; hung on (take), bamboo
- 願い事negaigotowish · ねがいごと; (negaigoto ga kanau), a wish comes true
- 屋台yataifood stall · やたい
8. Work and careers
From chapter 8: learn these words in context
- 失礼いたしますshitsurei itashimasuexcuse me (entering or leaving a room) · しつれいいたします; the humble form of (shitsurei shimasu)
- いたしますitashimasuI do (humble) · from (itasu), the humble
- 面接mensetsuinterview · めんせつ
- 担当tantōbeing in charge · たんとう; (tantō suru), to be in charge of
- 志望動機shibō dōkireason for applying · しぼうどうき
- 御社onshayour company · おんしゃ; spoken; in writing, (kisha)
- 接客sekkyakuserving customers · せっきゃく
- 前職zenshokuprevious job · ぜんしょく
- 経験keikenexperience · けいけん; (keiken ga aru), to have experience
- 生かすikasuto make use of (skills, experience) · いかす
- 貢献するkōken suruto contribute · こうけんする; ～に貢献する (ni kōken suru), to contribute to …
- 長所chōshostrength, strong point · ちょうしょ
- 短所tanshoweakness, weak point · たんしょ
- 拝見するhaiken suruto see, to look at (humble) · はいけんする; the humble form of
9. Health and lifestyle
From chapter 9: learn these words in context
- 健康診断kenkō shindanhealth check, medical check-up · けんこうしんだん
- 血圧ketsuatsublood pressure · けつあつ; (ketsuatsu o hakaru), to take someone's blood pressure
- 高めtakameon the high side · たかめ; -め added to an adjective stem: (hayame), a bit early
- 生活習慣seikatsu shūkanlifestyle, daily habits · せいかつしゅうかん; (seikatsu shūkan o kaeru), to change your habits
- 運動不足undō busokulack of exercise · うんどうぶそく
- 階段kaidanstairs · かいだん
- 散歩sanpowalk, stroll · さんぽ; (sanpo o suru), to go for a walk
- 妻tsuma(my) wife · つま; someone else's wife is (okusan)
- 塩分enbunsalt (in food) · えんぶん
- 控えるhikaeruto cut down on · ひかえる; (osake o hikaeru), to drink less
- 禁煙kin'engiving up smoking; no smoking · きんえん; (kin'en suru), to give up smoking; (tabako o suu), to smoke; (yameru), to stop, to give up
- 睡眠suiminsleep · すいみん; (suimin o toru), to get sleep
- 無理murioverdoing it; impossible · むり; (muri o shinaide), don't overdo it
- 続けるtsuzukeruto continue, to keep up · つづける
10. Money and everyday services
From chapter 10: learn these words in context
- 窓口madoguchicounter, service window · まどぐち
- 口座kōzabank account · こうざ
- 開くhirakuto open (an account) · ひらく; the same kanji is read (aku) in (doa ga aku), the door opens
- 在留カードzairyū kādoresidence card (for foreign residents) · ざいりゅうカード
- 印鑑inkanpersonal seal, name stamp · いんかん; also called (hanko)
- 記入kinyūfilling in (a form) · きにゅう; (gokinyū kudasai), please fill in; a form is a (yōshi); (kakikata), how to fill it in
- 暗証番号anshō bangōPIN · あんしょうばんごう; you choose it on a (kikai), machine
- 振り込みfurikomibank transfer · ふりこみ; (furikomu), to pay by transfer
- 手数料tesūryōfee, charge · てすうりょう
- 郵便局yūbinkyokupost office · ゆうびんきょく
- キャッシュカードkyasshu kādobank card, cash card · sent to your (jūsho), address
- 通帳tsūchōbankbook, passbook · つうちょう
- 引き出すhikidasuto withdraw (money) · ひきだす
- 送料sōryōpostage, delivery charge · そうりょう; (kōkūbin), airmail; (funabin), sea mail
11. Travel stories
From chapter 11: learn these words in context
- 台風taifūtyphoon · たいふう
- 最終便saishūbinlast flight (of the day) · さいしゅうびん; a flight is a (bin): (tsugi no bin), the next flight
- 欠航kekkōcancellation (of a flight or ferry) · けっこう; (kekkō ni naru), to be cancelled
- 延泊enpakustaying an extra night · えんぱく; (enpaku suru)
- 運が悪いun ga waruiunlucky · うんがわるい; the opposite is (un ga ii)
- 盗まれるnusumareruto have something stolen · ぬすまれる; the passive of (nusumu), to steal
- まさかmasakano way, surely not
- びっくりするbikkuri suruto be surprised, to get a shock
- 親切shinsetsukind, helpful · しんせつ; a な-adjective: (shinsetsu na hito)
- 払い戻しharaimodoshirefund (of a ticket or fare) · はらいもどし
- 助かるtasukaruto be a help; to be saved · たすかる; (tasukarimashita), that was a great help
- 飛行機hikōkiplane · ひこうき
- 乗り遅れるnoriokureruto miss (a train, plane…) · のりおくれる; (densha ni noriokureru)
- 旅tabijourney, trip · たび; a little more literary than (ryokō)
12. Review: telling your story
From chapter 12: learn these words in context
- 職人shokunincraftsman, artisan · しょくにん
- 金箔kinpakugold leaf · きんぱく
- 手作業tesagyōhandwork, work done by hand · てさぎょう
- 継ぐtsuguto take over, to succeed to (a family business) · つぐ; (mise o tsugu), to take over the shop, for example when a parent falls ill (, byōki ni naru)
- 修業shugyōtraining, apprenticeship · しゅぎょう; (shugyō suru)
- 弟子deshiapprentice, pupil · でし
- 大切taisetsuimportant, precious · たいせつ; a な-adjective, close to (daiji)
- 独立dokuritsuindependence; setting up on your own · どくりつ; (dokuritsu suru)
- 苦労kurōhardship, trouble · くろう; (kurō suru), to have a hard time
- 感謝kanshagratitude · かんしゃ; ～に感謝している (ni kansha shite iru), to be grateful to …
- 人生jinseilife (the course of a life) · じんせい
- 後悔kōkairegret · こうかい; (kōkai suru), to regret
- 伝統工芸dentō kōgeitraditional crafts · でんとうこうげい; (kyōmi ga aru), to be interested (in crafts, for example)
- 若い人wakai hitoyoung people · わかいひと
Other levels: Beginner (A1) · Elementary (A2) · Upper intermediate (B2)