Japanese for Beginners: Essential Vocabulary198

Japanese is a fascinating and rewarding language to learn. With its unique writing system and rich culture, it offers a gateway to a whole new world of communication and understanding. Whether you are planning a trip to Japan, want to connect with Japanese speakers, or simply have a passion for languages, learning Japanese can be an incredibly enriching experience.

One of the first steps in learning any language is to build a strong vocabulary. This is especially true for Japanese, as the language has a wide range of words and phrases that are not directly translatable into English. In this article, we will introduce you to some of the most essential Japanese vocabulary words and phrases, organized by topic.

Greetings
こんにちは (konnichiwa) - Hello (daytime)
こんばんは (konbanwa) - Hello (evening)
おはようございます (ohayo gozaimasu) - Good morning
おやすみなさい (oyasuminasai) - Good night
さようなら (sayonara) - Goodbye

Introductions
はじめまして (hajimemashite) - Nice to meet you
私は...です (watashi wa...desu) - My name is...
お名前は何ですか? (onamae wa nan desu ka?) - What is your name?
どうぞよろしくおねがいします (dozo yoroshiku onegai shimasu) - Please take care of me

Basic Questions
はい (hai) - Yes
いいえ (iie) - No
ありがとうございます (arigatou gozaimasu) - Thank you
すみません (sumimasen) - Excuse me
わかりません (wakarimasen) - I don't understand

Numbers
1 - いち (ichi)
2 - に (ni)
3 - さん (san)
4 - よん (yon)
5 - ご (go)
6 - ろく (roku)
7 - なな (nana)
8 - はち (hachi)
9 - きゅう (kyu)
10 - じゅう (ju)

Days of the Week
月曜日 (getsuyoubi) - Monday
火曜日 (kayoubi) - Tuesday
水曜日 (suiyobi) - Wednesday
木曜日 (mokuyoubi) - Thursday
金曜日 (kinyoubi) - Friday
土曜日 (doyoubi) - Saturday
日曜日 (nichiyoubi) - Sunday

Colors
赤 (aka) - Red
青 (ao) - Blue
黄 (ki) - Yellow
緑 (midori) - Green
紫 (murasaki) - Purple
ピンク (pinku) - Pink
黒 (kuro) - Black
白 (shiro) - White

Food and Drink
ご飯 (gohan) - Rice
味噌汁 (misoshiru) - Miso soup
寿司 (sushi) - Sushi
ラーメン (ramen) - Ramen noodles
お茶 (ocha) - Tea
ビール (biiru) - Beer
日本酒 (nihonshu) - Sake

Transportation
電車 (densha) - Train
バス (basu) - Bus
車 (kuruma) - Car
自転車 (jitensha) - Bicycle
タクシー (takushii) - Taxi

Places
家 (ie) - House
学校 (gakkou) - School
病院 (byouin) - Hospital
公園 (kouen) - Park
お店 (mise) - Store

Time
今 (ima) - Now
昨日 (kinou) - Yesterday
今日 (kyou) - Today
明日 (ashita) - Tomorrow
何時 (nanji) - What time

Weather
晴れ (hare) - Sunny
曇り (kumori) - Cloudy
雨 (ame) - Rain
雪 (yuki) - Snow
風 (kaze) - Wind

Feelings
嬉しい (ureshii) - Happy
悲しい (kanashii) - Sad
楽しい (tanoshii) - Fun
怖い (kowai) - Scary
疲れた (tsukareta) - Tired

Conclusion

This is just a small sample of the essential Japanese vocabulary words and phrases that you will need to know to get started in the language. By practicing these words and phrases regularly, you will be well on your way to mastering Japanese.

2024-12-11

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