Top 100 Japanese Words for Beginners – Essential Vocabulary for Daily Use

 If you’re starting to learn Japanese, focusing on the most commonly used words will help you build a strong foundation. These 100 essential Japanese words will cover daily conversations, greetings, food, numbers, and more, helping you navigate basic situations in Japan.

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Top 100 Japanese Words for Beginners

1. Basic Greetings and Expressions

Japanese	Pronunciation	Meaning
こんにちは	Konnichiwa	Hello
おはようございます	Ohayou gozaimasu	Good morning
こんばんは	Konbanwa	Good evening
ありがとう	Arigatou	Thank you
すみません	Sumimasen	Excuse me/Sorry
ごめんなさい	Gomennasai	I'm sorry
はい	Hai	Yes
いいえ	Iie	No
お願いします	Onegaishimasu	Please (polite request)
どういたしまして	Douitashimashite	You're welcome

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2. Common Japanese Verbs

Japanese	Pronunciation	Meaning
行く	Iku	To go
来る	Kuru	To come
見る	Miru	To see/watch
話す	Hanasu	To speak
聞く	Kiku	To listen/ask
食べる	Taberu	To eat
飲む	Nomu	To drink
する	Suru	To do
買う	Kau	To buy
勉強する	Benkyou suru	To study

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3. Numbers in Japanese

Number	Japanese	Pronunciation
1	一	Ichi
2	二	Ni
3	三	San
4	四	Yon/Shi
5	五	Go
6	六	Roku
7	七	Nana/Shichi
8	八	Hachi
9	九	Kyuu/Ku
10	十	Juu

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4. Everyday Nouns

Japanese	Pronunciation	Meaning
家	Ie/Uchi	House/Home
学校	Gakkou	School
会社	Kaisha	Company/Office
病院	Byouin	Hospital
駅	Eki	Train station
車	Kuruma	Car
猫	Neko	Cat
犬	Inu	Dog
本	Hon	Book
友達	Tomodachi	Friend

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5. Essential Japanese Adjectives

Japanese	Pronunciation	Meaning
大きい	Ookii	Big
小さい	Chiisai	Small
高い	Takai	Expensive/High
安い	Yasui	Cheap
速い	Hayai	Fast
遅い	Osoi	Slow
暑い	Atsui	Hot (weather)
寒い	Samui	Cold (weather)
美味しい	Oishii	Delicious
かわいい	Kawaii	Cute

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6. Time-related Words

Japanese	Pronunciation	Meaning
今日	Kyou	Today
明日	Ashita	Tomorrow
昨日	Kinou	Yesterday
午前	Gozen	AM (morning)
午後	Gogo	PM (afternoon)
今年	Kotoshi	This year
来年	Rainen	Next year
先月	Sengetsu	Last month
今週	Konshuu	This week
週末	Shuumatsu	Weekend

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7. Common Japanese Travel Phrases

Japanese	Pronunciation	Meaning
いくらですか？	Ikura desu ka?	How much is it?
どこですか？	Doko desu ka?	Where is it?
英語を話せますか？	Eigo o hanasemasu ka?	Can you speak English?
助けてください！	Tasukete kudasai!	Please help!
トイレはどこですか？	Toire wa doko desu ka?	Where is the bathroom?

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How TLS Helps You Master Japanese Vocabulary

At Team Language Services (TLS), we provide: ✔ Interactive lessons with real-life examples
✔ Practical exercises to reinforce learning
✔ Personalized coaching for faster improvement

Our structured approach ensures that you remember and apply words naturally in conversations.

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Study Tips for Memorizing Japanese Words

Here are some expert tips from TLS to memorize Japanese words faster:
✅ Use flashcards & mnemonics – Associate words with images
✅ Practice daily conversation – Speak with a tutor or language partner
✅ Engage with Japanese media – Watch anime, movies, and listen to podcasts

FAQs

1. How can I learn Japanese words quickly?
Use flashcards, repetition, and real-life practice to memorize vocabulary faster.

2. What are the most important Japanese words for beginners?
Greetings, common verbs, numbers, and travel phrases are the most useful for beginners.

3. How many words do I need to know to be fluent in Japanese?
To have basic conversations, knowing 500-1,000 words is recommended. Fluency requires 5,000+ words.

4. Is Japanese vocabulary hard to learn?
Japanese vocabulary can be challenging due to kanji, but many words are easy to remember with practice.

5. Do I need to learn kanji to understand Japanese words?
You can start with hiragana and katakana, but kanji is important for full fluency.

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By learning these top 100 Japanese words for beginners, you’ll be able to navigate daily conversations with confidence. Keep practicing, and your Japanese skills will improve quickly!