Learn with Hey

Core Japanese Vocabulary: 100+ Essential Words Every Beginner Must Know

Contents

Core Japanese Vocabulary and Phrases for Daily Life
Core Japanese Verbs You Should Know
Pronouns
Time
Adjectives
Bonus: Phrases in Real-Life Situations
Tips for Memorizing Core Vocabulary Effectively

Core Japanese Vocabulary and Phrases for Daily Life

These everyday words will help you navigate conversations, shopping, travel, and basic tasks in Japan.

English	Japanese	Romaji
Hello	こんにちは	Konnichiwa
Thank you	ありがとう	Arigatou
Yes	はい	Hai
No	いいえ	Iie
Please	お願いします	Onegaishimasu
Excuse me / Sorry	すみません	Sumimasen
Good morning	おはよう	Ohayou
Good night	おやすみ	Oyasumi
I understand	わかります	Wakarimasu
I don’t understand	わかりません	Wakarimasen

✅ These basic terms are perfect for travelers and beginners interacting in shops, stations, and restaurants. Check out more ways to say “Hello” in Japanese.

Core Japanese Verbs You Should Know

Verbs are the backbone of Japanese grammar. Here's a list of common action words to get you started:

English	Japanese	Romaji
To eat	食べる	Taberu
To drink	飲む	Nomu
To go	行く	Iku
To come	来る	Kuru
To see / watch	見る	Miru
To do	する	Suru
To say	言う	Iu
To buy	買う	Kau
To write	書く	Kaku
To read	読む	Yomu

🔗 Want more? Explore our full list of Japanese Verbs for Beginners

Pronouns

Knowing pronouns is essential for smooth conversations, especially when referring to yourself and others in polite or casual contexts.

English	Japanese	Romaji
I (male)	僕 / 俺	Boku / Ore
I (female)	私	Watashi
You	あなた	Anata
He	彼	Kare
She	彼女	Kanojo
We	私たち	Watashitachi
They	彼ら	Karera
This	これ	Kore
That	それ / あれ	Sore / Are
Who	誰	Dare

📌 Note: Japanese often omits pronouns in context, but it's helpful to know them!

Time

Whether you’re catching a train, making a reservation, or scheduling your day, these time-related words are key.

English	Japanese	Romaji
Now	今	Ima
Today	今日	Kyou
Tomorrow	明日	Ashita
Yesterday	昨日	Kinou
Morning	朝	Asa
Afternoon	午後	Gogo
Evening	夕方	Yuugata
Night	夜	Yoru
Hour	時	Ji
Minute	分	Fun / Pun

⏰ Want to say the time? “2 o’clock” is ２時 (ni-ji), “3:30” is ３時半 (san-ji han).

Adjectives

Japanese adjectives

Knowing adjectives helps you express feelings, opinions, and details more clearly.

English	Japanese	Romaji
Big	大きい	Ookii
Small	小さい	Chiisai
New	新しい	Atarashii
Old	古い	Furui
Good	いい	Ii
Bad	悪い	Warui
Hot	暑い / 熱い	Atsui
Cold	寒い / 冷たい	Samui / Tsumetai
Expensive	高い	Takai
Cheap	安い	Yasui

✅ Use these adjectives with nouns to describe people, weather, food, and more!

Bonus: Phrases in Real-Life Situations

These beginner-friendly phrases help you communicate confidently. Each includes a realistic reply from a native speaker.

🛒 At the Store:

これ、いくらですか？
Kore, ikura desu ka?
“How much is this?”
→ 千円です。 (It’s 1,000 yen.)
試着できますか？
Shichaku dekimasu ka?
“Can I try this on?”
サイズはありますか？
Saizu wa arimasu ka?
“Do you have this in another size?”
クレジットカード使えますか？
Kurejitto kādo tsukaemasu ka?
“Do you accept credit cards?”
袋はいりますか？
Fukuro wa irimasu ka?
“Do you need a bag?”

🚉 At the Station:

新宿までいくらですか？
Shinjuku made ikura desu ka?
“How much to Shinjuku?”
この電車は各駅停車ですか？
Kono densha wa kakueki teisha desu ka?
“Is this a local train?”
次の電車は何時ですか？
Tsugi no densha wa nanji desu ka?
“What time is the next train?”

Want more? Check our guide to Japanese Travel Phrases.

Tips for Memorizing Core Vocabulary Effectively

🧠 Use spaced repetition tools like Anki or Memrise
🗣️ Practice with language exchange partners or tutors
📕 Read beginner manga, signs, and menus in Japanese
🎧 Listen to Japanese audio daily: podcasts, dramas, music
✍️ Write daily journal entries using new vocabulary

📌 Found this guide helpful?
🔁 Share it with your fellow learners!
💬 Have questions or word requests? Drop a comment below!
📚 Want more? Read our post on Japanese Driving Vocabulary!