100 Basic Japanese Words to Learn for Beginners ๐ธ
๐ฃ๏ธ 1. Greetings & Daily Expressions
These essential Japanese greetings will help you make a polite first impression:
| Japanese | Romaji | English Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| ใใใซใกใฏ | Konnichiwa | Hello / Good afternoon |
| ใใฏใใ | Ohayou | Good morning |
| ใใใฐใใฏ | Konbanwa | Good evening |
| ใใใใฟ | Oyasumi | Good night |
| ใใใใชใ | Sayounara | Goodbye |
| ใฏใ | Hai | Yes |
| ใใใ | Iie | No |
| ใใใใจใ | Arigatou | Thank you |
| ใใฟใพใใ | Sumimasen | Excuse me / Sorry |
| ใใใใชใใ | Gomen nasai | Iโm sorry |
๐ค 2. Personal Pronouns
Learn how to talk about yourself and others in Japanese:
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| ใใใ | Watashi | I / Me |
| ใใชใ | Anata | You |
| ใใ | Kare | He / Him |
| ใใฎใใ | Kanojo | She / Her |
| ใใใใใก | Watashitachi | We / Us |
โฐ 3. Time & Numbers
Numbers and time-related vocabulary are used everywhere:
| Japanese | Romaji | English Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| ใใก | Ichi | One |
| ใซ | Ni | Two |
| ใใ | San | Three |
| ใใ / ใ | Yon / Shi | Four |
| ใ | Go | Five |
| ใใ | Roku | Six |
| ใชใช / ใใก | Nana / Shichi | Seven |
| ใฏใก | Hachi | Eight |
| ใใ ใ / ใ | Kyuu / Ku | Nine |
| ใใ ใ | Juu | Ten |
๐ 4. Food & Drink Vocabulary
Know what to order in a Japanese restaurant with these words:
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| ใฟใ | Mizu | Water |
| ใใกใ | Ocha | Tea |
| ใใฏใ | Gohan | Rice / Meal |
| ใใณ | Pan | Bread |
| ใซใ | Niku | Meat |
| ใใใช | Sakana | Fish |
| ใใพใ | Tamago | Egg |
| ใใใ | Yasai | Vegetables |
| ใใ ใใฎ | Kudamono | Fruit |
๐ 5. Places & Daily Objects
Common words used in daily life or while traveling:
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| ใใ | Ie | House |
| ใใฃใใ | Gakkou | School |
| ใฟใ | Mise | Shop / Store |
| ใใ | Eki | Train Station |
| ใใใพ | Kuruma | Car |
| ใงใใใ | Densha | Train |
| ใงใใ | Denwa | Telephone |
| ใใ | Kasa | Umbrella |
๐ฌ Bonus Section: 10 Essential Japanese Verbs
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| ใในใ | Taberu | To eat |
| ใฎใ | Nomu | To drink |
| ใใ | Iku | To go |
| ใฟใ | Miru | To see |
| ใฏใชใ | Hanasu | To speak |
| ใใ | Yomu | To read |
| ใใ | Kaku | To write |
| ใใ | Suru | To do |
| ใใใ | Aruku | To walk |
| ใญใ | Neru | To sleep |
๐ธ Final Thoughts
Learning just these 100 Japanese words will dramatically boost your ability to speak, listen, and understand basic Japanese. The best part? These words appear frequently in conversations, travel, anime, and daily life. Practice a few words each day, and youโll see results in no time.
