If you are learning Japanese from anime or music, you may have learnt some mimics and vocabulary quite naturally. This is very useful indeed, if you are willing to increase your comprehension skills. However, could you really understand and use the everyday life’s words ?
This article provides the most essential words, adjectives and verbs that will enrich your conversational skills and help you to survive to any basic situations when coming to Japan.
There are more than 150 words, classified in several categories such as the vocabulary of the house, food and beverage or even the most used adjectives.
Memorizing 150 words of the everyday life may be a huge challenge. But it is not impossible ! You could for example start with 10 words a day. ๐
Vocabulary of the house
Learning basic words such as ‘the fridge’ or ‘the bathroom’ can be useful if you intend to stay at the hotel or if you are willing to do a homestay. Knowing these basics may provide you more confidence and could potentially be interpreted as a form of politeness towards Japanese people around you that may not speak your mother tongue.
Describing the different rooms in the house
| Word | Kanji | Hiragana/Katakana | Romaji |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | ๅฎถ | ใใ | ie |
| Apartment | ใขใใผใ | ใขใใผใ | apaato |
| Entrance | ็้ข | ใใใใ | genkan |
| Corridor | ๅปไธ | ใใใ | rouka |
| Living room | ใชใใณใฐ | ใชใใณใฐ | ribingu |
| Kitchen | ใญใใใณ | ใญใใใณ | kicchin |
| Bathroom | ๆตดๅฎค | ใใใใค | yokushitsu |
| Toilets | ใใคใฌ | ใใคใฌ | toire |
| Bedroom | ๅฏๅฎค | ใใใใค | shinshitsu |
| Garden | ๅบญ | ใซใ | niwa |
| Balcony | ใใซใณใใผ | ใใซใณใใผ | barukonii |
| Terrace | ใใฉใน | ใใฉใน | terasu |
Describing furnitures
It is always nice to be able to describe what is around us.
| Word | Kanji | Hiragana/Katakana | Romaji |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fridge | ๅท่ตๅบซ | ใใใใใ | reizouko |
| Freezer | ๅทๅๅบซ | ใใใจใใ | reitouko |
| Television | ใใฌใ | ใใฌใ | terebi |
| Radio | ใฉใธใช | ใฉใธใช | rajio |
| Table | ใใผใใซ | ใใผใใซ | teeburu |
| Chair | ๆค ๅญ | ใใ | isu |
| Washing machine | ๆดๆฟฏๆฉ | ใใใใใ | sentakuki |
| Bed | ใใใ | ใใใ | beddo |
| Sofa | ใฝใใก | ใฝใใก | sofa |
| Futon | ๅธๅฃ | ใตใจใ | futon |
| Shelf | ๆฃ | ใใช | tana |
| Bookshelf | ๆฌๆฃ | ใปใใ ใช | hondana |
| TV stands | ใใฌใๅฐ | ใใฌใใ ใ | terebidai |
| Storage (for clothes) | ๅ็ด | ใใ ใใฎใ | shuunou |
Daily necessities
You certainly don’t want to forget those when coming to Japan ๐ !
| Word | Kanji | Hiragana/Katakana | Romaji |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toothbrush | ๆญฏใใฉใท | ใฏใใฉใท | haburashi |
| Toothpaste | ๆญฏ็ฃจใ็ฒ | ใฏใฟใใใ | hamigakiko |
| Hairdryer | ใใฉใคใคใผ | ใใฉใคใคใผ | doraiyaa |
| Iron | ใขใคใญใณ | ใขใคใญใณ | airon |
| Hair iron | ใใขใขใคใญใณ | ใใขใขใคใญใณ | heaairon |
| Body soap | ใใใฃใผใฝใผใ | ใใใฃใผใฝใผใ | bodiisoopu |
| Shampoo | ใทใฃใณใใผ | ใทใฃใณใใผ | shampuu |
| Hair conditionner | ใณใณใใฃใทใงใใผ | ใณใณใใฃใทใงใใผ | condishonaa |
| Hair spray | ใใขในใใฌใผ | ใใขในใใฌใผ | heasupuree |
| Hair wax | ใใขใฏใใฏใน | ใใขใฏใใฏใน | heawakkusu |
| Towel | ใฟใชใซ | ใฟใชใซ | taoru |
| Make-up | ๅ็ฒงๅ | ใใใใใฒใ | keshouhin |
| Perfume | ้ฆๆฐด | ใใใใ | kousui |
| Toilet paper | ใใคใฌใใใใผใใผ | ใใคใฌใใใใผใใผ | toirettopeepaa |
| Hygiene products (for women) | ็็็จๅ | ใใใใใใฒใ | seiriyouhin |
Handy conversational words to use everyday
| Word | Kanji | Hiragana/Katakana | Romaji |
|---|---|---|---|
| Good morning | ใใฏใใใใใใพใ | ใใฏใใใใใใพใ | ohayougozaimasu |
| Hello | ใใใซใกใฏ | ใใใซใกใฏ | konnichiha |
| Good evening | ใใใฐใใฏ | ใใใฐใใฏ | konbanha |
| Good night | ใใใใฟใชใใ | ใใใใฟใชใใ | oyasuminasai |
| Bon appรฉtit | ใใใ ใใพใ | ใใใ ใใพใ | itadakimasu |
| Thank you for the meal | ใใกใใใใพใงใ | ใใกใใใใพใงใ | gochisousamadesu |
| I am going out ! | ่กใฃใฆใใพใ๏ผ | ใใฃใฆใใพใ๏ผ | ittekimasu |
| I came back ! | ใใ ใใพ๏ผ | ใใ ใใพ๏ผ | tadaima |
| Welcome back ! | ใๅธฐใใชใใ๏ผ | ใใใใใชใใ๏ผ | okaerinasai |
| Thanks for your efforts | ใ็ฒใๆงใงใ | ใใคใใใใพใงใ | otsukaresamadesu |
| I am starving | ใ่ นใใใใ | ใใชใใใใใ | onakagasuita |
| I am thirsty | ๅใๆธใใ | ใฎใฉใใใใใ | nodogakawaita |
| Cheers ! | ไนพๆฏ๏ผ | ใใใฑใ๏ผ | kanpai |
| How are you ? | ใๅ ๆฐใงใใ๏ผ | ใใใใใงใใ๏ผ | ogenkidesuka |
| I am fine. | ๅ ๆฐใงใใ | ใใใใงใใ | genkidesu |
| It has been a while ! | ใไน ใใถใใงใ๏ผ | ใใฒใใใถใใงใ๏ผ | ohisashiburidesu |
15 must-know useful places
Try to memorize at least places that are relevant to your daily life.
| Word | Kanji | Hiragana/Katakana | Romaji |
|---|---|---|---|
| Post office | ้ตไพฟๅฑ | ใใใณใใใใ | yuubinkyoku |
| Police station | ไบค็ช | ใใใฐใ | kouban |
| Cinema | ๆ ็ป้คจ | ใใใใใ | eigakan |
| Hospital | ็ ้ข | ใณใใใใ | byouin |
| Supermarket | ในใผใใผ | ในใผใใผ | suupaa |
| Department store | ใใใผใ | ใใใผใ | depaato |
| Convenience store | ใณใณใใ | ใณใณใใ | konbini |
| 100yen shop | ็พๅใทใงใใ | ใฒใใใใใทใงใใ | hyakuenshoppu |
| City office | ๅธๅฝนๆ | ใใใใใ | shiyakusho |
| Dermatology clinic | ็ฎ่็งใฏใชใใใฏ | ใฒใตใใฏใชใใใฏ | hifukakurinikku |
| Ophthalmology clinic | ็ผ็งใฏใชใใใฏ | ใใใใฏใชใใใฏ | gankakurinikku |
| Train station | ้ง | ใใ | eki |
| Bus stop | ใในๅ | ใในใฆใ | basutei |
| Taxi station | ใฟใฏใทใผไนใๅ ด | ใฟใฏใทใผใฎใใฐ | takushiinoriba |
| Cafe | ใซใใง | ใซใใง | kafe |
Food and beverages
You may get hungry while reading this list. That is one of the side effects of learning Japanese ๐ !
Food
| Word | Kanji | Hiragana/Katakana | Romaji |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bento | ใๅผๅฝ | ใในใใจใ | obentou |
| Rice | ใ็ฑณ | ใใใ | okome |
| Vegetables | ้่ | ใใใ | yasai |
| Fruits | ๆ็ฉ | ใใ ใใฎ | kudamono |
| Meat | ใ่ | ใใซใ | oniku |
| Beef meat | ็่ | ใใ ใใซใ | gyuuniku |
| Pork meat | ่ฑ่ | ใถใใซใ | butaniku |
| Duck meat | ้ดจ่ | ใใใซใ | kamoniku |
| Chicken meat | ้ถ่ | ใจใใซใ | toriniku |
| Fish | ้ญ | ใใใช | sakana |
| Egg | ๅต | ใใพใ | tamago |
| Milk | ใใซใฏ | ใใซใฏ | miruku |
| Soy milk | ่ฑไนณ | ใจใใซใ ใ | tounyuu |
| Bread | ใใณ | ใใณ | pan |
| Pasta | ใในใฟ | ใในใฟ | pasuta |
| Potato | ใใใ | ใใใ | poteto |
| Carrot | ไบบๅ | ใซใใใ | ninjin |
| Onion | ็ใญใ | ใใพใญใ | tamanegi |
| Pepper | ใใผใใณ | ใใผใใณ | piiman |
| Eggplant | ใใน | ใใน | nasu |
| Tomato | ใใใ | ใใใ | tomato |
| Garlic | ใใณใใฏ | ใใณใใฏ | ninniku |
| Ginger | ็ๅง | ใใใใ | shouga |
| Salad | ใตใฉใ | ใตใฉใ | sarada |
| Mushroom | ใญใใณ | ใญใใณ | kinoko |
| Butter | ใใฟใผ | ใใฟใผ | bataa |
| Olive oil | ใชใชใผใใชใคใซ | ใชใชใผใใชใคใซ | oriibuoiru |
| Bacon | ใใผใณใณ | ใใผใณใณ | beekon |
| Cheese | ใใผใบ | ใใผใบ | chiizu |
Beverages
| Word | Kanji | Hiragana/Katakana | Romaji |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water | ใๆฐด | ใใฟใ | omizu |
| Sparkling water | ็ญ้ ธๆฐด | ใใใใใใ | tansansui |
| Soda | ใฝใผใใผ | ใฝใผใใผ | soodaa |
| Wine | ใฏใคใณ | ใฏใคใณ | wain |
| White wine | ็ฝใฏใคใณ | ใใใฏใคใณ | shirowain |
| Red whine | ่ตคใฏใคใณ | ใใใฏใคใณ | akawain |
| Champagne | ใทใฃใณใใณ | ใทใฃใณใใณ | shanpan |
| Orange juice | ใชใฌใณใธใธใฅใผใน | ใชใฌใณใธใธใฅใผใน | orenjijuusu |
| Apple juice | ใขใใใซใธใฅใผใน | ใขใใใซใธใฅใผใน | appurujuusu |
| Guava juice | ใฐใขใใธใฅใผใน | ใฐใขใใธใฅใผใน | guabajuusu |
| Grapefruit juice | ใฐใฌใผใใใซใผใใธใฅใผใน | ใฐใฌใผใใใซใผใใธใฅใผใน | gureepufuruutsujuusu |
Dietary restrictions and special menus
| Word | Kanji | Hiragana/Katakana | Romaji |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vegan | ใใผใฌใณ | ใใผใฌใณ | biigan |
| Gluten-free | ใฐใซใใณใใชใผ | ใฐใซใใณใใชใผ | gurutenfurii |
| Vegetarian | ใใธใฟใชใขใณ | ใใธใฟใชใขใณ | bejitarian |
| Dairy-free | ไนณ่ฃฝๅใชใ | ใซใ ใใใใฒใใชใ | nyuuseihinnashi |
| Salt-free/Low sodium menu | ็กๅกฉใกใใฅใผ | ใใใใกใใฅใผ | muenmenyuu |
| Halal | ใใฉใซ | ใใฉใซ | hararu |
If you follow one or several dietary restrictions, you could use the below handy question in any restaurant in order to ask if something from the menu fit your alimentation choice.
15+ basic verbs to enrich your daily conversations
It may be hard to memorize all of it but knowing at least a part of it would ease your communication with local people.
| Word | Kanji | Hiragana/Katakana | Romaji |
|---|---|---|---|
| To eat | ้ฃในใ | ใในใ | taberu |
| To drink | ้ฃฒใ | ใฎใ | nomu |
| To sleep | ๅฏใ | ใญใ | neru |
| To wash (oneself) | ไฝใๆดใ | ใใใ ใใใใ | karada wo arau |
| To take a shower | ใทใฃใฏใผใๆตดใณใ | ใทใฃใฏใผใใใณใ | shawaa wo abiru |
| To speak | ่ฉฑใ | ใฏใชใ | hanasu |
| To say | ่จใ | ใใ | iu |
| To read | ่ชญใ | ใใ | yomu |
| To write | ๆธใ | ใใ | kaku |
| To walk | ๆญฉใ | ใใใ | aruku |
| To run | ่ตฐใ | ใฏใใ | hashiru |
| To sit | ๅบงใ | ใใใ | suwaru |
| To stand | ็ซใค | ใใค | tatsu |
| To see | ่ฆใ | ใฟใ | miru |
| To watch | ่ฆณใ | ใฟใ | miru |
| To listen | ่ใ | ใใ | kiku |
20+ adjectives easy to use everyday
Mastering these adjectives will increase your basic communication skills in Japanese. Note that you could use those in many kind of situations : at the restaurant, at the hotel, in a shop, etc..
| Word | Kanji | Hiragana/Katakana | Romaji |
|---|---|---|---|
| Delicious | ็พๅณใใ | ใใใใ | oishii |
| Disgusting | ไธๅณใ | ใพใใ | mazui |
| Happy | ๆฅฝใใ | ใใฎใใ | tanoshii |
| Boring | ้ขๅ่ญใ | ใใใฉใใใใ | mendoukusai |
| Hot | ๆใ | ใใคใ | atsui |
| Warm | ๆใใ | ใใใใใ | atatakai |
| Cold | ๅฏใ | ใใใ | samui |
| Sweet | ็ใ | ใใพใ | amai |
| Spicy | ่พใ | ใใใ | karai |
| Salty | ๅกฉใฃใฑใ | ใใใฃใฑใ | shoppai |
| Sour | ้ ธใฃใฑใ | ใใฃใฑใ | suppai |
| Quick/early | ๆฉใ | ใฏใใ | hayai |
| Slow/late | ้ ใ | ใใใ | osoi |
| Free | ็กๆ | ใใใใ | muryou |
| Cheap | ๅฎใ | ใใใ | yasui |
| Expensive | ้ซใ | ใใใ | takai |
| Big | ๅคงใใ | ใใใใ | ookii |
| Small | ๅฐใใ | ใกใใใ | chiisai |
| Busy | ๅฟใใ | ใใใใใ | isogashii |
| Available | ๆ | ใฒใพ | hima |
| Funny | ้ข็ฝใ | ใใใใใ | omoshiroi |
In this article, I tried to share with you more than 150 useful words that you could use in your everyday life in Japan. Of course, this list is only one small part of the whole puzzle but mastering these basics can help you enriching your Japanese conversational and comprehension skills.
If you need any additional word or list of words, please feel free to request it in the comment part of the article ๐ !
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