150+ Useful words and phrases for daily life in Japan

Mamechishiki Blog

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. ๐Ÿ™‚

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

WordKanjiHiragana/KatakanaRomaji
Houseๅฎถใ„ใˆie
Apartmentใ‚ขใƒ‘ใƒผใƒˆใ‚ขใƒ‘ใƒผใƒˆapaato
Entrance็Ž„้–ขใ’ใ‚“ใ‹ใ‚“genkan
CorridorๅปŠไธ‹ใ‚ใ†ใ‹rouka
Living roomใƒชใƒ“ใƒณใ‚ฐใƒชใƒ“ใƒณใ‚ฐribingu
Kitchenใ‚ญใƒƒใƒใƒณใ‚ญใƒƒใƒใƒณkicchin
Bathroomๆตดๅฎคใ‚ˆใใ—ใคyokushitsu
Toiletsใƒˆใ‚คใƒฌใƒˆใ‚คใƒฌtoire
Bedroomๅฏๅฎคใ—ใ‚“ใ—ใคshinshitsu
Gardenๅบญใซใ‚niwa
Balconyใƒใƒซใ‚ณใƒ‹ใƒผใƒใƒซใ‚ณใƒ‹ใƒผbarukonii
Terraceใƒ†ใƒฉใ‚นใƒ†ใƒฉใ‚นterasu

Describing furnitures

It is always nice to be able to describe what is around us.

WordKanjiHiragana/KatakanaRomaji
Fridgeๅ†ท่”ตๅบซใ‚Œใ„ใžใ†ใ“reizouko
Freezerๅ†ทๅ‡ๅบซใ‚Œใ„ใจใ†ใ“reitouko
Televisionใƒ†ใƒฌใƒ“ใƒ†ใƒฌใƒ“terebi
Radioใƒฉใ‚ธใ‚ชใƒฉใ‚ธใ‚ชrajio
Tableใƒ†ใƒผใƒ–ใƒซใƒ†ใƒผใƒ–ใƒซteeburu
Chairๆค…ๅญใ„ใ™isu
Washing machineๆด—ๆฟฏๆฉŸใ›ใ‚“ใŸใใsentakuki
Bedใƒ™ใƒƒใƒ‰ใƒ™ใƒƒใƒ‰beddo
Sofaใ‚ฝใƒ•ใ‚กใ‚ฝใƒ•ใ‚กsofa
Futonๅธƒๅ›ฃใตใจใ‚“futon
ShelfๆฃšใŸใชtana
Bookshelfๆœฌๆฃšใปใ‚“ใ ใชhondana
TV standsใƒ†ใƒฌใƒ“ๅฐใƒ†ใƒฌใƒ“ใ ใ„terebidai
Storage (for clothes)ๅŽ็ดใ—ใ‚…ใ†ใฎใ†shuunou

Daily necessities

You certainly don’t want to forget those when coming to Japan ๐Ÿ˜€ !

WordKanjiHiragana/KatakanaRomaji
Toothbrushๆญฏใƒ–ใƒฉใ‚ทใฏใƒ–ใƒฉใ‚ทhaburashi
Toothpasteๆญฏ็ฃจใ็ฒ‰ใฏใฟใŒใใ“hamigakiko
Hairdryerใƒ‰ใƒฉใ‚คใƒคใƒผใƒ‰ใƒฉใ‚คใƒคใƒผdoraiyaa
Ironใ‚ขใ‚คใƒญใƒณใ‚ขใ‚คใƒญใƒณairon
Hair ironใƒ˜ใ‚ขใ‚ขใ‚คใƒญใƒณใƒ˜ใ‚ขใ‚ขใ‚คใƒญใƒณheaairon
Body soapใƒœใƒ‡ใ‚ฃใƒผใ‚ฝใƒผใƒ—ใƒœใƒ‡ใ‚ฃใƒผใ‚ฝใƒผใƒ—bodiisoopu
Shampooใ‚ทใƒฃใƒณใƒ—ใƒผใ‚ทใƒฃใƒณใƒ—ใƒผshampuu
Hair conditionnerใ‚ณใƒณใƒ‡ใ‚ฃใ‚ทใƒงใƒŠใƒผใ‚ณใƒณใƒ‡ใ‚ฃใ‚ทใƒงใƒŠใƒผcondishonaa
Hair sprayใƒ˜ใ‚ขใ‚นใƒ—ใƒฌใƒผใƒ˜ใ‚ขใ‚นใƒ—ใƒฌใƒผheasupuree
Hair waxใƒ˜ใ‚ขใƒฏใƒƒใ‚ฏใ‚นใƒ˜ใ‚ขใƒฏใƒƒใ‚ฏใ‚นheawakkusu
Towelใ‚ฟใ‚ชใƒซใ‚ฟใ‚ชใƒซtaoru
Make-upๅŒ–็ฒงๅ“ใ‘ใ—ใ‚‡ใ†ใฒใ‚“keshouhin
Perfume้ฆ™ๆฐดใ“ใ†ใ™ใ„kousui
Toilet paperใƒˆใ‚คใƒฌใƒƒใƒˆใƒšใƒผใƒ‘ใƒผใƒˆใ‚คใƒฌใƒƒใƒˆใƒšใƒผใƒ‘ใƒผtoirettopeepaa
Hygiene products (for women)็”Ÿ็†็”จๅ“ใ›ใ„ใ‚Šใ‚ˆใ†ใฒใ‚“seiriyouhin

Handy conversational words to use everyday

WordKanjiHiragana/KatakanaRomaji
Good morningใŠใฏใ‚ˆใ†ใ”ใ–ใ„ใพใ™ใŠใฏใ‚ˆใ†ใ”ใ–ใ„ใพใ™ohayougozaimasu
Helloใ“ใ‚“ใซใกใฏใ“ใ‚“ใซใกใฏkonnichiha
Good eveningใ“ใ‚“ใฐใ‚“ใฏใ“ใ‚“ใฐใ‚“ใฏkonbanha
Good nightใŠใ‚„ใ™ใฟใชใ•ใ„ใŠใ‚„ใ™ใฟใชใ•ใ„oyasuminasai
Bon appรฉtitใ„ใŸใ ใใพใ™ใ„ใŸใ ใใพใ™itadakimasu
Thank you for the mealใ”ใกใใ†ใ•ใพใงใ™ใ”ใกใใ†ใ•ใพใงใ™gochisousamadesu
I am going out !่กŒใฃใฆใใพใ™๏ผใ„ใฃใฆใใพใ™๏ผittekimasu
I came back !ใŸใ ใ„ใพ๏ผใŸใ ใ„ใพ๏ผtadaima
Welcome back !ใŠๅธฐใ‚Šใชใ•ใ„๏ผใŠใ‹ใˆใ‚Šใชใ•ใ„๏ผokaerinasai
Thanks for your effortsใŠ็–ฒใ‚Œๆง˜ใงใ™ใŠใคใ‹ใ‚Œใ•ใพใงใ™otsukaresamadesu
I am starvingใŠ่…นใŒใ™ใ„ใŸใŠใชใ‹ใŒใ™ใ„ใŸonakagasuita
I am thirsty ๅ–‰ใŒๆธ‡ใ„ใŸใฎใฉใŒใ‹ใ‚ใ„ใŸnodogakawaita
Cheers !ไนพๆฏ๏ผใ‹ใ‚“ใฑใ„๏ผkanpai
How are you ?ใŠๅ…ƒๆฐ—ใงใ™ใ‹๏ผŸใŠใ’ใ‚“ใใงใ™ใ‹๏ผŸogenkidesuka
I am fine.ๅ…ƒๆฐ—ใงใ™ใ€‚ใ’ใ‚“ใใงใ™ใ€‚genkidesu
It has been a while ! ใŠไน…ใ—ใถใ‚Šใงใ™๏ผใŠใฒใ•ใ—ใถใ‚Šใงใ™๏ผohisashiburidesu

15 must-know useful places

Try to memorize at least places that are relevant to your daily life.

WordKanjiHiragana/KatakanaRomaji
Post office้ƒตไพฟๅฑ€ใ‚†ใ†ใณใ‚“ใใ‚‡ใyuubinkyoku
Police stationไบค็•ชใ“ใ†ใฐใ‚“kouban
Cinemaๆ˜ ็”ป้คจใˆใ„ใŒใ‹ใ‚“eigakan
Hospital็—…้™ขใณใ‚‡ใ†ใ„ใ‚“byouin
Supermarketใ‚นใƒผใƒ‘ใƒผใ‚นใƒผใƒ‘ใƒผsuupaa
Department storeใƒ‡ใƒ‘ใƒผใƒˆใƒ‡ใƒ‘ใƒผใƒˆdepaato
Convenience storeใ‚ณใƒณใƒ“ใƒ‹ใ‚ณใƒณใƒ“ใƒ‹konbini
100yen shop็™พๅ††ใ‚ทใƒงใƒƒใƒ—ใฒใ‚ƒใใˆใ‚“ใ‚ทใƒงใƒƒใƒ—hyakuenshoppu
City officeๅธ‚ๅฝนๆ‰€ใ—ใ‚„ใใ—ใ‚‡shiyakusho
Dermatology clinic็šฎ่†š็ง‘ใ‚ฏใƒชใƒ‹ใƒƒใ‚ฏใฒใตใ‹ใ‚ฏใƒชใƒ‹ใƒƒใ‚ฏhifukakurinikku
Ophthalmology clinic็œผ็ง‘ใ‚ฏใƒชใƒ‹ใƒƒใ‚ฏใŒใ‚“ใ‹ใ‚ฏใƒชใƒ‹ใƒƒใ‚ฏgankakurinikku
Train station้ง…ใˆใeki
Bus stopใƒใ‚นๅœใƒใ‚นใฆใ„basutei
Taxi stationใ‚ฟใ‚ฏใ‚ทใƒผไน—ใ‚Šๅ ดใ‚ฟใ‚ฏใ‚ทใƒผใฎใ‚Šใฐtakushiinoriba
Cafeใ‚ซใƒ•ใ‚งใ‚ซใƒ•ใ‚งkafe

Food and beverages

You may get hungry while reading this list. That is one of the side effects of learning Japanese ๐Ÿ˜€ !

Food

WordKanjiHiragana/KatakanaRomaji
BentoใŠๅผๅฝ“ใŠในใ‚“ใจใ†obentou
RiceใŠ็ฑณใŠใ“ใ‚okome
Vegetables้‡Ž่œใ‚„ใ•ใ„yasai
Fruitsๆžœ็‰ฉใใ ใ‚‚ใฎkudamono
MeatใŠ่‚‰ใŠใซใoniku
Beef meat็‰›่‚‰ใŽใ‚…ใ†ใซใgyuuniku
Pork meat่ฑš่‚‰ใถใŸใซใbutaniku
Duck meat้ดจ่‚‰ใ‹ใ‚‚ใซใkamoniku
Chicken meat้ถ่‚‰ใจใ‚Šใซใtoriniku
Fish้ญšใ•ใ‹ใชsakana
EggๅตใŸใพใ”tamago
MilkใƒŸใƒซใ‚ฏใƒŸใƒซใ‚ฏmiruku
Soy milk่ฑ†ไนณใจใ†ใซใ‚…ใ†tounyuu
Breadใƒ‘ใƒณใƒ‘ใƒณpan
Pastaใƒ‘ใ‚นใ‚ฟใƒ‘ใ‚นใ‚ฟpasuta
Potatoใƒใƒ†ใƒˆใƒใƒ†ใƒˆpoteto
Carrotไบบๅ‚ใซใ‚“ใ˜ใ‚“ninjin
Onion็މใญใŽใŸใพใญใŽtamanegi
Pepperใƒ”ใƒผใƒžใƒณใƒ”ใƒผใƒžใƒณpiiman
EggplantใƒŠใ‚นใƒŠใ‚นnasu
Tomatoใƒˆใƒžใƒˆใƒˆใƒžใƒˆtomato
Garlicใƒ‹ใƒณใƒ‹ใ‚ฏใƒ‹ใƒณใƒ‹ใ‚ฏninniku
Ginger็”Ÿๅงœใ—ใ‚‡ใ†ใŒshouga
Saladใ‚ตใƒฉใƒ€ใ‚ตใƒฉใƒ€sarada
Mushroomใ‚ญใƒŽใ‚ณใ‚ญใƒŽใ‚ณkinoko
Butterใƒใ‚ฟใƒผใƒใ‚ฟใƒผbataa
Olive oilใ‚ชใƒชใƒผใƒ–ใ‚ชใ‚คใƒซใ‚ชใƒชใƒผใƒ–ใ‚ชใ‚คใƒซoriibuoiru
Baconใƒ™ใƒผใ‚ณใƒณใƒ™ใƒผใ‚ณใƒณbeekon
Cheeseใƒใƒผใ‚บใƒใƒผใ‚บchiizu

Beverages

WordKanjiHiragana/KatakanaRomaji
WaterใŠๆฐดใŠใฟใšomizu
Sparkling water็‚ญ้…ธๆฐดใŸใ‚“ใ•ใ‚“ใ™ใ„tansansui
Sodaใ‚ฝใƒผใƒ€ใƒผใ‚ฝใƒผใƒ€ใƒผsoodaa
Wineใƒฏใ‚คใƒณใƒฏใ‚คใƒณwain
White wine็™ฝใƒฏใ‚คใƒณใ—ใ‚ใƒฏใ‚คใƒณshirowain
Red whine่ตคใƒฏใ‚คใƒณใ‚ใ‹ใƒฏใ‚คใƒณakawain
Champagneใ‚ทใƒฃใƒณใƒ‘ใƒณใ‚ทใƒฃใƒณใƒ‘ใƒณshanpan
Orange juiceใ‚ชใƒฌใƒณใ‚ธใ‚ธใƒฅใƒผใ‚นใ‚ชใƒฌใƒณใ‚ธใ‚ธใƒฅใƒผใ‚นorenjijuusu
Apple juiceใ‚ขใƒƒใƒ—ใƒซใ‚ธใƒฅใƒผใ‚นใ‚ขใƒƒใƒ—ใƒซใ‚ธใƒฅใƒผใ‚นappurujuusu
Guava juiceใ‚ฐใ‚ขใƒใ‚ธใƒฅใƒผใ‚นใ‚ฐใ‚ขใƒใ‚ธใƒฅใƒผใ‚นguabajuusu
Grapefruit juiceใ‚ฐใƒฌใƒผใƒ—ใƒ•ใƒซใƒผใƒ„ใ‚ธใƒฅใƒผใ‚นใ‚ฐใƒฌใƒผใƒ—ใƒ•ใƒซใƒผใƒ„ใ‚ธใƒฅใƒผใ‚นgureepufuruutsujuusu

Dietary restrictions and special menus

WordKanjiHiragana/KatakanaRomaji
Veganใƒ“ใƒผใ‚ฌใƒณใƒ“ใƒผใ‚ฌใƒณbiigan
Gluten-freeใ‚ฐใƒซใƒ†ใƒณใƒ•ใƒชใƒผใ‚ฐใƒซใƒ†ใƒณใƒ•ใƒชใƒผgurutenfurii
Vegetarianใƒ™ใ‚ธใ‚ฟใƒชใ‚ขใƒณใƒ™ใ‚ธใ‚ฟใƒชใ‚ขใƒณbejitarian
Dairy-freeไนณ่ฃฝๅ“ใชใ—ใซใ‚…ใ†ใ›ใ„ใฒใ‚“ใชใ—nyuuseihinnashi
Salt-free/Low sodium menu็„กๅกฉใƒกใƒ‹ใƒฅใƒผใ‚€ใˆใ‚“ใƒกใƒ‹ใƒฅใƒผmuenmenyuu
Halalใƒใƒฉใƒซใƒใƒฉใƒซhararu
Louis
Louis

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.

  • Japanese
    ็งใฏใƒ™ใ‚ธใ‚ฟใƒชใ‚ขใƒณใงใ™ใŒใ€ใ“ใฎ้ฃŸใน็‰ฉใฏ้ฃŸในใ‚‰ใ‚Œใพใ™ใ‹๏ผŸ
  • Hiragana/Katakana
    ใ‚ใŸใ—ใฏใƒ™ใ‚ธใ‚ฟใƒชใ‚ขใƒณใงใ™ใŒใ€ใ“ใฎใŸในใ‚‚ใฎใฏใŸในใ‚‰ใ‚Œใพใ™ใ‹๏ผŸ
  • Romaji
    watashi ha bejitarian desu ga, kono tabemono ha taberaremasu ka ?
  • Meaning
    Can I eat this if I am vegetarian ?

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.

WordKanjiHiragana/KatakanaRomaji
To eat้ฃŸในใ‚‹ใŸในใ‚‹taberu
To drink้ฃฒใ‚€ใฎใ‚€nomu
To sleepๅฏใ‚‹ใญใ‚‹neru
To wash (oneself)ไฝ“ใ‚’ๆด—ใ†ใ‹ใ‚‰ใ ใ‚’ใ‚ใ‚‰ใ†karada wo arau
To take a showerใ‚ทใƒฃใƒฏใƒผใ‚’ๆตดใณใ‚‹ใ‚ทใƒฃใƒฏใƒผใ‚’ใ‚ใณใ‚‹shawaa wo abiru
To speak่ฉฑใ™ใฏใชใ™hanasu
To say่จ€ใ†ใ„ใ†iu
To read่ชญใ‚€ใ‚ˆใ‚€yomu
To writeๆ›ธใใ‹ใkaku
To walkๆญฉใใ‚ใ‚‹ใaruku
To run่ตฐใ‚‹ใฏใ—ใ‚‹hashiru
To sitๅบงใ‚‹ใ™ใ‚ใ‚‹suwaru
To stand็ซ‹ใคใŸใคtatsu
To see่ฆ‹ใ‚‹ใฟใ‚‹miru
To watch่ฆณใ‚‹ใฟใ‚‹miru
To listen่žใใใ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..

WordKanjiHiragana/KatakanaRomaji
Delicious็พŽๅ‘ณใ—ใ„ใŠใ„ใ—ใ„oishii
Disgustingไธๅ‘ณใ„ใพใšใ„mazui
Happyๆฅฝใ—ใ„ใŸใฎใ—ใ„tanoshii
Boring้ขๅ€’่‡ญใ„ใ‚ใ‚“ใฉใ†ใใ•ใ„mendoukusai
Hotๆš‘ใ„ใ‚ใคใ„atsui
Warmๆš–ใ‹ใ„ใ‚ใŸใŸใ‹ใ„atatakai
Coldๅฏ’ใ„ใ•ใ‚€ใ„samui
Sweet็”˜ใ„ใ‚ใพใ„amai
Spicy่พ›ใ„ใ‹ใ‚‰ใ„karai
Saltyๅกฉใฃใฑใ„ใ—ใ‚‡ใฃใฑใ„shoppai
Sour้…ธใฃใฑใ„ใ™ใฃใฑใ„suppai
Quick/earlyๆ—ฉใ„ใฏใ‚„ใ„hayai
Slow/late้…ใ„ใŠใใ„osoi
Free็„กๆ–™ใ‚€ใ‚Šใ‚‡ใ†muryou
Cheapๅฎ‰ใ„ใ‚„ใ™ใ„yasui
Expensive้ซ˜ใ„ใŸใ‹ใ„takai
Bigๅคงใใ„ใŠใŠใใ„ookii
Smallๅฐใ•ใ„ใกใ„ใ•ใ„chiisai
Busyๅฟ™ใ—ใ„ใ„ใใŒใ—ใ„isogashii
Availableๆš‡ใฒใพhima
Funny้ข็™ฝใ„ใŠใ‚‚ใ—ใ‚ใ„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.

Louis
Louis

If you need any additional word or list of words, please feel free to request it in the comment part of the article ๐Ÿ™‚ !

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