Learn Japanese

The 100 Most Important Japanese Words

You Should Know
Post by Koichi
Say you booked a last minute trip to Japan. Soon after that, you quickly realize that you
dont know any Japanese words (let alone a hundred words). For all of you people out there (or,
for all of you beginners of Japanese out there), this list is for you. These 100 words will get you
through an untold number of situations, problems, and feelings, just by knowing these allimportant words. Im not saying that there arent any other important words out there (and I hope
you add to the list by commenting below), but I do think this list of 100 Japanese words will get
you really, really far if you are, for some reason, only limited to learning 100 words. Enjoy!
Having trouble pronouncing these crazy Japanese words? Try out some of the free lessons on
Text Fugu to become a Japanese pronunciation master.

Emergency
If youre traveling to Japan, youre going to want to know words that have to do with
emergency situations. You dont want to be caught off guard in a foreign country. If youre in
trouble, you need to be able to ask for some help, whether that help is finding a bathroom or
getting someone who speaks English.
(toire) = Toilet. Everyone has to use the toilet at some point, so if you need help finding
it, this is the word for you.
(tearai) = Bathroom. Just like toilet, but a little more all-inclusive. You can feel free to
use either of these in a pinch, though.
(tasukete) = HELP. Just yell this out and (maybe) someone will come to your aid if
youre lucky.
(wakarimasen) = I dont understand. If someone is speaking to you in
Japanese and you dont understand them (if youre using this list, then maybe you dont) then
you can just tell them you dont understand what theyre saying. Follow that up with eigo, eigo
(which youll learn in a minute) and youll be golden.

 (yamete!) = Stop it! Maybe somebody is messing with you and you want them to
stop (yakuza? probably not). This is what youd want to say.
(eigo) = English. Sometimes you just need someone who speaks some English. Everyone
in Japan is supposed to be able to speak English, though you might have trouble finding the right
person depending on where you are.
(fuku) = Clothes. Dont ask I just thought it would be terrible to lose your clothes, and
with all the hot springs and perverts, you never know.
(shini sou) = Seems Like Im Going To Die. When things get really serious, you
may need to pull out all the stops.
(keisatsu) = Police. If something really bad happens, these are the guys youre going to
want to ask for.
(abunai) = Dangerous. Youll see this on signs and stuff too. If someone says abunai
to you, you should probably watch your step.
(kiken) = Peril, Hazard. Basically, this is a fancier abunai. Youll see this on signs as well.

Asking
Asking broad general questions, then using body language to tell people the rest is a really fun
way to get by in a country where you dont speak the language!
(doushita?) = What Happened? Then again, you probably wont understand what
the person responds with, but its always nice to ask.
(doushite?) = Why? You never know
(nani) = What? Unbelievable!
(jikan) = Time. Just ask this with an quizzical tone and people will get the drift.
(shitsumon) = Question. Have a question? Let someone know. Couple this with eigo!
eigo! and maybe someone who can speak some English will come to answer your shitsumon.
(dare) = Who. Great in case you need to find someone.
(itsu) = When. Pretty important if youre trying to time something.

People

Sometimes you need something that has to do with a someone. You can get by without too much
here.
(sensei) = Teacher. If youre a student in Japan, this one comes in handy.
(kaishain) = Employee. Good if youre looking for an organizations employee to ask a
question, perhaps.
(hito) = Person. For when you need to point out a person in general.

Locations
Finding your way around can be pretty important. Here are some Japanese words that will help
you do that and keep you from getting lost.
(hoteru) = Hotel. Youll need to be able to find this if youre traveling in Japan.
(doko) = Where. Dont know where something is? Ask where it is with this word.
(kuukou) = Airport. Dont miss your flight!
(eki) = Station. Gotta catch that train!
(nihon) = Japan. Good to know where you are.
(daigaku) = College. Great for college students studying in Japan, or people who like
colleges in general.
(honya) = Bookstore. Some bookstores are pretty sketchy, be careful!
(takushi) = Taxi. Expensive, but you can find them everywhere.
(uchi/ie) = Home. Theres no place like it.

Food
Oh food, how I love thee. Cant live without it, either.

 (onaka
suita) /
(hara hetta) = Hungry.
Two ways to say this
one. First one is more
neutral, second is more
casual.
(tabemasu) =
To Eat. Do you eat this?
Yes I eat this.

(tabemasen) = To Not
Eat. Do you eat this? No I dont.
(nomimasu) = To Drink. Glug Glug.
(nomimasen) = To Not Drink. I dont drink beer, sorry.
(mizu) = Water. I drink water, instead, because thats how I roll.
(nomimono) = Drink. Not the verb, but the noun. Please get me a drink.
(tabemono) = Food. Need food? Any food?
(oishii) = Good Tasting. If something tastes nice (or if you want to be nice), youd
say this.
(mazui) = Bad Tasting. I probably wouldnt ever say this, but just in case you need to
let someone know
(resutoran) = Restaurant. Now you need to figure out which one.
(konbini) = Convenience Store. Great place to buy small things and food.
Convenience Store food in Japan is pretty awesome.
(suupaa) = Super Market. If you need something a convenience store cant give
you.

Being Polite
You dont want to piss people off when youre in their country. Bad things happen if you do
(arigatougozaimasu) = Thank You. Do I even need to tell you why
you should learn this? I hope not.

 (sumimasen) = Excuse Me. The streets can be busy, its nice to say excuse me
when you walk through people.
(gomennasai) = Sorry. If you bump into a Yakuza gang member, you might
want to whip this one out.

Greetings
Hopefully you meet some nice people in your travels. Say hello (and then goodbye!) to them.

(ohayougozaimasu) = Good Morning. A greeting for morning.

(konnichiwa) = Good Afternoon. You can use this around noonish on to the
evening.
(konbanwa) = Good Evening. Like the other ones, but for evenings.
(dewamata) = See You Later.
(mata ashita) = See You Tomorrow.
(sayounara) = Good bye. Probably wont see them for a while :(
(oyasuminasai) = Good Night. Time for sleepy time.

Basic Verbs

Verbs will get you a long ways. You dont have to know much else as long as you know verbs,
because verbs help you to get things done.
(ikimasu) = To Go.
(kaerimasu) = To Return (home).
(tabemasu) = To Eat. Nom nom nom.
(shimasu) = To Do. This is the best verb ever.
(mimasu) = To See. What is it you want to see?
(kaimasu) = To Buy. For all of you who like shopping.
(machimasu) = To Wait.
(kakimasu) = To Write. Have people write the directions down!
(tomarimasu) = To Stop.
(oshiemasu) = To Teach. If youre a teacher in Japan.
(hanashimasu) To Speak.

Basic Adjectives
Adjectives, while not as awesome as verbs, are also very useful. They help you describe things.
(atarashii) = New.
(ureshii) = Happy.
(daijoubu) = Okay. As in Im okay!
(sugoi) = Amazing. For the sight seeing.
(takai) = Expensive / Tall. Just depends on the context.
(ookii) = Big, Large.
(chiisai) = Small.
(chikai) = Near. How close is it?
(tooi) = Far. How far is it?

 (warui) = Bad.
(ii) = Good.
(Omoshiroi) = Interesting.
(tanoshii) = Fun.
(atsui) = Hot.
(samui) = Cold.
(jouzu) = Good At.
(heta) = Bad At.
(aka) = Red.
(ao) = Blue.
(kuro) = Black.
(midori) = Green.
(kiiro) = Yellow.
(shiro) = White.
(baka) = Stupid! I bet you knew this one already.

Numbers

 (ichi) = One.
(ni) = Two.
(san) = Three.
(shi/yon) = Four. Such an unlucky number!
(go) = Five. Good way to remember the first five numbers: Itchy knee! Son, She go!
Imagine that playing out
(roku) = Six.
(shichi) = Seven. Also kinda unlucky.
(hachi) = Eight.
(ku) = Nine.
(juu) = Ten.
(hyaku) = 100.
(sen) = 1,000.
(man) = 10,000.
(en) = Yen. Not really a number, but goes nicely with the numbers, I think.

What Japanese Words Are Missing?

Okay, okay. Hold your space horse space cowboy. I know that this list isnt every important
word. That would be impossible, and really depend on the person. But, nows your chance to let
me know what you would have added to this list as a most important word. List the word and
the meaning down in the comments to help other people out too! That way your comment does
some good, not evil.
Related Content:

The 5 Biggest Mistakes People Make When Learning Kanji

Useful Japanese phrases

A collection of useful phrases in Japanese with sound files for some of them.
To see these phrases in many other languages click on the English versions.
Key to abbreviations: frm = formal, inf = informal, f = said by women, >f = said to women
English

(Japanese)

Welcome

(ykoso)

Hello
(General greeting)

(konnichiwa)
(ossu) - used between close male friends

Hello
(General greeting)

(moshi moshi)

How are you?

(o genki desu ka)

Reply to 'How are you?'

(hai, genki desu. anata wa?)

(o kagesama de genki desu)

Long time no see

(hisashiburi)
(o hisashiburi desu ne)

What's your name?

? (o-namae wa nan desu ka)

My name is ...

... (... da) (inf)

... (... desu) (frm)

Where are you from?

(Shusshin wa doko desu ka?)

(Dochira kara desu ka?) frm

I'm from ...

((watashi wa) ... shusshin desu)

Pleased to meet you

(hajimemashite)

(hajimemashite. dzo yoroshiku) reply

(oaidekite ureshii desu)

Good
morning
(Morning greeting)

/ (ohay
gozaimasu)

 / (ohay)

Good
afternoon
(Afternoon greeting)
Good
evening
(Evening greeting)

[] (konnichiwa)
/ (konbanwa)

Good night

(oyasumi nasai)
(oyasumi)

Goodbye
(Parting phrases)

(saynara)
(ittekimasu)
- 'I'll be back' - you are leaving
(itterasshai)
- 'come back soon' - you are staying
(j mata ne) - see you later

Good luck

! (gokon o inorimasu) - frm

(gambatte ne) inf

Cheers!
(Toasts used when drinking)

(kanpai) lit. "dry glass"

Have a nice day

(Yoi ichinichi o)

Bon
appetit
Have a nice meal

(douzo meshiagare)
= 'enjoy your meal' - said by the cook/chef
(itadakimasu)
- said before a meal by those eating it
(gochissama deshita)
- said after a meal by those who have eaten it

(yoi ryok o)
(gokigen y - Goodbye / Good luck)
(itte irasshai - Go and come back)
(ichiroheian o inoru)
- I wish you a smooth road (old fashioned)

Bon
voyage
Have a good journey

I understand

(wakarimasu)
(wakaru) inf

I don't understand

(wakarimasen) - frm
(wakaranai) - inf

Please speak more slowly

(yukkuri hanashite kudasai)

(yukkuri itte kudasai)

Please write it down

(kaite kudasai)

 (kaite itadakemasu ka)

Please say that again

(m ichido, itte kudasai)

Do you speak English?

(Eigo wa dekimasu ka?)

Do you speak Japanese?

(Nihongo o hanashimasu ka?)

(Nihongo wa hanasemasu ka?)
(Nihongo wa dekimasu ka?)
(Hai, hanashimasu)

Yes,
a
little (Hai, hanasemasu)
(reply to 'Do you speak ...?')
(Hai, dekimasu)
...
How do you say ... in Japanese? (... wa nihongo de nanto masu ka?)

Excuse me

! (sumimasen)

How much is this?

(ikura desu ka?)

Sorry

! (gomen nasai)

Thank you

(dmo)
(arigat)
(arigat gozaimasu)
(dmo arigat)
(dmo arigat gozaimasu)

Reply to thank you

/ (d itashimashite)

Where's the toilet?

(benjo wa doko desu ka?)

(toire wa doko desu ka?)
(tearai wa doko desu ka?)

This gentleman/lady will pay for

(konohito ga zembu haraimasu)
everything
Would you like to dance with
(isshoni odorimasenka?)
me?

I miss you

I love you

(anata ga inakute sabish

desu)
(sabish desu)
(anata ga koish desu) - to a
lover/spouse
(suki desu)
(suki da)

 (suki dayo)
(suki yo) f
(daisuki desu)
(aishiteru yo)
(aishiteru wa) >f

Get well soon

(odaiji ni)

Leave me alone!

! (hottoite!)

Help!

! (tasukete!)

Fire!

! (kaji da!)

Call the police!

!
(keisatsu o yonde kudasai!)

Christmas
greetings

and

New

(mer kurisumasu)
New Year greeting - 'Western' style
(shinnen omedet gozaimasu)
New Year greetings (used before New Year)
(yoi otoshi o) - inf
(yoi otoshi o omukae kudasai) Year frm
New Year greetings (used at New Year, not before)

(akemashite omedet gozaimasu)

(kynenj taihen osewa ni narimashita)

(kotoshi mo yoroshiku onegai itashimasu)

Easter greetings

(fukkatsu-sai omedet
gozaimasu)
(sut omedet
gozaimasu)

Birthday greetings

(otanjbi omedet gozaimasu)

One language is never

enough

(gengo o hitotsu wa kesshite tarinai)

(gengo hitotsu dake de wa tarinai)

My hovercraft is full of eels

Why this phrase?

(Watashi no hobkurafuto wa unagi de ippai desu.)

Other phrases
Do you understand?

(wakarimasu ka?) frm

I understood

(wakarimashta) frm

I don't speak Japanese

(Nihongo o hanasemasen)

Does anyone speak

English?

(Eigo no hanaseru hito wa

imasen ka)

(dare ka, eigo ga hanasemasu ka?)

Sorry, I didn't understand

(sumimasen. wakarimasen deshita)
that
What did you say?

(nan te iimashita ka?)

Can you translate it for

me?

(yakushite kudasai)

What does this mean?

(kore wa diu imi desu ka)

How do you pronounce that? (kore wa donna f ni hatsuon shimasu ka)

There's a problem in the
(sono heya no naka ni mondai ga arimasu)
room
There's no hot water

(oyu ga arimasen)

The tap/faucet is leaking

(jaguchi ga moreteimasu)

The drain is blocked

(haisuik ga tsumatteimasu)

The air conditioner is too

(eakon ga urusasugimasu)
noisy
Can I have another room?

(hoka no heya e utsuremasu ka?)

When should I vacate the

(itsu, heya o denakute wa narimasen ka?)
room?
I'd like to check out

(chekkuauto shitai no desu ga)

I'd check out on this date

(kono hi ni chekkuauto shitai no desu ga)

Could you call a taxi please? (takus o yonde kudasi?)

May I see the bill please?

(seikysho o misete itadakemasu ka?)

How much is the total bill?

(seikysho no gkei wa ikura desu ka?)

Can I have an itemised bill? (meisaisho o misete itadakemasu ka?)

I think there's a mistake on

(kono seikysho ni machigai ga aruy ni om no desu ka?)
this bill
Is there a restaurant near
(chikaku ni resutoran wa arimasu ka?)
here?
I'd like to reserve a table

(tburu no yoyaku o toritai no desu ga)

We have a reservation

(sudeni yoyaku o totte imasu)

Do you have an English

(eigo no menyu wa arimasu ka?)
menu?
Can I see the wine list?

(wain no risuto o misete itadakemasen ka?)

I am a vegetarian

(watashi wa saishokushugisha desu)

Download all the audio files (Zip format, 417K)

Audacity is a good, free sound recorder and editor. You can also make them online at onlinevoice-recorder.com, or similar sites.

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Links
Other
collections
of
Japanese
phrases
http://japanese-phrases.sakura.ne.jp/
http://linguanaut.com/english_japanese
http://www.cnfj.navy.mil/phrases.html
http://japanese.about.com/library/blsoundfile.htm
http://genkienglish.net/genkijapan/menu.htm
http://www.jref.com/language/japanese_common_phrases.shtml

(some

with

audio)

Phrases in Japanonic languagesJapaneseOkinawanPhrases in other languages