Are you interested in learning Japanese? It’s not an easy language due to its unique style and culture. To know, learning a new language can be thrilling, but it can also feel irresistible at first. Learning Japanese is good in itself. The first step is mastering common Japanese words for beginners. There is nothing you shouldn’t know day by day. This is your essential toolkit for the most common Japanese words to navigate everyday life with confidence and respect. Emphasise practical words and simple phrases useful in daily situations. The basic things to learn are understanding basic words before learning Japanese grammar. It will help build confidence to learn the new language.
This blog post has over 100 Japanese words that all beginner learners should know, organised into categories so you can learn the basics of each group (like numbers, body parts, animals, and more). By practising these words, you will broaden your Japanese vocabulary and learn how to construct simple sentences (Our current grammar list mostly follows a strict subject/CASE X subject/verb). These are basic, essential words for anyone interested in Japanese learning, and also apply especially to those living or visiting Japan. Jump to the most common Japanese words.
Top 100 Most Common Japanese Words Every Beginner Should Know
1. Basic Japanese Words
It is an ordinary Japanese Language used in our daily lives as a way of greeting.
| Word in Japanese | Pronunciation | English |
| こんにちは | Konnichiwa | Hello / Good afternoon |
| おはようございます | Ohayou gozaimasu | Good morning |
| こんばんは | Konbanwa | Good evening |
| さようなら | Sayounara | Goodbye |
| ありがとう | Arigatou | Thank you |
| すみません | Sumimasen | Excuse me / Sorry |
| はい | Hai | Yes |
| いいえ | Iie | No |
| おねがいします | Onegaishimau | Please |
2. Common Japanese Words for Pronouns
Here is the list of common Japanese words that are used as pronouns.
| Word in Japanese | Pronunciation | English |
| わたし | Watashi | I / Me |
| あなた | Anata | You |
| かれ | Kare | He / Him |
| かのじょ | Kanojo | She / Her |
| わたしたち | Watashitachi | We / Us |
| かれら | Karera | They / Them |
3. Days of the Week
Furthermore, the next common Japanese words in our list are for the days of the week.
| Word in Japanese | Pronunciation | English |
| 月曜日 | Getsuyoubi | Monday |
| 火曜日 | Kayoubi | Tuesday |
| 水曜日 | Suiyoubi | Wednesday |
| 木曜日 | Mokuyoubi | Thursday |
| 金曜日 | Kinyoubi | Friday |
| 土曜日 | Doyoubi | Saturday |
| 日曜日 | Nichiyoubi | Sunday |
4. Common Japanese Numbers
Moreover, common Japanese words that are used for numbers are:-
| Word in Japanese | Pronunciation | English |
| 一 | Ichi | One |
| 二 | Ni | Two |
| 三 | San | Three |
| 四 | Yon | Four |
| 五 | Go | Five |
| 六 | Roku | Six |
| 七 | Nana | Seven |
| 八 | Hachi | Eight |
| 九 | Kyuu | Nine |
| 十 | Juu | Ten |
5. Common Japanese Question Words
Afterwards, in our list of common Japanese words are the words that are used for questions in the Japanese language. Such as
| Word in Japanese | Pronunciation | English |
| なに | Nani | What |
| どこ | Doko | Where |
| いつ | Itsu | When |
| だれ | Dare | Who |
| なぜ | Naze | Why |
| どう | Dou | How |
| いくら | Ikura | How much |
| どれ | Dore | Which |
6. Useful Everyday Japanese Words
Afterwards, there are some common Japanese words that are used for living everyday life.
| Word in Japanese | Pronunciation | English |
| たべもの | Tabemono | Food |
| のみもの | Nomimono | Drink |
| みず | Mizu | Water |
| こーひー | Koohii | Coffee |
| おちゃ | Ocha | Tea |
| ごはん | Gohan | Rice / Meal |
| ともだち | Tomodachi | Friend |
| せんせい | Sensei | Teacher |
7. Common Japanese Verbs
Here are the some common Japanese words that are used for the place of verbs.
| Word in Japanese | Pronunciation | English |
| たべる | Taberu | To eat |
| のむ | Nomu | To drink |
| みる | Miru | To see / Watch |
| きく | Kiku | To listen / Ask |
| はなす | Hanasu | To speak |
| いく | Iku | To go |
| くる | Kuru | To come |
| する | Suru | To do |
8. Common Japanese Adjectives
Again, here are some common Japanese words that are used for the place of adjectives.
| Word in Japanese | Pronunciation | English |
| たかい | Takai | Tall / Expensive |
| やすい | Yasui | Cheap |
| おおきい | Ookii | Big |
| ちいさい | Chiisai | Small |
| あたらしい | Atarashii | New |
| ふるい | Furui | Old |
| たのしい | Tanoshii | Fun |
| うれしい | Ureshii | Happy |
9. Family-Related Words
Furthermore, here is a list of some common Japanese words that are used when we talk about our family.
| Word in Japanese | Pronunciation | English |
| ちち | Chichi | Father |
| はは | Haha | Mother |
| おとうさん | Otousan | Grand Father |
| おかあさん | Okaasan | Grand Mother |
| あに | Ani | Older brother |
| あね | Ane | Older sister |
| おとうと | Otouto | Younger brother |
| いもうと | Imouto | Younger sister |
| かぞく | Kazoku | Family |
10. Colours in Japanese
Likewise, here are some common Japanese words that are used for the names of the colours.
| English | Pronunciation | Word in Japanese |
| Red | Aka | あか |
| Blue | Ao | あお |
| Green | Midori | みどり |
| Yellow | Kiiro | きいろ |
| Black | Kuro | くろ |
| White | Shiro | しろ |
| Brown | Chairo | ちゃいろ |
| Pink | Pinku | ピンク |
11. Common People and Identity Words
Furthermore, in the list we discussed some common Japanese words that are used for the place of identity.
| English | Pronunciation | Word in Japanese |
| I/ Me | Watashi | 私 |
| You | Ananta | あなた |
| Person | Hito | 人 |
| Friend | Tomodachi | 友達 |
| Teacher | Sensei | 先生 |
| Student | Gakusei | 学生 |
12. Travel Friendly Words
Likewise, here we are discussing about those words that are the common friendly words used in public places.
| English | Pronunciation | Word in Japanese |
| Station | Eki | 駅 |
| Airport | Kuukou | 空港 |
| Road | Michi | 道 |
| Bus | Chizu | 地図 |
| Map | Basu | バス |
| Toilet | Toire | トイレ |
| Hospital | Byōin | 病院 |
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Conclusion
With a little commitment and the help of today’s digital tools to assist you can pop the lid off your learning potential. The most common Japanese words are necessary for basic communication. It is for cultural meanings; sometimes it reflects patience and mindfulness. It is essential for language learning for beginners. For boosting confidence in Learning Japanese conversations.
When you can easily grasp the common Japanese words, the study of the language becomes easier. It will be helpful in day-to-day learning practice. The heart of communication is called vocabulary; when you are using these words, it becomes far smoother. It gives an exciting journey around the world.
Recommended Reads
- A Complete Guide to Japanese Grammar for Beginners.
- How Long Does It Take to Learn Japanese?
- Online Japanese Language Course with Certificate: Easy Guide.
- How to Choose the Right Japanese Language Course for Beginners?
- Best Japanese Language Institute online in India (2025).
FAQs
You can start learning a hundred common Japanese words in a week.
Yes. You can begin by learning common Japanese words in Romaji.
Anyone can memorise fifty words in a week with daily practice.
Yes, only Japanese common words are helpful in speaking in daily conversations. It is the first step towards learning the language.
No, Learning Japanese common words cannot be difficult; with proper guidance from a qualified trainer can help make this journey easy.