Basic Japanese Words

Learn all of the essential but simple Japanese words you’ll need to start your Japanese
learning journey.

Essential Phrases and Words

Knowing a few basic Japanese sentences is a must, especially if you stray away from a main
tourist area. Here are some basic Japanese words you could use.

 Ohayō gozaimasu (おはようございます) - Good morning

 Konnichiwa (こんにちは) - Hello / Good afternoon
 Konbanwa (こんばんは) - Good evening
 Oyasumi nasai (おやすみなさい) - Good night
 Sayōnara (さようなら) - Goodbye
 Ittekimasu (行ってきます) - I'm leaving (when going out)
 Itterasshai (行ってらしゃい) - Take care (in response to "Ittekimasu")
 Tadaima (ただいま) - I'm home (when returning)
 Okaeri (おかえり) - Welcome back (in response to "Tadaima")
 Moshi moshi (もしもし) - Hello (used on the phone)
 Excuse me – sumimasen
 I’m sorry - gomennasai
 Kanpai - cheers
 Hai (はい): Yes
 Iie(いいえ): No
 Namae wa nan desu ka ( 名前はなんですか): What is your name?
 Watashi wa ~ desu ( 私は〜です): I am ~
 ~kara Kimashita ( ~から来ました): I came from~/ I am from~
 Kore wa nan des ka (これは何ですか): What is this?
 Ikura desu ka ( いくらですか）How much?
 Kore kudasai ( これください): Can I get this one? / I will take this one
 Onegaishimas (おねがいします): Please
 Chumon onegashimas (注文お願いします): Can I place an order?
 Mizu o onegaishimas (水をお願いします): Water please
 Okaikee onegaishimas (お会計お願いします): Can I get the check/bill please (in a
restaurant)
 Koko wa Doko desu ka (ここはどこですか): Where am I?
 Toire wa doko des ka (トイレはどこですか): Where is the bathroom?
 Eki wa doko des ka (駅はどこですか): Where is the train station?
 Ima nan ji des ka (今何時ですか) : What time is it now?
 Wakarimasen (わかりません): I don’t understand
 Nihongo wo hanasemasen (日本語を話せません): I can’t speak Japanese

People/ Pronouns
One of the trickiest parts of learning basic Japanese words is understanding the way Japanese
speakers use pronouns. Unlike in most languages, Japanese speakers usually avoid using
pronouns in conversations where it’s obvious who they are referring to. Instead, they use the
person’s name, family role, or social role to refer to them.

In Japanese culture, it’s considered rude to address someone without using their name.
Therefore, it’s common to never use “you,” “he,” or “she” if you already know the person’s
name. If you’re learning Japanese, remember this difference in pronoun usage.
 Watashi/ Boku/Ore (私、僕、俺): I
 Tomodachi(友達): Friend
 Do-ryoo(同僚): Co-worker
 Buchoo/Syachoo(部長、社長): Boss / President (of a company)
 Kazoku(家族): Family
 Otoo-san(お父さん): Father
 Okaa-san(お母さん): Mother
 Oni-san(お兄さん): Older brother
 Onee-san(お姉さん): Older sister
 Otooto(弟): Younger brother
 Imooto(妹): Younger sister
 Otona (大人): Adults
 Kodomo (子供): Children
 Kareshi (彼氏): Boyfriend
 Kanojo(彼女): Girlfriend
 Otoko-no-hito(男の人): Man
 Onna-no-hito(女の人): Woman

Food and Drinks

Japan has an incredible food culture and history. The capital, Tokyo, is the most Michelin-
starred city in the world. Japanese people enjoy a rich variety of Washoku ( 和食: Traditional
Japanese food) and Yoshoku (洋食: Japanese food inspired by Western food). Here are some
basic words in Japanese that relate to food and drink:
 Asa-gohan (朝ご飯): Breakfast
 Hiru-gohan (昼ご飯): Lunch
 Yoru-gohan (夜ご飯): Dinner
 Gohan ( ご飯): Rice/Meal
 Pan (パン): Bread
 Niku (肉): Meat
 Sakana (魚): Fish
 Yasai (野菜): Vegetables
 Kudamono (果物): Fruits
 Suupu (スープ): Soup
  Sarada (サラダ): Salad
 Tamago (卵): Egg
 Gyuu-Nyuu (牛乳): Milk
 Chee-zu (チーズ): Cheese
 Dezaato (デザート): Dessert
 Mizu (水): Water
 Ocha (お茶): Green tea, Tea in general
 Koohii (コーヒー): Coffee
 Osake (お酒): Sake, Alcohol in general
 Wain (ワイン): Wine
 Biiru (ビール): Beer

Time
 If you are traveling in Japan, understanding a few basic Japanese phrases around
time and dates is essential. Here are some of the most important:
 Days of the week
 Sunday: 日曜日(Nichiyoobi)
 Monday: 月曜日 (Getsuyoobi)
 Tuesday: 火曜日 (Kayoobi)
 Wednesday: 水曜日 (Suiyoobi)
 Thursday: 木曜日 (Mokuyoobi)
 Friday: 金曜日 (Kinyoobi)
 Saturday: 土曜日 (Doyoobi)

Months of the year

 January: 一月 (Ichigatsu)
 February: 二月 (Nigatsu)
 March: 三月 (Sangatsu)
 April: 四月 (Shigatsu)
 May: 五月 (Gogatsu)
 June: 六月 (Rokugatsu)
 July: 七月 (Shichigatsu)
 August: 八月 (Hachigatsu)
 September: 九月 (Kugatsu)
 October: 十月 (Juugatsu)
 November: 十一月 (Juuichigatsu)
 December: 十二月 (Juunigatsu)

 Today: 今日(Kyoo)
 Yesterday: 昨日(Kinoo)
 Tomorrow: 明日(Ashita)
 This week: 今週(Konshuu)
 Last week: 先週(Senshuu)
 Next week: 来週(Raishuu)
  This month: 今月(Kongetsu)
 Last month: 先月(Sengetsu)
 Next month: 来月(Raigetsu)
 This year: 今年 (Kotoshi)
 Last year: 去年 (Kyonen)
 Next year: 来年 (Rainen)

Seasons in Japan: Four Seasons

Winter - Fuyu
Spring - Haru
Summer - Natsu
Autumn - Aki

Time in English Japanese Pronunciation

 1 o’clock  ichi-ji

 2 o’clock  ni-ji

 3 o’clock  san-ji

 4 o’clock  yon-ji

 5 o’clock  go-ji

 6 o’clock  roku-ji

 7 o’clock  nana-ji

 8 o’clock  hachi-ji

 9 o’clock  ku-ji

 10 o’clock  juu-ji

 11 o’clock  juu-ichi-ji

 12 o’clock  juu-ni-ji
Hour – ji
Minutes – Fun or Pun
Seconds – Byo
Examples: 1:00 : ichiji
1:01 : ichiji ippun
1:02 : ichiji nifun/ nippun
1:03 : ichiji san pun
1:04 : ichiji yon fun
1:05 : ichiji go fun
2:00 : ni ji
2:06 : ni ji roppun
2:07 : ni ji nana fun
2:08 :ni ji haffun
 2:09 : ni ji kyu fun
2:10 : ni juppun

1. How to Ask for the Time in Japanese

Here’s a list of the most typical phrases for asking about time in Japanese.

1- What time is it now?

Japanese: 今何時ですか。

Reading: Ima nan-ji desu ka.

 すみません、今何時ですか。

Sumimasen, ima nan-ji desu ka.

Excuse me, what time is it now?

2- Do you know the time now?

Japanese: 今何時かわかりますか。

Reading: Ima nan-ji ka wakarimasu ka.

 ちょっといいですか、今何時かわかりますか。

Chotto ii desu ka, ima nan-ji ka wakarimasu ka.

Can I talk to you a bit? Do you know the time now?

3- What time is the [e.g. meeting]?

Japanese: [会議] は何時ですか。

Reading: [Kaigi] wa nan-ji desu ka.

 田中さん、到着は何時ですか。

Tanaka-san, tōchaku wa nan-ji desu ka.

Mr. (Ms.) Tanaka, what time is the arrival?

4- What time do we meet up?

Japanese: 何時に集合ですか。

Reading: Nan-ji ni shūgō desu ka.

 すみません、7 月 10 日は何時に集合ですか。

Sumimasen, shichi-gatsu tōka wa nan-ji ni shūgō desu ka.

Excuse me, what time do we meet up on July 10?

Countries in Japanese: Language (add GO at the end). People (Jin)

1. Japan – Nihon/ Nippon Nipon go Nihonjin

/Niponjin
2. Philippines – Firipin
3. India – Indo
4. South Korea – Kankoku
Kankokujin
5. China – Chugoku
6. America – Amerika American jin
7. United Kingdom– Igrisu
8. Spain – Supein Supeingo Supein jin
9. Australia – Osutoraria
10. France – Furansu Furansugo Furansujin
11. Italy – Itaria
12. Indonesia – Indoneshia
13. Egypt – Egyputo
14. Cambodia – Kanbojia
15. Singapore – Shingaporu
16. Germany – Doitsu
17. Malaysia – Mareisha
18. Mexico – Mekishiko
19. Mongolia – Mongoru
Counting Numbers

20. 1: 一 (いち ichi , ichi)

21. 2: 二 (に ni , ni)
22. 3: 三 (さん san , san)
23. 4: 四 (よん yon / し shi , yon or shi)
24. 5: 五 (ご go , go)
25. 6: 六 (ろく roku , roku)
26. 7: 七 (なな nana / しち shichi , nana or shichi)
27. 8: 八 (はち hachi , hachi)
28. 9: 九 (く ku / きゅう kyuu , ku or kyuu)
29. 10: 十 (じゅう juu , juu)
30. 11 is 十一 (juuichi): 10 + 1 12 is 十二 (juuni): 10 + 2
31. and so on up to 19.

32. Once you get to twenty, it’s the same concept, but you start by counting the
10s:

33. 20 is 二十 (nijuu): 2 10’s 21 is 二十一 (nijuuichi): 2 10’s + 1

34. and so on, up to 99.

35. 100 gets a new word: 百 (hyaku).

36.