Learning a new language can be overwhelming, but starting with the right vocabulary makes all the difference. These 50 essential Japanese words are the absolute foundation you need to begin your Japanese journey. They're the most common, most useful words you'll encounter in everyday situations - from greeting people to ordering food, asking for directions, and expressing basic needs.

Why These 50 Words?

These words were selected based on:

• Frequency: Appear in daily conversation constantly
• Practicality: Immediately useful for travelers and learners
• Foundation: Building blocks for more complex sentences
• JLPT N5: All included in the most basic Japanese proficiency test

Master these 50 words and you'll be able to:

• ✅ Introduce yourself
• ✅ Greet people appropriately
• ✅ Ask basic questions
• ✅ Express needs and wants
• ✅ Understand simple conversations
• ✅ Navigate basic situations in Japan

Greetings & Basic Expressions (10 words)

1. こんにちは (konnichiwa)

Meaning: Hello / Good afternoon Usage: Standard greeting during daytime (roughly 10am-6pm)

Example:

• こんにちは！げんきですか？ (Konnichiwa! Genki desu ka? - Hello! How are you?)

2. ありがとう (arigatou)

Meaning: Thank you Usage: Casual thank you; add ございます (gozaimasu) for formal situations

Variations:

• ありがとうございます (arigatou gozaimasu) - Thank you (formal)
• どうもありがとう (doumo arigatou) - Thank you very much

3. すみません (sumimasen)

Meaning: Excuse me / I'm sorry Usage: Multi-purpose word for apologies, getting attention, or thanking

Examples:

• すみません、えきはどこですか？ (Sumimasen, eki wa doko desu ka? - Excuse me, where is the station?)
• すみません！ (Sumimasen! - I'm sorry! / Excuse me!)

4. おはよう (ohayou)

Meaning: Good morning Usage: Morning greeting (until ~10am); add ございます for formality

Variations:

• おはようございます (ohayou gozaimasu) - Good morning (formal)

5. こんばんは (konbanwa)

Meaning: Good evening Usage: Evening greeting (after 6pm)

6. さようなら (sayounara)

Meaning: Goodbye Usage: Formal goodbye; casual alternatives are more common

Casual alternatives:

• じゃあね (jaa ne) - See you (casual)
• またね (mata ne) - See you again (casual)
• バイバイ (baibai) - Bye bye

7. はい (hai)

Meaning: Yes Usage: Affirmative response, also used to show you're listening

Example:

• A: にほんごがわかりますか？ (Nihongo ga wakarimasu ka? - Do you understand Japanese?)
• B: はい、すこしわかります。 (Hai, sukoshi wakarimasu - Yes, I understand a little)

8. いいえ (iie)

Meaning: No Usage: Negative response; often softened with other phrases

Note: Japanese people often avoid direct "no" and use softer expressions like ちょっと... (chotto... - well...)

9. おねがいします (onegaishimasu)

Meaning: Please / I ask of you Usage: Versatile word for requests, also used when ordering or asking favors

Examples:

• これをおねがいします (Kore wo onegaishimasu - This one, please)
• よろしくおねがいします (Yoroshiku onegaishimasu - Please treat me well / Nice to meet you)

10. ごめんなさい (gomennasai)

Meaning: I'm sorry Usage: Apology, more direct than すみません

Casual form: ごめん (gomen)

Essential Question Words (8 words)

11. なに/なん (nani/nan)

Meaning: What Usage: なに before particles, なん before counters and の

Examples:

• これはなんですか？ (Kore wa nan desu ka? - What is this?)
• なにをたべますか？ (Nani wo tabemasu ka? - What will you eat?)

12. どこ (doko)

Meaning: Where Usage: Asking about locations

Example:

• トイレはどこですか？ (Toire wa doko desu ka? - Where is the restroom?)

13. だれ (dare)

Meaning: Who Usage: Asking about people

Example:

• あのひとはだれですか？ (Ano hito wa dare desu ka? - Who is that person?)

14. いつ (itsu)

Meaning: When Usage: Asking about time

Example:

• パーティーはいつですか？ (paatii wa itsu desu ka? - When is the party?)

15. どう (dou)

Meaning: How Usage: Asking about manner or condition

Example:

• どうですか？ (Dou desu ka? - How is it?)

16. なぜ/どうして (naze/doushite)

Meaning: Why Usage: Asking for reasons; どうして is more casual

Example:

• どうしておくれましたか？ (Doushite okuremashita ka? - Why were you late?)

17. いくら (ikura)

Meaning: How much (price) Usage: Asking about cost

Example:

• これはいくらですか？ (Kore wa ikura desu ka? - How much is this?)

18. いくつ (ikutsu)

Meaning: How many / How old Usage: Asking quantity or age

Examples:

• いくつですか？ (Ikutsu desu ka? - How many? / How old are you?)

Common Verbs (10 words)

19. です (desu)

Meaning: To be (copula) Usage: Connects subject to description; makes sentences polite

Example:

• わたしはがくせいです (Watashi wa gakusei desu - I am a student)

20. あります (arimasu)

Meaning: To exist / To have (for inanimate objects) Usage: Describing existence or possession of things

Example:

• ペンがあります (Pen ga arimasu - There is a pen / I have a pen)

21. います (imasu)

Meaning: To exist / To be (for animate beings) Usage: Describing existence or presence of people/animals

Example:

• こどもがいます (Kodomo ga imasu - There is a child / I have a child)

22. たべます (tabemasu)

Meaning: To eat Usage: Talking about eating

Example:

• すしをたべます (Sushi wo tabemasu - I eat sushi)

23. のみます (nomimasu)

Meaning: To drink Usage: Talking about drinking

Example:

• みずをのみます (Mizu wo nomimasu - I drink water)

24. いきます (ikimasu)

Meaning: To go Usage: Talking about movement away from current location

Example:

• がっこうにいきます (Gakkou ni ikimasu - I go to school)

25. きます (kimasu)

Meaning: To come Usage: Talking about movement toward a location

Example:

• あしたきます (Ashita kimasu - I'll come tomorrow)

26. します (shimasu)

Meaning: To do Usage: General action verb; combines with nouns to create verbs

Examples:

• べんきょうします (Benkyou shimasu - I study)
• しごとします (Shigoto shimasu - I work)

27. みます (mimasu)

Meaning: To see / To watch Usage: Talking about visual perception

Example:

• テレビをみます (Terebi wo mimasu - I watch TV)

28. ききます (kikimasu)

Meaning: To hear / To listen / To ask Usage: Multi-purpose verb for auditory actions and questions

Examples:

• おんがくをききます (Ongaku wo kikimasu - I listen to music)
• せんせいにききます (Sensei ni kikimasu - I ask the teacher)

Common Nouns (12 words)

29. わたし (watashi)

Meaning: I / Me Usage: Standard first-person pronoun (neutral/formal)

Variations:

• ぼく (boku) - I (casual male)
• おれ (ore) - I (very casual male)
• あたし (atashi) - I (feminine)

30. あなた (anata)

Meaning: You Usage: Use sparingly; better to use person's name + さん

31. ひと (hito)

Meaning: Person / People Usage: Referring to people in general

Example:

• あのひと (ano hito - that person)

32. みず (mizu)

Meaning: Water Usage: Essential for restaurants and daily life

Example:

• みずをください (Mizu wo kudasai - Water, please)

33. ごはん (gohan)

Meaning: Rice / Meal Usage: Can mean cooked rice or meal in general

Examples:

• あさごはん (asagohan - breakfast)
• ひるごはん (hirugohan - lunch)
• ばんごはん (bangohan - dinner)

34. おかね (okane)

Meaning: Money Usage: Talking about currency

Example:

• おかねがありません (Okane ga arimasen - I don't have money)

35. じかん (jikan)

Meaning: Time Usage: Referring to time in general or specific times

Example:

• じかんがありません (Jikan ga arimasen - I don't have time)

36. ところ (tokoro)

Meaning: Place Usage: Referring to locations

Example:

• いいところですね (Ii tokoro desu ne - It's a nice place)

37. もの (mono)

Meaning: Thing / Object Usage: Referring to objects in general

Example:

• あたらしいもの (atarashii mono - new thing)

38. なまえ (namae)

Meaning: Name Usage: Asking for or giving names

Example:

• なまえはなんですか？ (Namae wa nan desu ka? - What is your name?)

39. くに (kuni)

Meaning: Country Usage: Talking about nationality or countries

Example:

• どこのくにからきましたか？ (Doko no kuni kara kimashita ka? - What country are you from?)

40. ことば (kotoba)

Meaning: Language / Words Usage: Referring to languages or words

Example:

• にほんのことば (nihon no kotoba - Japanese language)

Common Adjectives (6 words)

41. おおきい (ookii)

Meaning: Big / Large Usage: Describing size

Example:

• おおきいいえ (ookii ie - big house)

42. ちいさい (chiisai)

Meaning: Small / Little Usage: Describing size

Example:

• ちいさいこども (chiisai kodomo - small child)

43. いい (ii)

Meaning: Good Usage: General positive descriptor

Examples:

• いいてんき (ii tenki - good weather)
• いいですね！ (Ii desu ne! - That's good!)

Note: いい becomes よい (yoi) in formal/written Japanese

44. わるい (warui)

Meaning: Bad Usage: Negative descriptor or apology

Examples:

• わるいひと (warui hito - bad person)
• わるいね (warui ne - sorry about that)

45. たかい (takai)

Meaning: High / Expensive / Tall Usage: Multi-purpose adjective for height or price

Examples:

• たかいビル (takai biru - tall building)
• たかいです！ (Takai desu! - It's expensive!)

46. やすい (yasui)

Meaning: Cheap / Easy Usage: Describing low prices

Example:

• やすいレストラン (yasui resutoran - cheap restaurant)

Essential Particles & Connectors (4 words)

47. と (to)

Meaning: And / With Usage: Connecting nouns or indicating accompaniment

Examples:

• ペンとノート (pen to nooto - pen and notebook)
• ともだちと (tomodachi to - with friends)

48. の (no)

Meaning: Possessive particle / Of Usage: Shows possession or relationship between nouns

Examples:

• わたしのほん (watashi no hon - my book)
• にほんのたべもの (nihon no tabemono - Japanese food)

49. に (ni)

Meaning: To / At / In / On Usage: Indicates time, location, direction, or recipient

Examples:

• がっこうに (gakkou ni - to school)
• 9じに (kuji ni - at 9 o'clock)
• にほんに (nihon ni - in Japan)

50. を (wo)

Meaning: Object marker Usage: Marks the direct object of an action (pronounced "o")

Example:

• すしをたべます (sushi wo tabemasu - I eat sushi)

Bonus: Common Combinations

These 50 words combine to create countless useful phrases:

Basic Phrases

Self-introduction:

• わたしは [なまえ] です (Watashi wa [name] desu - I am [name])
• [くに] からきました ([Kuni] kara kimashita - I came from [country])

Asking for things:

• [もの] をください ([Mono] wo kudasai - [Thing], please)
• [もの] がありますか？ ([Mono] ga arimasu ka? - Do you have [thing]?)

Asking questions:

• [ところ] はどこですか？ ([Tokoro] wa doko desu ka? - Where is [place]?)
• これはなんですか？ (Kore wa nan desu ka? - What is this?)
• いくらですか？ (Ikura desu ka? - How much is it?)

Practice Exercises

Exercise 1: Recognition Practice

Match the hiragana to the meaning:

1. 01ありがとう
2. 02すみません
3. 03おおきい
4. 04みず
5. 05たべます

Answers

1. 01Thank you
2. 02Excuse me/Sorry
3. 03Big
4. 04Water
5. 05To eat

Exercise 2: Fill in the Blank

Complete these sentences:

1. 01わたし＿＿がくせいです (I am a student)
2. 02トイレ＿＿どこですか？ (Where is the restroom?)
3. 03すし＿＿たべます (I eat sushi)

Answers

1. 01は (wa)
2. 02は (wa)
3. 03を (wo)

Exercise 3: Translation Challenge

Translate to Japanese:

1. 01Good morning
2. 02How much is this?
3. 03I drink water
4. 04Where is the station?
5. 05I'm sorry

Answers

1. 01おはようございます (Ohayou gozaimasu)
2. 02これはいくらですか？ (Kore wa ikura desu ka?)
3. 03みずをのみます (Mizu wo nomimasu)
4. 04えきはどこですか？ (Eki wa doko desu ka?)
5. 05ごめんなさい (Gomennasai) or すみません (Sumimasen)

Study Tips for Memorization

1. Spaced Repetition

Review vocabulary on this schedule:

• Day 1: Learn 10 words
• Day 2: Review Day 1 + Learn 10 new words
• Day 3: Review Days 1-2 + Learn 10 new words
• Day 7: Review all 50 words
• Day 14: Review all 50 words
• Day 30: Review all 50 words

2. Context Learning

Don't memorize words in isolation. Always learn them in phrases:

Not effective:

• ありがとう (arigatou)
• います (imasu)
• みず (mizu)

Effective:

• ありがとうございます (arigatou gozaimasu - thank you very much)
• こどもがいます (kodomo ga imasu - I have a child)
• みずをください (mizu wo kudasai - water please)

3. Category Groups

Study words by category to create mental connections:

Greetings group:

• おはよう (good morning)
• こんにちは (hello)
• こんばんは (good evening)
• さようなら (goodbye)

Question words group:

• なに (what)
• どこ (where)
• だれ (who)
• いつ (when)
• どう (how)
• なぜ (why)

4. Use Technology

Leverage apps and tools:

• KanaDojo Vocabulary Training
• Anki flashcards with spaced repetition
• HelloTalk for conversation practice
• YouTube videos with example sentences

5. Physical Writing

Write each word 10 times while saying it out loud:

• Engages visual memory (seeing)
• Engages kinesthetic memory (writing)
• Engages auditory memory (hearing)

Frequency Table

Here's how often you'll encounter these words:

Frequency	Words	Percentage of Daily Speech
Very High	です、の、に、を、は	~25%
High	ありがとう、すみません、なに、どこ、します	~15%
Medium	たべます、のみます、あります、います、わたし	~10%
Regular	All remaining words	~5%

Cultural Notes

Politeness Levels

Japanese has different politeness levels. These 50 words use standard polite forms suitable for most situations:

More casual (with friends):

• ありがとう → ありがと
• すみません → ごめん
• おはようございます → おはよ

More formal (business):

• ありがとう → ありがとうございます
• すみません → もうしわけございません

Bowing Culture

Many of these words pair with physical gestures:

• ありがとう - Slight bow
• すみません - Deeper bow for apologies
• おはよう - Small nod or bow

Real-Life Scenarios

Scenario 1: At a Restaurant

Ordering:

• すみません！ (Sumimasen! - Excuse me!)
• これをおねがいします (Kore wo onegaishimasu - This one, please)
• みずをください (Mizu wo kudasai - Water, please)
• いくらですか？ (Ikura desu ka? - How much is it?)
• ありがとうございます (Arigatou gozaimasu - Thank you)

Scenario 2: Meeting Someone

Introduction:

• こんにちは (Konnichiwa - Hello)
• わたしは [なまえ] です (Watashi wa [name] desu - I am [name])
• どこのくにからきましたか？ (Doko no kuni kara kimashita ka? - Where are you from?)
• よろしくおねがいします (Yoroshiku onegaishimasu - Nice to meet you)

Scenario 3: Asking Directions

Finding a place:

• すみません (Sumimasen - Excuse me)
• えきはどこですか？ (Eki wa doko desu ka? - Where is the station?)
• ありがとうございます (Arigatou gozaimasu - Thank you)

Quiz: Test Your Knowledge

Test yourself on all 50 words:

1. 01How do you say "thank you"?
2. 02What's the question word for "where"?
3. 03What particle marks the direct object?
4. 04How do you say "big"?
5. 05What's the verb for "to eat"?

Answers

1. 01ありがとう (arigatou)
2. 02どこ (doko)
3. 03を (wo)
4. 04おおきい (ookii)
5. 05たべます (tabemasu)

Your Learning Path Forward

After mastering these 50 words:

Week 1-2: Foundation

• ✅ Learn all 50 words
• ✅ Practice with flashcards
• ✅ Create simple sentences

Week 3-4: Expansion

• ✅ Add 50 more JLPT N5 vocabulary words
• ✅ Practice with native content
• ✅ Start basic conversation practice

Month 2: Application

• ✅ Watch simple Japanese videos
• ✅ Read children's books
• ✅ Find a language exchange partner

Month 3+: Building Fluency

• ✅ Expand to 500+ words
• ✅ Study JLPT N5 grammar
• ✅ Practice daily conversation

Conclusion

These 50 essential Japanese words are your gateway to functional Japanese communication. They appear constantly in everyday situations and form the foundation for more complex language learning.

Key takeaways:

• ✅ Focus on correct pronunciation from day one
• ✅ Always learn words in context, not isolation
• ✅ Use spaced repetition for long-term retention
• ✅ Practice with real conversations, not just memorization
• ✅ Be patient - consistency beats intensity

Ready to expand your vocabulary? Check out KanaDojo's vocabulary training with 1000+ words organized by JLPT level!

がんばってください！(Ganbatte kudasai - Do your best!)

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• Japanese Study Schedule Guide
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