The Master List of Core Japanese Vocabulary: 1000’s of Words to Learn!
My favorite Japanese word is tsundoku—the art of buying too many books and never actually reading them. I’m guilty of this! I enjoy having books, even if they never get read.
What I don’t enjoy is spending time and effort learning Japanese words that I’ll never actually use.
That’s where categorized and themed vocabulary lists come in handy.
Read on to acquire Japanese vocabulary that you’ll actually use—unlike all those books I have piled up on my bookshelf.
Contents
- Core Japanese Vocabulary
- Professional and Academic Japanese Vocabulary
- Japanese Slang
- More Fun Japanese Vocabulary
- And One More Thing...
Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere. Click here to get a copy. (Download)
Core Japanese Vocabulary
Your core vocabulary sets the foundation for the rest of your language learning. These are the first words you should learn, and you’ll keep referring to them throughout your language learning journey.
In addition to everyday words like greetings and colors, Japan has very specific ways that it uses words. You’ll want to learn how to properly say “sorry” based on the occasion, the right way to refer to “you” without accidentally calling someone “darling” and more quirks unique to the Japanese language.
Common Japanese words
Good to the Core: Japanese Core Vocabulary Learning Made Easy
Learn how to build a strong Japanese core vocabulary with this guide to choosing and mastering key words on your road to fluency.
21 Colors in Japanese – What They Are and How to Say Them | FluentU Japanese Blog
Check out 21 colors in Japanese and learn new words and phrases to impress your Japanese-speaking friends! You’ll learn how to name primary, secondary and basic colors as…
40 Words for Body Parts in Japanese (with Free PDF Download) | FluentU Japanese Blog
Learn how to talk about body parts in Japanese with this handy list! It covers 40 vocabulary words from head to toe, along with example sentences and a free PDF cheatsheet…
The 5 Japanese Elements: What They Mean and Where to Find Them | FluentU Japanese Blog
There are five Japanese elements: earth, water, fire, wind and void. Read this post to learn all about these elements, what they symbolize, where to find them in Japanese…
Japanese for Shopping: 59 Essential Words and Expressions for Getting What You Want | Japanese FluentU Blog
Learn Japanese for shopping with this fantastic vocabulary list, which covers important words and phrases to help you navigate Japanese stores! Find out what to say at…
Important specific words
Agree to Disagree: How to Say Yes and No in Japanese | FluentU Japanese Blog
Do you know how to say “no” in Japanese? How about “yes”? In Japanese, these words aren’t as straightforward as they seem. The key to agreeing or disagreeing in Japanese…
17 Ways to Say Sorry in Japanese from Most Formal to Informal (with Audio) | FluentU Japanese Blog
Wondering how to say sorry in Japanese? We’ve got you. In Japanese, this is important because it’s is a very polite language, so it’s critical to know how to apologize.…
30 Ways to Say Goodbye in Japanese: Bid Farewell to Friends, Family and Colleagues with Grace | FluentU Japanese Blog
Learn how to say goodbye in Japanese with these 30 phrases. You may already know さようなら (sayonara), but it’s not commonly used by native Japanese speakers! Here…
How to Say “You” in Japanese and Avoid Calling Your Boss “Darling” | FluentU Japanese Blog
Saying “you” in Japanese can be complicated, but this guide will show you five words that you can use to refer to everyone from your spouse to your worst enemy!…
25 Ways You Can Use Japanese Ki to Express Abstract Ideas | FluentU Japanese Blog
Japanese ki is a complex concept but an essential part of the Japanese language and culture. There are many common phrases that use ki, for example, describing someone as…
14 Ways to Say Friend in Japanese: From BFFs to Business Associates | FluentU Japanese Blog
Discover 14 ways to say friend in Japanese with this guide, which covers important words like 友達 (tomodachi) and 仲間 (nakama). From close friends to coworkers and…
7 Ways To Say “Happy Birthday” in Japanese Like a Native Speaker | FluentU Japanese Blog
There’s more than meets the eye to saying “happy birthday” in Japanese. Learn formal and informal phrases to wish someone a happy birthday, useful birthday-related…
77 Ways to Say “I Love You” in Japanese Like a Native Speaker | FluentU Japanese Blog
Saying “I love you” in Japanese isn’t as easy as in English. Many love phrases in Japanese are reserved for strong love and relationships. Click here to learn 77 ways to…
Easily confused words
15 Sneaky Japanese Kanji Synonyms with Very Subtle Usage Differences
Japanese synonyms involving kanji become real brainteasers! Here we’ll teach you 15 common kanji synonym pairs, plus tips for learning even more synonyms.
Days and months vocab
Fun Ways to Learn Days of the Week in Japanese [with Pronunciation] | FluentU Japanese Blog
The days of the week in Japanese are some of the most important vocabulary you can know. This post will be your ultimate guide to learning what the days of the week in…
Friends, family and home
4 Essential Ways to Describe People in Japanese | FluentU Japanese Blog
Describing people in Japanese might come in handy if you’re traveling through Japan. Met some colorful characters? Want to talk about friends and family more in-depth?…
30 Japanese Nicknames and Ways to Create Your Own | FluentU Japanese Blog
If you’re looking for Japanese nicknames to use on your loved ones, you’ve come to the right place. Read this guide to find out five of the most common origins of…
Travel and survival Japanese
Asking for Directions in Japanese: 70+ Words and Phrases So You’ll Never Get Lost Again (with Audio) | FluentU Japanese Blog
Ask for directions in Japanese with confidence! If you’ve been lost in Japan, check out this post that covers more than 70 words and phrases for asking for directions in…
125 Japanese Medical Terms You Should Know [Audio Included] | FluentU Japanese Blog
Knowing Japanese medical terms is essential if you’re living in Japan or visiting for an extended period of time. You never know when you might need to use them! Plus,…
Food, drink and eating out
How to Order Food in Japanese: The Complete Guide with 31 Key Phrases | FluentU Japanese Blog
Knowing how to order food in Japanese might be critical to your survival in Japan, but it’s also part of becoming fluent. Click here for the ultimate guide on how to order…
150 Japanese Food Vocabulary [with Pronunciation and Translation] | FluentU Japanese Blog
This Japanese food vocabulary is guaranteed to make you hungry, instantly. Don’t read about this delicious vocabulary on an empty stomach! You’ve been warned.
Nature-related Words
25 Japanese Animal Sounds and Onomatopoeia You’ve Got to Know
Japanese animal sounds might be something you never thought you’d need in your life. However, these onomatopoeia are commonly used in Japan and will provide you with an…
https://www.fluentu.com/blog/japanese/japanese-animal-words/
Weather in Japanese: 36 Useful Words for Describing Temperature, Seasons and More | FluentU Japanese Blog
Describe weather in Japanese with these 36 key vocabulary, whether rain or shine! Find out how to talk about rain, snow, seasons, temperatures and more. Each word also…
35 Insects in Japanese and Their Role in Japanese Culture | FluentU Japanese Blog
Insects in Japanese are called konshuu (昆虫), and they’re very important to Japanese culture. Read on to learn 35 Japanese words for common insects, including crickets,…
The 4 Seasons in Japanese and 20+ Related Words to Spring into Fluency | FluentU Japanese Blog
Learn how to say the four seasons in Japanese, and over 20 related vocabulary words and phrases. In addition to the seasons, discover some seasonal facts about Japanese…
Hobbies
50 Japanese Baseball Vocabulary Words for Hitting a Conversational Home Run | FluentU Japanese Blog
Learning Japanese baseball vocabulary can help keep you from striking out during Japanese conversation! This useful post covers 50 Japanese baseball terms, plus some…
Break into the Scene with These 90+ Japanese Music Words
Wish you could talk about your favorite band in Japanese? Armed with these 90+ words, you’ll be set for socializing with all types of music fans in Japan!
Anime and Manga
Professional and Academic Japanese Vocabulary
Whether you’re getting ready for the advanced JLPT or you’re interested in teaching or working in Japan, these advanced vocabulary words will get you through it!
10 Advanced Japanese Words to Memorize for the JLPT N1 and Fluency
Studying for the JLPT N1? Just trying to get fluent? Here are 10 words advanced Japanese words you should learn, and some tips on how to memorize them.
70 Japanese Vocabulary Words for Teaching or Studying at Japanese Schools | FluentU Japanese Blog
Japanese school vocabulary is important for tourists, students, volunteers and all other visitors to Japan! It’s also handy for watching TV shows. Check out this post to…
https://www.fluentu.com/blog/japanese/business-japanese-vocabulary/
Japanese Slang
Yo! How down are you with the lingo on the streets? Okay, sorry, I’ll stop. In all seriousness, your Japanese studies won’t be complete unless you learn some authentic Japanese slang.
From the streets to the internet, these Japanese slang words will add some color to your language knowledge.
The Beginner’s Guide to Japanese Internet Slang: WKTK, KWSK and More | FluentU Japanese Blog
Want to learn some Japanese internet slang to chat with friends or understand message boards? Here’s the beginner’s guide to Japanese internet slang! You’ll learn some of…
More Fun Japanese Vocabulary
Make your vocab learning even more fun by studying some more unique words. You might enjoy stocking up on Japanese loanwords, basking in the beauty of the language or taking a step into the wonderful world of Japanese puns. Take a step further with the FluentU program, where you can find more Japanese vocabulary as it’s used by native Japanese speakers in subtitled videos.
FluentU takes authentic videos—like music videos, movie trailers, news and inspiring talks—and turns them into personalized language learning lessons.
You can try FluentU for free for 2 weeks. Check out the website or download the iOS app or Android app.
P.S. Click here to take advantage of our current sale! (Expires at the end of this month.)
Japanese Loanwords
6 Japanese Words Everyone Thinks They Understand (But Don’t)
Do you know what a Japanese loan word is? Check out these common Japanese words derived from English. Their meanings will surprise you!
32 Cool Japanese Words We All Use in English | FluentU Japanese Blog
There are more Japanese words used in English than you might think. Do you know about typhoons? Emojis? Tofu? Maybe you have a friend who’s into Zen meditation or karate.…
200+ Katakana Words: Your Introduction to Japanese Loanwords | FluentU Japanese Blog
Katakana words aren’t just loanwords. They also show how native Japanese speakers adapt foreign words and put their own spin or context on them. Read on for everything you…
Fillers and sounds
12 Japanese Filler Words to Speak More Like a Native [with Audio] | FluentU Japanese Blog
Japanese filler words like “eetoo” (umm) can help you keep sentences flowing the way a native speaker would. These 12 common filler words will allow you to take natural…
Aizuchi: A Beginner’s Guide to Japanese Grunting Etiquette | FluentU Japanese Blog
Aizuchi is the strategic use of grunting to move a Japanese conversation forward. That might sound bizarre to non-Japanese speakers, but once you learn its rules and…
10 Gitaigo You Need to Add to Your Japanese Vocabulary, Stat | FluentU Japanese Blog
Gitaigo is a form of Japanese onomatopoeia that conveys ideas and emotions which can’t easily be expressed through words. Check out this post for cool phrases like doki…
70 Common Japanese Onomatopoeia and How to Use Them (With Audio) | FluentU Japanese Blog
Japanese onomatopoeia are fun words that imitate sounds, but Japanese people also use many of them to describe things in everyday conversation. Read this guide to master…
Holidays in Japanese
https://www.fluentu.com/blog/japanese/
Fun miscellaneous vocabulary
40 Beautiful Japanese Words: What They Mean and How to Say Them | FluentU Japanese Blog
What are the most beautiful Japanese words? In this post, we share 40 beautiful Japanese words everyone should know. You’ll learn words such as “komorebi” (sun filtering…
32 Cute Japanese Words You Need to Know (Kawaii and Beyond) | FluentU Japanese Blog
Cute Japanese words are everywhere in Japanese culture, from the streets of Tokyo to the most popular mangas and animes. Knowing them will help you understand Japanese…
So Bad They’re Good: 18 Japanese Puns and Jokes to Make You Groan | FluentU Japanese Blog
Japanese puns and jokes are definitely groaners, but they can also teach you a thing (or 18) about Japan, and even help you remember kanji readings. Read on for more about…
38 Weird Japanese Words You Won’t Believe Exist | FluentU Japanese Blog
Knowing weird Japanese words is one way to make sense of a language that already feels alien to learners who grew up using a different writing system. Read on for Japanese…
Zodiac Signs in Japanese: What Your Japanese Birth Year, Birthdate and Blood Type Say About You | FluentU Japanese Blog
Discover the zodiac signs in Japanese, including the character traits for each of the 12 zodiac animals. You’ll also learn all about your horoscopes in Japanese, why your…
Use these vocab lists to find the most relevant Japanese vocabulary words for you. Then, add them to your mental library and use them often!
And One More Thing...
If you love learning Japanese with authentic materials, then I should also tell you more about FluentU.
FluentU naturally and gradually eases you into learning Japanese language and culture. You'll learn real Japanese as it's spoken in real life.
FluentU has a broad range of contemporary videos as you'll see below:
FluentU makes these native Japanese videos approachable through interactive transcripts. Tap on any word to look it up instantly.
All definitions have multiple examples, and they're written for Japanese learners like you. Tap to add words you'd like to review to a vocab list.
And FluentU has a learn mode which turns every video into a language learning lesson. You can always swipe left or right to see more examples.
The best part? FluentU keeps track of your vocabulary, and gives you extra practice with difficult words. It'll even remind you when it’s time to review what you’ve learned. You'll have a 100% personalized experience.
Start using the FluentU website on your computer or tablet or, better yet, download the FluentU app from the iTunes or Google Play store. Click here to take advantage of our current sale! (Expires at the end of this month.)
