The Master List of Core Japanese Vocabulary
My favorite Japanese word is tsundoku—the art of buying too many books and never actually reading them. I enjoy having books, even if they never get read, but 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
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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
https://www.fluentu.com/blog/japanese/japanese-core-vocabulary/
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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…
https://www.fluentu.com/blog/japanese/body-parts-in-japanese/
https://www.fluentu.com/blog/japanese/elements-in-japanese/
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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
https://www.fluentu.com/blog/japanese/how-to-say-no-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.…
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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!…
https://www.fluentu.com/blog/japanese/japanese-ki/
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…
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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
https://www.fluentu.com/blog/japanese/japanese-synonyms/
Days and months vocab
Days of the Week in Japanese and Their Etymology | 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
How to Describe People in Japanese | FluentU Japanese Blog
Describing people in Japanese might come in handy if you’re traveling through Japan. In this guide, we go over how to talk about someone’s appearance, personality, job and…
https://www.fluentu.com/blog/japanese/japanese-nicknames/
Travel and survival Japanese
Asking for Directions in Japanese: 70+ Words and Phrases | 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
https://www.fluentu.com/blog/japanese/how-to-order-food-in-japanese/
150 Japanese Food Vocabulary [with Pronunciation and Translation] | FluentU Japanese Blog
For those who love to cook (or generally like to eat), this Japanese food vocabulary list is guaranteed to make you hungry, instantly. Each word comes with audio…
Nature-related Words
https://www.fluentu.com/blog/japanese/japanese-animal-sounds/
97 Animals in Japanese (with Audio and PDF) | FluentU Japanese Blog
Learn all about animals in Japanese with this list, which covers common animals like 犬 (dog), 猫 (cat), 魚 (fish), 鳥 (tori) and 鹿 (shika). Expand your animal…
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…
https://www.fluentu.com/blog/japanese/insects-in-japanese/
https://www.fluentu.com/blog/japanese/seasons-in-japanese/
Hobbies
https://www.fluentu.com/blog/japanese/japanese-baseball-vocabulary/
https://www.fluentu.com/blog/japanese/japanese-music-words/
Anime and Manga
250+ Anime Words and Phrases to Speak Like a True Aficionado | FluentU Japanese Learner Blog
Discover more than 250 anime words and phrases in Japanese. Master the language of anime with essential terms, catchphrases, character types, battle cries and even more.…
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!
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Japanese school vocabulary can be useful for tourists, students, volunteers and many other visitors to Japan. It’s also handy for watching TV shows. Check out this post…
The Comprehensive Guide to Business Japanese, from Vocabulary Words to Essential Etiquette | FluentU Japanese Blog
Doing business in Japanese? You’ll need these key vocabulary words for professional situations. Learn how to talk business, make negotiations and presentations, talk on…
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
https://www.fluentu.com/blog/japanese/japanese-loan-words-gairaigo-wasei-eigo-vocabulary-word-list/
32 Cool Japanese Loanwords 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 | 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…
Fun miscellaneous vocabulary
https://www.fluentu.com/blog/japanese/beautiful-japanese-words/
https://www.fluentu.com/blog/japanese/cute-japanese-words/
https://www.fluentu.com/blog/japanese/japanese-puns/
38 Weird Japanese Words You Won’t Find in Textbooks | 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.)
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