100+ Basic Japanese Words for Complete Beginners (2025)

Are you planning to travel to Japan for a holiday or a business trip? Or are you just interested in Japanese culture? This article lists hundreds of essential, basic Japanese words and phrases. This is an excellent place to start if you’re interested in learning Japanese or taking Japanese lessons.

So, what are you waiting for? Yatte miyo (Let’s try)!

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.

• Hai (はい): Yes
• Iie(いいえ): No
• Namae wa nan des ka ( 名前はなんですか): What is your name?
• Watashi wa ~ des ( 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 des 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

Greetings

Japanese people greet each other by bowing, which shows respect, care, and gratitude. Knowing the basic Japanese words that accompany a bow when you greet someone are also essential in Japanese culture.

Ohayoo gozaimas (おはようございます): Good morning

This phrase is only used in Japanese if you wake before 11 am. If you want to say it casually, you can simply say “Ohayo” and drop the formal expression “gozaimas.”

Kon’nichiwa (こんにちは) : Good Afternoon

Often mistaken to mean “Hello,” this Japanese phrase only means “Good afternoon”. So, make sure you only use it in the daytime.

Konbanwa (こんばんは): Good evening

To be used from late afternoon (around 5pm) into the evening hours.

Arigatoo Gozaimas (ありがとうございます): Thank you

If you want to say thank you more casually, you can simply say “Arigato”. Dropping the formal expression “gozaimas” is more common.

Sumimasen (すみません): Excuse me/ I am sorry

This is a handy basic Japanese phrase because it works in all situations. You can use it to get a waiter’s attention at a restaurant, ask for help when you get lost, or say sorry formally.

People occasionally say Sumimasen when someone else did them a favor, replacing Arigato (Thank you). This is seen as a different way to be respectful and polite to the person who helped you.

Check out more on how to say sorry in 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

Foodand drink

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

Numbers

Japanese numbers are pretty easy to understand but can be useful when taking your first steps in learning Japanese. Download the table below to use it whenever you want to practice.

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)

Check out the full guide on days of the week in Japanese.

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)
• Yestetday: 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)

Places

In Japan, you will travel with different types of transportation: train, subway, bus, and Shinkansen (bullet train). Many stations have multiple lines to connect to other stations, so understanding basic Japanese phrases around transport and places is vital.

• Eki (駅): Station
• Byouin (病院): Hospital
• Ryougae (両替): Money Exchange
• Ginkou (銀行): Bank
• Keisatsusho (警察署):Police Station
• Yubinkyoku (郵便局): Post office
• Konbini (コンビニ): Convenience store
• Pan ya (パン屋): Bakery
• Mise (店): Store/Shop
• Supaa(スーパー): Grocery store
• Kuukou (空港): Airport
• Bas-tei(バス停): Bus stop
• Minato (港): Port
• Jinja (神社): Shrine
• Otera(お寺): Temple
• Machi (町): Town
• Hoteru (ホテル): Hotel
• Uketsuke (受付): Reception

Colors

Check out our full list of Japanese colors.

Essential Verbs

Learning basic Japanese words requires an understanding of verbs and how they conjugate, just like most languages. If you’re new to Japanese, starting with the most common verbs is best. Here are 20 of them listed in their infinitive form to help you get started:

• Taberu (食べる): to eat
• Iku (行く): to go
• Nomu(飲む): to drink
• Kiku (聞く): to listen, hear
• Yomu (読む): to read
• Miru ( 見る): to see, look, and watch
• Neru (寝る): to sleep
• Okiru (起きる): to wake up
• Hanasu (話す): to talk, speak
• Kaeru (帰る): to return, go back
• Suwaru ( 座る): to sit down
• Tatsu (立つ): to stand up
• Oyogu (泳ぐ): to swim
• Asobu ( 遊ぶ): to play
• Noru (乗る): to ride
• Kau (買う): to buy
• Au(会う): to meet
• Kaku(書く): to write
• Matsu (待つ): to wait
• Toru (撮る): to take a picture

Basic Japanese phrases are just the beginning…

Memorizing even just a few basic Japanese words is a significant first step on your learning journey, but it is just the beginning. One of the best ways to progress your Japanese level is by taking lessons with a native Japanese tutor.

Even if you only know a few words, taking classes is the perfect way to make good habits from the start and reach your goals. So, why wait? Choose from nearly 900 Japanese tutors on Preply today. Not quiet ready to book a tutor? Check out our review of the 11 best online Japanese courses and classes this year.