The Master List of Core Japanese Vocabulary

Learn how to build a strong Japanese core vocabulary with this guide to choosing and mastering key words on your road to fluency.

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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.…

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…

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!…

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…

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…

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…

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…

If you’re confused by Japanese synonyms, then this guide is for you. Here we’ll teach you 15 common 15 similar words in Japanese, plus tips for learning even more…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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,…

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…

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.

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…

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…

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…

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,…

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…

Learning Japanese baseball vocabulary can help keep you from striking out during Japanese conversation! This useful post covers 50 Japanese baseball terms, plus some…

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. This guide will…

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.…

Advanced Japanese words can be the difference between intermediate conversation and masterful communication. Click here for 10 advanced terms to help you on the way to a…

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…

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…

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…

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.…

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…

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 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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…