The 1000 most useful Japanese words

Irregular. It also turns many nouns into verbs: 勉強(べんきょう)する, to study.

Must be followed by a noun: この本(ほん), but これ on its own.

After a noun to ask for it; after a te-form to ask somebody to do something.

For people and animals — anything that moves of its own accord.

One and two people are irregular: 一人(ひとり), 二人(ふたり); four is 四人(よにん).

For nationality; counting people uses 人(にん).

Its te-form is irregular: 行(い)って.

The 1st to 10th, the 14th, 20th and 24th have native readings: 二日(ふつか), 二十日(はつか).

In conversation it is shortened to じゃあ.

Pens, bottles, trees, umbrellas; after some numbers ぼん or ぽん: 一本(いっぽん), 三本(さんぼん).

Nouns and na-adjectives take に, i-adjectives change to 〜く: 寒(さむ)くなる.

Also a verb: 指定(してい)する. Compare 指定席(していせき), a reserved seat.

A difference in size or amount; a difference in kind is 違(ちが)い.

Also "before" in time: 三年(さんねん)前(まえ), three years ago.

Its other forms are built on よい: よくない, よかった.

Often left out when it is clear who is speaking.

Also read うち, which leans towards "home" and "my family".

For shirts, jumpers, coats and dresses — anything on the upper body or the whole body.

Irregular: 来(き)ます, 来(こ)ない, 来(き)て.

With を for the place you leave.

Also counts times: 一度(いちど), once.

Any business with a counter: a shop, a café or a restaurant.

Read なん before です, before counters and usually before a t-, d- or n-sound: 何(なん)ですか, 何時(なんじ).

For things and plants. The plain negative is simply ない.

What is said is marked with と.

What you can do takes が. Also "to be finished" or "to be built": 駅(えき)の前(まえ)に店(みせ)ができました.

One friend or several; たち is part of the word here.

In formal speech あす.

With お when you ask about somebody else's work.

Also written 子(こ)ども.

Four, seven and nine o'clock are 四時(よじ), 七時(しちじ) and 九時(くじ).

Also "I'm listening" or "here" when a name is called.

The person takes に (or と), not を.

What is understood takes が: 日本語(にほんご)が分(わ)かります. Also often written in kana.

Both often and well: よく分(わ)かりました, I understood it well.

After a number it counts hours: 二時間(にじかん), two hours.

With に for the place you enter.

Also the town centre, where the shops are.

Also a title after a name, for teachers, doctors and lawyers — not used of yourself.

Not used straight before a noun: "many people" is 多(おお)くの人(ひと) or たくさんの人(ひと).

The giver takes に or から.

Someone else's father: お父(とう)さん.

Small, solid things; often interchangeable with the native numbers.

Also to post: 手紙(てがみ)を出(だ)す.

Also a verb: 旅行(りょこう)する.

The opposite of high is 低(ひく)い; of expensive, 安(やす)い.

Before some counters it becomes じゅっ: 十分(じゅっぷん).

Also for medicine and soup.

Both to listen and to ask: 先生(せんせい)に聞(き)く, to ask the teacher.

Something closes by itself; you close it with 閉(し)める.

Asked whether you have done something, まだです means "not yet".

A noun: 駅(えき)の近(ちか)く, "near the station". The adjective is 近(ちか)い.

The receiver is always the speaker or someone on the speaker's side.

Someone else's mother: お母(かあ)さん.

With a negative it means "no longer": もうありません, there is none left.

What is liked takes が, not を.

Also a verb: 料理(りょうり)する.

Read かた, the same kanji is a polite word for "person".

Early in time; fast in speed is written 速(はや)い.

持(も)っています is the usual way to say you own something or have it on you.

The lender takes に or から: 友達(ともだち)に借(か)りる.

Takes が; its partner is 割(わ)る.

Tall is 背(せ)が高(たか)い, short 背(せ)が低(ひく)い.

After a te-form it means something else: 忘(わす)れてしまう, "to end up forgetting".

Someone else's: お兄(にい)さん.

Before a noun, say 多(おお)くの人(ひと), not 多(おお)い人(ひと).

Going back to where you belong — home, or your own country.

Cold or room-temperature water; hot water is お湯(ゆ).

For people, and sometimes animals; not for things.

With a length of time: 三日後(みっかご), three days later.

The workplace takes で.

Not for a person's age: an older person is 年(とし)を取(と)った人(ひと). 古(ふる)い友達(ともだち) is a friend of long standing.

Also often written in kana: だれ.

Japanese has no verb "to rain": 雨(あめ)が降(ふ)る, rain falls.

To make a call is 電話(でんわ)をかける; to answer one, 電話(でんわ)に出(で)る.

Someone else's: 弟(おとうと)さん.

Also of time: 十二時(じゅうにじ)を過(す)ぎた, it is past twelve.

Usually in kana in this sense.

A hesitation before speaking; as "that ... over there" see the list on this and that.

Also refers to something both speakers know about.

自分(じぶん)で is "by yourself, without help".

Often すぐに.

Asking for someone else's name, say お名前(なまえ).

Big stations name their exits by direction.

Also a verb: 説明(せつめい)する.

Smaller quizzes in class are often called テスト.

Months are numbered: 一月(いちがつ) is January. Note 四月(しがつ), 七月(しちがつ), 九月(くがつ).

Used in the ている form for where you live: 住(す)んでいます.

Medicine is drunk, even as tablets: 薬(くすり)を飲(の)む.

Something comes into view by itself, so it takes が.

Also "to see someone home": 駅(えき)まで送(おく)ります.

Before an adjective it makes the superlative.

What you stay away from takes を: 会社(かいしゃ)を休(やす)む.

Someone else's: お姉(ねえ)さん.

Everyday form; 皆(みな)さん is what you say to a group you are addressing.

Usually written in kana; the opposite is まずい.

Goes straight before a noun, without な: 同(おな)じ色(いろ).

Also a thank-you when someone has gone to trouble for you.

With に: バスに乗(の)る.

The polite way to say 死(し)ぬ; losing a thing is なくなる in kana.

With に for what you are late for: 約束(やくそく)に遅(おく)れる.

Closes a decision or a certificate; in speech, だから.

The native numbers count things with no counter of their own, up to ten.

A little more formal than 一回(いっかい).

Sounds like 花(はな), flower.

Mainly university students; school pupils are 生徒(せいと).

With を, the vehicle you leave.

After some numbers ぷん: 一分(いっぷん), 三分(さんぷん), 十分(じゅっぷん).

Warmer than 家(いえ), which is more the building; also "our family": うちの犬(いぬ).

The same verb hangs a coat on a hook and makes a phone call: 電話(でんわ)をかける.

Changing something yourself is 変(か)える.

Often a noun: 急(いそ)ぐ必要(ひつよう)はない, "there is no need to hurry".

Also to tell or show: 道(みち)を教(おし)えてください, please tell me the way.

Something gets decided by itself with 決(き)まる.

Something continues by itself with 続(つづ)く.

Pairs are counted with 〜足(そく): 一足(いっそく), one pair.

Humble する; usually written in kana.

Humble form of もらう; usually written in kana.

Written 差(さ)す in kanji, but kana is usual for umbrellas.

Also a small clinic, not only a large hospital.

Also used on its own as a form of address, in place of the name.

Something opens by itself; you open it with 開(あ)ける.

Needs a negative verb or adjective after it.

The place where something is left behind takes に.

For the weather, a room or how hot you feel. A hot drink is 熱(あつ)い — the same sound, another kanji.

Body hair and fur; the hair on your head is 髪(かみ).

The part that hurts takes が.

The people next door are 隣(となり)の人(ひと).

Tells what happened next, often something unexpected; not for your own plans.

The person you do it with takes と: 友達(ともだち)と一緒(いっしょ)に.

Said to a guest: you step up from the entrance into the house.

Used of other people; saying it of yourself sounds boastful.

An adjective in Japanese, so what is wanted takes が.

Delivering something yourself is 届(とど)ける.

Intransitive; to stop something is 止(と)める.

"I know" is 知(し)っています, but "I don't know" is 知(し)りません.

Material to read or refer to; 書類(しょるい) are forms and official papers.

Also a verb: 連絡(れんらく)する; the person contacted takes に.

You open something; when it opens by itself it is 開(あ)く.

Also a verb: 勉強(べんきょう)する.

Also a verb: 練習(れんしゅう)する.

One word for both: the context decides.

Often the commercial centre of a Japanese town.

Often written in kana.

With a positive it means "quite, rather": なかなかおいしい.

ゆっくりしてください means "take your time" or "make yourself at home".

一時(いちじ) is one o'clock; 間(かん) turns it into a length of time.

"I am tired" is usually the past form, 疲(つか)れました, or 疲(つか)れています.

The borrower takes に: 友達(ともだち)に貸(か)す.

Plain in tone; in polite speech ですから.

Offers or invites; for a request use お願(ねが)いします.