100+ Japanese Words Every Beginner Must Know

The minimum amount of Japanese words you should learn before traveling to Japan — or before starting your language journey.

Say you’re going to Japan. Then you realize that you don’t know any Japanese words. Or, you’re learning Japanese, and you want to make sure you know some of the most important words in the language. This list is for you. These 100 Japanese words will get you through an untold number of situations, problems, and feelings.

Not sure how to read kana yet? No problem. Start with our hiragana guide and katakana guide to learn how each system works before moving on. However, romaji works perfectly as a starting point, so let’s get into the words.

Emergency

Learn these first. Seriously.

You don’t want to be caught off guard in a foreign country. Learn these Japanese words before anything else — you hope you’ll never need them, but you absolutely should know them.

トイレ / 手洗い toire / tearai	Toilet / Bathroom
Both work. Toire is casual and universally understood. Tearai is more polished for formal settings. In a pinch, make a ‘T’ shape with your hands — everyone gets it. Toire wa doko desu ka? = ‘Where is the toilet?’ This single sentence will save you more than once.

助けて！ tasukete!	Help!
Shout this clearly and loudly. Japanese people are generally shy about approaching strangers, but tasukete! cuts through that immediately. Wave both arms overhead for extra visibility in a crowd.

わかりません wakarimasen	I don’t understand
Arguably the most-used phrase for any new learner. Someone speaks rapid Japanese at you and you freeze — wakarimasen is your safety net. Nobody takes offence. Pair it with eigo for the full rescue combo.

やめて！ yamete!	Stop it!
Firm and direct. Use this if someone is harassing you or behaving aggressively. Say it with energy. A softer version is chotto matte (wait a moment), but if you genuinely need someone to stop, yamete is the word.

英語 eigo	English
Japanese students study English for years, yet few feel confident speaking it. Don’t give up after one try. Say Eigo ga wakarimasu ka? and wait — someone nearby often understands more than they let on.

服 fuku	Clothes
Maybe you’re at a hot springs and can’t find your clothes. Hey, it’s possible.

死にそう shinisou	I think I’m going to die
When things get really serious, you may need to pull out all the stops.

警察 keisatsu	Police
Japan has small police boxes called koban (交番) on almost every major corner. They’re the fastest source of help for lost tourists — officers often have city maps and are used to helping confused visitors.

危ない！ abunai!	Dangerous! / Watch out!
You’ll see this on warning signs at construction sites and train platforms. More importantly — if someone shouts it at you, move first, ask questions later.

危険 kiken	Peril / Hazard
Basically another abunai. You’ll see this on hazard labels and safety signage rather than hearing someone shout it.

💡 Quick tip: Save a screenshot of this entire emergency section on your phone before you travel. WiFi and data aren’t always available — offline access to these words could make a real difference.

Asking Questions

One word + body language = you’re communicating

Question words are your best friends as a beginner. Even a single word delivered with a questioning tone and some body language produces results. Asking questions also shows locals you’re trying — and that goodwill goes a long way.

どこ？ doko?	Where?
The single most useful question word for travelers. Point at your map or phone and say doko — people understand immediately. Works as a complete sentence: Toire wa doko? / Hoteru wa doko desu ka?

なに？ nani?	What?
What!? WHAT!? — Kore wa nan desu ka? = ‘What is this?’ Essential for pointing at unfamiliar food, signs, or objects.

いつ？ itsu?	When?
Pretty important if you’re trying to time something. Shinkansen wa itsu? = ‘When is the Shinkansen?’

どうして？ doushite?	Why?
Then again, you probably won’t understand what the person responds with — but it’s always nice to ask. Use carefully with strangers; asking ‘why?’ can feel confrontational in Japanese culture.

だれ？ dare?	Who?
Great when you need to know who someone’s talking about. Dare desu ka? = ‘Who is this person?’

時間 jikan	Time
Ask with a quizzical tone and people will get the drift. Point to your wrist while you’re at it — most people will just show you their phone.

質問 shitsumon	Question
Have a question? Let someone know. Couple this with ‘eigo! eigo!’ and maybe someone who speaks some English will come to answer your shitsumon.

いくら？ ikura?	How much?
The most important shopping word. Point at anything in a store and say ikura — you’ll get a price. Note: haggling is not common in Japan. The price you see is almost always the price you pay.

People

Pronouns, roles, and relationships

Japanese handles pronouns very differently from English — speakers often drop them entirely. Watashi is the safe, gender-neutral option for nearly every situation you’ll encounter as a visitor.

私 watashi	I / Me
The all-purpose first-person pronoun. Safe to use in every context. Watashi wa [your name] desu = ‘I am [your name].’ Your Japanese introduction in four words.

あなた anata	You
Technically correct, but Japanese speakers rarely say anata to someone they know — it can feel cold. Use the person’s name + san instead. For a stranger, anata is perfectly acceptable.

先生 sensei	Teacher / Doctor / Master
Goes far beyond the classroom — used for doctors, lawyers, politicians, martial arts instructors, anyone with deep expertise. The kanji literally means ‘born before,’ implying someone who has lived and learned more than you.

学生 gakusei	Student
If you’re studying in Japan, this is your social identity. Many services offer gakusei waribiki (student discount) — always worth asking.

会社員 kaishain	Company Employee
If you go to Japan to work, this is probably what you’ll become.

人 hito	Person
The general word for ‘person.’ Foundation of compound words: Nihonjin = Japanese person, Amerikajin = American person. Pattern: country + jin. Hito ga ippai = ‘There are lots of people.’ You’ll definitely say this at Shibuya crossing.

友達 tomodachi	Friend
One of the most emotionally warm words on this list. Japanese friendships tend to form slowly and run deep. Being called a tomodachi is genuinely meaningful.

Locations

Japan has the best public transit in the world. Use it.

Trains and subways are punctual, clean, and extensive. Knowing location words is immediately practical — and many place names contain kanji you’ll recognize once you know them.

駅 eki	Train Station
The most useful location word in Japan. Area name + eki = station name. Shibuya-eki = Shibuya Station. Stations have exits labeled by direction — knowing kita (north), minami (south), higashi (east), nishi (west) helps enormously.

空港 kuukou	Airport
Kuukou wa doko desu ka? = ‘Where is the airport?’ Tokyo has two airports — Narita and Haneda — and they’re far apart. Know which one you’re using.

ホテル hoteru	Hotel
A loanword from English — ‘hotel’ becomes ho-te-ru because Japanese syllables end in vowels. Most hotel staff in tourist areas speak some English, but taxi drivers may not.

日本 nihon / nippon	Japan
This is the country you are going to! Both readings are correct — nihon in everyday speech, nippon in formal or patriotic contexts.

出口 / 入口 deguchi / iriguchi	Exit / Entrance
You’ll see these kanji on every door, train gate, and building in Japan. 出 = go out, 入 = enter, 口 = mouth/opening. Check Google Maps before exiting a station — it tells you exactly which exit number to use.

右 / 左 migi / hidari	Right / Left
Essential for following directions. Remember: Japanese traffic drives on the left. When someone says ‘turn migi,’ think before stepping off the kerb.

コンビニ kombini	Convenience Store
A genuine cultural institution. Hot meals, ATMs, printing, ticket machines — and the food quality is astonishing. If you’re ever lost, hungry, or out of cash, find the nearest kombini. There is almost certainly one within three minutes of wherever you’re standing.

タクシー takushii	Taxi
Taxis in Japan open their back door automatically — don’t try to open it yourself. Most accept cash only. Show the driver a map or written address rather than trying to pronounce it.

大学 daigaku	University / College
If you’re going to Japan to study, this Japanese word is pretty darn important.

まんが喫茶 manga kissa	Manga Cafe
A cheap place to sleep, use wifi, shower, and drink unlimited free fountain drinks. A private booth for the night costs roughly 1,500-3,000 yen. The seats recline but don’t lie flat — not the most comfortable, but it’s cheap.

家 ie / uchi	Home
There’s no place like it.

Food & Drink

Japan has some of the best food in the world. Act accordingly.

This might be the most enjoyable section to study. From sushi counters to ramen shops, knowing food vocabulary adds enormous pleasure to every meal.

おなかすいた / はらへった onaka suita / hara hetta	Hungry
Two ways to say hungry. Onaka suita is neutral and works with everyone. Hara hetta is more casual and sounds rougher — mostly used by men with close friends.

食べます / 食べません tabemasu / tabemasen	I eat / I don’t eat
Add a food word before the verb for a complete statement. Niku tabemasen = ‘I don’t eat meat.’ Cultural note: many Japanese dishes contain fish stock even when they look vegetarian — add sakana (fish) separately if you have dietary restrictions.

飲みます / 飲みません nomimasu / nomimasen	I drink / I don’t drink
Works exactly like tabemasu. Osake nomimasen = ‘I don’t drink alcohol.’ At a restaurant, nomimono wa? means ‘What would you like to drink?’ — often the first question you’ll be asked.

水 mizu	Water
Tap water in Japan is safe and usually free at restaurants. Ask with o-mizu kudasai (‘water, please’). Many restaurants keep a jug on the table and refill freely.

美味しい！ oishii!	Delicious!
One of the most powerful words you can use at a restaurant. Say it enthusiastically after the first bite and watch the cook’s face light up. It costs nothing and means everything. Mecha oishii = ‘incredibly delicious.’

不味い mazui	Bad tasting
I wouldn’t ever say this to someone’s face, though.

おすすめ osusume	Recommendation
Ask osusume wa nan desu ka? and point to yourself. Restaurant staff love this question and will proudly tell you their best dish. You often get better food than you would have chosen yourself. Works in shops and hotel desks too.

食べ物 / 飲み物 tabemono / nomimono	Food / Drink (nouns)
The noun forms — not the verbs, but the things themselves. Tabemono wa? = ‘What’s the food?’ / Nomimono wa? = ‘What’s the drink?’

レストラン / スーパー resutoran / suupaa	Restaurant / Supermarket
Resutoran for a formal or Western-style place. Suupaa when you need something a convenience store can’t give you.

Being Polite

You don’t want to piss people off when you’re in their country.

Politeness is not optional in Japan — it’s woven into daily life. Using these phrases marks you as culturally aware and earns genuine warmth in return. Even mispronounced, they land far better than silence.

ありがとうございます arigatou gozaimasu	Thank You
Say it a lot. You cannot over-thank in Japan. Casual: arigatou. Very casual: domo. When leaving a shop or restaurant: arigatou gozaimashita (past tense). This is called omotenashi — the spirit of wholehearted hospitality. Lean into it.

すみません sumimasen	Excuse Me / Sorry / Thank You
The most versatile word on this entire list. Use it to get a waiter’s attention, apologize for bumping into someone, ask for help, or express mild gratitude. At a restaurant, say it loudly toward the kitchen — this is completely normal and expected. Nobody will find it rude.

ごめんなさい gomennasai	I’m Truly Sorry
A real, sincere apology — heavier than sumimasen. Use it for genuine mistakes, not minor bumps. Gomen ne is the casual version between friends.

いただきます itadakimasu	Said Before Eating
One of the most culturally rich words on this list. It literally means ‘I humbly receive’ — expressing gratitude not just to the cook but to everyone who made the meal possible. Say it with hands pressed together or a slight bow.

ごちそうさまでした gochisousama deshita	Thank You for the Meal
The closing phrase of every Japanese meal. Say it to the kitchen staff as you leave — they’ll bow and respond warmly. Literally means ‘it was a feast.’ In a home setting, saying this to your host family is one of the most appreciated things you can do.

お願いします onegaishimasu	Please (polite request)
Attach this to any request and it becomes polite instantly. Mizu onegaishimasu = ‘Water, please.’ In a shop, just point at what you want and say it. Kudasai is slightly more direct and also correct — both work perfectly.

Greetings

Say hello — and then goodbye!

Japanese greetings are time-specific. Getting the right one shows cultural awareness that locals notice and appreciate.

おはようございます ohayou gozaimasu	Good Morning
Use this until roughly 10-11am. Casual form: ohayou with friends. In workplaces, this is said even at midnight if it’s your first greeting of the working day — ‘morning’ means ‘start of your shift.’

こんにちは konnichiwa	Hello / Good Afternoon
The most famous Japanese word internationally. Use from late morning through early evening (~10am to 6pm). Polite, friendly, works with strangers, shopkeepers, and new acquaintances. The perfect all-around daytime greeting.

こんばんは konbanwa	Good Evening
Switch to this after sunset, roughly from 6pm onward. At dinner restaurants, you’ll hear it from staff as you arrive. Responding in kind sets a warm, respectful tone for the whole meal.

ではまた / また明日 dewa mata / mata ashita	See You Later / See You Tomorrow
Dewa mata for when you might see them again sometime. Mata ashita for when you’ll almost certainly see them the very next day.

さようなら sayounara	Goodbye
Carries a note of finality — implies you may not see this person for a long time, or ever. Japanese people rarely say it to friends they see regularly. Better suited for farewells at the end of a trip. For everyday goodbyes, ja ne or mata ne are more natural.

おやすみなさい oyasuminasai	Good Night
Said when going to bed or parting for the evening. Casual: oyasumi. In a guesthouse, saying this to your host before bed is expected and appreciated. The word literally contains yasumu (to rest) — you’re essentially saying ‘please rest well.’

Basic Verbs

Verbs are the engine of every Japanese sentence.

Japanese is a verb-final language — the verb comes last, but carries the most weight. One form works for ‘I go,’ ‘you go,’ ‘they go.’ Memorize these and don’t worry about the rest yet.

行きます ikimasu	To Go
The most versatile travel verb. Tokyo Eki ni ikimasu = ‘I’m going to Tokyo Station.’ Add any destination before ni ikimasu and you have a working sentence.

帰ります kaerimasu	To Return (home)
Specifically implies returning to a home base. Has a warmer, more personal feeling than just ‘go back.’ Will you come back to pay your bill? Yes. Kaerimasu.

します shimasu	To Do
The best verb ever. Stick it on a noun for all you care — people will understand. Tennis shimasu = ‘I play tennis.’ Benkyou shimasu = ‘I study.’ This single verb unlocks hundreds of sentences.

見ます mimasu	To See / Watch / Look
What is it you want to see? Fuji-san ga mitai = ‘I want to see Mt. Fuji.’ In a store: chotto mite mo ii desu ka? = ‘May I take a look at this?’

買います kaimasu	To Buy
For all of you who like shopping. Point at any item and say kaimasu to signal you want it. The negative kaimasen is a clear, polite way to decline a pushy vendor.

待ちます machimasu	To Wait
Chotto matte kudasai = ‘Please wait a moment.’ You’ll hear this constantly in service interactions. At a busy restaurant, it means there will be a short wait.

書きます kakimasu	To Write
Have people write the directions down! Japanese addresses are complex — a written address beats trying to pronounce it every time.

止まります tomarimasu	To Stop
If you’re driving, look out for the 止 symbol on a red triangle sign. That’s a stop sign.

教えます oshiemasu	To Teach / Tell / Show
Oshiete kudasai = ‘Please show me / Please tell me.’ Point at a map and say this — most people will help immediately. Michi wo oshiete kudasai = ‘Please show me the way.’

話します hanashimasu	To Speak
Eigo wo hanashimasu ka? = ‘Do you speak English?’ Don’t be discouraged if the answer is sukoshi dake (only a little). Even a little shared language goes far with goodwill on both sides.

Basic Adjectives

One adjective = a complete thought.

Japanese adjectives are remarkably expressive. Many function as complete sentences on their own — ii = ‘it’s good,’ takai = ‘it’s expensive,’ samui = ‘it’s cold.’ No verb needed.

新しい atarashii	New
No, I don’t want used clothes. I want atarashii clothes.

嬉しい ureshii	Happy
For when you eat that awesome meal. Ahhh, I am so ureshii.

大丈夫 daijoubu	Okay / It’s fine
Works as both a statement and a question. If you fall and hit your knee: daijoubu! — people know you’re okay. But careful: said with a hand wave, it also means ‘no thank you, I’m fine.’ Context matters.

すごい！ sugoi!	Amazing!
The most versatile positive exclamation in Japanese. You’ll hear it constantly. Use it freely. Stacking works: sugoi sugoi sugoi = emphatic amazement. Native speakers actually say this.

高い / 安い takai / yasui	Expensive / Cheap
Takai also means ‘tall’ when describing physical height. Context decides — takai biru = ‘tall building,’ takai kaban = ‘expensive bag.’ A long intake of breath followed by takai is the universal tourist reaction to price shock.

大きい / 小さい ookii / chiisai	Big / Small
Point at an item in a shop and say ookii or chiisai — the shopkeeper understands immediately. Also works for clothing sizes and restaurant portion sizes.

近い / 遠い chikai / tooi	Near / Far
Chikai desu ka? = ‘Is it close by?’ If they sigh and point vaguely into the distance, it is tooi. Follow up with aruite ikemasu ka? = ‘Can I walk there?’

悪い warui	Bad
How do you feel? Warui. Is he a good person? No, he’s warui. A little flexible in usage.

いい ii	Good
One of the most powerful words on this list. Ii desu ne! = ‘How nice! / Sounds great!’ You’ll both say and hear this dozens of times a day. Cultural note: ii desu said with a hand wave can also mean ‘no thank you’ — context is everything.

面白い omoshiroi	Interesting / Funny
Covers both intellectual interest and humor. At a museum: fascinating. Watching a comedy: funny. Being called omoshiroi desu ne is a genuine compliment in Japan.

楽しい tanoshii	Fun / Enjoyable
Express enjoyment with this word and everyone around you enjoys the moment more. Mecha tanoshikatta! = ‘That was so much fun!’ Say it after any activity — a tour, a meal, a game — and watch the host beam.

熱い / 寒い atsui / samui	Hot / Cold
Atsui for hot weather or objects. Samui for cold air. Mushi-atsui = ‘hot and humid’ — the phrase every visitor needs in Tokyo in August. Japan’s summer heat is intense.

上手 / 下手 jouzu / heta	Good At / Bad At
When you use your 100 Japanese words, people will tell you how jouzu your Japanese is, even though it’s probably not that good. Nobody will tell you how heta you are, though.

馬鹿 baka	Stupid / Idiot
I bet you already knew this one. Baka!

Colors

Colors are extremely useful for giving directions and describing landmarks. ‘The red building,’ ‘the blue sign’ — instantly orients a local.

赤 aka Red	青 ao Blue	黒 kuro Black
緑 midori Green	黄色 kiiro Yellow	白 shiro White

Cultural note: Ao is traditionally used for both blue and green in Japan. Traffic lights are technically ao (blue) even though they look green to most eyes. Modern Japanese uses midori specifically for green, but ao still covers a range of blue-green shades.

Numbers & Money

Japan operates primarily in cash. Know your numbers.

Numbers unlock shopping, dining, transport, and scheduling. Once you know 1 to 10, building larger numbers is mostly arithmetic.

一 ichi 1	二 ni 2	三 san 3	四 yon 4	五 go 5
六 roku 6	七 nana 7	八 hachi 8	九 kyuu 9	十 juu 10

🧠 Mnemonic for 1-5: ‘Itchy knee! Son, She go!’ — Ridiculous, but it locks in the first five numbers instantly. Say it out loud three times.

百 / 千 / 万 hyaku / sen / man	100 / 1,000 / 10,000
Key insight: Japan counts in units of man (10,000), not thousands like Western systems. 50,000 yen = go-man en (five ten-thousands). Building numbers is logical: 250 = ni-hyaku go-juu. Practice by reading price tags — they’re everywhere.

円 en	Yen (¥)
Add en after any number to state a price. Hyaku en = 100 yen. Sen en = 1,000 yen. Ichi-man en = 10,000 yen. The 100-yen coin is the Japanese quarter — you’ll use it constantly at vending machines, shrines, and coin lockers.

That’s your foundation.

100+ words across ten categories — enough to survive, navigate, eat well, and connect with people in Japan. Now go learn hiragana.

がんばって！

Ganbatte! — Do your best!