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3000 Most Common Japanese Words – Part 1

3000 Most Common Japanese Words – Part 1
This document provides a list of 3000 common Japanese words, including pronunciations and translations.

No. Japanese Romaji Meaning
1 行く iku go
2 見る miru see, look at
3 多い ooi a lot of, many
4 ie home, household
5 これ kore this, this one
6 それ sore that, that one
7 watashi I
8 仕事 shigoto work, job
9 いつ itsu when
10 する suru do, make
11 出る deru go out, leave
12 使う tsukau use, make use of
13 tokoro place
14 作る tsukuru make, create
15 思う omou think
16 持つ motsu have, possess
17 買う kau buy
18 時間 jikan time, hour
19 知る shiru know
20 同じ onaji same, identical
21 ima now
22 新しい atarashii new
23 なる naru become
24 まだ mada (not) yet, still
25 あと ato after
26 聞く kiku hear, ask
27 言う iu say, tell
28 少ない sukunai few, little
29 高い takai high, tall
30 子供 kodomo child
31 そう sou so, that way
32 もう mou already, yet
33 学生 gakusei student
34 熱い atsui hot (to touch)
35 どうぞ douzo please
36 午後 gogo afternoon, p.m.
37 長い nagai long
38 hon book, volume
39 今年 kotoshi this year (colloquial)
40 よく yoku often, well
41 彼女 kanojo she, one’s girlfriend
42 どう dou how, what
43 言葉 kotoba word, language
44 kao face
45 終わる owaru finish, end
46 一つ hitotsu one (thing)
47 あげる ageru give, offer (colloquial)
48 こう kou like this, such
49 学校 gakkou school
50 くれる kureru be given
51 始める hajimeru start (something)
52 起きる okiru get up, get out of bed
53 haru spring
54 午前 gozen morning, a.m.
55 betsu another, different
56 どこ doko where
57 部屋 heya room
58 若い wakai young
59 kuruma car, automobile
60 置く oku put, place
61 住む sumu live, reside
62 働く hataraku work
63 難しい muzukashii difficult
64 先生 sensei teacher
65 立つ tatsu stand, rise
66 呼ぶ yobu call, name
67 大学 daigaku university, college
68 安い yasui cheap, inexpensive
69 もっと motto more
70 帰る kaeru go back home
71 分かる wakaru understand
72 広い hiroi wide, big
73 suu number
74 近い chikai near, close
75 そこ soko there
76 走る hashiru run
77 入れる ireru put in
78 教える oshieru teach, tell
79 歩く aruku walk, go on foot
80 会う au meet
81 書く kaku write
82 atama head
83 売る uru sell
84 大好き daisuki like (something) a lot
85 karada body, physique
86 直ぐ sugu at once, soon
87 飛ぶ tobu fly
88 とても totemo very (colloquial)
89 dare who
90 好き suki favorite, liked
91 読む yomu read
92 tsugi next
93 あなた anata you
94 飲む nomu drink
95 古い furui old
96 質問 shitsumon question
97 今日 kyou today (colloquial)
98 友達 tomodachi friend, companion (colloquial)
99 早い hayai early
100 どれ dore what, which
101 美しい utsukushii beautiful
102 いつも itsumo always (colloquial)
103 ashi leg, foot
104 起こす okosu wake (someone) up
105 見せる miseru show
106 musume daughter, girl
107 楽しむ tanoshimu enjoy
108 iro color
109 みんな minna everybody (colloquial)
110 取る toru take, get
111 勉強 benkyou study
112 できる dekiru can do, be good at
113 短い mijikai short, brief
114 落ちる ochiru fall, come down
115 息子 musuko son
116 白い shiroi white, blank
117 飛行機 hikouki airplane
118 病気 byouki illness
119 fuyu winter
120 toshi year, age
121 重い omoi heavy
122 mune chest, breast
123 払う harau pay (money, respect, attention, etc.)
124 軽い karui light (of weight)
125 見つける mitsukeru find
126 忘れる wasureru forget, leave behind
127 sake alcohol, rice wine
128 どちら dochira which (polite)
129 ane (one’s own) older sister
130 覚える oboeru memorize, learn
131 狭い semai narrow, small
132 赤い akai red
133 着る kiru wear, put on
134 笑う warau laugh, smile
135 一番 ichiban most, best
136 授業 jugyou class session, lecture
137 shuu week
138 漢字 kanji Chinese character
139 自転車 jitensha bicycle
140 電車 densha train
141 探す sagasu search for, look for
142 kami paper
143 歌う utau sing
144 遅い osoi slow, late
145 kubi neck
146 速い hayai fast
147 一緒に issho ni together, at the same time
148 今月 kongetsu this month
149 遊ぶ asobu play
150 遠い tooi far, distant
151 弱い yowai weak
152 mimi ear
153 座る suwaru sit, sit down
154 migi right
155 浴びる abiru take (a shower)
156 kata shoulder
157 寝る neru lie down and sleep, go to sleep
158 消す kesu switch off, turn off
159 元気 genki healthy, energetic
160 全部 zenbu all, whole
161 去年 kyonen last year (colloquial)
162 引く hiku draw, pull
163 図書館 toshokan library
164 上げる ageru raise, lift
165 midori green
166 ude arm
167 ドア doa door (loan word)
168 女の子 onna no ko little girl
169 男の子 otoko no ko boy
170 私たち watashitachi we (colloquial)
171 近く chikaku near, close to
172 やる yaru do, give
173 かなり kanari fairly, rather
174 kuni country
175 起こる okoru happen
176 aki autumn, fall
177 送る okuru send
178 死ぬ shinu die
179 気持ち kimochi feeling, sensation
180 乗る noru ride, take
181 いる iru be present, stay
182 ki tree, wood
183 開ける akeru open, unlock (doors, windows, etc.)
184 閉める shimeru shut, close (doors, windows, etc.)
185 続く tsuzuku continue, follow
186 お医者さん oishasan doctor (polite)
187 en Japanese yen
188 ここ koko here
189 待つ matsu wait, wait for
190 低い hikui low, short
191 もらう morau receive
192 食べる taberu eat
193 ani (one’s own) older brother
194 名前 namae name
195 otto husband
196 ichi one
197 結婚 kekkon marriage
198 oya parent
199 話す hanasu speak, talk
200 少し sukoshi a bit, a little while
201 閉じる tojiru shut, close (books, eyes, etc.)
202 toki time, moment
203 kome rice (grain)
204 切る kiru cut
205 楽しい tanoshii fun, enjoyable
206 fuku clothes (colloquial)
207 後ろ ushiro back, behind
208 嬉しい ureshii happy, glad
209 koshi waist, lower back
210 日曜日 nichiyoubi Sunday
211 hiru daytime, midday
212 お母さん okaasan mother (colloquial)
213 大学生 daigakusei university student
214 終わり owari end, conclusion
215 se height, stature
216 手伝う tetsudau help, assist
217 hana nose
218 起きる okiru occur, happen, wake up, get up
219 載せる noseru place, put on
220 悲しい kanashii sad
221 しゃべる shaberu chat, talk
222 近く chikaku in the near future, before long
223 甘い amai sweet
224 テーブル te-buru table
225 食べ物 tabemono food (colloquial)
226 始まる hajimaru begin
227 ゲーム ge-mu game
228 juu ten
229 天気 tenki weather
230 暑い atsui hot (of weather)
231 太い futoi thick, fat
232 ban evening, night (from sunset to bedtime)
233 土曜日 doyoubi Saturday
234 痛い itai sore, painful
235 お父さん otousan father, dad (colloquial)
236 多分 tabun probably, perhaps
237 時計 tokei clock, watch
238 泊まる tomaru stay overnight
239 どうして doushite how come
240 掛ける kakeru hang, put on
241 曲がる magaru make a turn, turn
242 お腹 onaka stomach, belly
243 ミーティング mi-tingu meeting
244 嫌い kirai dislike (habitual)
245 金曜日 kinyoubi Friday
246 要る iru need, require
247 無い nai to not be
248 風邪 kaze cold (illness)
249 黄色い kiiroi yellow
250 優しい yasashii gentle, kind
251 晴れる hareru be sunny, clear up
252 汚い kitanai dirty
253 茶色 chairo brown
254 空く suku be empty, become less crowded
255 上る noboru go up, climb
256 ご飯 gohan meal, cooked rice
257 nichi counter for days
258 髪の毛 kaminoke hair, each single hair
259 つける tsukeru switch on, turn on
260 月曜日 getsuyoubi Monday
261 入る hairu enter
262 カタカナ katakana katakana
263 今週 konshuu this week
264 開く hiraku open (books, eyes, etc.)
265 mizu water
266 あれ are that (over there)
267 ni two
268 締める shimeru tighten, fasten
269 まずい mazui bad (taste), distasteful
270 平仮名 hiragana hiragana
271 曇る kumoru become cloudy
272 触る sawaru touch, feel
273 駄目 dame no good
274 飲み物 nomimono beverage, drink
275 木曜日 mokuyoubi Thursday
276 曜日 youbi day of the week
277 そば soba side, vicinity
278 こっち kocchi here, this way (casual)
279 火曜日 kayoubi Tuesday
280 渇く kawaku be thirsty
281 san three
282 水曜日 suiyoubi Wednesday
283 二つ futatsu two (things)
284 今晩 konban this evening, tonight
285 sen thousand
286 六日 muika six days, sixth of the month
287 お姉さん onesan older sister
288 直る naoru be repaired, get fixed
289 ちょっと chotto just a moment, just a little
290 yon four (Japanese origin)
291 これから korekara from now on, after this
292 考える kangaeru think, consider
293 戻る modoru return to a point of departure
294 変える kaeru change (something), alter
295 asa morning
296 ha tooth
297 頑張る ganbaru work hard, do one’s best
298 携帯電話 keitaidenwa cellular phone
299 ame rain
300 kane money (colloquial)
301 易しい yasashii easy, simple (colloquial)
302 お兄さん oniisan older brother
303 大きい ooki big
304 小さい chiisai small
305 辛い karai spicy, hot
306 hachi eight
307 あそこ asoko over there
308 来る kuru come
309 mae front, before
310 五日 itsuka five days, fifth of the month
311 いっぱい ippai full
313 酸っぱい suppai sour
314 違う chigau differ, be wrong
315 細い hosoi thin, slender
316 三つ mittsu three (things)
317 八日 youka eight days, eighth of the month
318 高校生 koukousei high school student
319 上手 jouzu good, skilled
320 強い tsuyoi strong
321 nana seven (Japanese origin)
322 二十日 hatsuka 20 days, 20th of the month
323 hidari left
324 二日 futsuka two days, second of the month
325 四つ yottsu four (things)
326 暖かい atatakai warm
327 ある aru exist, there is
328 いい ii good (informal/spoken form)
329 ue up, above
330 eki train station
331 美味しい oishii tasty
332 昨日 kinou yesterday (colloquial)
333 綺麗 kirei pretty, clean
334 go five
335 九つ kokonotsu nine (things)
336 お願い onegai favor
337 答える kotaeru give an answer
338 saki ahead, first
339 寒い samui cold (temperature of the air)
340 shi four (Chinese origin)
341 三日 mikka three days, third of the month
342 shita under, below
343 大丈夫 daijoubu all right, OK
344 大人 otona adult
345 出す dasu take out
346 chichi (speaker’s) father
347 haha (speaker’s) mother
348 tsuki moon
349 imouto younger sister
350 冷たい tsumetai cold (to touch)
351 otouto younger brother
352 te hand
353 十日 tooka ten days, tenth of the month
354 kuchi mouth
355 natsu summer
356 七つ nanatsu seven (things)
357 時々 tokidoki sometimes
358 nani what
359 hito person
360 一人 hitori one person
361 一日 tsuitachi first of the month
362 九日 kokonoka nine days, ninth of the month
363 hou direction, side
364 hoka other (Japanese origin)
365 boku I, me (usually used by young males)
366 欲しい hoshii want, desire (of the speaker)
367 man ten thousand
368 見える mieru be visible, can see
369 michi street, way
370 五つ itsutsu five (things)
371 me eye
372 八つ yattsu eight (things)
373 止める tomeru stop (a car…). 止める (yameru) give up
374 四日 yokka four days, fourth of the month
375 yoru night (from sunset to sunrise)
376 来年 rainen next year
377 roku six
378 悪い warui bad
379 お手洗い otearai toilet, bathroom
380 ご主人 goshujin (someone else’s) husband
381 本当に hontouni really, truly
382 自分 jibun self, oneself
383 ため tame sake, purpose
384 見つかる mitsukaru be found, be caught
385 休む yasumu take a rest, take a break
386 ゆっくり yukkuri slowly
387 六つ muttsu six (things)
388 hana flower
389 動く ugoku move
390 sen line
391 七日 nanoka seven days, seventh of the month
392 以外 igai except for
393 otoko man, male
394 kare he, one’s boyfriend
395 onna woman
396 tsuma woman
397 hyaku hundred
398 atari vicinity
399 mise shop, store
400 閉まる shimaru be shut, be closed
401 問題 mondai problem, question
402 必要 hitsuyou need, necessary
403 もつ motsu last long, be durable
404 開く hiraku open
405 昨年 sakunen last year (formal, often used in writing)
406 治る naoru be cured, get well
407 ドル doru dollar
408 システム shisutemu system (loan word)
409 以上 ijou more than, not less than
410 最近 saikin recent, latest
411 世界 sekai world
412 コンピューター konpyu-ta- computer
413 やる yaru give (to an inferior)
414 意味 imi meaning, sense
415 増える fueru increase, accrue
416 選ぶ erabu choose, elect
417 生活 seikatsu life, living
418 進める susumeru go ahead, proceed
419 続ける tsuzukeru continue, keep up
420 ほとんど hotondo almost, hardly
421 会社 kaisha company, corporation
422 ie house, dwelling
423 多く ooku much, largely
424 hanashi talk, story
425 上がる agaru go up, rise (physical movement)
426 もう mou another, again
427 集める atsumeru collect, gather
428 koe voice, sound
429 初めて hajimete for the first time
430 変わる kawaru change, turn into
431 まず mazu first of all, to begin with
432 社会 shakai society
433 プログラム puroguramu program booklet
434 chikara strength, power
435 今回 konkai this time
436 予定 yotei schedule, plan
437 まま mama as is, still (in the current state)
438 テレビ terebi television
439 減る heru decrease, diminish
440 消える kieru be extinguished, disappear
441 家族 kazoku family, household
442 比べる kuraberu compare, contrast
443 生まれる umareru be born, come into existence
444 ただ tada free
445 これら korera these
446 調べる shiraberu investigate, check
447 事故 jiko accident, trouble
448 電話 denwa telephone, phone call
449 外国 gaikoku foreign country
450 銀行 ginkou bank
451 十分 juubun enough, plentiful
452 あまり amari (not) much
453 写真 shashin photograph
454 繰り返す kurikaesu repeat
455 種類 shurui kind, type
456 意見 iken opinion
457 新聞 shinbun newspaper
458 文章 bunshou sentence, writing
459 目立つ medatsu stand out, be conspicuous
460 相手 aite opponent, the other party
461 病院 byouin hospital
462 厚い atsui thick, bulky
463 忙しい isogashii busy, occupied
464 薄い usui thin, weak
465 kawa river, stream
466 暗い kurai dark, gloomy
467 クラス kurasu class (in school)
468 黒い kuroi black, dark
469 バス basu bus
470 青い aoi blue
471 買い物 kaimono shopping, purchase
472 kusuri drug, medicine
473 砂糖 satou sugar
474 休み yasumi holiday, break
475 郵便局 yuubinkyoku post office
476 住所 juusho address
477 こちら kochira here, this way (polite)
478 財布 saifu purse, wallet
479 パスポート pasupo-to passport
480 椅子 isu chair
481 可愛い kawaii cute, sweet
482 お祖父さん ojiisan grandfather (colloquial)
483 切手 kitte postage stamp
484 涼しい suzushii cool (of temperature)
485 いくつ ikutsu how many, how old
486 メニュー menyu- menu
487 電気 denki electricity, electric light
488 勝つ katsu win
489 負ける makeru lose
490 建てる tateru build, erect
491 日記 nikki diary
492 売り切れ urikire sell out
493 お巡りさん omawarisan police officer (colloquial)
494 目覚まし時計 mezamashitokei alarm clock
495 レシート reshi-to receipt (loan word)
496 ティッシュ tisshu tissue
497 歯ブラシ haburashi toothbrush
498 下りる oriru go down, come down
499 洗う arau wash
500 パート pa-to part-time

Related Post: 3000 Most Common Japanese Words – Part 2