I am also trying to learn Japanese so I can communicate with the locals when I travel to Japan. I did a survey with my friends and most of them agree that Japan is the top list for tourists. How nice would it be if you can communicate in Japanese. I started below cheat sheet with at least 205 Japanese words.
English | japanese |
Bank employee | ginkoo-in |
nutritionist | eiyooshi |
company employee | kaisha-in |
company president | shachoo |
diplomat | gaikookan |
doctor | isha |
dentist | ha-isha |
nurse | kangofu |
embassy employee | taishikan-in |
engineer | gishi |
journalist | jaanarisuto |
driver | utenshu |
housewife | shufu |
lawyer | bengoshi |
musician | ongakuka |
office worker | jimu-in |
operator | kookanshu |
painter | gaka |
policeman | keikan |
public servant | koomu-in |
businessman | bijinesuman |
scholar | gakusha |
student | gakusei |
teacher | sensei |
writer | sakka |
secretary | hisho |
tour guide | kankoo gaido |
security guard | gaadoman |
receptionist | uketsukegakari |
sales-clerk | ten-in |
book | hon |
desk | tsukue |
pencil | enpitsu |
watch, clock | tokei |
window | mado |
dictionary | jibiki |
wallet | saifu |
wall | kabe |
curtain | kaaten |
door | doa |
paper | kami |
chair | isu |
air conditioner | kuuraa |
bag | kaban |
handkerchief | hankachi |
hotel | hoteru |
car | kuruma |
soap | sekken |
house | uchi, ie |
hospital | byooin |
accountant | kaikei-gakari |
movie | eiga |
hobby | shumi |
shoes | kutsu |
magazine | zasshi |
newspaper | shimbum |
friend | tomodachi |
company, office | kaisha |
school | gakkoo |
young | wakai |
delicious | oishii |
interesting | omoshiroi |
easy, kind | yasashii |
difficult | muzukashii |
big | ookii |
small | chiisai |
new | atarashii |
hot, thick | atsui |
cold (weather) | samui |
cold (object) | tsumetai |
good | yoi |
bad | warui |
unsavory, unskillful | mazui |
tall, expensive | takai |
tall (for person) | sei ga takai |
short | mijikai |
short (for person) | sei ga hikui |
low | hikui |
cheap | yasui |
long | nagai |
heavy | omoi |
light | karui |
wide | hiroi |
narrow | semai |
red | akai |
white | shiroi |
yellow | kiiroi |
early, fast | hayai |
late, slow | osoi |
deep | fukai |
shallow | asai |
strong | tsuyoi |
weak | yowai |
thin | usui |
hard | katai |
soft | yawarakai |
ashamed | hazukashii |
pleasant | tanoshii |
lonely | sabishii |
wonderful | subarashii |
busy | isogashii |
many | ooi |
few | sukunai |
bitter | nigai |
sweet | amai |
sour | suppai |
cool | suzushii |
warm | atatakai |
near | chikai |
far | tooi |
black | kuroj |
dark | kurai |
bright | akarui |
blue | aoi |
cute | kawaii |
church | kyookai |
television | terebi |
program | bangumi |
river | kawa |
examination | shiken |
a while ago | sakki |
not anywhere | doko emo |
nowhere | doko nimo |
post office | yuubinkyoku |
department store | depaato |
dog | inu |
cat | neko |
gymnasium | taiikukan |
dining room | shokudoo |
coffee shop | kissaten |
movie theater | eigakan |
here (this place) | koko |
there (that place) | soko |
over there | asoko |
restaurant | resutoran |
comfort room | toire |
telephone | denwa |
residential area | juutakuchi |
radio | rajio |
library | toshokan |
embassy | taishikan |
museum | hakubutsukan |
city hall | shiyakusho |
station | eki |
bus stop | teiryuujoo |
shopping district | shootengai |
supermarket | suupaamaaketto |
Bank | ginkoo |
market | ichiba |
corner | kado |
drugstore | kusuriya |
store | mise |
ticket | kippu |
sunglasses | sangurasu |
now | ima |
exactly, just | choodo |
before | mae |
past | sugi |
half past | han |
morning | asa |
night, evening | yoru |
from | kara |
until, up to | made |
advanced, be too fast | susunde imasu |
late, be too slow | okurete-imasu |
afternoon | hiru |
noon | shoogo |
right, keep good time | atteimasu |
drink | nomu |
read | yomu |
buy | kau |
learn | narau |
write | kaku |
speak | hanasu |
go | iku |
swim | oyogu |
die | shinu |
wait | matsu |
be, exist | aru |
play | asobu |
eat | taberu |
see, watch | miru |
get up, wake up | okiru |
sleep (go to sleep) | neru |
teach | oshieru |
come | kuru |
do | suru |
spring | haru |
summer | natsu |
autumn | aki |
winter | fuyu |
next | tsugi |
orange | mikan |
money | okane |
how much | ikura |
price | nedan |
apple | ringo |
post card | hagaki |
board | ita |
trousers | zubon |
umbrella | kasa |
fountain pen | mannenhitsu |
sugar | satoo |
cloth | kire |
salt | shio |
I agree that learning something of the host country’s language is always useful (I would say essential) and my way is to learn at least 5 – 10 new words each day. Faced with too many it becomes an impossible task, but 5 words a day is easy, then add another 5 the next day (repeating the first ones etc). I prefer to go for verbs because if you can grasp the verbs and how to use them you can communicate – looking up nouns is easy – so if you do say 2-3 verbs a day (parsed) and 2-3 nouns you will be well ahead. I find your list a bit daunting.
Keep it up!!! I am using Duolingo to learn Japanese!
Nice! Me too! What is your username? Let me follow you in Duolingo ๐๐๐
Itโs Mashibaby
Done following you ๐๐ Don Manuel is the user
Thank you sooooooooooo much for this! I’ve always wanted to learn Japanese even though I know about 20-50 words here already, it’s really helpful ๐๐
Glad to hear Tz ๐๐
wow, I’ve never considered learning Japanese but it sounds nice .. thanks for letting me catch a glimpse into this language!
you are welcome, Althea!